Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) - Movie Review

Bottom line: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, unlike the previous two movies in the series, earned a PG rating as opposed to PG-13. The movie is still dark and contains many scary parts (including one death), but the mood is lightened by love (several couples get together and "snog" (kiss) this year) and the magical fights are not quite as intense.

MPAA Rating: PG, for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Guide Age Recommendation: 8+ (depending on level of tolerance for dark peril)
Runtime: Approx. 153 minutes
Release date: July 15, 2009

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Overview

An ominous mood has taken hold in both the magical and Muggle worlds since the Dark Lord's return. Terror and treachery abound, and it is often unclear who is on which side. A surprise visit from Dumbledore begins a new phase in the relationship between Harry Potter and the headmaster of Hogwarts -- one in which secrets are revealed, and a careful study of the past sheds chilling light on the present.

From Dumbledore, Harry learns that he must use his connection to the new potions teacher, Professor Slughorn, in order to obtain important information that the professor does not want to reveal. The task is hard enough, but is made even more difficult since Harry has become consumed by his suspicions about the dark deeds of Draco Malfoy and disturbing questions concerning Professor Snape -- not to mention his being preoccupied with Quidditch games and the romantic travails of himself and his friends.

As the Death Eaters wreak havoc all around and Voldemort becomes stronger, Dumbledore continues to impress upon Harry the importance of his mission. Should Harry fail, they may never uncover the most important key to defeating Voldemort forever.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Guide Review for Parents

Harry Potter fans will likely enjoy the new movie based on the remarkable set of books by J.K. Rowling. Being as a movie can only be so long, many details from the book are missing, but if those who love the book series go in with an open mind, seeing the movie more as a representation of the book as opposed to a re-telling of the same story, they should not be disappointed.

Parents should know that, as the PG rating indicates, the sixth movie is not as violent and scary as previous Potter films, but there are still some dark and frightening scenes filled with magic-related violence (including one death) that may scare or unsettle kids ( I have to think that this film was right on the border of PG-13). Also, now that the characters are another year older, they are dealing with more mature situations. The amount of snogging (kissing) going on is certainly enough to embarrass many kids, especially if they are watching the movie with their parents. The movie also contains some language that viewing kids might want to imitate. (For a more detailed look at the movie content, see the "Content Overview" below.)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Content Overview

• Violence (High): Most of the violence in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is of the dark and magical sort; however, some physical violence does occur. Malfoy, for example, stomps on Harry's face causing a broken and bloody nose. Magical spells also cause some blood shed and even one death. Death Eaters fly around causing mayhem. A couple of attempts on Dumbledore's life end up injuring students instead, and some viewing kids may be unsettled by things like convulsions and frothing of the mouth that occur (the students eventually recover from these unfortunate events). Some violence also occurs on the Quidditch field with characters slamming into each other and attempting to knock others off their brooms.

• Sex/Nudity (Medium): Many of the characters develop love interests, and some end up doing quite a bit of kissing. A couple of jokes that contain some innuendo are made. At a party, one of the appetizers is "dragon balls."

• Drugs and Alcohol (Medium): Several instances of drinking in the movie involve substances that have unique names but are similar in look and effect to real alcoholic beverages. Harry Potter and other students drink "Butterbeer." Two professors get drunk, and another professor offers a drink to a student that looks like alcohol and is meant to be a pick-me-up.

• Language (Low): The word "hell" is used. The phrase "My God" or variations are used. Some characters insult each other using English slang words.

Disrespectful/Imitative Behavior (Extreme): Death Eaters and other evil characters in the movie delight in causing mayhem. They burn things down, make "unbreakable vows," and insult and belittle others. Several fights between characters involve mild insults and threats. Characters call each other names using words like "daft" and "loser." As magic is a major component of the movie, some viewing kids may want to try doing magic or imitate the characters' spells and potions.

Scary Scenes (Extreme): Content listed under "violence" may be frightening for kids. The ominous and dark mood and music in the movie sets a frightening tone which is enhanced by scenes involving suspenseful magical fights, characters following and spying on others, and some images of the Dark Lord. Scary looking Death Eaters corner some characters in a field of tall grass and burn down a home. In one scene, dead bodies rise up out of a lake and attack Harry and Dumbledore. In another, a ginormous dead spider is shown.

Sad/Unsettling Scenes (High): The death of a major character causes great anguish among the students at Hogwarts. Students, parents and teachers in the movie feel sad and scared about the events occurring around them. A couple of students experience broken hearts and jealousy.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – Topics to Discuss

• After seeing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, kids may have questions about the following topics: magic, death, souls, love, relationships, evil, making vows, honoring one's word.