"HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE" (2009) (Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Moderate Extreme Heavy Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Mild Extreme None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Mild Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama/Adventure: A teenage wizard must contend with his romantic longings and that of others while trying to find out what evil is afoot at his school in this sixth installment of the "Harry Potter" series. PLOT: Having survived a perilous encounter with a powerful and evil dark lord, teen wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) returns to Hogwarts with headmaster Professor Dumbledore (MICHAEL GAMBON), but not before a side trip where the latter convinces former professor Horace Slughorn (JIM BROADBENT) to return to the school. Dumbledore is convinced Horace knows more than he's letting on about former student Tom Riddle's (HERO FIENNES-TIFFIN & FRANK DILLANE) eventual transformation into Lord Voldemort, and assigns Harry the task of learning that truth. With Death Eaters such as Bellatrix Lestrange (HELENA BONHAM CARTER) and Fenrir Greyback (DAVE LEGENO) attempting to fulfill Voldemort's grand plan by wreaking havoc on the outside world and trying to infiltrate Hogwarts, Harry knows he doesn't have much time. And he's clearly suspicious of rival student Draco Malfoy (TOM FELTON) whose mother and Lestrange have convinced Professor Severnus Snape (ALAN RICKMAN) to pledge his undying protection over the teen. At the same time, and as other Hogwarts regulars such as Professor Minerva McGonagall (MAGGIE SMITH) and groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid (ROBBIE COLTRANE) go about their business, Harry must contend with his growing romantic feelings for Ginny (BONNIE WRIGHT), the sister of one of his best friends, Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT). He's smitten with Lavender Brown (JESSIE CAVE), a development that doesn't sit well with their third friend, Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON), who has her sights set on Ron but must contend with fellow student Cormac McLaggen (FREDDIE STROMA) having his on her. As those romantic issues play out, Harry continues his undercover work for Dumbledore in trying to figure out what Horace, the new Potions master, knows about Tom Riddle and whether there's any connection to the seemingly shady behavior that Draco is displaying. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Yes, especially if they're fans of the books and/or movies. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: DANIEL RADCLIFFE plays a teenage wizard who must not only contend with his romantic longings for Ginny, but also Dumbledore's assignment to gain intel about Horace and his own feelings that Draco is up to no good. Like this two best friends, he drinks "butterbeer." RUPERT GRINT plays one of his best friends and fellow classmates who ends up romantically pursued by Lavender (and ends up making out with her), all while trying to help Harry. EMMA WATSON plays their other friend who has her own romantic quandary in terms of liking Ron but ending up jealous of his new girlfriend, all while having to deal with Cormac liking her. MICHAEL GAMBON plays the headmaster at Hogwarts who knows something evil is afoot and that time is of the essence, and thus enlists Harry to find out what he can about Horace and his past connection to Tom Riddle. JIM BROADBENT plays a former professor convinced by Dumbledore to return to teaching at Hogwarts where he instructs students about potions and such. Something of a jovial comic figure, he's also tortured by parts of his past. He drinks some. TOM FELTON plays Harry's long-time chief rival at Hogwarts, a student who's continued his slide into all things evil, and is covertly working with the Death Eaters to further Voldemort's grand scheme. ALAN RICKMAN plays the school's Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor who pledges to protect Draco against any harm, all of which puts him at odds with Harry and Dumbledore. BONNIE WRIGHT plays Ron's sister who's sweet on Harry. JESSIE CAVE plays a teen who's in love with Ron (and makes out with him) and thus isn't happy by Hermione's presence. HERO FIENNES-TIFFIN & FRANK DILLANE play a former, troubled student of Horace's who possesses powerful magic and later grows up to be Lord Voldemort. FREDDIE STROMA plays a student who romantically likes Hermione. ROBBIE COLTRANE plays the school's groundskeeper. HELENA BONHAM CARTER and DAVE LEGENO play two Death Eaters who wreak havoc on the outside world and wish to do the same to Hogwarts, all to further their master's grand plan. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama/adventure film that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of a few minor expletives, while some colorful phrases are also uttered. There's very brief innuendo on the part of the film, while some teen kissing occurs in several scenes. Violence includes a notable murder of a major character, other deaths, magic-based fighting and hitting of others, and property damage/destruction. Some of that has bloody results, and those scenes, moments of potential peril, and some visuals might be unsettling, suspenseful and/or possibly scary, especially to younger viewers. Parents should note that despite the PG rating (the preceding two films in the series were rated PG-13), parts of the film's tone are very dark. Some behavior might be enticing for kids to imitate, while various bad attitudes are present, as are scenes of drinking (including by teens, although its of "butterbeer" of which alcohol content - if any - is not noted in the film). Some brief crude humor is also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from cameras taking pictures of Harry and Dumbledore. