“The Half Blood-Prince” starts off with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) reading the paper, on which the cover reads “HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE?” Just as one is coming to the conclusion that Harry, being the star of the series, is most likely the Chosen One, we are distracted by a cute waitress who informs Harry she gets off at 11 and so starts the film’s underlying story, one of romance and flirtation.

Just then, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) appears and takes Harry away to the house of Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), now living as a recluse since his days at Hogwarts. For Slughorn carries with him important memories of Tom Riddle, now known as The Dark Lord.

After being dropped off with his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), we begin to see Harry’s feelings for Ron’s younger sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright), but before anymore of their young love is revealed, they are shipped back to Hogwarts to start their sixth year.

As previously stated, “The Half-Blood Prince” is one of two stories; one being the hunt for Lord Voldemort, the other being of relationships, young love and jealousy. We learn of Harry’s feelings for Ginny, Hermione’s feelings for Ron and all the people in between to fuel the jealousy and slow the process.

This installment of the Potter series has a lot going for it — beautiful artwork, scenery and gorgeous cinematography. The ominous, empty feeling of Hogwarts frees the viewer from all the previously in-place distractions, and allows the viewer to simply sit back and marvel at its beauty.

While Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry is boring and wooden, it’s not easy being the star with this supporting cast. Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore steals the spotlight, portraying the Headmaster of Hogwarts in such an uncanny way he easily becomes the star of the show. They’ve also decided to give Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) more screen time and dialogue, making him an even more layered, infinitely complex character and easily my favorite of the series.

For my money, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is the best of the series, gearing ever more towards adults. The film is emotionally gripping, darker, thrilling, visually stunning and masterfully crafted. It is a rare thing when I come out of a movie and realize the film ran two-and-a-half-hours, and I never once checked the time.

Palm Springs Guides Movie Guide Nick Jones rates “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” four-and-a-half Palm Trees

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Desert Cities Guides Movie Guide Nick Jones is a film critic and writer. Originally from the East Coast, Nick followed his family out to California and he now lives and reviews movies here in the Coachella Valley. Nick covers film events in Palm Springs and throughout the Coachella Valley.