After countless months of nearly unbearable anticipation, finally getting to see a new Harry Potter film is enough to land me on cloud nine for a good week or so…which is precisely why I went back last week to see it for a second time. The appeal of the experience lies beyond the fact that it gives me an opportunity to resurrect my Luna Lovegood costume and smuggle butterbeer (butterscotch schnapps and cream soda, in case you were wondering) into the theater. It has more to do with reliving all those emotions in the books — from freewheeling exhilaration to gut-wrenching remorse — in a new and brilliant form.

As a series that many of us grew up with and most of us have grown with in some regard, it is gratifying to recognize that the series, in turn, continues to mature as well. Half-Blood Prince is no longer just a child’s tale. The concepts of dark and light are not clear-cut like they were in the previous films. Before, the bad guys were unconditionally bad, whereas now an undeniably human quality has colored the ranks of our villains, and the expanse of the morally grey is widening rapidly. In the midst of realizing that the darkest wizard of all time has actually split his soul into various pieces to achieve immortality, this film manages to penetrate to the very core of what it means to be human.

Harry’s school-yard nemesis Draco Malfoy, who was artfully portrayed by Tom Felton, develops far beyond a spiteful and petty troublemaker with a personal rivalry. At the beginning, we see his mother Narcissa (Helen McCrory) making a most desperate plea to Snape (Alan Rickman) with tears shining in her eyes and appearing as though her heart might shatter at the very thought of losing her son. Draco, in turn, visibly struggles with his moral dilemma throughout the entire film, which culminates to him shivering in fear with his face contorting into a pain-wracked grimace when finally confronted with the task at hand.

*SPOILER ALERT* We realize that he is far more interested in impressing Dumbledore with his clever scheme than actually killing him, just as we witnessed him screaming at Snape earlier in the film that he himself is “the chosen one” for the task, paralleling himself to Harry’s status. He’s no murderer; he just wants to be important.

Our new character from this film, Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), while appearing very kind and good for the most part, proves to be drawn only toward students who will someday enhance his own image by association with them. Therefore, he inadvertently enables Voldemort to achieve immortality by dispensing restricted information to the young Tom Riddle merely because he wanted Riddle to like him. Again, this isn’t a tale like Little Red Riding Hood anymore, where the divide between good and bad is quite stark. Instead, we begin seeing the much more three-dimensional view of “bad guys” who are far from evil and “good guys” who do bad things.

The development of Harry, Ron and Hermione is also very satisfying throughout this film. These three grow by leaps and bounds — noticeably more than in any of the other films. Ron, for one, is placed in an entirely new situation this school year. Whereas he would normally be pouting over not being invited into the elite “Slug Club,” he is far too preoccupied with his sudden attention from females and his position on the Quidditch team to care much. Rupert Grint does an incredible job of showing the evolution from the awkward, freckle-faced boy in Sorcerer’s Stone to an adolescent who is finally growing comfortable in his own skin. The Quidditch scene in which he believes he has been given the Felix Felicitas potion is one of the most hilarious parts of the whole movie. Even funnier, perhaps, is the scene in which he has been drugged by a love potion (which appears to have MDMA as one of its ingredients, judging from the way he cuddles with Slughorn and then decides to tenderly cradle a pillow). While he clearly hasn’t matured enough to consciously make wise decisions regarding his love life, that’s probably demanding too much from any 16-year-old.

The primary growing point for Hermione (Emma Watson) in this film involved confronting the peskiest element of life for those who rely on reason — her emotions. It is obvious that if it were possible for one to choose the one they love, Ron most certainly wouldn’t be Hermione’s first choice. Her affections for Ron are foiled by those of the “daft bimbo” Lavender Brown. Lavender, who is played by a very comedic Jessie Cave, is equally entertaining and obnoxious in her over-the-top infatuation with “Won-Won.” However, scenes of Hermione attempting to repress the lop-sided smiles that cross her face while watching Ron play Quidditch reveal the pure sincerity of her fondness. Watching her break down after Ron and Lavender initially hook up is a very powerful scene for her. She isn’t riled up over house-elf inequality or the importance of students receiving proper Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. This is purely a matter of the heart.

One of the last scenes of the film, which actually beat out the Department of Mysteries scene from Order of the Phoenix in phenomenal special effects, featured Harry and Dumbledore traveling outside of Hogwarts to acquire a Horcrux. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) must drink a potion in order to attain it while Harry must promise to make him finish it, no matter what may happen. Michael Gambon has done an exceptional job of portraying the intelligence, quiet strength, and eccentricity of Dumbledore in these last four movies. After drinking the potion, we begin to realize that he is not all-powerful or invincible. Wracked with sobs fit to break your heart, we see just how human and mortal Dumbledore really is.

Even though I have read all the novels, it was still surprising to watch Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) force-feed Dumbledore the rest of the potion, despite the extent of pain it was causing him. In the past, Harry had defiantly (and often stupidly) ignored advice and broken rules in an attempt to make everything end up perfectly. The realization that he cannot make everything turn out the way he wishes by force of will has marked a serious shift in maturity for his character.

Finally, the most notable departure of this film from the previous ones is its ending. While Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix both ended with the deaths of important characters, they still left viewers with the feeling that good would inevitably triumph and everything would turn out all right in the end. This film ends with an undeniable sense of foreboding.

*SPOILER ALERT* The only wizard Voldemort was truly afraid of has perished, and Harry reveals his plans to leave Hogwarts for good in a quest to destroy the remaining Horcruxes, which will obviously be infinitely more dangerous than sitting in Charms class at Hogwarts.

I was initially very disgruntled at the fact that the IMAX 3D Experience version of the film would not be released until July 29th, but looking on the bright side, *NERD ALERT* it does give me a damn good excuse to see it for a third time.