Though critic (and Pope) Benedict XVI was no fan of the original Harry Potter novels — in an unblurbable 2003 review, he opined that J.K. Rowling’s books hold “subtle seductions that deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly” — the Vatican has given a big thumbs-up to the new movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, for some reason! Today, Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano declares HP6 “the best in the series.” Also: “The line between those who work for the good and those who do evil seems quite clear, and the spectator and reader have no trouble identifying with the former” (this means they are basically calling it Oscar-worthy). The news comes just two months after the Vatican’s over-the-top rave for Angels & Demons (“harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity”) — is the pope angling for a writing gig at Ain’t It Cool News or something?
Latest Harry Potter film wins Vatican approval [AFP]
New ‘Harry Potter’ Movie Gets Vatican Endorsement [Arts Beat/NYT]
