I was one of those devastated Harry Potter fans who vowed revenge on Warner Bros. back in November of 2007 for delaying the release of Half-Blood Prince some nine months.

Did I follow through on any of my threats to: a) boycott the movie; b) send some rather disturbing hate mail to the movie execs; or c) upload a crazed and teary YouTube video, ala Chris Crocker? No, I did not.

What I did do was haunt the various Harry Potter fansites for the smallest glimpse of anything that could be deemed as Half-Blood Prince news. I downloaded all of the trailers (and there was a bunch of them), I stared at all the press shots and movie stills for longer than was probably healthy – I basically stalked the movie, ok.

So what was my mood like on July 15 when I finally walked into that movie theatre, box of popcorn and jumbo Pepsi in hand, knowing that Half-Blood Prince, the film I’d dreamed about since its postponement was announced, was going to be rolling in just a few minutes?

Well, if I squealed like a fangirl every time I saw the Half-Blood Prince trailer, you can imagine my delight – scratch that, euphoria overload.

I was practically floating on cinematic-induced cloud 9.

Having read the book (more than once) I was more than a little familiar with the plot, so I was gasping and giggling and – yes – squealing well before the moments that garnered such responses had even appeared on screen.

Some of the funniest moments came, not from the film’s leading man, Daniel Radcliffe, but from lesser-known characters and actors, some of which were making their debut appearance in the sixth installment. Freddie Stroma’s Cormac McLaggen provided some stellar comedic moments, not in the least of which was his slightly stalkerish finger-suck-and-wink over a bowl of ice cream at Slughorn’s party.

I have to admit, I was a tad concerned at David Heyman’s decision to pair high doses of humour and teenage romance with the level of darkness and angst the sixth novel held. I was even more fearful of what the movie would entail when producer Heyman described the film as “fun” and all about “romance and relationships.”

Where’s the darkness, I wanted to scream; where’s the dramatic depth of the Sectumsempra scene?

Thankfully, and surprisingly, I guess I should say, the balance between darkness and the lightness of humour and romance really worked, and I wasn’t left under-whelmed in any way. In particular, the aforementioned Sectumsempra scene was another highlight, albeit an ominous one.

The movie’s only real downfall was the portrayal of Harry’s budding relationship with Ginny Weasley. Throughout their scenes together, Radcliffe seemed stiff and awkward, while on-screen partner Bonnie Wright appeared monotonic and downright bland.

The big kissing scene was actually uncomfortable to watch, and despite the fact that I wasn’t thrilled about Harry and Ginny as a pairing to start with, I was left feeling pretty disappointed by the end of the two-second smooch. All I can say is, thank God it was only two seconds long, and not a full on pash, or I might have gagged into my box of popcorn.

The stand-out of the entire film was definitely Draco Malfoy.

The actor behind Harry Potter’s arch nemesis, Tom Felton, did a brilliant job in capturing the right level of emotion required to really makes fans of the series feel sorry for a character they have previously never sympathized with.

His journey from schoolboy to a soldier of Lord Voldemort’s was a key theme in the movie, and Felton’s acting was spot-on where it should be, over-the-top where it should be, and other times utterly heartbreaking in its authenticity.

Truly, Felton really stepped it up a notch or two in this film, leaving me feeling that he – and not Radcliffe or Grint or Watson – is the shining light at the end of this very long Potter tunnel. I think I can safely predict that the 21-year-old has a bright and lucrative career ahead of him.

That being said, I can’t leave off without admitting how adorable I found Rupert Grint (who plays Ron Weasley) in his Quidditch uniform. If it was up to me, Grint would appear in every single scene, and he would be decked out in tight, yet totally adorkable, Quidditch garb the entire time.

Hot.

And with that emission of fangirlish hormones, I think I’ve come full circle.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is in cinemas worldwide from July 15.

Daniel Radcliffe has targeted homophobes across the globe in a new interview with Attitude magazine, labeling them as “disgusting,” stupid animals who are “thick” and “scared.”

