Harry Potter: Hotter or Notter?

When it comes to summer blockbuster movies, Harry Potter is pretty hard to top. Lets begin by taking a look back at some pretty remarkable years of this magical boys life. Eight years ago, 2001, the muggle world was introduced to the film adaptations of the highly popular book series Harry Potter. The first two movies, The Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, directed by Chris Columbus, can easily be described as your average children's fantasy movie. Then 3 years later during Potter's 3rd year of wizarding school the world is given an unexpected treat called the Prisoner of Azkaban. As with the book series, as Harry gets older, the series gets better (and darker). The same with the movie sequels! The Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by modern day genius Alfonso Cuaron, puts the movie series into high gear. Gone are the days of Columbus. Cuaron has discovered a New World. This world has adults such as myself interested, but still has that childhood following that will guarantee Warner Bros studio billions (yes billions) at the box office.

By year four, we have director Mike Newell take the reins of The Goblet of Fire. This man has graced us with hits such as Donnie Brasco, Pushing Tin, and Mona Lisa Smile. Needless to say pure classics! However, with these money making hits behind him he manages to score again with the charming 3rd sequel. I would like to add that this movie introduced us to hearthrob Robert Pattinson! I still tear up a little seeing him as Cedric Diggory get blindsided by the Avada Kedarva spell. I wouldn't mind getting blindsided by a little bit of Pattinson if you know what I mean. Staying on topic, we now have this unstoppable freight train of a movie series that is carrying darker material and award winning actors.

Now we hit year 5. One of the longer books and one of the least interesting in my opinion. However, with new director David Yates at the helm we are in safe hands. Yates, a literally unknown, took the 870 page book and conjured up a hell of a movie. Delores Umbridge was right on the mark. Dumbledore's Army proved they are a group not to f**k with. We get to see Harry get Asian invaded by Diggory's ex Cho Chang! Hot!!!! And yes we get blindsided yet again with a little Pattinson flashback! Yates has proved himself a Harry Potter Magician with quite a few tricks up his sleeve.

So, we come to the lastest installment of the series, The Half Blood Prince, directed again by Yates. With two years between the 5th and the 6th movie, anticipation levels are at an all time high. At a recent midnight showing, wizards and muggles alike lined up (all the way around the building) to catch up on the recent adventures of Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermoine Granger. Showing on all screens, the packed house was not knowing what they were getting themselves into. By 12:30 the movie began and at 3:30 in the morning the wait was over. Did this Potter live up to its predecessors?

The best word to describe The Half Blood Prince is angst. In the movie, the chracters dealt with the anxiety of teenage relationships. In the real world, audiences and myself were dealing with the fear of whether or not the movie would live up to Prisoner, Goblet, and Order. Also, is it an accurate adaptation of the book. Well, for the most part it did. The sixth book has a lot to do with teenage love and so too did the movie. Professor Slughorn was tremendous; awkward, funny, surly, uncomfortable, etc. The special effects were good (happy to see Quidditch is back). And most of all the acting was superb. Still, there was a little feeling of emptiness during the credits. What happened with Dumbeldores funeral? Where were all Dumbledores memory flashbacks? Where in the hell was Robert Pattinson? I am going to give Yates the benefit of the doubt that I was tired and had been in the sun all day at Waterworld (critique coming soon), but if this is where Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows is heading I am going to be a little hesitant. We need to keep these movies fresh and on the top of their game. Like with the books, they should get better. I really liked the idea of switching directors on 3-5. Can I just throw out there Peter Jackson on movie 7 (part 1 and 2)!

Anyhow, I am going to have to give The Half Blood Prince 3 towers. Love the series, the book, and the cast! Emma Watson is smoking!!!! Although Yates, you may have taken the luster from the wonderful world of Harry.