Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Six Harry Potter fans went to see the movie on opening day. Our group consisted of four women and two men, all at least middle age, all but two have read the first book (or more). All of us loved the movie and the two who hadn?t read the book agreed they really needed to do that now.

My expectations were high. I just love the books and would hate to see them changed even a little bit. All the information I had read said that the movie was true to the book but ran for over two hours. I have seen most of the previews and was even more excited about this movie than I was for any Star Wars movie. We arrived early and were treated to about ten minutes of previews. The funniest being the ?Monsters, Inc? gang playing charades and acting out ?Harry Potter.?

A hush feel over the theater as the opening scenes showed the infant Harry being delivered to the awful Dursleys. Unfortunately, the theater was having a dickens of a time getting the film to run. After every sentence it stopped and a new trivia question appeared on the screen. It took about 15 minutes to show the entire scene and unfortunately we missed seeing the continuity as it stopped about five or six times. I hope, for everyone else?s sake, that was a local problem and not one associated with the film in general.

A brief summary is in order for those not familiar with Harry. He is an unwanted and unloved orphan who is living with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Cousin Dudley. The way Harry understand it, his parents died in the same car crash where he acquired his lightening bolt scar. On Harry?s 11th birthday, he receives a letter accepting him to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and discovers that he is a wizard and will learn how to use his magical powers. Harry also discovers that the dark Lord Voldemort killed his parents in the same time that got Harry his scar.

At Hogwarts, for the first time in his life, Harry finds friendship and acceptance. Although Hogwarts is a strange and magical place, there is enough that we (and Harry) will recognize from our Muggle (non-magic) world. Harry?s best friend is Ron Weasley. Ron has five older brothers and must live up to the high expectations they have set at Hogwarts. Harry?s other good friend is Hermione. She is a studious ?goodie-two-shoes? who drives every average student crazy and is forever warning Harry and Ron that they will get into trouble. The wise headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is a compassionate and beloved teacher. And we certainly understand Harry?s fear of the demanding and frightening Professor Snape. What school would be complete without at least one resident bully? That would be the spoiled rich kid, Draco Malfoy.

Harry also finds new traditions not familiar to the Muggle world, such as new students being sorted into houses by the sorting hat, and eye-popping experience, such as images in paintings that move within and out of their frames. There are even some hair-raising experiences such as riding a broom or playing chess with pieces that give new meaning to the word ?capture.?

Although the movie follows the book quite closely, it seems much more intense. You can read about a Quidditch match one sentence at a time but you cannot watch a Quidditch match one sentence at a time. One member of our group said she was glad there was only one match featured as she was beginning to feel nauseous with all that zooming around on brooms. Hagrid?s attempt to deliver Harry?s acceptance letter had me chuckling as I read about it but on screen I was nearly as frightened as Uncle Vernon. At least until Hagrid opens his mouth and you realize just how lovable he is. A few of the scenes showing Harry with his parents actually brought tears to my eyes. This didn?t happen with the book.

There are several scenes and characters that are missing from the movie, most notably Peeves the poltergeist and the scene towards the end where Hermione solves the logic puzzle. This is more than made up for by the fact that the story sticks to book very faithfully and Ron?s infamous chess match is even better than I could have ever imagined.

Daniel Radcliff is so convincing as Harry. He is full of wonder and excitement and only at the very end do we see an honest, sincere, relaxed smile from Harry. For the first time in his life, Harry sees a way out from under the Dorsley?s thumbs as long as he survives his years at Hogwarts.

Rupert Grint plays Ron Weasley with a hint of Opie Taylor in him. In the movie I get a much better sense than in the book of Ron?s frustrations trying to do everything right, live up to his brothers. This is because the wonderful facial expressions Rupert uses. His face is nearly as rubbery as Jim Carey?s.

Emma Watson plays the perfect little snit as Hermione Granger. She has that holier-than-though look down to a science. But she also allows her human side to show through when Harry and Ron include her in some of their daring escapades. At no time in the movie is it explained that Hermione?s parents are Muggles. So just how does she know all that stuff?

Although the three young actors carry the movie, the adults certainly add to the believability of it. Richard Harris plays a Merlin-like Dumbledore. Maggie Smith gives Professor McGonagall just the right balance between discipline and compassion. And we are all going to want Robbie Coltrane as the sensitive giant Hagrid for our next-door neighbor.

I would recommend to movie to any Harry Potter fan of any age. If your child is able to read and understand the book, he or she should have no problem with the movie. I had heard that the movie was much more frightening than the book and I would agree but I?d add that none of the frightening scenes go on for long and if your child can discern reality from fairly tales this may be a great way to get them interested in wanting to read the book.


Cast and Credits

Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe
Albus Dumbledore Richard Harris
Severus Snape Alan Rickman
Rubeus Hagrid Robbie Coltrane
Minerva McGonagall Maggie Smith
Ron Weasley Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger Emma Watson
Dudley Harry Melling
Uncle Vernon Richard Griffiths
Aunt Petunia Fiona Shaw
Professor Flitwick Warwick Davis
Professor Quirrell Ian Hart
Madam Hooch Zoe Wanamaker



Director Chris Columbus
Screenwriter Steven Kloves

Please note, Epinions asks if I would see the movie again and the only "Yes" choice says I'll wait until it comes out on video. Not me, I'll see this in the theater several more times.