The previous five Potter pics have gotten generally good reviews — yes, even the Chris Columbus-directed first two — and the sixth chapter of the wizard saga looks to be no different ... and maybe even a little better. Could this movie win an Oscar?
"A jerky start of exposition and backstory gives way to vigorous storytelling in the latest chapter of Harry Potter."
— Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
"Dazzlingly well made and perhaps deliberately less fanciful than the previous entries, this one is played in a mode closer to palpable life-or-death drama than any of the others and is quite effective as such."
— Todd McCarthy, Variety
"...for fans both of the films and the books, this is an elegant addition to the canon — even if it is only there to set the scene for the final conflict in the next two movies."
— Sarah Crompton, Daily Telegraph
"Is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the best Harry Potter film yet? Oh yes. Is it one of the best films of the year? Oh yes again."
— Devin Faraci, CHUD
"...for pure fun, adventure, romance and thrills this is clearly going to be the movie to raise the bar for this summer's blockbusters."
— Pete Hammond, Box Office