Why "Half-Blood Prince" is the best one so far

SPOILERS, OF COURSE.

• The performances are spot-on. Aside from the usual exception of Emma Watson as Hermione, the acting in "HP6" is tremendous, especially from elder statesmen Jim Broadbent (making his "Potter" debut as potions teacher Horace Slughorn), Michael Gambon (who owns as Dumbledore) and of course Alan Rickman, who has done huge things with tiny amounts of screen-time in all the "Potter" flicks as Severus Snape. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint get their strongest outings too, thanks to their big comedic moments. Best of all might be Helena Bonham Carter, who also does so much with so little as Bellatrix Lestrange. (Forgive me, Albus, for I have impure thoughts about this Deatheater ...)

• It's absolutely gorgeous. None of these films are ugly, mind you, but this new one has some truly haunting images. Many are obvious -- the majesty of Hogwarts, the fiery confrontation in the cave, the jaw-dropping opening sequence -- but the film also impresses when you don't expect it. The Weasley Twins' magic shop is a feast for the eyes, but the image that will stay with me is that of Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange walking among those narrow, rain-soaked passages en route to their meeting with Snape early in the film.

• It's easy to follow. This is no small feat. Everyone cites "Prisoner of Azkaban" as the best of the six films -- and it is rather good -- but the Shrieking Shack scene made no sense to me, as I hadn't read the book yet. Reading the book shouldn't be a prerequisite for enjoying a movie, and a movie adaptation of a book shouldn't be expected to be faithful to the letter. Movies and books are two totally different animals, and should be treated as such. But I digress ... "HBP" succeeds because the story's big MacGuffin, the Horcruxes, are clearly explained, and everything that follows that explanation makes sense. I can't say the same for the prophecy sphere in "Order of the Phoenix," or why exactly Sirius Black died minutes later. (Was it the Avada Kedavra, or was it falling backwards into that ghostly gate thingie? I dunno.)

• It's really funny. The best bits of "Goblet of Fire" were the funny bits. "HBP" has more of those, and a much, much better story to hang them on. The conversation between Harry and Ron about Ginny and Hermione's skin is golden.

• No Dursleys. What a relief. They are always the worst part of any "Potter" film, and their absence was as welcome as anything else.

• Nicholas Hooper's score. John Williams' original theme is used sparingly, and now seems out of place in the new "Potter" universe. Hooper's score is dark and disturbing when it needs to be, but also reprises the wonderful new theme for the Weasley Twins that was introduced in the fireworks scene of "OotP." There are rumblings that Williams will return to score the "Deathly Hallows" films, and I'm sure he will make the proper tonal adjustment, but part of me hopes Hooper is allowed to continue along with director David Yates. These guys were no-names a few years ago, and now they've helped deliver the two best entries in an enormous fantasy franchise.

• Love is in the air. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny have led such tragic lives, and we've been watching them for eight years now. So it's a relief to see they've found love amid the chaos. Those of us in the know are expecting our happy ending; unfortunately, we can't expect the same for Remus and Nymphadora.

• It makes us want to see the next one right now. I have never felt this sense of immediacy after a "Potter" film before. When the previous ones ended, I felt satisfied; this one leaves me wanting more. And boy are we gonna get it -- "Deathly Hallows" part 1 comes out next Christmas, with part 2 following in the summer of 2011.

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Click here to read Daily Herald Film Critic Dann Gire's review of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."