“I just loathe homophobia,” he said. “It’s just disgusting and animal and stupid and it’s just thick people who can’t get their heads around it and are just scared.”

The Harry Potter star – who recently celebrated his 20th birthday – told the gay magazine that while he wasn’t gay (he’s happily dating his Equus co-star, Laura O’Toole) he had no problem with homosexuality, and fully supported the lifestyle choice.

“I grew up around gay people entirely,” the young actor said. “I was the only child in my class who had any experience of homosexuality or anything like that.”

Radcliffe recently came under fire about his own sexuality, and was forced to explain at a recent red carpet event for new film Half-Blood Prince that while he was “flattered” by the rumours, he didn’t bat for the other team.

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Harry Potter star Jamie Waylett has pleaded guilty to illegally growing cannabis in his North London home.

The actor, best known for his portrayal of Slytherin Vincent Crabbe in the hit Warner Bros. franchise, was arrested last April after he was found by police with eight bags of marijuana in his car. A subsequent raid on his home in Camden – which the 19-year-old shared with his mother – resulted in the confiscation of ten cannabis plants.

Waylett’s hearing took place at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London on Thursday, and was adjourned until July 21.

He faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for the production of a Class-B drug.

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He might have a “gay face” and a penchant for wearing pink and paisley print together, but Daniel Radcliffe insists he isn’t gay… kind of.

The Harry Potter actor responded to his own gay rumours when answering a question regarding series author J.K. Rowling’s outing of her beloved character Albus Dumbledore last year.

“I think it’s wonderful that Dumbledore was outed as gay… Half of me thinks Jo Rowling just did that to see if she could p**s off the right wing, but I’m not sure how true that is. I think she had it planned, I think she always knew he was gay,” he said.

He then turned his response towards his own sexual orientation, alluding that he’s straight despite how gay his appearance may be, without actually saying the word “straight”.

“I grew up around gay people my entire life, basically, that’s possibly why I’m quite camp, and some people think I’m gay when I meet them, which I think is awesome,” Radcliffe explained. “It’s always good to keep them guessing [laughs].”

The actor continued: “I don’t go on any blogs or chats or anything, but my friends are demons for them, and apparently someone said ‘Daniel Radcliffe is gay. He’s got a gay face!’ [laughs] I really don’t know what a gay face is.”

Hmm. Well, if girls everywhere were waiting for a Radcliffe admission on which way his door swings before they made their move… I guess they’ll have to keep waiting, because that wasn’t it. Not even close.

Although, he did admit to having a crush on Potter co-star Emma Watson in recent times. Perhaps that is proof enough.

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Daniel Radcliffe isn’t quite sure why girls find him attractive, especially not when they could turn their attentions to a more worthy candidate, in the Harry Potter actor’s view – his onetime co-star and Twilight hunk, Robert Pattinson.

At Thursday’s NYC premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Radcliffe told Usmagazine.com: “Rob Pattinson is a sex symbol. Rob Pattinson is a genuine sexy guy. He’s got the height.

“If girls like short and nerdy, then I’m a sex symbol!”

While Radcliffe is keen to sing Pattinson’s praises on the attractiveness front, the 19-year-old admitted that he hadn’t spoken to his former Potter co-star in years, but had high hopes for a reconciliation at a premiere or two somewhere down the track.

“I’ve said probably three words to him in the last three years and that was before Twilight all kicked off,” Radcliffe said. “But I wish him well. Hopefully, I’ll see him at some point. He’s bound to turn up at one of these [premieres] at some point.”

Sounds to me like Radcliffe has got himself a bit of a man-crush! If he’s lucky, maybe Pattinson will stop by for coffee when he moves back to the U.K. (which, given his dislike for all things screaming-fangirl, could be pretty soon).

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When David Letterman brought her recent wardrobe malfunction to light during an interview promoting her latest film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Emma Watson had only one thing to say on the matter: “At least I’m wearing underwear!”

The 19-year-old actress was embarrassed at the U.K. premiere of Half-Blood Prince when her flowing vintage gown was ripped open during a large gust of wind, exposing her skin-coloured underwear to the waiting photographers and fans.

