What wizard made the action disappear? This ‘Harry’ is just too teen angst-y

Cassie Hart - FreshVoice
It’s nice to know that even wizards and witches have awkward love moments.

In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” we finally see the other side of a magical teenager who can cast spells with the flick of a wand.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is still filled with magic, but not the kind of magic we are used to. It has all the hookups and breakups of a regular high school. No longer focused on her studies, Hermione (Emma Watson) concentrates on her emotional conscience instead. She tries to hint to her best friend, Ron (Rupert Grint), that she has feelings for him, but he starts dating his stalker, Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave). Ron is unaware that Hermione is lovesick, and disgusted with his younger sister’s relationship with < a boy. He is almost glad, though, when Ginny (Bonnie Wright) and Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) get together.

There are many awkward attempts at Harry and Ginny's first kiss, but it is not until the end of the movie that this is accomplished, of course. Let’s hope that this relationship lasts a little longer than Harry’s first love, Cho Chang, from “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”

Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), son of Lucius, has a long-awaited expanded role. We all knew that he would eventually not be used to torment Harry, but who could have guessed what his responsibility would turn out to be?

Snape and Malfoy are secretly working together because Snape promised Draco’s mother that he would protect him as he follows through with his mission. Luckily, Harry followed them at one point and was able to find out that Snape and Malfoy are up to something suspicious. It’s not until the end, though, that he figures it out.

Harry, when not distracted by love or eavesdropping on conversations, still has the task of trying to defeat the Dark Lord, Voldemort. To complete this, he must get to know a former teacher of Voldemort’s, Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who was brought back at the request of Dumbledore.

Getting information from Slughorn leads Harry and Dumbledore to slowly destroy their enemy. The journey leads them through a scene that may remind you of Hades’ underworld in Disney’s “Hercules” It’s also the only scene in the movie containing unique special effects. Harry Potter movies have always been known for their visual effects but this movie lacks the action scenes that previously amazed us.

I would have preferred sitting through 2 ½ hours filled with action, not teen angst and melodrama. There should be a rule that chick flicks can be no longer than two hours for two reasons: bladders and butts.

But the movie wasn’t a disappointment. The change in style is welcome, as long as the next two movies return to the action.

Directed by David Yates, written by Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling (novel), produced by David Barron, David Heyman, Tim Lewis, Lionel Wigram.