'Prince' is a dark gem

Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts takes us into the darkest territory yet. The war with Voldemort is in full swing, and his minions are focusing their destructive powers on the muggle and wizarding worlds alike.

The film starts off with two terrifying explosions – one at Ollivander’s wand shop and the other at London’s real-life Millennium Bridge – and builds greater terror throughout, with only teenage-love-induced comic relief to sustain any lightness of mood.

That’s not a criticism though. As fans have grown up they’ve increasingly wanted meatier fare from their beloved franchise, and with “Half-Blood Prince” they get it. Moral questions of what turns a person evil are tackled head on, and the fear that gnaws at all the characters is presented beautifully through subdued cinematography. 

Fleshing out the movie’s somber storyline are the once-stilted child actors, who have sharpened their skills enough over the last eight years to give their most effortless, realistic performances yet. 

Disc two holds all of the special features, which are mostly the usual fare bookended by two sneak-peaks, one of the thrilling looking “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”  and another of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park opening at the Universal Orlando Resort in 2010. 

Other special features include a look at the year J.K. Rowling spent writing the final book, interviews and a Q&A with the cast and crew and deleted scenes.