It would seem that the movie studios in the United States do not think that the movie going audience would understand the word
"Philosopher" and so they named the film HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. In Canada and in the U.K.
and probably the rest of the world the film is called by the book's name HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE.
During the filming of this 2 1/2 hour movie any scene that had the word "philosopher" was re-filmed as "sorcerer"; so since this
review is being written in Canada then I will often refer to it as "philosopher", okay? Good.
First off I have to say that I loved the movie poster. It is beautifully painted and if you can get one for your children, I'm sure they will
express their appreciation by letting you sleep in on a Sunday or by giving you the honour and privelege of going out and spending
lots of cash on Harry Potter related Christmas presents.
HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S (SORCERER'S) STONE is an adaptation of the first of J.K. Rowling’s
popular children’s novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful
wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a
student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and
help him discover the truth about his parents’ mysterious deaths at the hands of a powerful adversary. Okay that's the press blurb;
now on with the review.
|
"He's farther better off growing up away from all that."
I was able to take in a special screening of HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S (SORCERER'S) STONE.
The screening had lots of parents and children so I had the opportunity to see how each age group enjoyed the film. The first big
problem is that the film is too long (2 and one half hours) for young children. Expect a few washroom visits during the viewing. The older
children seemed to be easily mesmerized by the film. I sensed some adults were squirming in their seats a bit; after all this film is geared towards
children. I have the feeling that the length of this film will prevent many adults from taking their children to see the movie more than once, but,
the dvd and video sales should go through the roof. The audience applause at the end of the movie will surely attest to that fact.
"Good luck, Harry Potter."
PRIVET DRIVE: A solitare white owl flies onto a lampost. A wizened, white beared wizard walks by in a modern survey. A cat turns
into a a woman and a motorcycle flies in from the air. On the motorcycle is a big bearded man carrying a bundle.
The bundle is a young baby with a strange mark on it's forehead. The strange figures leave the child on the door step of the Dursley
family where the young lad grows up in a rather hostile environment. This family treats him rather rudely and seem to have no love for him
whatsoever. The boy is now 10 years old and is constantly abused verbally by Dudley Dursley, his cousin. Yes this is young Harry and he
is living with his Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths) and Aunt Petunia Dursley (Fiona Shaw). They seem to have a disdain for the
young Harry.
"I'm warning you now, boy. Any funny business and you won't have any meals for a week."
On a trip to the zoo with his family, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is being put through the usual abuse from them so he stops off at the cage of
a huge Burma Python
and in his loneliness he talks to it. The strange thing is, that it stops and listens. This surprises Harry and when Dudley comes back to
taunt him somehow Harry's cousin trades palces with the snake as if by magic. The snake stops and looks at Harry and before slithering
away say "Thanksss!".
"There's no such thing as magic."
Harry tries to explain to his Aunt and Uncle and tells them the exchange was like magic. Needless to say the Uncle is somewhat disbelieving
and miffed enough to lock up Harry in the cupboard under the stairs. Actually this is where Harry always stays. He even begins getting mail
addressed to him under the cupboard, mail that is kept away from Harry. Mail is delivered by an unseen owl on a regular basis but Harry
never sees the letters. When he finally gets his hands on one it is taken from him and ripped up. In short time more and more envelopes
arrive until the house is being swamped with them.
"Daddy's gone mad hasn't he."
Deterimed to avoid these letters the family goes off into hiding in a lighthouse. Here Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) appears and comes
to see Harry on his 11th birthday, with a birthday cake of course. Harry finally is told some truths about himself. The Aunt's sister was a witch
and they do not want him to go with Hagrid. Unfortunately it is time for Harry to leave the world of the Muggles( Normal no-magical folks).
"Dry up Dursley, you're such a prune."
"You're a wizard, Harry."
I can't be a wizard. I'm Harry, just Harry
DIAGON ALLEY:Hagrid and Harry leave and head off to London. Here he is introduced to a secret world existing in the walls. The wall
opening sequence where the bricks move like a jigsaw puzzle is visually stuning.
Harry is taken to a wizard's bank that is run by gnomes. Nicely done, you can tell the gnomes are not cgi graphics but actual actors with excellent
makeup. Here, Harry has to use a special key to get to his savings that were put there by his parents
before they died. Hagrid takes the time here to break into a vault 713 and sneaks something out in secret.
"Best not to mention this to anyone, Harry."
Later they visit the Magic Wand Shop run by Mr. Ollivander (John Hurt). Here, Harry is given a magic wand that is especially suited for him.