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some POV flying scenes early in the film (Death Eaters swooping through a city) and later as students play Quidditch. There's also some handheld camerawork in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A photo with moving images shows Horace and Harry's mom holding what appear to be drinks. Snape and Draco's mom hold what appears to be wine. People drink in a pub of sorts, including Harry, Ron and Hermione who have butterbeer (she drinks the most of the three), while Horace drinks and appears a bit tipsy, spilling some of his on a table. At a dinner party with Horace, one student sarcastically states the only potion involving his father was a "stiff one" at the end of the day. Students have what might be drinks at a party. We see two slight different memory flashbacks of Horace holding a drink while chatting with Tom. Horace mentions butterbeer and mead. Horace, Ron and Harry have drinks, but Ron collapses after drinking some of his first as it's been poisoned. He falls to the floor where he has convulsions and foams at the mouth, all as Harry races to save his life. Hagrid and Horace sing while drinking, with Hagrid then passing out or just falling asleep. BLOOD/GORE We see Harry with a little blood from his nose and on his face from an unseen violent encounter (in the last film). Dumbledore shows that part of his hand is blackened from something he earlier retrieved. About instantaneously traveling from one spot to another, Dumbledore tells Harry that most people vomit the first time they do that. Dumbledore and Harry slowly walk through a wrecked house, and what appears to be blood drips down onto a newspaper in front of Harry and then onto his forehead (he looks up and sees a damaged and wet-looking ceiling). But Horace then reveals himself and the tension is relieved. Dumbledore asks Horace, "Mind if I use the loo?" but we don't see or hear any such use. A boy ingests "puking pastels" at a magic shop and is then given a bucket, but isn't seen vomiting. Realizing Harry has been cloaked and eavesdropping up above him on a train, Draco uses magic to cause Harry to hit the floor hard and then proceeds to kick him in the face, bloodying his nose, while there's a little on his shirt. We later see Harry holding a bloody rag to his nose. After eating "dragon balls" (we don't know what they are other than they're round and supposedly give the consumer awful breath), Cormac near immediately vomits onto Snape's shoes (we hear but don't see the act in full). About Ron and Lavender, Hermione excuses herself, sarcastically stating she has to go vomit. Draco fires a blast of magic at Harry who avoids that and returns fire, but misses. More such shots are fired, with Harry eventually hitting Draco who's then seen lying on the floor, with blood on his shirt and then mixing in with the water on the floor in the bathroom. Snape then arrives and uses magic to cause the blood to flow the other way and disappear, thus saving Draco. Dumbledore cuts his own palm in order to smear blood (not seen, due to a wet and dimly lit surface) on a rocky wall to gain passage inside a cave. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The Death Eaters and other villains obviously have bad attitudes, as does Draco not only for working with them, but also for his attitude toward Harry. Those opposed to magic and such should note that such usage occurs here. Draco's mom and especially Bellatrix persuade Snape to pledge that he'll protect Draco (and help him fulfill Voldemort's wishes) no matter what. Draco has a bad attitude about Hogwarts. Hermione uses her magic to affect part of a Quidditch match to help Ron. Harry gives Ron some liquid luck potion for his upcoming Quidditch match (giving him an unfair advantage, and thus cheating), but despite Ron performing brilliantly, Harry then informs Hermione that he didn't give him any (and just the suggestion of that worked). There's talk of splitting one's soul -- via murder that rips the soul apart -- in order to keep part of it safe should the body be destroyed. We then hear that Voldemort split his into seven pieces. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. The same holds true for the appearance of the Death Eaters and emaciated looking humanoid characters that emerge from under the water at the end of the film. A scary looking storm cloud (with a monstrous face in it) looms above the city as Death Eaters zip through as black streams of gas, smashing things and causing general havoc. In human form, they grab a kid, and are then back in streaming gas form, causing the pedestrian Millennium Bridge to start undulating, swaying and twisting until it eventually collapses into the river below it. While we don't see any deaths, they're implied and that's later confirmed via newspaper headlines. Dumbledore and Harry slowly walk through a wrecked house, and what appears to be blood drips down onto a newspaper in front of Harry and then onto his forehead (he