Order of the Phoenix online reviews
 

With the fifth film less than two weeks away from being released, reviews are appearing all over the place online. Rather than posting about them all singularly, we will periodically update this article with them.

The Times - "The acting skills of Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have improved, but not enough to truly flesh out the characters and provide the narrative depth that this transitional, plot-advancing film needs."

The Hollywood Reporter - "When the series is finally completed, "Phoenix" may go down as the problematic film, full of plot but little fun."

The Daily Mail - "A comedy that is free of gross-out humour, and the first adventure blockbuster of this summer in which the special effects illuminate the story, rather than replace it. I enjoyed it a lot, and I believe you will too."

Variety - "Considerably grimmer and grittier than the previous pictures in the phenomenally successful series, this new entry finds the young charges' head-on collision with adolescence taking a backseat to their sober confrontation with unvarnished evil."

The Telegraph - "To dwell on a few weaknesses would be to neglect the obvious point - that Harry Potter is older, bigger and darker than ever. And no one would want to miss his journey."

The Guardian - "This is an overtly political film, with echoes of 1984, with the Ministry of Magic cast as Big Brother. Here, Harry embarks not so much on an adventure as a psychological journey - a lonely teen racked with indecision and conflicting loyalties ... until it matters. A Hamlet for our time? Probably not, but the darkest moments of Phoenix are a far cry from the comparative innocence of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

The Sunday Mirror - "The film is impressively moody, brooding with bad omens, and while heavy on thrills and drama it has left behind childish schoolroom high-jinks and jolly japes."

The Observer - "It is Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge who will, I predict, steal the show for audiences. She is like a poisonous strawberry cream in a dodgy box of assorted chocs. She is always, viciously, in the pink. Her twinkly eyes and kind-to-be-cruel smile are little masterpieces."

The Sun - "Under new director David Yates, Harry’s latest big-screen outing is darker in tone than the previous four but no scarier than The Prisoner Of Azkaban."

IESB.net - "Whereas previous films have depicted good and evil as the polar opposites of black or white, ‘The Order of the Phoenix’ travels a decidedly grey path throughout."

Evening Standard - "There aren't many surprises or scares here, nor even any major abracadabra set pieces until the very end. Devotees of the series, even as they sink once again into the comforting embrace of JK Rowling's world, may feel they've seen it all before."

Rolling Stone Magazine - "Order of the Phoenix, the best of the series so far, has the laughs, the jitters and the juice to make even nonbelievers wild about Harry."

Empire Online - "Much of the credit for the building tension goes to Staunton’s pathologically cheery character, a walking definition of justifiable homicide. But the stellar supporting cast all gleefully compete to steal scenes, to great effect."

Newsweek - "The storytelling seems occasionally disjointed, but more important, for all the special-effects wizardry, that touch of film magic never surfaces. There's fireworks and action and much swooshing about, but this interim installment seems stuck in one nightmarish gear."

Digital Spy - "The Order Of The Phoenix gradually establishes an identity of its own, mainly thanks to a ball-breaking turn from Staunton as the deliciously despicable Umbridge. Smug, officious and kitted out in a disgusting powder-pink power suit, she rules the screen like a demonic Barbara Cartland."

Manchester Evening News - "WIDELY considered to be the weakest book in the seven-part odyssey of boy wizard Harry Potter, it seems somewhat fitting that the film version of The Order Of The Phoenix is, in some respects, the least satisfying instalment too."

MSNBC - "The new “Harry” turns out to be one of the best entries in the series — mostly because of a villain who is the scariest and funniest heavy to date."

If you find a review, please send it in to us!

