Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

• Title:  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Director:  Chris Columbus
• Date:  2001
• Studio:  Warner Brothers
• Genre:  Fantasy, Children
• Cast:  Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, John Cleese, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, Zoe Wanamaker
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"This boy will be famous.  There won't be a child in our world who doesn't know his name." -- Professor McConagall

"You're the boy who lived."  -- Hagrid

"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind, and ensnare the senses.  I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."  -- Professor Snape

Harry Potter is beautifully shot, with an excellent young and at the time of  this film, largely unknown cast  -- for the children.  But the film is also rounded out by a who's who of  talented British actors.  However, this first film also has a sense of  whimsy that the later, darker films lack.  Not every detail or scene from JK Rowling's novel is in the film, but the film still is a wonderful adaptation of  the story.  And it's just beautifully, beautifully shot.  Hogwart's Express is wonderful, and looks just as it should.  The boat ride across the lake is beautiful.  And there's a lovely scene of  Harry walking by himself  in the courtyard to fly Hedwig, his owl, in winter, surrounded by snow that, again, is just lovely.

The Sorceror's Stone introduces the world of  Harry Potter -- Harry, his friends, the rules of  magic, the teachers at Hogwarts.  In this fantasy series, one must have a talent for magic -- that is, witches and wizards are born, not made (and parents can be witches and wizards or muggles). But, just being born with the talent for witchcraft doesn't mean young witches and wizards know what they are doing -- thus they must be taught how to use their gifts wisely.  It also involves the noted alchemist, Nicholas Flamel, who developed the Sorceror's Stone (Philosopher's Stone in the original British novel, tho' it was changed for the US novel as well) wgich grants immortality.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione, discover how to be students at Hogwarts, have various adventures (a fight against a troll, exploring the Dark Forest, and a series of  tests when they confront Lord Voldemort).  Most of  the scenes from the novel are in film, though some are shorter.

One thing I loved about the Harry Potter novels, especially the early ones, is they show Harry enjoying and being excited by school -- and not simply because he's suddenly discovered he's a wizard.  For the first time in his life, this young orphan is happy and has real friends -- something sorely missing from his life when he lives with his aunt, uncle, and spoiled, bullying cousin.  But Hermione, a natural student, also loves school.  The novels, actually, get more into her characterization -- showing how her fears of  being behind because she's muggle-born cause her to almost over-compensate.  And Ron, from a large, loving, yet poor wizarding family, has his own issues.  All will be explored more in depth in later books/films in the series.  The school itself  is drawn from the traditional English boarding school.  However, to me, especially reading the books, it reminded me of  college.  I had to keep reminding myself  just how young Harry is meant to be (He's only 11 here).

Recommendation:  See it!  Especially good for children eight and up

Rating: 5

Next Film:  Harry Potter and the Chamber of  Secrets