Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (10/10)

[The Other]

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)

http://us.ent4.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/harry_potter_and_the_sorcerer_s_stone/_group_photos/daniel_radcliffe12.jpg

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE is a dazzling ride full of fun magic and spellbinding wizardry. It captures the very essence of the book and never sells out. I read the book and thought it was great. I then saw the movie and thought it was great but a little disappointing because of my high expectations. I then bought the DVD and watched it again and it's just like I had hoped it would be before the first time I saw it. So, I'm certainly not going to sit here and give it any more hype, God knows it had enough of that.

The casting is one of the major stong points in the movie. If it didn't have the right cast, everything could have gone to hell. Daniel Radcliffe fits Harry a tee, his voice does change in the last 20 minutes and it's a little distracting. But he does just fine, otherwise, and has a good career ahead of him. I liked Ron. Rupert Grint was perfect for the role because he had the personality of Ron. Hermione is played perfectly by Emma Watson. The best casting choice, though are each of the "adult" actors. You couldn't ask for a better group of actors. Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Richard Harris as Dumbledore, etc.

The plot is an original one and I'm happy that Steve Kloves stuck to the book. They kept what needed to be kept and discarded what was good material in the book, but what wouldn't work in the movie. The special effects are great. When I saw the film in theaters I had small problems with them, but again, watching it on DVD they don't bother me at all. I've grown to like them. I think I was just being too damn critical when I saw it in theaters.

It's also to note that John Williams score kicks ass and everytime I hear the theme music I get goosebumps... http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif

HARRY POTTER AND SORCERER'S STONE is loyal to the book, won't disappoint fans, will create new fans, is entertaining, has charm, wit, and excitement. Nothing more needs to be said.

Bring on THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS!!

PS - I like how they added "Year One" to the side of the DVD case, just like the books. Nice touch!!

[This message has been edited by The Other (edited 06-24-2002).]

[Horror whore]

Right on, Other! You've basically said everything I can say about this movie... It is such a great theatrical expirience, I'd recommend it to everyone...

10/10

[SteveSzyk]

I'll stick with The Wizard of Oz.

[Horror whore]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by The Other:
[It's also to note that John Williams score kicks ass and everytime I hear the theme music I get goosebumps... http://www.joblo.com/ubb/smile.gif
</font>

So true, so true.... IMO, thebest score of last year, I just can't stop humming the tune over and over... And my favorite moment in the film is when Voldemort confronts Harry in the Forbidden (Dark?) Forest...The music isso perfect when he rises and walks towards Harry....

BTW, does anyone else notice how Harry's voice is so much deeper than the rest of the film at the beginning (especially when he is wrestling Uncle Vernon)? It's quite funny... http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[The Other]

Yea, I've been humming the theme to the film every now and then. It's catchy as hell. Definitely should have won the Best Original Score Oscar over LOTR...

[urbanlegend23]

I love this moive too, but I call it "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

The first chapter in the best-selling books of all time finally comes to life, the book that captivated entertained and interested children and adults alike. Yep, you guessed it, Harry Potter. You might say I may have been a little soft towards this movie because I fell in love with the book from the first time I read it right through to the third time, but I seriously think Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is deserved of the rating I give it, because it truly works on all levels as an adaptation and a truly magical film.

Bringing a novel’s characters to life, particularly the ones in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is a very hard thing to do. A script has to make sure the characters are nicely developed and are faithful to the book. Thankfully, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’s script does this, and damn well too. The script keeps us involved and engaged with the mystery and fascination of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The characters are better developed than I thought and extremely faithful to the book, but they also have some new sides to them which I enjoyed seeing. The movie runs along at a leisurely pace and we’re never bored.

