Funnily enough, Metacritic is way behind the curve this time around and doesn’t have many reviews up at all. Meanwhile, RT has too many. Either way, their “top critics” have given Harry Potter a unanimous 100%. As far as I can tell, though, these aren’t the kind of reviews that put the thing way over the top, as they seemed they might be going in. Kenneth Turan’s review is good, but as expected. And Manohla Dargis writes:
Are we there yet? Well, not quite. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” the latest big-screen iteration of the global phenomenon, is merely the sixth chapter in a now eight-part series that, much like its young hero, played by Daniel Radcliffe, has begun to show signs of stress around the edges, a bit of fatigue, or maybe that’s just my gnawing impatience. Not that the director David Yates doesn’t keep things moving and flying and soaring, his cameras slashing through the gloom that has settled onto this epic endeavor like a damp, enveloping fog and at times threatened to snuff out its joy as terminally as a soul-sucking Dementor.
All around good reviews. But just good reviews.
71 Responses for "Harry Has 100% Top Critics"
The common consensus seems to be “Great cinematography, great sets, great score, great acting by the vets… but its just another chapter until greater things…”
Which I think is a disservice to director, screenwriter and the author, who seem to have crafted a truly beautiful film.
I agree with Matt. The screenwriting is really a wonderful aspect of the film.
EW just gave it A-
Not seeing HBP until Thursday night, and I’m looking forward to it but basically, I will believe all the hype when I see it. I get nervous when I hear more about the cinematography than I do about the story.
Metacritic hasn’t updated its Half-Blood Prince page in a couple of days.
Rotten Tomatoes = Gryffindor
Metacritic = Slytherin?
Or is it just that all the Metacritic elite are too involved watching Sotomayor’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings?
Turan’s comment:
“As they head toward the closing episodes — Part 1 of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will come out in 2010, Part 2 in 2011 — it becomes clearer and clearer that these films are a law unto themselves: cozy tales told around a cinematic campfire that have managed to reach out to the world.”
Easy to say; very, very hard to do….
It is entirely possible that the professionals who vote for Oscars will have more natural respect for the filmmakers accomplishment keeping a long form story alive than critics who have the problem of writing about a story their audience knows as well as they do, even if they have not seen the film yet. I sympathize with their dilemma, but this cinematic accomplishment has earned the honor of Academy recognition.
as Sasha presciently said when the Two Towers was released – it’s too big to ignore.
Schwarzbaum in EW:
“But the story is, still and all, only a pause, deferring an intensely anticipated conclusion. And it’s in that exquisite place of action and waiting that this elegantly balanced production emerges as a model adaptation. By now, as played with utmost loyalty to the cause by some of Britain’s most illustrious actors, the supporting characters are as familiar as the population of Homer Simpson’s neighborhood (and that’s a great compliment). Yet with a big assist from cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel — a Potter newbie who memorably shot Amélie and Across the Universe — the filmmakers have found a way to refresh our eyes and enhance our appreciation for this rich, amazing creation. A-”
I’m seeing it tomorrow and I am so excited.
“It is entirely possible that the professionals who vote for Oscars will have more natural respect for the filmmakers accomplishment keeping a long form story alive than critics who have the problem of writing about a story their audience knows as well as they do, even if they have not seen the film yet. I sympathize with their dilemma, but this cinematic accomplishment has earned the honor of Academy recognition.”
Well put bob burns.
Potter’s Oscar chances will be on 2011. It may see its first BP nom this year, but I think critics are still more keen on Star Trek than on Potter.
Will be seeing this next week, when I start my holidays. Can’t wait.
“Bruno Delbonnel — a Potter newbie who memorably shot Amélie and Across the Universe…”
He does great work! Can’t wait to see the film!
I don’t think saying the reviews are merely “good” is quite fair, as not only is it sitting at 100%, but it’s got an average score of 7.9/10, which is quite good for Rotten Tomatoes. The best of the best pic winners are lucky to have an average that high within the Top Critics. For comparison’s sake, Brokeback Mountain has an 8.1 average, No Country For Old Men an 8, and The Departed an 8. And because Metacritic’s scale is very similar to the average score on RT, you can expect Potter to be in the high 70’s or low 80’s once they are all updated, which is quite good. When all is said and done, it seems it will be one of the best reviewed films of the year.
