Review: ‘Prince’ brings more Potter excellence

Full Story atCNN.com

In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the sixth film in the Potter series, he’s like a marathon runner who senses that he’s got this course beat: He’s still pacing himself, but there’s a definite spring in his step.

Potter’s confidence seems to be a product of Daniel Radcliffe’s authority in the role as much as anything. He’s decided he’s the hero of the piece, and he’s happy with that; Radcliffe plays him with such implacable conviction and such lightness, it’s becoming harder to worry about the character’s plight.

He can be reckless and impatient, but by now he’s essentially untouchable. His chums may be prey to hormonal surges — buckets of screen time is devoted to Ron’s love life and Hermione’s lack of same — but our Harry stays focused. While Ron moons over his girlfriend, every night Potter takes a textbook to bed with him.