The blocking is superb with some scenes blurring the edges and keeping only our main object of interest in focus, timing and positioning executed with aplomb. Oftentimes, the camera pans or cuts to reveal something in the fringes, to highlight the focal point when it's not centrally located, or literally move our eyes to exactly where the filmmakers want them to be. I can't get over the use of close-ups throughout, or the multiple instances of framing used to hide something on screen. And adding the pedigree of a guy like Delbonnel, with films such as Across the Universe, A Very Long Engagement, and Amelie in his back pocket-all stunning works of art-only makes his job easier. Thankfully, he did not disappoint with his second of three, (make that four as book seven goes to a two-part finale), because, as it was with the novels, Half-Blood Prince is by far the best of the series-until Deathly Hallows of course. I like Yates and was surprised at how much I disliked his first foray in the Potter universe, granted, I felt the book itself was sub-par at best. It just goes to show that it is never the director alone, but also the team he or she brings along. Therefore I guess maybe I shouldn't put all the accolades on one man now I just feel absolutely compelled to do so because so many moments linger in my mind due to the beauty of their composition and use of their environments to stay interesting and exciting at all times. I may have blamed the failures of the fifth film on its screenplay as Steve Kloves was glaringly absent, (he being the writer of each other film, including this new one), but a film is a team effort. Who is Delbonnel you may ask? Well, he is the brilliant cinematographer behind the camera. The tone is perfect, the laughs are many, the darkness is charcoal black-how could this be the same director as the abysmal-in comparison to the rest of the series-Order of the Phoenix, David Yates? Two words Bruno Delbonnel. The reason I bring this up is the fact that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is good enough to warrant the praise and to put the idea in my head about whether to call it a masterpiece. Sure, the three-act structure can be utilized, but without the background info, nor the knowledge that more will be coming, watching a middle installment alone will leave you confused and disorientated. Each tale relies so heavily on those that came before or after that one can never be a truly all-encompassing work. It's a real shame that I could never give a film featuring Harry Potter the status of a perfect film.