Of course, this is assuming the reviews remain consistent into tomorrow. We’ll have to wait and see.
Oblivious metacritic, seemingly unaware the movie opens tomorrow, still logging only 4 reviews. We’ll have a better view of the range of praise if they ever get their act together.
Oh puh-lease. If these same reviews were for something like “The Wrestler” which you tools drooled all over last year, you’d be super-excited about how it had a 100% Meta-Critic and talking it up as an Oscar contender. Don’t downplay this sh*t because of your biases.
Well said, Matt.
If a movie is indeed rated as on of the 10 best of the year, why can’t it be ranked as such when year-end accolades come in?
I really don`t care if reviews are just good or more than good. It`s a summer blockbuster with 98% on RT. That`s not typical and at least we are getting something of Star trek quality if not more. Definitley not another Bayshit, Wolverine, Terminator:Salvation (which I didn`t hate thanks to Worthington, Yelchin and Bloodgood/Goodblood/Bloodsomething/Somethingblood, but I know many people did),Spiderman 3, etc. Oscar nom or not, if remaning movies in the series manage to keep the score above 90%, DH part 2 is likely to get a nom for the whole franchise. So, yeah, keep building up the momentum.
methinks Sasha is “just not that into” Harry Potter
I never thought I’d quote Peter Travers (he’s too busy trying to get quoted, himself), but he seems to refute what criticism there is about character and plot development in HBP:
Peter Travers:
“The rap on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth of Rowling’s books to be filmed (No. 7 will be two movies), is that it’s an interim tease, all buildup and no release. Like that’s bad. Like character and motivation have no place after Michael Bay banished them in”
its a shame the final Harry potter comes out in 2011, if it is oscar worthy itll go up against the hobbit, and i really see no chance of both being nominated, and I know the hobbit will own HP, but its a shame none the less
I`m with you Bill. It`s unfortunate that they are releasing last HP and first Hobbit in the same year since The Hobbit has more clouth and will take away from what I hoped to be a trully memorable send off for HP. I mean, 9 frakkin` years!Kids gowing up before our eyes! There will never be movie series like that (thanks to wonderful books!).
2011 is going to be tough for me because both HP and Twilight are saying good-bye. I feel like crying already.
No adaptation for Breaking Dawn?
Yes, there will be Breaking Dawn in summer 2011. So says the studio.
Is The Hobbit’s rep really that great? LOTR 1&2 didn’t get any major Oscars, and it seems that LOTR’s rep>Hobbit’s.
Well, if they still have 10 nominees at that time, hopefully HP can sneak in. Of course, this coming from someone whose favorite book series is HP but who only really likes the 3rd film out of the first 5. But the same director doing the entire last half of the series makes me hopeful.
Also, I checked past EW reviews. 1st Potter in the A range.
Hobbit has better rep because it`s a classic book, a prequel to a movie series with a long Oscar tradition and del Toro`s Pan`s Labirint was also nominated for Best Foreign. That`s too much Oscar to be ignored but worst thing for HP is that the same studio handles both. And my guess is that they`ll push the safe bet rather than the wildcard even if, by some chance, HP turns out stronger of the two. Mind that i`m not sold on del Toro because I find his Hellboy movies and Blade 2 to be very averige, non-epic and, how can I put it, he just doesn`t get the large scale. IMO, he would`ve been better suited for for HP movies which he turned down after some consideration in order to helm The Hobbit. I just don`t think he has the epicness required for Hobbit/LOTR type of fantasy (which is broader than Pan`s and high-school-themed Potter) but he`ll have Jackson`s guidance I guess.
I think that saying that HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE’s reviews are just “good” is a MAJOR disservice. When was the last time a major motion picture received 98% on rotten tomatoes prior to its opening? UP? is that it? From what I remember……yes. don’t get me wrong… STAR TREK was very good… but it was just a nice film in my opinion that will quickly be trumped by HARRY POTTER and further sci-fi installments.
Star Trek was nothing….this movie will be the summer blockbuster that has a shot. These are great reviews and Sasha, love you and all, but every character either supports or deters Harry in these books. Some more than others, but the focus should always be on harry. They did glamorize hermoine a bit too much, but it has remained truthful to the book. She is indeed, as an early post says, a late-bloomer. hermoine, Ron, neville, and Voldemort will all shine in DH….Snape should shine in this.
