Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix hits theaters a minute after midnight tonight, early enough that some reviews are already hitting papers. The fifth Potter adaptation is the shortest yet, despite a 138-minute running time. It also reflects Harry's maturity with the long-awaited kissing scene that left actor Daniel Radcliffe uncomfortable during filming.
So what are the critics saying? As I write this, it has a Tomatometer rating of 74%, meaning roughly three out of every four reviews are positive. Among the leading critics, USA Today's Claudia Puig gives it *** 1/2 and heaps praise among co-star Imelda Staunton. Time's Richard Corliss calls it a "powerful poignant coming-of-age story." Newsweek has a split opinion, with critic David Ansen saying it never quite takes off, while John Hartl posts that it's "one of the best entries in the series." Roger Ebert, who's slowly returning to full-time reviewing duties asks "where has all the delight and magic gone?" And the Associated Press's David Germain says it's more of the same, writing that familiarity is beginning to breed indifference. And the Kansas City Star's Robert Butler says he's personally indifferent to the whole Harry Potter thing, but says the new, more grown-up installment has a welcome immediacy and that Radcliffe has grown into a performer of substance.
Check the movie out for yourself starting at midnight - and brace yourself for even more Potter hype as the final book hits stores in just 11 short days.