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Jim Broadbent, formally known as Bridget Jones's Dad in the romance community, played Professor Slughorn in Half-Blood Prince. He nailed the character so much so that I could not possibly imagine it played by anyone else, nor would I want them too. Slightly vague expression, attitude a little bit more than merely anxious, and self-serving tendencies of the character were all performed exceptionally. Broadbent has shown his talents and mere words could not do him justice.

Alan Rickman, I confess, I’ve been a little tired of seeing in the Potter films. There’s a lot of emphasis on Snape in previous films in part because of the character and in part because of the actor. Rickman’s screen time was just right in this film, neither too much nor too little, an excellent job via the scriptwriters. His part in this film had we seen before book seven was released would have revealed much of his true character that in print was hard to unwind.

Tom Felton as Draco… let’s just say his appearance reminded me a lot of a Nazi—bleach blond hair and bright blue eyes, highlighted because of his stark all black costumes. He looked much older than the rest of the cast of Six Years. Felton, like Broadbent, did a superb job. He really brought Draco to people. You could be sympathetic for this neophyte Death Eater, something that prior to this movie I would have deemed impossible unless you were Professor Dumbledore.

Which leads me to Dumbledore—Finally, he got a good size role and decent lines. When you see him in action in the cave sequence it blows your mind. It was also great to see flash backs to when Dumbledore was younger. Amazing what a little facial hair manipulation can do. Oh, and Gandalf the Grey/White of The Lord of the Rings, eat your heart out.

Daniel Radcliffe finally mastered the ability to cry believably with sound—thank God! Those tight sweaters he was put in emphasized those shoulders and lean frame to perfection (watch out Pattinson—Radcliffe has got sex appeal too). Yum!

Emma Watson said for her part of Hermione in this film she put a lot of herself. For me, the acting was flawless. I did not see Emma overlay Hermoine’s character once in six, which is something I haven't seen since movie one. Emma was Hermoine and Hermoine was never Emma.

Ronald Weasley acted by Rupert Grint was the comic relief as usual, but you never laughed at him you always laughed with him. The humor in this film really keeps the movie from getting too dark. There were lots of hoots and hollers in the theater.

Bonnie Wright who is Ginny Weasley gets the most screen time she’s ever gotten before in the Potter films. Readers of book six know why this is even if Rowling wrote it in such a fashion as to induce the gag reflex. On screen and because of the screenwriters it actually begins to be credible instead of merely ridiculously incredible. That was not something I thought I would say. I still don’t like her though.

Jessie Cave as Lavender was the perfect actress to cast. She was fun and intense, but never irritating or annoying. She’s a cute girl in both looks and expression. I don’t see how Won-Won could resist!

Evanna Lynch once more shows why she makes the best Luna Lovegood. I don’t think I need to say more than that because the picture below says it all.

There were some disappointments in the movie, but it was not because of the cinematography or acting. The disappointments lay elsewhere. One place was the Weasley home sequence, seeing it brought me around enough to like it instead of outright hating it (I'm a purist), but I wonder how it will affect the upcoming tale of Deathly Hallows.

Movie six was smoothly told where book six was choppy. A reader could infer most of what was going on with little doubt as to the correctness. A very attentive and smart viewer could do the same. The specifics I won’t reveal because that would ruin the movie for non-readers.

Suffice it to say, Half-Blood Prince earned it’s rating.

Rating: Five Stars, best yet in the set.

PS - you should have heard the crowd go wild for the New Moon trailer. It's going to be huge.

PPS- I went as Rita Skeeter after being forced out of her writing career by Hermoine. See picture below: