Everybody's a critic - 'The Order'

One and a half stars (out of four)

"The Order" is a mismatch of movie plots. We have a hint of "The Exorcist," "Eyes Wide Shut," "The Thornbirds" (sex with a priest), and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (remember the movie's finale)? "The Order" deals with the idea that there exists a Sin Eater, an entity that can take on the burden of a person's last confession, and thereby release the dying person's spirit as it takes flight from the body and the mortal world. A character suggests in the movie that if only Hitler could have had a Sin Eater in his bunker, he would be sitting in Heaven.

The idea of a Sin Eater is intriguing, and if the plot had explored that angle, the movie might have been very good. Alas, it didn't, and the movie is left with only visual effects and good acting by Heath Ledger and Benno Furmann to recommend it.

- Mary Stone, teacher

1/2 star (out of four)

I had not heard a thing about this movie, so I had no preconceived idea about what to expect from it. I must say I was very disappointed.

The movie is extremely dark and morose, full of deceit, betrayal and lies, depicting every character as weak and unable to hold onto anything they believe to be right. Nor were they able to be true to the vows or commitments they made.

I am not a member of the particular church that is singled out in this film, but if I were I would be very insulted. Come to think of it, as a Christian I am just as insulted.

This type of movie shows evil as stronger and any concept of God or goodness as weaker. I find this to be as laughable as I found the plot to be ridiculous.

- Sharon Metzger, registered nurse

One-half star (out of four)

I give this movie 1/2 a star because they made it. It was boring, no real plot, the acting was terrible and the story line, if you could call it that, was no story line. The first 15 minutes I thought it might be something worth watching. As the movie went on, it got worse and worse. The acting was terrible as were the so-called scary parts of the movie. There were none.

Don't waste your time. If you do go it is not appropriate for children and in my opinion not fit for adults who have a brain.

- Renee Pickett, retired nurse