Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

*****Spoilers Contained Within***************

So it took two tries but I was able to see the highly anticipated (by me) sixth installment of the Harry Potter series both last night and today.

It's a long story but needless to say, I saw the friggen thing, and was in no way whats so ever disappointed.

I loved the movie. From the opening sequence, Dumbledore placing his uninjured hand on Harry's arm and ushering him to saftey after the happening at the Ministry that concluded the fifth film through the films final shot, I was absolutely captivated.

I will say only this in criticism, I don't think there was a need for the added scene where Death Eaters attack the Burrow. It wasn't needed there, and doesn't make a ton of sense. Aside from that, I am totally ok with all of the additions and subtractions that were made.

Many of the things that bothered me in the past were centered around the important details that were left out (who made that darn Marauder's Map anyway?) and the poor acting or directing, specifically with the adult characters and Michael Gambon's Dumbledore.

I had no issues with these factors in this film.

Snape was his best, Dumbledore was great, Slughorn although different from what I pictured was wonderful.

This according to Salon.com:

"By the series' completion, Yates will have directed half of the "Harry Potter" movies, and that mutes the surprise element a bit. But "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at least ensures that the franchise's remaining movies are in good hands. Yates understands the bond, and the continuity, that's so essential between the old and the young. In one of the movie's loveliest scenes, Broadbent's professor Slughorn, slightly sozzled, describes to Harry a piece of magic worked by one of his former students. He describes this wonderful, delicate feat so vividly that his words are more effective than visuals would be. And, as it turns out, this bit of magic had been worked by Harry's long-dead mother, Lily. It was, Slughorn tells Harry, peering at him as if through mist, "the most beautiful magic." That's a measure of how subtle a spectacle Yates has given us with "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The most beautiful magic in it is left unseen. And still, it emerges with absolute clarity."

The scene with the "Lilly" was perfect.

The subtle changes to the plot did not ruin the film.

The thing that I liked the most was the humor. The film was very funny without being a comedy. The young people, specifcally Ron, were hilarious. I really loved this film.

I think that it will be interesting to see how they mix in some of the plot items that were left out. We never learned about Marvolo Gaunt or Hebsibha Smith, we didn't see Bill Weasley and Fleur.

The film ended with a little hint about Ron and Harry growing apart a bit, which will be interesting to see how that develops.

I love that they have about five hours of film time left to bring this all together. And I now have complete faith in David Yates and company, I was happy with Phoenix and loved Prince.

Worth the wait. It was perfect. And Harry has the fever.