Reviews of new Harry Potter film slip out on net

LONDON: The first critiques of the film 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' have been leaked on the Internet despite the secrecy that surrounds the release of J K Rowling's fantasy novels or movies based on the series.

There have been limited showings of the film, directed by David Yates, at cinemas mainly in the United States but all reviews are embargoed until July 8. The film will open on July 11 in the US and the next day in Britain.

The buzz on fan sites devoted to Harry Potter, one of the most important franchises in Hollywood, is generally favourable but there are those who believe the film is not as good as its predecessors.

'Ferret', a reviewer on RottenTomatoes.com, said this was the first of the films which did not create "that feeling of being transported to a magical world".

The fifth in the series of Potter films pits Harry and his headmaster Dumbledore against the Ministry of Magic authorities who impose an authoritarian bureaucrat on the magic school.

The four earlier motion pictures based on Harry Potter books are among the highest grossing film series of all times, earning $ 3.5 billion worldwide.