looks up and sees a damaged and wet-looking ceiling). But Horace then reveals himself and the tension is relieved. Harry, Ron and Hermione follow Draco and his mother into a shop, and then climb up onto a rooftop to spy on them and others (and are nearly caught doing so). Harry, Ron and Hermione hear screams and find one girl watching in horror as another girl slides back and forth on the ground through snow, is lifted up into the air where she floats in slow motion (and screams) and is then dropped hard back to the ground (all from an invisible force). At night, a fireball lands near the Weasley's farm house that's then encircled by a ring of fire. Harry manages to run through an opening in that, as does Ginny, with Harry trying to give chase to the Death Eaters, but his point of view is limited by the very tall (over head height) field of grass. The menacing looking Greyback then confronts Ginny, and blocks Harry's blast of magic at him. They, Ron's parents and others then find themselves surrounded by the Death Eaters (blocking energy blasts shot at them), followed by the latter sending fire into the farm house, catching it on fire. Horace, Ron and Harry have drinks, but Ron collapses after drinking some of his first as it's been poisoned. He falls to the floor where he has convulsions and foams at the mouth, all as Harry races to save his life. We see a monstrous tarantula lying belly-up dead on the ground. While Hagrid cries about losing his friend, Horace asks if he can extract some of its poison, and thus approaches the spider and its exposed fangs. Although it appears as if there might be a jump scene or attack, neither occurs. Dumbledore tells Harry he's going to transport him to a dangerous place and the two then end up inside a dark cave where what they desire is across a large body of underground water. Dumbledore informs Harry he's going to drink liquid from inside a cave area, and that it might be dangerous, but that Harry should make sure he (Dumbledore) drinks all of it, no matter what. Harry does just that as Dumbledore has pain and delusions from doing so. Harry reaches down to scoop up some water when a hand suddenly grabs his arm from under the water. An emaciated humanoid being, and then many others with the same appearance emerge from the water and surround Harry and Dumbledore on a small island. Harry blasts some of them with energy and hits others, but they eventually overtake and then pull him into the water, with one pulling him under the surface and then down. Just then, Dumbledore uses fiery magic to ward off and/or kill those beings. Draco aims his wand at a professor, prepared to kill him, but he can't get himself to do the deed. Harry anxiously waits one floor down, having promised the professor that he won't do anything until called into action. Various Death Eaters then show up, as does Snape who holds his wand on Harry down below. One professor uses magic to blast another out through an open window, with the latter character falling to his death (we don't see the impact, but later see the non-bloody but dead body lying flat on the surface below). That professor then zaps another person in another location (we don't know their fate), while he or the Death Eaters cause property damage in the great hall of Hogwarts. We see a monstrous face form in a menacing cloud bank. GUNS/WEAPONS Magic Wands: Used to battle, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Dumbledore cuts his own palm with a knife in order to smear blood (not seen, due to a wet and dimly lit surface) on a rocky wall to gain passage inside a cave. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "(Bit of a) Tosser," "Merlin's beard," "Mind if I use the loo?" "Rubbish," "Creepy bloke," "Exceptionally ordinary," "Brilliant!" "Turn around, you lunatic," "Shut it," "Not bloody likely," "(Oh) bloody hell," "Loser," what sounded like "Wussy," "She has her knickers in a twist," "I am the chosen one," "Dragon balls," "Snog" (kiss), what sounded like "You filthy squid," "Bottoms up," "I was completely boggled" and "Always kind of freaks me out." The fighting, stunts and other action might be enticing for some kids to want to imitate. Harry, Ron and Hermione follow Draco and his mother into a shop, and then climb up onto a rooftop to spy on them and others. Dumbledore cuts his own palm in order to smear blood (not seen, due to a wet and dimly lit surface) on a rocky wall to gain passage inside a cave. JUMP SCENES Harry reaches down to scoop up some water when a hand suddenly grabs his arm from under the water. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 hells and 1 use each of "God" and "Good God." SEX/NUDITY Bellatrix shows a little cleavage. We see some brief teen kissing. Lavender plants a big kiss on Ron, thus making Hermione jealous. Later, we see the two kissing in a stairwell. Hermione shows some cleavage. Characters eat "dragon balls" at an event, but we don't know what they are other than they're round and supposedly give the consumer awful breath. Ron complains that all Lavender wants to do is "snog" (kiss) and that his lips are chapped. After Harry returns (following him and Ginny trying to dispose of a book), Ron asks, "Did you and Ginny do it?" (innuendo on the part of the film). Harry then asks what, Ron states "Hide the book" and Harry confirms that. Although nothing explicit, we see various apparently nude and emaciated humanoid beings that appear to be male (the most we briefly see is the side of a bare butt). We see some miscellaneous students making out while standing and clothed. