Kevin, Web, Lake, and I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in IMAX this past Friday. I lived/loved this book dearly. Each book holds a certain fondness, darker as the series grew, deeper as I realized my penchant for the doomed wizards in the form of sopping wet pages. Beginning with Mr. Weasley's gasp for his wife in the cornfield, I cried the entire film. 5 minute breaks during the bits of comic relief or artistic diversions from the story's horrible fate. Swallowed bawling, I might add. I'm teary-eyed at the thought of the Burrow burning down, not that it happened in the book. A few details stood out, like the young lady's 11 o'clock work release, then moments later, Slughorn's clocks all read 10:35. Dumbledore, the caring Aegis, Luminary. The White Tomb was oppressive. But I was happy to read of all who stood before him; the grounds of Hogwarts covered with people who loved him; the mermaids' song. It was treacherous to omit this symbol of allegiance from the film. Commensurate with the disregard for Neville Longbottom's story in Film 5. It was unnecessary to show the memory of Tom Riddle's horcrux pursuit two times. A 10 second scene of the masses would've pleased me. Unnerving as it was, I very much enjoyed this film. There will often be disappointing aspects when books are made into films, especially when they are heartfelt stories. But, berloody hell, it's Dumbledore!