In the most recent installment of the series of films based on the popular novels by J.K. Rowling, the kids are growing up.

It’s the sixth year at Hogwarts for the trio of magicians that we all know and love. Voldemort is back and, naturally, looking to kill Harry. Malfoy is in cahoots with the Deatheaters, secretly training on his own in order to complete a task assigned to him by the Dark Lord. Something is sketchy with Snape, and the new Potions Master has a secret he’s hiding. Same as it ever was.

The sexual tension in the film is so dense that you could cut it with a knife. A machete, even. Harry loves Ginny, Ginny likes him back. Hermione finally admits that she’s in love with Ron. Ron is dating Lavender Brown, Lavender Brown is crazy. Ron realizes he loves Hermione.

Hormones fly and dart around as frequently as light flows from an Olivander wand. And that’s what makes the movie fabulous—because what would love in the wizard world be without Lavender Brown? Nothing. She’s obsessive and hilarious, and if wizards had Facebook, she’d be creeping all over Ron’s profile.

The scene in their dorm room, when Harry and Ron discuss the qualities women possess that drive them wild, is pure perfection. There are love spells and a Quidditch player in love with Hermione. It’s your basic high school love story type film, except with dark wizards and bad-ass spells.

The acting isn’t great. Not even really all that good. But it doesn’t matter. The characters finally grow up and finally fall in love. And they kiss, which is better than most kid’s movies in which the main characters leave the viewers in perpetual anticipation of that perfect first-kiss moment.

Even though there isn’t all that much fighting in this film, there certainly are lots of high intensity moments. In one scene, Harry and Dumbledore apparate to a remote cave location, and when Draco has his wand pointed at Dumbledore’s throat—so intense.

And of course there’s the massive culmination of all the film’s effort—the grand conclusion of the movie. The ending leaves readers wondering if Snape was loyal or if he really betrayed Dumbledore’s trust, which is a great lead into the next film— which is being divided into two parts.

In comparison to previous Harry Potter films, this installment was a bit of a letdown. And a lot was left out from the books (which is to be expected, I suppose). However, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a decent film. Not the best I’ve ever seen, but certainly entertaining. I’d give it a 1.5 out of 3 crowns.