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear (which isn't new knowledge) that Voldemort killed Harry's parents in the past. Ginny's parents worry about her during an encounter with Death Eaters. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Teen romantic longings, love, and intimacy. Magic. Harry being the chosen one on the good side, while Draco is the equivalent on the bad side. The comment that without memory, we leave the fate of our world to chance. There's talk of splitting one's soul -- via murder that rips the soul apart -- in order to keep part of it safe should the body be destroyed. We then hear that Voldemort split his into seven pieces. VIOLENCE A scary looking storm cloud (with a monstrous face in it) looms above the city as Death Eaters zip through as black streams of gas, smashing things and causing general havoc. In human form, they grab a kid, and are then back in streaming gas form, causing the pedestrian Millennium Bridge to start undulating, swaying and twisting until it eventually collapses into the river below it. While we don't see any deaths, they're implied and that's later confirmed via newspaper headlines. Realizing Harry has been cloaked and eavesdropping up above him on a train, Draco uses magic to cause Harry to hit the floor hard and then proceeds to kick him in the face, bloodying his nose, while there's a little on his shirt. We later see Harry holding a bloody rag to his nose. Harry and Ron briefly struggle over a school book (played for laughs). As streaming black clouds, three Death Eater slam into an apparent force field around Hogwarts. There's some bumping and such during Quidditch (flying rugby on broomsticks). Harry, Ron and Hermione hear screams and find one girl watching in horror as another girl slides back and forth on the ground through snow, is lifted up into the air where she floats in slow motion (and screams) and is then dropped hard back to the ground (all from an invisible force). There's some bumping and other such contact during a Quidditch match, including two players who slam into the suspended goal and then fall away. Mad about Ron liking Lavender, Hermione has conjured up some small birds that flitter about above her head. When Ron shows up, she causes them to crash into a door just behind him (they disappear in puffs of magic upon impact). Hermione playfully whacks Harry with a rolled up paper after he jokes that he is the chosen one. Snape pushes Draco back against a wall to inform him of something. At night, a fireball lands near the Weasley's farm house that's then encircled by a ring of fire. Harry manages to run through an opening in that, as does Ginny, with Harry trying to give chase to the Death Eaters, but his point of view is limited by the very tall (over head height) field of grass. The menacing looking Greyback then confronts Ginny, and blocks Harry's blast of magic fired at him. They, Ron's parents and others then find themselves surrounded by the Death Eaters (blocking energy blasts shot at them), followed by the latter sending fire into the farm house, catching it on fire. Ron throws a box of candy at Harry. While under a love potion, Ron falls off the back of a sofa to the floor (we don't see the impact, played for laughs). Horace, Ron and Harry have drinks, but Ron collapses after drinking some of his first as it's been poisoned. He falls to the floor where he has convulsions and foams at the mouth, all as Harry races to save his life. We see that a small bird has apparently died from Draco trying to transport it away and then back to a vanishing cabinet. Draco fires a blast of magic at Harry who avoids that and returns fire, but misses. More such shots are fired, with Harry eventually hitting Draco who's then seen lying on the floor, with blood on his shirt and then mixing in with the water on the floor in the bathroom. Snape then arrives and uses magic to cause the blood to flow the other way and disappear, thus saving Draco. Dumbledore cuts his own palm in order to smear blood (not seen, due to a wet and dimly lit surface) on a rocky wall to gain passage inside a cave. Harry reaches down to scoop up some water when a hand suddenly grabs his arm from under the water. An emaciated humanoid being, and then many others with the same appearance emerge from the water and surround Harry and Dumbledore on a small island. Harry blasts some of them with energy and hits others, but they eventually overtake and then pull him into the water, with one pulling him under the surface and then down. Just then, Dumbledore uses fiery magic to ward off and/or kill those beings. One professor uses magic to blast another out through an open window, with the latter character falling to his death (we don't see the impact, but later see the non-bloody but dead body lying flat on the surface below). That professor then zaps another person in another location (we don't know their fate), while he or the Death Eaters cause property damage in the great hall of Hogwarts. Bellatrix uses magic to set Hagrid's hut on fire (he's okay). Harry tries to blast Snape with magic, but the latter deflects that and sends Harry to the ground. Harry tries again, with the same results. Reviewed July 13, 2009 / Posted July 15, 2009

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