It's about time isn't it? After two years, after the lure of a trailer and the beginning of promotions---only to have Warner Bros. dash the hopes and dreams of the diehards, turning the stretch of time from November (original release month) to July the longest period in one's tiny, little life...July 15th, 2009 has come and with it, the sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise.

The rattling of emotion, right before the end.

This film starts out haunting and really, in spite of this being the funniest Potter to date, never really lets up. The feeling of pending doom is present throughout. I found myself gasping through so many parts of it, probably because I knew what was coming, but also because David Yates has chosen to present this world, hormonal and humorous though it may be, with an almost awe-inspiring sense of heartbreaking urgency. The director has been quoted as saying this film is "sex, potions, and rock'n'roll. I'd go one further to say, yes, it is that...on eggshells. It is a great film...but, and there is a but, there are some problems.

It could have to do with the fact that this reviewer, out of all seven of Rowling's magical books, knows Half-Blood Prince backwards and forwards. It is, by no stretch, my absolute favorite in the series. For the past eight years, I have given credit where is due and understood that movies simply cannot be books, and therefore, for things to be left out of the film versions, well, it is inevitable. It cannot go without saying that this is the first time I've found myself unsure how to feel about one of these films. There are aspects to the story that are left out and some things that are invented as devices to show the scope and effects of high school romance and the cruelty embedded in Voldemort's Death Eaters, and it left several hardcore fans troubled. Half-Blood Prince is a book filled with rich history and a dig into what really makes Voldemort tick, vital information if Harry is to destroy him. Though the importance of this history is conveyed, quite a bit of it is lost, and it makes me wonder how the filmmakers are going to do the seventh and eight films justice. They are shooting these now. Perhaps by 2011, I'll have all the questions answered and this latest film won't leave me with such a, not bad, but confusing taste in my mouth.

Then again, it is Harry Potter. These characters are so loved by now and the bits that are nestled in-between all these icky parts are so sweet, so perfect. It's a time to understand why you are rooting for Harry, why you hate and actually have some sympathy for Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton who portrays him, by the way, is at his absolute best in this film.), why you not only want, but need Ron and Hermione to get together, and why Luna just is who she is...Loony and perfect. Of all of the characters, Yates definitely got the most use out of Ron Weasley. The world really should bow down and worship Rupert Grint for his performance this go round. Always beloved, endearing, and funny, the filmmakers finally got it. This is the greatest Ron action we've seen to date. Across the board, the acting has improved by leaps and bounds. Jim Broadbent's portrayal of Professor Slughorn is also something to commend as this newest addition to Hogwarts could have been abbrasive and annoying. The viewer really does get the impression that Yates allowed his actors to breathe and play within the world, making it much more rich and colorful. The only character horribly misused in this film is, of course, Neville Longbottom. Dammit. His day is coming! It's coming! And I personally could have handled a bit more of the Weasleys.

It is up to the fans to decide now, I guess, where this film falls in the ranking system of the series. Personally, I will need to watch it a couple more times before I can make my decision. It could be that I waited so long to see it, that it had to live up to too many expectations, or it could be that I am turning into one of "those people" who praises the book, disses the film, but I still think Order of the Phoenix is the best of the films. It makes one rejoice in the fact that they have split the final book into two films. Because they thought better than to make the last film confusing as hell by leaving out too many plot points. Though so many things, I feel, were left out of this one, there may be some backpeddling to do yet.

Is Half-Blood Prince a great film as far as style, cinematic beauty, and performances? Undoubtedly, yes. It is. Is it a strong representation of Rowling's work and a stand out in the film series? This reviewer is unsure.

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