During the interview last night, Letterman produced a photograph of the upskirt incident, and asked a blushing Watson, “Tell us what’s going on here.”

“Um, this was a small wardrobe malfunction… that happens,” Watson explained.

“I don’t actually remember it happening,” she continued. “At least I’m wearing underwear!”

The rest of the interview was spent discussing her reprising role as Hermione Granger in the sixth Harry Potter film (released in Australia this coming week) and her plans to study at University next year.

“I’m doing a liberal arts degree,” Watson told Letterman, “and I’ll hopefully focus on humanities.”

The British national has previously said she plans to study abroad at an American University, but has not yet revealed which one she’ll choose, as she wants to limit the amount of paparazzi interest for as long as possible.

To watch Watson’s appearance on Letterman in full, click here.

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Rupert Grint might have a little bit of a crush on his Harry Potter co-star, Emma Watson, but the feeling is definitely not mutual, with the University-bound 19-year-old admitting that kissing Grint “felt like incest”.

Watson and Grint had to pucker up for the final Harry Potter film, Deathly Hallows, when their respective characters Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley finally hook up – a scene which has only just been filmed two weeks ago.

When asked if she enjoyed the kiss, Watson said it was the most “horrible thing” she’d ever had to do in her life.

“We did the kiss two weeks ago and it was the most horrible thing I’ve ever had to do,” she said. “Not because Rupert isn’t lovely and there are millions of girls out there who would probably chop their arm off to kiss him, but it just felt like incest. That is the only way I can describe it.”

Watson’s confession over their romantic scene comes less than a week after Grint admitted to his and co-star Daniel Radcliffe’s crush on the young actress.

Bad luck, Rupert. I guess Daniel’s still in with a shot, though.

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Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint has finally admitted that he has a crush on his wizarding co-star, Emma Watson.

The 20-year-old said he found it easy to see why Watson was so popular with male Potter fans, because she’s a “pretty girl” who everyone on set simply adores. He also put fellow co-star Daniel Radcliffe in the firing line, stating that both Potter leading men have a thing for the 19-year-old, who plays Hermione Granger in the hit Warner Bros. franchise.

“A lot of people think there’s something going on [between me and Emma Watson] because I have to kiss her on film soon,” Grint said. “I’ll be honest with you, it’s not something I’d say I’m dreading.”

Grint added: “Emma’s a pretty girl. Have Daniel or I ever hit on Emma? Well, she’s quite popular with the cast. As for who has the worst crush on her – me or Radcliffe – I’d rather not say.”

The sixth installment in the Harry Potter series, Half-Blood Prince, opens in cinemas this week. The last film – to be split in two because of its size – will begin production later this month.

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Emma Watson has admitted that she’s a ‘Twihard’ – the pet name for those who are completely and utterly obsessed with the Twilight series of novels (and now films).

The Harry Potter star, who plays Potter pal Hermione Granger in the films, says that she’s in love with the vampire series and actually felt depressed when she’d finished the last novel, Breaking Dawn.

“I love [the Twilight] books,” Watson told Elle. “My friend and I read them back to back.

“This is so sad, but I literally felt depressed when I finished reading them because I thought, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do now?’”

Perhaps Emma should petition to nab herself a role in one of the later Twilight films? I’m sure with her impressive resume, and the fact that fellow Harry Potter cohort Robert Pattinson is already involved in the vampire franchise, she’d have no trouble getting herself some screen time.

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Warner Bros. has released yet another trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter film, Half-Blood Prince, the sixth installment of the blockbuster series.

The film’s premiere is still months away, but those wonderful people at WB are keeping the fans salivating by releasing a new trailer every few weeks, and today’s latest sneak peek doesn’t disappoint!

Available in HD format, the new trailer proves that the nine month delay has been well worth it, with special effects a stand-out, and awesome action sequences to boot. If the sixth film does its literary counterpart justice, it should be the best of the series so far.

To check out the latest trailer in high definition, click here.

Alternatively, you can view screen caps of the trailer here.