Mr. Ollivander is surprised by the wand that suits him because the brother to that particular wand is what gave Harry the scar he carries on
his forehead. The scar was given to him by "he who can not be named".
"Not all wizard's are good."
Hagrid returns for Harry with a special White Owl for him. Hagrid answers Harry's questions about his scar. Hagrid tells him the story of
Lord Voldemort (Richard Bremmer), a wizard who went to the dark side. His parents were the only ones capable of standing up to this evil
wizard and so they were killed but he was unable to kill Harry as a child but could only scar him. The wizard Albus Dumbledore
(Richard Harris) and Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) decided to hide Harry from the evil wizard until he was old enough to
attend magic school. This is why Harry and Hagrid are in London.
"Something about you stumped him that night."
Harry, we soon find, is quite famous for he is known as the one the evil wizard could not kill. On board the Hogwart's Express 5972,
he heads off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here he becomes friends with Ronald 'Ron' Weasley (Rupert Grint) and a young
overly knowledgeable witch, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). This train trip will entertain the children with magic, and all sorts of
strange candy.
"Welcome to Hogwart's."
On arriving to Hogwart's the children are all quickly introduced to the rules and to the teachers. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), a young blonde
haired student quickly shows his disdain for Harry. Tom Felton plays Malfoy with such a snooty evil sneer you just want to smack the nasty
little bugger. Everyone else, of course, is happy to see this young celebrity. After dining, the professors begin using the
Sorting Hat to designate which Houses the new students are to go to. This is a really good scene. The giant hat effects are excellent and
quite humourous. Harry is put into the Gryffindor House. Other children are placed in Ravenclaw House, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
During this dinner Harry feels for the first a strange vibe from his scar. The feeling seems to come when Harry looks at the jet black haired
Professor Snape (Alan Rickman). Rickman plays the professor of potions perfectly. He seems, sly and sinister but is he the real villian?
"Clearly fame isn't everything, is it Mr. Potter?"
This first Harry Potter film is filled with so much that not only would this review give away too much but it would be a little too long to read.
Here are some highlights for you. We meet Sir Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington (aka Nearly Headless Nick)(John Cleese) one of many phantoms residing in the school. We meet the
huge ugly Troll; Fluffy the three headed guard dog, an amazing Centaur; the invisibility cloak, the dragon and much more.
Your children will enjoy seeing the moving paintings; the stairs that constantly change and the sports the students play. The flying broom
lessons are fun to see as well. You will learn the secret of Vault 713; the secret of the Unicorn's blood and the true secret of the evil wizard.
"You won't make a fool of yourself, it's in your blood."
I found the game of Quidditch that the students play on flying brooms excellent and very entertaining. Everyone will enjoy this game. I found
it more fun than the race in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Ouch, okay who threw that at me. Did I just offend a die hard Star Wars
fan?
"I'm going back to bed before one of you comes up with another idea to get us killed or worse expelled."
"Troll in the dungeon."
The three children are put in the position of saving the castle from a rampaging Mountain Troll. Well this Troll is not as cute as Shrek
but once again the cgi effects made the troll and his battle with the three child heroes worth seeing.
"Troll boogies."
"Detentions used to be about hanging from your thumbs. God, I miss the screaming."
"This is going to be exactly like Wizard's Chess."
Another well done scene is the giant chess game. Young Ron shines in this scene that shows his prowess as a chess player.
We are also shown that these three young allies are willing to sacrifice their lives for their friends.
"There are more important things. Friendship and bravery."
I went into this film having never read a Harry Potter book. Hey, my kids are a little too old for these books so I never had to read any to them.
Therefore I did not go in with any preconceived notions as to what the film should be like. The script was well written and it leads one easily
through the origins of this young soon to be wizard. I have heard from others that the film is fairly true to the book and that the length is
necessary
"Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
"How can it? Both my parents are dead."
"This mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth."
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
While I enjoyed the film I found that after the first hour and half I got a little restless. I enjoyed the film but did not find that it overly excited
me either. It is a great film for children and very early teens but adults will find it a bit to long to see a second time. Older teens and the
precious 16 to 25 age group may not bother going to see it as well. The film will benefit from the many school trips that will be planned for it.
The film is excellently executed with good acting, excellent special effects and sets that do not steal the film but add to the over all story.
If you are so inclined, I can recommend that you see HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S (SORCERER'S) STONE
at least once and I'm sure you will see that it is not wasted time or money.
|
RETURN TO MOVIE REVIEW LISTINGS
RETURN TO METROCITY
|
