The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

July 15 marked the release of the sixth installment of the wildly popular Harry Potter film franchise.

Twelve years ago, the novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was released in Great Brittan. Since then, the novel has spawned six sequels, a huge fan-base, and a film series that is a treat for the mind, the eyes - and the box office.

Sisters Movie House was one of the hundreds of theaters worldwide to show the new film "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince."

Sisters, like any city, found itself under the spell of the young wizards. Take, for example, Emily Brown. Two days after the release Emily returned to the theatre for thirds on the film.

Other long-time Potter fans, Joni and Cory Stengel, told The Nugget, "We used to read them to our boys." Cory enjoyed the series because, "There's lots of action and a lot of creativity with the dark magic that I'd never think of."

The dark magic is even more plentiful in this film then any of the others. The antagonist, Voldemort (Tom Riddle), had a larger spotlight than usual. Harry explored the dark lord's past for clues of how to defeat him; all the while Harry's relationship draws closer to wizard headmaster Dumbledore.

Brian Hackney said, "I like it more than the others mainly because it has a lot more story on Dumbledore's relationship with Harry."

The new feature was shown in a theater that holds 114 people and even two days after the first showing the tickets were expected to sell out. After the film let out, Colton Berk was one the fans who found the movie to be "amazing."

Others were not as impressed as Colton. Cory Stengel thought the movie ended "abruptly." Rory Peterson agreed, "I was kind of disappointed. I wanted more action."

Yet Joni Stengel tried to look on the bright side.

"It made you anticipate the next movie," she said.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will conclude the series next year with a two-part epic.

Jenny O'Connor, 13, said, "I'm really sad that it's ending."