95% on Rottentomatoes.
Metacritic still hasn’t updated for some reason.
I just came back from watching the half blood prince and to call it a COLOSSAL DISAPPOINTMENT would be an understatement. Yates has done a great deal of disservice to Potter fans who ardently read the book. To avoid spoilers, I won’t discuss any further but any loyal Potter reader would understand what I’m saying. Such a disgrace. The rave reviews over this piece of crap proves my point ONCE AGAIN about critics being bribed into delivering favorable reviews. We saw it with Indiana Jones and the crystal Skull and we are seeing it again now.
It was rushed, major details in the book were chopped off, lacked the suspence element of the previous movies, from the very beginning the entire movie was predictable, no action, no fiesty scenes, cliche-ridden, long melodramtic love scenes between ron and hermoine and the list goes on. A HOT BLAZING BOILING MESS.
Yates should hand over his directing torch back to Alfonso Cuaron.
“Yates has done a great deal of disservice to Potter fans who ardently read the book.”
What happened!? Did legions of Dementors swoop down out of the screen, sucking all memory of the book’s pleasures from the minds of the audience?
I couldn’t disagree with Afrika more.
I absolutely loved it. But then again I didn’t go in expecting a word for word page to screen adaptation of the book. If I wanted that I would re-read the book.
I thought the movie was fantastic. One of the best I’ve seen so far this year.
Enough said.
I`m seeing it in several hours and cannot wait. I`m also amuzed by IMDB members rant against it saying “PoA all over again”. Lmao, if that`s the “worst” thing they can say about it, I cannot wait even more. PoA was the best movie of 2004. So bring it on.
However, I`m sorry that Afrika didn`t enjoy it cause he was so excited about it. Perhaps second viewing will help? I was very OK,so this is it? about TDK the first time around, because I was in a rush to see it at all (as in tell everyone I saw it) that I really missed the deep stuff. Second time…OMG, I was blown away and got ticket for the next show right after the one I just watched. The rest is history. I`m a TDK fangirl.
its good.michael gambon,alan rickman,daniel radcliffe and tom felton’ act very good.im glad they dont use much more action scenes but i hate where they focus on hermione and ron relationship.its look like teenage movie scenes.
i must say carey mulligan (im glad people discover her),ben whishaw and daniel radcliffe (especailly with equus and my boy jack) are my favorite young actors. im sure they will successfull with their careers.
I could not care one bit what’s cut from the books, as long as they deliver a movie that’s good as a movie first and foremost, and most importantly coherent. Die hard fans claim the 1st and 2nd films are the best, when in actuality they are merely serviceable, okay films, easily the worst of the series, for the simple fact they play like a string of scenes lifted directly out of the book. There’s a reason it’s called “adaptation,” and if things weren’t changed to better reflect what a narrative’s strengths and weaknesses are in film, then we’d be in trouble. I welcome change for the good of a better movie.
1:25 PM central time and Metacritic still posts an 85 with 4 critics….
just sayin.
its pissing me off to Harold, it was time to update a long time ago
sasha I would add cinemetography, jim broadbent, special effects, editing, sound, and art direction to the side bar for this movie, but dont go as far as best picture, deathly hallows is when that will arise
Well Half-Blood Prince broke the midnight record with a $22 million gross. Day 1 for the film is going to be massive.
Metacritic has finally caught up with a ton of reviews. I think the delay was from a sitewide update to their web design. It looks very fresh now. But anyways, the movie has settled at 82 with 29 reviews.
Afrika,
Why again must you be a walking, talking, posting contradiction? Just the other day you were babbling on another forum about how you hoped the movie makers would change the love story aspect of Ron and Hermione to Harry and Hermione. But now you are outraged that the movie makers took some other liberties in the film… Why the change of heart? Oh that’s right, because they didn’t clear it with you, the world’s only insufferable-know-it-all-can’t-possibly-get-it-wrong-because-I’m-black-and-fierce-and-obviously-better-at-anything and-all-things-movie-making-and-everything-else-for-that-matter whiny little snatch.
