When the first Harry Potter book was released in 1997, I expressed zero interest in reading it. I also had no interest in seeing the first adapted movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I came to discover that most critics were raving about the film and its subsequent sequels. Plus, all of them were doing exceptionally well at the box office. When the books were coinciding with the movie releases, Harry Potter had become one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons this decade. The seventh and last book, Harry Potter and Deathly Hollows, was released in 2007 and the movie adaptations have almost caught up. The last film released was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2007. Finally, I decided to give the Potters a chance around last year. I watched Sorcerer’s Stone to Phoenix and I enjoyed them all. Now I can see why everyone has made a big deal about it. My favorites were Prisoner of Azkaban and Phoenix. I’m now looking forward to seeing the upcoming sequel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth movie of the series. Like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, this might be the biggest blockbuster release of the summer.
"Just because I'm the yokiest redhead since Carrot Top, doesn't mean I deserve a party."
Daniel Radcliffe reprises his role as Potter for the sixth time. The two other main actors, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will also return as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively. After a deadly encounter with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) in Phoenix, Harry is now in his sixth year of seven at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lord Voldemort has now begun to stage a full-scale war on Hogwarts and Harry must find a method to stop him. With the help of Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), the head of the school, they must find a weakness in Voldemort’s defenses. Dumbledore also seeks the aid of an old friend and the new potion master at Hogwarts, Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). Slughorn may have vital information on Voldemort. During this time, Harry becomes attracted to his best friend Ron’s younger sister, Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright). Ron is also attracted to fellow student Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave), but he brings jealousy to Hermione, who also has a crush on him. With the increasing threat from Voldemort, the romances between the students may jeopardize Hogwarts defenses against the dark wizard.
Other actors reprising their roles to Harry Potter are Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Dame Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall and Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid. David Yates, who directed the last Potter film, Order of the Phoenix, will return for Half-Blood Prince. Also returning to adapt J.K. Rowling’s novel is screenwriter Steve Kloves. Though he didn’t adapt the last movie, Order of the Phoenix, he has, however, written the scripts for the first four Potters.
"The." "Rapists." "Therapists."
This Potter looks very good and has the potential of being the best yet of the series. I can’t wait to see this one and it should appeal to both kids and adults alike.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens July 15th.
