‘Potter’ is a magical journery
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry is 11 years old during most of the film. This is actually quite fitting as it was 11 years ago in 1990 that J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series of books, dreamt up a boy called Harry Potter while stuck on a delayed train for four hours between Manchester and London.
It was six years later that her first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was picked up by Bloomsbury. During the last five years, the Harry Potter series of books have taken Britain and the United States by storm, being read by young and old alike.
Director Chris Columbus (Bicentennial Man and both the first and the second Home Alone movies) took up the task of bringing the boy wizard to life on the silver screen.
I am not a Harry Potter-ite, and unlike most of the literate world, I didn’t read the book before seeing the movie. And for the two or three other people in the world who0 also haven’t read the book or seen this movie yet, here is a brief run down.
Harry Potter, the son of wizards was sent to live with abusive, self-serving relatives after his parents were killed when he was just a baby. On his 11th birthday, Harry is invited to attend Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and after he arrives there, he encounters a three-headed dog, plays in an airborne game of rugby on broomsticks called Quidditch and finds a home for the first time in his life.
Daniel Radcliffe (Taylor of Panama and the upcoming sequel to this movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), plays Potter. Radcliffe gives a strong performance as the young wizard that is consistent and believable.
Other performances in this movie were given by new comers Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who provided much of the humor in the film as Potter’s first-year friends at the school. Alan Rickman (Galaxy Quest) played the dark Professor Snape, Maggie Smith (The First Wives Club) played Headmistress McGonagall and Richard Harris (Gladiator) played Headmaster Dumbledore. John Cleese (Rat Race) makes a couple of cameos as Nearly Headless Nick.
The special effects are fairly good during the film, although some of the scenes during the broomstick flying could use a little work.
The real power of this movie lies in its presence. From the moment the movie opens, Rowling’s characters and Columbus’s craft bring to life a magical story that is not only palpable, but fills all of your senses and doesn’t let you go until it decides it is finished. Most of all, it is a story about hope and finding happiness.
Grade: A