Hollywood Product: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (1)

GENRE: The penultimate visit to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

THE PITCH: The romantic misadventures of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his pals Ron and Hermione (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) distract them from the secret plans of Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to respectively hinder and help the malevolent Lord Voldemort.

MONEY SHOTS: Voldemort’s henchmen begin the film with a spectacular disaster-porn attack on a London bridge, and mark the midpoint by striking at some of Harry’s allies. Ron’s showy performance in a Quidditch game. (Surely you remember Quidditch?) In the magical flashback scenes, buildings billow down from above — the film’s signature special effect. Harry and Dumbledore risk their lives in a terrifying mission near an underground lake.

BEST LINE: “He’s covered in blood again. Why is he always covered in blood?” wonders one of Harry’s female admirers.

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(Image courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)