Yates really stretched the series in his last instalment Order of Phoenix. He implemented some great storytelling techniques (such as the use of the Daily Prophet newspaper to further plot) and really created a "real" fantasy universe. Yates takes a brief step back here with his new installment Half Blood Prince.
While all the things he created previously are here, his great storytelling slips to a more subtle take, something less appealing to a mainstream audience. He still is able to give you enough info in the scene to let you know whats going on (a wanted poster of werewolf Ferir Greyback is the only info you're give on the character, yet he's used multiple times) but fails at the larger story telling he accomplished in Phoenix.
The story certainly shows its further completion for the series. This is not a Potter film you can just walk in and enjoy no strings attached. You need to have some prerequisite as to whats going on. This year Harry and his besties Hermione and Ron have been swarmed by girls, letting teenage awkwardness ensue. This aspect of the movie works the best in fact. The teenage love, particularly with Rupert Grints character Ron is funny but is used in a way that furthers the plot, both for the movie and the series. A commendable aspect for the franchise, which has in past movies simply used it as humor.
The larger story though involves Harry wooing information out of the new Potions master Horace Slughorn, and helping headmaster Dumbledoor in important tasks. As a fan of the books it will be interesting to see how they finally close out the story with all the things they changed and left out of this one but I have faith it will all work.
Aside from the awkward humor, the other great aspect of the movie is the lighting. Even just watching the trailer, the darkness of each shot is phenomenal and really adds to the depth of the shots.
That's not to say this Potter is perfect. It's not. Awkward silence is great when used intentionally. But the first 20-25 minutes of this movie just aren't good. What every other movie has that this one doesn't is a sense of WHY Harry hates the Muggle world. We never get that here. So when Harry enters the magical world there a lack of relief or wonderment. The silence is just unnerving and not in a good way. Harry's first conversation with Dumbedoor, upon second viewing, was really just painfully bad. It's not til Harry finally gets on the Hogwarts Express train that the movie picks up a bit.
But Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is still a higher tier Potter film. Not as good as Azkaban or Phoenix but lots better than any of the previous entries. It will have some rewatchability. If anything Half Blood Prince just excites me more for Yate's interpretation of the final book. Grade - A-
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