Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Review

“Harry Potter...”

July 9th, 2011

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a 2001 fantasy film.

Directed by: Chris Columbus.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris (R.I.P.), and Alan Rickman.

A young boy, known as "the boy who lived" is chosen to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does this boy know of his infamy and the story behind his scar, his life changes with an amazing adventure at his new institute, with friends to stand by him no matter what against "He- Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named".

Harry Potter? Yeah...I remember back in 1998, a year after the first book's release, when my dad bought it for me. He said that reading was essential and can enrich the young mind. Read 4 chapters and tossed it. Didn't care much for books back then...I was 7, what would you have done in the Toonami age? Anyways, 2001 came and the film for the first book came to theaters and of course I went to see it with the family. Pretty boring at first, mainly because it was one of my first film that ran over 2 hours. Then when the second film was released the following year, I began to appreciate it more and the fan within me grew, but we'll get to the Chamber later.

Easily the best thing about this book series is the magic and the wonders Hogwarts and it's wizards dazzles us with. From the introduction to Diagon Alley, the boats taking the kids to the castle, the living pictures, and the sorting hat; nerds and Potter fans alike go crazy for. The creativity behind the different houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, is outstanding. Imagine how Harry would have turned out had he been sent to Slytherin, then again, even the hat always thought he'd be great there. Then we have J.K. Rowling's creative sport: Quidditch. A fictional sport that has influenced the real world to create their own versions of the sport. Let's be honest, as there are many intelligent writers out there, this woman is truly a genius. And it wasn't until the third film that I found out a woman wrote the series. No problem with that. For she's my all time favorite female author.

Some can relate with Harry Potter. There are those that hardly know anything from their past, some are alone without love or friends and some without a need for adventure. But, there comes a moment and a rare one where the missing pieces one has always wanted to experience come to fruition. With no meaning in his life, Harry befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger that later become his allies in the following decade of war against the Dark Arts. The maturity these kids have had to endeavor at a young age that would normally have been a bloody conflict for an adult. I'm sure that out there are various trios of friends that battle the obstacles life presents to them. Later becoming the most lovable wizards of all time (more so than mickey mouse), the casting for each were 100 % accurate. We know J.K. had a dream of a boy with glasses and a thunderbolt scar, but would she have ever imagined of the perfect looking actor for the role? I think not.

The Sorcerer's Stone or known also as The Philosopher's stone is the key for our Voldemort to achieve reincarnation and power. Thus failing to win against a child, it later get's destroyed. Sorry Elrich Brothers, you'll have to find another stone to bring back your mother.

As far as villains in novels go, Voldemort has ranked in my top ten of sinister characters. Amazing how a prophecy could drive a man to try and destroy his demise and fail, that later drives the force of 7 books to an epic confrontation for my generation.

While the sport falls as my second favorite part of the movie, the first of this first installment would have to be the gargantuan Wizard's Chess. The design and detail on each and every statue piece should belong in a museum. Life must always requires some sort of strategy, and Ron Weasley proves to be the key to advancing against the obstacles. Everything is a game of chess. For a young boy to honor himself with bravery and self sacrifice; an admirable quality very few of us as kids have had to show for.

The Actors:

The dynamic trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint will always be the perfect choices, even if their performance as new comers wasn't entirely the best, but an awesome embodiment that will forever be immortalized in this series of films.

Alan Rickman: I'll be honest, the man at first freaked me out. The way he dressed followed by his facial expression made me want to scream pedophile at first, but after actually reading the book and getting a sense of his background I have found him to be the unique blakc sheep of all the wizards. The best actor to portray him.

The Visuals:

From the arrival to Hogwarts, the shop where Harry acquires his wand, the Cerberus, the chess game and the reveal of Lord Voldemort, to this day the special effects hold strong and magnificent. The costume design for all the characters detailed and superb. While the movie was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score for John Williams, it didn't win in either category, but for costumes, it should have won rather than Moulin Rouge.


A near perfect opener to the a franchise that no one would ever have expected to grow and evolve into an epic saga in my lifetime. To this day, the first book remains the only in the series that I have read page for page. But the books are always better and once the journey ends, I will definitely revisit the pages. I'm sure there is something new to discover; there always is no matter how many time you read a book. Onward to the Chamber of Secrets!

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.


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