Reading your posts makes me want to hurl snails. Maybe you wouldn’t be such a bitch if you’d get someone to come scratch that scab off…
Anyways, I loved the film. Definitely the best made film in the series. And I hope it only gets better.
True that, Kelly.
Kelly
can you read? if so, how did you jump to the conclusion that my criticism of the movie was based on the director taking some liberty to change certain aspects? I said I am pissed because “MAJOR PLOT DETAILS” from the book were cut off…I didn’t say that I was pissed because “PLOT DETAILS” were cut off. You do know the emphasis “major” brings to a statement right? rrright. I also refused to specify these “MAJOR DETAILS” because they could be spoilerish (as I said in my previous post). These major plot details which were cut out has nothing to do with the characters and who falls in love with whom. It has less to do with characterization and more to do with other literary devices such as suspence, climax etc etc Anyone who has read the book and watched this movie knows what I’m talking about. Clearly you haven’t so on why are you attacking my post? or do you feel the need to bloat your self-esteem by cooking up useless rebuttals?
The “MAJOR PLOT DETAILS” which were cut off deprived the movie of the major suspence element which the book had and they include changing up the dialogue in the scene where Narcissa Malfoy meets Snape, the final confrontation between snape and Dumbledore, the minimal screentime given to Lupin and his girlfriend etc etc I could go on but clearly, you are clueless.
And yes! and “I’m-black-and-fierce…” and a BILLION TIMES better than you in EVERY SINGLE FACET OF LIFE. You have a problem with that? take it up with God.
*snaps finger and twirls head*
Bye girl, fly girl.
***snaps finger and twirls head***
***Bye girl, fly girl.***
Sometimes Afrika is so butch it frightens me.
Jake G.
…and so oblivious to anyone’s sarcasm except her own that it tickles me.
Jake G.
That’s what YOU think Mr. G. that’s what YOU think
but please, back to the movie.
Down to 80% Metacritic. Hopefully it stays in the 80’s.
More appalling is that 500 Days of Summer is higher, though w/only 7 reviews so far. That POS has one good line that’s not in the trailer, the last word of the film. Bleh.
“Boasts a terrific ensemble cast, occasional thrills and spectacular visuals, but it suffers from a less-than-spectacular plot that’s often contrived, uneven in tone and anticlimactic” – Avi Offer
Offer said it best. The worst in the trilogy in my opinion.
2/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwdXim_9vX0&feature=channel_page
Trilogy, Afrika? Are there only 3 Harry Potter movies?
I could have sworn I’ve seen more than three to date.
I don’t really see how the rave reviews by Scott Foundas and David Edelstein are only ranked as 90 on metacritic. 10 points deducted for what? Penmanship? Maybe because Yates turned in the movie late when we all thought it was due last Christmas?
Kholby
My bad; I wanted to say this movie was the worst in the franchise and the best till date (in my opinion of course) is the third installment which is the Prisoner of Azkaban by Alfonso Cuaron (Y tu mama tambien). My bad.
Afrika, Armond White says that the Potter franchise has never had a good director. Please…we all must answer to the critic who will be vindicated in 20 years. I love reading his two film “reviews”, he just compares the films he’s reviewing with other movies and says how they should’ve been made. Like Potter should be erotic like Twilight and have class-struggle. His reviews are terrible and funny. It’s like a drug…I know I should stop, but I keep going back to the troll.
chrisw
what? did he really say that? The potter franchise is a masterpiece…thanks enormously to the directors who brought these great stories to life. Columbus did an amazing job in making those first two movies relatable to both adults and kids. He introduced the Potter movie era and did so quite nicely. The other directors have been quite remarkable and for him to say sh*t like that is just laughable. He’s probably never even read any of the books. What a wacko
I agree…he’s a wacko. I loved the books and I thought films 3 and 4 were great. 5 was ok. But, I hated the first 2….I’m biased though because the 2nd book almost caused me to not read the others. I’m expecting big things for this. I have no problem with people who hate a movie, but when they aren’t good at explaining why they didn’t like it, like White or a few other critics, it pisses me off a little.
On both RT and Metacritic the reviews seem to be settling just below Azkaban and Goblet of Fire, not quite the best reviewed in the franchise, but still a vast improvement on OotP. Looking forward to seeing it, though I really don’t think Best Pic talk is all that rational.
