One thing I love about Harry Potter movies is that they appeal to all age groups. We saw "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" last night, and the people in the theater spanned at least eight decades, kids from 8 to 80. Aside from that, it’s just a really great production with beautiful cinematography, stunning locations, and thoughtful performances. And oh yeah, a fantastic storyline that hooks you from beginning to end, even if you’ve never read the books by J.K. Rowling. My only complaint is that at 153 minutes, it’s a little long. But I’ll forgive that one thing, and not even mark it down. 

We catch up with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his pals Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) well on their way to young adulthood. Along with the spells, wands, and broomsticks, we’ve got three kids dealing with hormones and young love (and lust!). It’s been fun watching them grow up on screen, and like seeing old friends again in this latest installment. 

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For anyone who’s paying attention, the Vatican has changed its tune on Harry Potter. Just a mere four years ago, the wizard movies were condemned by the Pope as a corrupter of children, ”a subtle seduction, which has deeply unnoticed and direct effects in undermining the soul of Christianity.” Harsh!

But his Holiness has softened a bit on the Hogwarts clan. Yesterday, the Vatican’s official newspaper praised the latest movie, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” noting that it makes clear that good must prevail over evil. It also gives a big thumbs up on the film’s treatment of adolescent passion.

The article in L’Osservatore Romano also notes that this is the best adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novels. The paper once said Harry Potter was the "wrong model of a hero," and lumped the books in with two other British fantasies, C.S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia” and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”

What’s your take on this? Think the Vatican has it right? Or should we even care what they think?

Image: TM and (c) 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc; Source: The Guardian

On the MTV Movie Awards awards last night, a new clip from "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was shown. Professor Dumbledore is showing Harry a memory that reveals something about the early beginnings of Lord Voldemort. Check out the clip on MTV.com.

Early buzz for this 6th installment of the Harry Potter franchise - which hits theaters July 15, 2009 – hasn’t been that great, but I’m still looking forward to it. I mean, it’s Harry Potter!

Interesting that it’s rated PG (for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality), whereas the last two — "Goblet of Fire" and "The Order of the Phoenix" – were both rated PG-13. In one way, it’s good that "Half-Blood Prince" is more family-friendly. On the other hand, you wonder if they’ll lose some of the intensity with the milder rating.

Image: TM and copyright, 2009 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Ok, so here’s a question I’ve been mulling over. I’m a big fan of the “Harry Potter” series, but let’s face facts. It’s coming to an end soon. We’ll have to move on. And I don’t know about you, but I need a new series to follow and “Twilight” just might be it.

But “Harry Potter” is SUCH a good series with great characters, an interesting story, and awesome effects. We’ve got both “New Moon” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” coming up this year. It’ll be interesting to see how they compare at the box office. Will “Twilight” measure up in the long run?

Vote in my poll and tell me your reasoning in the comments below! n

Photo Credits: TM and (c) 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc; TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Emma Watson, a.k.a. Hermione in the “Harry Potter” movies, has said she plans to retire from acting after the series ends. Or at least try different things, like theater. But apparently, her thoughts on this in the May issue of Interview magazine irked a few people.

"I was a little bit shocked by people’s responses,” she said. “Maybe it’s because, at the moment, there are so many people who want to be famous, so how could I not want this? Or, how could I not want to keep it forever?"

So would she come out of retirement to do another “Harry Potter” movie somewhere down the road? Maybe. Just don’t expect her to play Hermione’s mom. “That would be so cringe!" she said. “Don’t you think people would be bored of seeing me in Potterworld by then?”

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“Can Rob Pattinson become a real movie star?” is the question being asked by The Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Biz Blog.

It does make you think. Pattinson has grown to fame and become a household name because of the “Twilight” movies and his role as sultry vampire Edward Cullen. But will he continue to get good roles that don’t appeal to the teen/tween crowd?

His first major role, as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter movies, appealed to kids and adults of all ages. Then came, at about the same time, “Twilight” and “Little Ashes,” an R-rated movie in which he played artist Salvador Dali.

Next up is “New Moon,” in which he again plays vampire Edward Cullen, but he’s also close to signing for “Memoirs,” a dramatic movie about family tragedy.

Let’s face it. Playing Edward Cullen made Pattinson a teen sensation, but did it make him a brilliant actor? Will he be able to play these grown-up roles and become a great actor? Or is he already a great actor?

Photo Credit: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s the most recent trailer to emerge for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," arriving in theaters July 17, 2009. I was surprised to learn that the film is rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality. As dark as the trailers seem and with "Goblet of Fire" getting a PG-13 rating, it seemed natural that this movie would stay the course with a PG-13 rating.

In some ways, it’s good. It means more kids will be able to see it. On the other hand, it might mean the film isn’t as intense as they’re making it out to be. Or they could be completely off on their ratings, and maybe it SHOULD be rated PG-13. That happens quite often, in my view.

What do you think? Should "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" be rated PG-13?

“New Moon” has a release date! The sequel to “Twilight” is heading to theaters Nov. 20, 2009.

On that same day, it’ll be up against Warner Bros.’ “Sherlock Holmes,” starring Robert Downey, Jr., Sony’s “Planet 51,” and MGM’s untitled “Three Stooges” project. That doesn’t seem so daunting, not that it would matter.

A story in Variety says the “New Moon” folks are looking to replicate their box office success by premiering the next movie on a similar date as “Twilight.” Really, though, I don’t think it matters when “New Moon” premieres. If the movie aired only one time at 2 a.m., theaters would be packed with fans.

The film franchise most associated with Thanksgiving is Warner Bros.’ “Harry Potter.” But there are only three films left in that series, with just one bowing over Thanksgiving, in 2010.

So with three upcoming movies in the “Twilight” franchise, I’m guessing they’ll take over that Thanksgiving release date.

Chris Weitz recently signed to direct “New Moon,” taking over from “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke.

Join our “New Moon” casting discussion here!

Image: Amazon

ABC Family is airing a few sneak peeks at “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” as part of its “Harry Potter” weekend airing right now. Check out the first one below. The sixth HP movie hits conventional theaters and IMAX on July 17, 2009.

Check out the official trailer for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” in theaters July 17, 2009 (unless they move it around again, which they’d better not). It looks just as awesome as the previous movies.