Warner Bros.

THE Harry Potter films have finally shaken off their growing pains and come of age with the magic of The Half-Blood Prince.

It is the boy-wizard's sixth year at Hogwarts and Voldemort is once again trying to take down the magical realm, but Potter and co have more pressing things on their minds - girls.

When Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone first opened back in 2001 the cinemas were full of Potter-mad tweens dressed as their favourite Hogwarts hero.

But somewhere along the line Harry Potter fans ditched the costumes and started shaving.

And in keeping with the trend this film is one seriously hormone-fuelled adventure.

Voldemort and his Death-Eaters try their best, but not even the impending threat of an unforgivable Avada Kedavra curse can stop the love-potioned students having a snog down Hogwarts' winding corridors.

The Harry Potter franchise is maturing in more ways than one - the cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are also growing as actors.

The comic timing that has felt clunky in previous instalments has become electric, with regular laugh-out-loud moments while the emotional peaks, particularly a spine-tingling scene between Harry and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), are truly spell-binding.

As with the books, the films have become increasingly dark and The Half-Blood Prince is, in parts, as black as Snape's robe.

As a result some young children will find parts of this movie truly terrifying.

Even this reviewer admits to jumping out of his seat and showering his neighbours with popcorn on the odd occasion.

At one point a young girl in front had her eyes and ears covered by her father.

My mum did that to me in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom but it is these moments that make the danger in these fantastical films real, and that is where they triumph.

This is director David Yates' second time at the helm and he has really made the films his own with sumptuous cinematography, a gritty realism and a charming ability to not take it all too seriously.

The supporting cast has always been a who's who of thespian brilliance but Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn is an excellent addition to the cast.

TITLE: Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

GENRE: Adventure/Fantasy

STARRING: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

RATING: ****

REVIEWER: Rob Lockyear