Guys, I wouldn’t get too excited. Look at the acclaim for the other Harry Potter films, according to RT.com:
The Sorcerer’s Stone – 7.0/10
The Chamber of Secrets – 7.1/10
The Prisoner of Azkaban – 7.8/10
The Goblet of Fire – 7.4/10
The Order of the Phoenix – 6.8/10
The Half-Blood Prince (the latest) – 7.3/10
The Metacritic.com scores have been no different:
The Sorcerer’s Stone – 68/100
The Chamber of Secrets – 66/100
The Prisoner of Azkaban – 80/100
The Goblet of Fire – 80/100
The Order of the Phoenix – 72/100
The Half-Blood Prince (the latest) – 79/100
So what makes this latest one jump out of people’s seats?
100%, take that Twilight!
“So what makes this latest one jump out of people’s seats?”
Indefinable, Jack. Something that can’t be quantified with a numerical value. All I can say is it rocked my world with sustained emotional involvement from beginning to end.
But if we’re just talking numbers, I’d say that metacritic is scoring very conservatively this summer. Minor quibbles are resulting in inconsistent deductions. With both Half-Blood Prince and Public Enemies, failure to reach masterpiece level is being rated as a ho-hum.
(Drag Me to Hell is a “perfect” movie for six critics, but only a third as many were that impressed with Half-Blood Prince? That’s quite fucked up.)
ha, Kay! And yet, I had to lift my feet during the New Moon trailer to avoid getting my shoes wet.
I deliberately didn`t re-read the book so that I can enjoy the movie without being distracted by what was taken out. It`s a great movie, trully emotional. I`m still recovering from the experience.
This is a good year for genre movies with ST, HBP, Drag Me to hell and UP being among the best reviewed of the year. Hopefully, District 9, 9, New Moon will follow the trend and Avatar will be crowing moment.
I`m still recovering from the experience.
I’m so messed up, all night long I’ve been thinking tomorrow is Saturday.
Lol, yeah, that`s what stupid opening on Wednesday does to people.
Everything this year so far has been disappointing. My only hope right now is 9. I saw the previews in the theater yesterday and it hyped me up.
This was far and away the best Potter film, by a considerable margin. This is a jump in storytelling, emotion, craftsmanship and real drama. A jump comparable to, Terminator to T2, Spiderman to Spiderman 2, or Batman Begins to The Dark Knight. Nearly every problem I’ve had with individual films in the series up to this point was pretty much completely avoided in this film. The whole thing just had such an air of “filmmaking” about it, if that even makes any sense at all. Things just unfold exactly as you feel they should, at exactly the right time.
I really don’t see how you can be a Potter fan and dislike the film, and I feel bad for those that did.
Can you finally add HP to your BP tracker. it beat Public Enemies on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
Get with it!
Afrika,
When you make your first feature-length film out of a novel whose readership is equal to or greater than that of any in the Harry Potter series AND do it to perfection without any flaws or delineations from said novel, then I will get down on my knees and give you the best head you’ve ever had. And I will personally scratch off that scab. As long as you haven’t Jheri curled it. Until then, get a grip on reality and realize that a screenwriter and director cannot possibly adapt a word-for-word or even remotely close-to-word-for-word screenplay out of a 600+ page novel. And, furthermore, that silly bitches like yourself should keep their dumb-ass bullshit remarks to themselves.
As to my reading comprehension abilities, I shall quote your July 13th post from the “NY Mag’s Edelstein Raves Potter” thread:
“I begged the gods for a harry/hermione hook-up from day 1. I hope they take some liberty to make it happen.”
I don’t know about you, but the Ron/Hermione love-story has been a “Major Plot Detail” that’s boiled in Rowling’s cauldron for oh, about 7 books. If that don’t make it major, then I don’t know what is. Oh yeah, and Voldemort is going into rehab in the last film. And they’ll end the series with a cake and ice cream party… So, as you can see, I can read! Hooked on Phonics® worked for me!
Kelly
P.S. You’re so fierce! I’m thinking about being you for Halloween!
kelly
I was restraining myself from calling you the “B” word because you are a woman and it might be disrespectful but now that you’ve taken the liberty to use it, I guess everything is fair game. Don’t start what you can’t finish.
