Harry mania returns this week with the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Wednesday. It’s been two years since the chosen one and his potion-brewing, spell-casting crew have been on screen, so I sent intern Steve Thompson to get the scoop on the movie. Read on for his report:

Despite its PG rating, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince delves into the darker side of J.K. Rowling’s book series, and will definitely satisfy any fan’s craving for life outside the muggle world. While the best thing about these movies is the sense of escapism, the two and a half hour flick has elements of romance and death that make it more realistic and mature. Some things stay the same such as the enchanting Hogwarts campus and the familiar faces of Professor McGonagall and Hagrid, but the school-boy rivalry of Draco Malfoy and Harry turns more gruesome and innocent friendships turn into romantic relationships (or at least some snogging). But for those of you turned off by the PG-rating, don’t worry; there were definitely some scenes (mainly those with Helena Bonham Carter’s character Bellatrix Lestrange) that had me scared like a little schoolgirl. The movie is also rife with awkward teenage love moments, but (spoiler alert!) I’m looking forward to a little more Ron and Hermione action in part one of Deathly Hallows due out November 2010. Both Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have expressed discomfort about kissing in the film, but there's something fun about watching these characters grow up before our eyes.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment