Who's In It?

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint is Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, with Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and many more. 

Who Made It?

Chris Columbus

Where's The Web site?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

What's It About?

The Harry Potter phenomenon has swept the world with each of the 4 books in the series getting progressively longer, and the variety of readers not being able to put them down.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone covers the first book in the popular J.K. Rowling series of novels and does it with some accuracy according to the folks who have read it.  Harry has turned 11 and on this special birthday a piece of mail is being delivered to him.  Though Harry’s aunt and uncle don’t give him the mail that is his, Harry does eventually find out the contents.  Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and discover more than he ever knew about his life.

Along the way he meets some interesting characters.  He meets some good friends in the wizards-in-training Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).  He meets an enormous giant Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane).  Harry even gets a chance to play a game of Quidditch.  All of this and so much more awaits the first year Hogwarts student.  So get ready for a ride through a mystical and magical environment that is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Common Guy's Thoughts

The hype that surrounded this film was tremendous and something that takes a monumental effort to even come close to living up to.  Harry Potter does it’s best though, as the film gives us a mystical yet magical look at the fantasy world that J.K. Rowling made popular through her popular novels.  The visuals are absolutely stunning as Chris Columbus’ crew gives us a visual spectacle in the Hogwarts School.  Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry allows Columbus the opportunity to create visuals that fit with the imagination of most of the individuals that have read Rowling’s novel. 

The casting for Potter is absolutely fantastic; Daniel Radcliffe is perfect as the wide-eyed Harry Potter.  He delivers enough wonder and amazement along with the cool and collectedness that could be expected.  Two other nice, young actors in Rupert Grint and Emma Watson join Radcliffe in the film.  But almost more impressive is the stunning cast that surrounded the young Radcliffe.  Veteran actors Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and others make impressive showings as the adults that are essential to Hogwarts.  Of course some of these actors needed special coercing from the youngsters in their lives.  Harris’ granddaughter told him that if he didn’t play Professor Dumbledore in the film she would never speak to him again.  Maybe some of these folks should listen to the kids more often, as the roles that they fill add a touch of class to the film. 

Harry Potter provides its viewers with some good, quality family fun.  It is paced well enough to keep the kids interested throughout the film, which is important with its two and a half hour running time.  The run time is possibly one of the only downfalls of the film, as this falls in the vicinity of an epic, when it comes to length.  It is however a very entertaining movie, and Columbus gives us a bit of the feeling that existed in his major blockbuster Home Alone from years ago. 

I didn’t read the books, but I really liked the movie.  If I had anything to criticize it for it might be a little long, and dwell on some scenes too long.  But overall, this is a fun and exciting adventure that can be enjoyed by kids both young and old.  Take a minute, after the lines die down, and check out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  It will be one of the best movies you’ve ever read.

Grade

A-

Parents Guide

Rated PG for some scary moments and mild language.  This really is a very tame film by today’s standards for the entire family.  There will be some individuals that will have some problems with the wizardry aspects of the film, however it really is on not much worse of a level than Bewitched, Sabrina the Teenage Witch or any of the other family themed shows that deal with the topic.  There might be a couple of scenes that scare the younger kids, but overall, kids who have read the book will be ok with the film version. 
 

Back to Now in Theaters Page
Back to Now on Video Page
Back to Home Page