Once again, can you READ? or do you feel the need to talk out of you a**? go back and read what I wrote on this thread. I said “MAJOR PLOT DETAILS” which were suppose to enhance the suspence element and climax of the movie were left out. For emphasis sake (since your brain is slow to comprehend basic words), my issue was with major plot details pertaining to the suspence level and climax…NOT CHARACTERIZATION. Whether or not Hermoine and Harry hooked up is inconsequential to my criticism.
Let me quote myself, verbatim (again for emphasis sake)
“These major plot details which were cut out has nothing to do with the characters and who falls in love with whom. It has less to do with characterization and more to do with other literary devices such as suspence, climax etc etc”
You are clearly not a filmmmaker but does that prevent you from giving your half-assed opinions on this forum? NO! So why should I succumb to standards which you don’t follow? lol lol. You are pathetically predicatable.You clearly don’t know what you are talking about. You clearly haven’t even read the book and you possibly haven’t even watched the movie or fully comprehended it. Go educate yourself and come back for a fact-based argument. Until then, you’re nothing but a pleasurable distraction.
“Can you finally add HP to your BP tracker. it beat Public Enemies on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.”
It is not that simple. The Harry Potter films have a history of scoring solid praise from film critics, but when it gets to be awards season, they always seem to get lost in the shuffle.
The fact of matter is, the Harry Potter series is perceived as being “kids stuff.” It is not the type of movie that the Academy perceives as being “prestigious” or “high art.”
As for “Public Enemies,” I think that down the road, it’ll probably be seen as an Oscar type movie due to its subject matter and the names attached to the project.
Fair, but let’s be logical here. The BP category now has 10 nominees, so mainstream films (e.g., comic book adaptations, “kids films”) that traditionally wouldn’t be nominated are getting fresh looks. Not to mention, HBP is the best reviewed HP to date.
In addition, your comment about Public Enemies is completely subjective.
Jack has a point, though. 10 nominees or not, it`s still the same people who overlooked 94% fresh TDK in favor of 59% The Reader because TDK is not baity and The Reader is poster child for Oscar wank-job. The bottom line is, genre movies must work very hard to get there and quality of reviews still isn`t sure-fire ticket to BP nomination. Not to take anything away from LOTR, but, without pulling off a feat of filming 3 movies back-to-back, which was unprescended at the time, things wouldn`t have been so good awardswise despite rave reviews. It was the whole achievement of such a risky task that gave it an extra advantage. In the end, AMPAS rewarded the whole trilogy rather than individual movie. Again, not trying to put the trilogy down but had it been filmed conventional way, it might have not broken the anti-fantasy bias despite being worthy of nominations.
In that regard, if HP ever gets a nom thanks to 10 nominations rule, it`s likely going to be for DH Part 2 as a tribute to 9 years of critical and commercial consistency. If, of course, it is given raves and a push by WB who I seriously see pushing The Hobbit instead for having more clout.
That said, Public Enemy is still up the AMPAS alley more than HBP and if they are saving a blockbuster spot for something, it`s going to be Avatar. With the amount of anticipation (which still hasn`t crossed over to regular Joes and Janes Multiplex but that will change when promo blitz heats up), all the talk of revolutionary cinema and cameron`s return 12 years after he made the biggest movie of all times, how can they not eye it for coveted ratings-booster spot?
We`ll see what happens. If HBP and ST don`t make the BP cuts, at least they should be in for cinematography (HBP) and score (ST).
“Fair, but let’s be logical here. The BP category now has 10 nominees, so mainstream films (e.g., comic book adaptations, “kids films”) that traditionally wouldn’t be nominated are getting fresh looks. Not to mention, HBP is the best reviewed HP to date.”
For HP6 to get recognized as one of the top best pictures of the year by the Academy, it would need some major awards buzz from critics circles, the Guilds, and the BAFTAs. Since HP6 is not the best-reviewed Potter film (that honor goes to The Prisoner of Azkaban), since the other films were considered only technical achievements, I would not place any of my chips on HP6.
Yes, there’s five more slots open, but I would bank on the top ten list to feature films also getting acting, writing, and/or directing recognition.
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