Great reviews! but I like to make up my own mind

Finally some good reviews! I was starting to get scared and angry :lol:

What? Why are the screenwriters determined to diminish Ron's character? RON IS HARRY'S #1 BEST FRIEND!!! HE'S THE THING HARRY WILL MISS THE MOST! HE'S HARRY'S RIGHT HAND MAN! WHY DO THEY HATE HIM SO MUCH?! (In the BOOK GoF, when Ron and Harry are not talking, Harry says that he liked Hermione just fine, but "she wasn't the same as Ron." THAT MEANS SOMETHING!!) I am getting more and more aggrivated as the Potter films are released because Rupert's talent is being vastly underused, and they are literally taking away from Ron's wonderful character, making him this cowardly clown who is a bit of a joke...only there for a laugh. AND I'M GETTING REALLY SICK OF IT!

I'm interested to see this film for the actors, but I have a feeling I may have one of the more negative views of the film (Ron-insulting not withstanding) because I'll find it rushed. It's hard to condense, I understand that. However, you have to be able to communicate to the audience what is and why things are happening...especially since it's part of a series and plays an important part in understanding future books. *sigh* I'll be first in line at midnight on July 11th to see the film, but I'm getting more and more anxious about what this film may lack...other than Ron Weasley.

Shannon :hello:

The Variety interview is talking about the slighting of Ron's storyline in OOTP which included Quidditch, Prefect, etc. Luckily it seems like they'll be making up for that in HBP. Also, Harry Potter has become notorious for underusing their more talented actors. It's impossible to hide now. Hopefully, the movie will still be great. I don't know if I can deal with yet another terrible movie. I don't know how such incredible books can generate such mediocre movies. It's mind boggling especially given the amount of money they spend. Based on the long trailers I really thought there would be an improvement this time around but after seeing the way the WB promoted the movie, I wasn't too sure. I really need to see the movie myself.

If you compare OotP to the other HP movies, I don't believe that it will be as "good". OotP isn't nearly as exciting of a book as GOF, but it isn't supposed to be. I wonder if any of them have read the books :hmm: Maybe that would help them to see what was really happening.

I'm sure they've read the books but they probably don't have that true feel for it as we fans do.

I'm really excited to see the movie. Buying my tickets today as a matter of fact for the midnight showing. And most people really didn't like book 5 as much as the others but I just finished reading all 6 back to back and believe it or not OotP was my favorite this time. It kept me on the edge of my seat more then any of the other books. I couldn't believe it because when I read them all for the first time I HATED this book with Umbridge, and PoA was my favorite. Not sure if it's cause I'm older now on this reread or just because I read them all back to back or for the mere fact that I've read HBP too. It's just my favorite now. :-)

I disagree with the less than kind reviews even though I have yet to see the movie for myself. It will be amazing just because it happens to be Harry Potter. I hope the movie does the book justice.

And I can't wait to finally see the movie!

tough critics!!!O_O


I'm still seeing it! there's nothing bad you can say that can make me not want to!!!:poke:

they sound good!! at least better than the previous ones!!!

Great interviews and reviews yeah

It's so funny when you read reviews of a movie whose original story the reviewer doesn't know.
I just can't wait to see it! 3 weeks for me!

It really irratates me when they attack Dan, Emma and Ruperts acting abillities. I've always thought they do a really great job with the characters. The one that attacks the kids really attacks Ralph Fiennes they make him seem like the worst actor of the decade. But something I've noticed about critics like this is usually I have just the opposite opinion once I see the film.

Those reviews are really sending mixed messages!!
Well I guess everybody has their own opinion on diffrent movies...but for me OoTP look like the best HP movie so far! =)

To me it looks the best because we get to see new places in this movie. The Minstry and Azkabazn and Sirius home. To me they just look so awesome I can hardly wait.

there are definetly some hard critics but im glad that they weren't bad.

Okay just bought my tickets and will be able to tell what I think in 10 days. :-D *Does a jiggy dance*

i'd like to make up my own mind.i alrdy love hpotter so i will love d show..it's whether it's better or worse than prev. potter films..dan,emma alrdy said this potter film is the best n d darkest yet etc...

some critics r just 2 critical...potter films r a genre of their own...

I don't like the sound of some of them.