Since David Yates took on the directorial mantle for the screen adaptation of the last three Harry Potter books, the series' presentation, style and mood have finally become consistent. For the first time, they look like one story rather than distinct films with the same cast.
In the sixth instalment, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, the three best friends - Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) - continue to seek out the weak point in the Dark Lord's defences. As they unfold Voldemort's history, they experience plot-turning teenage struggles and hormonal swings.
This film may not be the best in the series, but it lays a lot of groundwork for the two-part grand finale. It's the darkest and most sophisticated Harry Potter movie so far, and the acting from the young cast has improved hugely; Tom Felton's portrayal of Draco Malfoy's inner conflicts are particularly brilliant.
The DVD set is brilliant, with almost two hours of special features. These include eight deleted scenes, and a feature on author J.K. Rowling's year writing the last book. There's also a sneak peak at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This DVD is an utter necessity for all Harry Potter fans.