Characters from a novel are not only hard to write for, but extremely hard to act out. Daniel Radcliffe in the leading role for the film had a lot of pressure on him, because he was playing the one-and-only Harry Potter and everybody wanted to see if a newcomer could be up to the job. Good news, guys, he is fabulous. Radcliffe comes off as a courageous actor that brings his character to life in a great style. Oh, and his voice breaks during the filming! As for the other two newcomers, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, well, they both impress as much as Radcliffe, if not, more. Grint is endlessly full of charm and naturally witty, while Watson displays her character as a true original and is an expressive, bright-faced 11-year-old actress. The infamous leading cast, lead by the excellent characterisation of Hagrid by Robbie Coltrane, are also cool to watch. Richard Harris is the philosophy-filled and the little crazy headmaster Dumbledore, and he infests lots of warmth and depth to his character. Maggie Smith is the strict and wrinkly Professor McGonagall, and it is with this character that Smith turns in yet another highly plausible performance. Alan Rickman was probably my favourite of the adult actors, giving the slimy Professor Snape much mystery and an endless supply of cool lines that you’ll be spouting off when the movie’s finished. Ian Hart gave probably my least favourite performance of the adults; I felt he overacted in some scenes, just a little.

What more is there to say? I’ve run through how the movie is faithful to the book, how it is great with characterisations and an enjoyable adaptation, I’ve also given my personal opinion on most of the lead characters in the film. What’s left is Chris Columbus’ fantastic direction, the excellent editing that uses many techniques, the fabulous production design and set decoration provided for Hogwarts, and the awesome, underrated special effects.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the second most eagerly awaited film of 2001 next to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is an almost perfect slice of heaven in cinema, an experience you lose yourself in, and a film you just have to see to believe.

GRADE: A+

[This message has been edited by urbanlegend23 (edited 05-31-2002).]

[The UserName]

yeah it was a good movie that stayed very true to the book. I think they made Snape seem like the abd guy way too much though. I guess i would have been more interested if I haven't had read the book already but it was still pretty entertaining. the cast was pretty well cast. overall it was pretty good, 9/10.

[Strider]

Enchanting. This is the one word that describes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The casting was just incredible. Everybody looked and fit the part perfectly. And plus, they all delivered solid performances. Anyway, the movie is just pure fun for both kids and adults. I loved every minute of it!

Grade: 8/10

Strider

[pod2010]

are you fucking kidding???????

3/10

this movie was the lamest i have seen all year, it wouldn't even get that high of score without fluffy!

[Dehydrator]

Good movie, brilliant casting, sometimes a bit slow moving, cool characters, fun for the whole family blah blah blah. Suprisingly liked this one better than LOTR. 6/10

Can't wait for the sequels!

[JonPulliam]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by pod2010:
are you fucking kidding???????

3/10

this movie was the lamest i have seen all year, it wouldn't even get that high of score without fluffy! </font>

how colorful... way to go with a constructive revies

I thought the movie was excellent. It took me on an imaginative ride and really did a perfect job of putting me right next to Harry for the entire film. I pray that the next movies stay as true to their respective books as this one did, because it is an OUTSTANDING film. (10/10)

[Movie Hunter]

I for one like LOTR (10/10) more the HP (7/10)..

.LOTR had better acting
.Better Visiual effects
.I liked the score of LOTR more than HP
.its more entertaining with a better plot..

SO i`m not a huge fan of harry potter BUT i`m still going to read the books soon and maybe one day change my mind BUT i dont rate anything 10/10 like you guys...only 2 movies that i rated 10/10

1.Memento 10/10
2.Lord of the Rings:Fellowship of the ring 10/10

M.H http://www.joblo.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[The Other]

Just because your a fan of LOTR you don't like Harry Potter? That doesn't make much sense. You should try to like both films seperately.

WHY THE FUCK DO PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE TO COMPARE HARRY POTTER AND LOTR?!?! PLEASE PEOPLE GET OVER IT! THEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FILMS!

(I like both films, by the way. So it's possible to like both.)

[SykkBoy]

I really enjoyed the movie, but was disappointed in the absence of Peeves, I jus really liked the character in the book.

I was disappointed in the DVD though,. It had some goodies for the kids, but I would like to hve seen a more "technical" DVD with a commentary track and more "behind the scenes" stuff as well as more deleted footage (the scant 7 scenes they did have were ok, but with a 4 hour rough cut, I'm sure there was more they could find)

Movie - 8.5/10
DVD - 7.5/10

[Favourite end]

Very nice movie.Very sweet one, like a candy. I had such low expectations about it (I hadn`t read the book by the time I saw the movie), but it turned out to be so truly cute movie.Later on I read the book, and I can say it`s very well adapted, although the book itself is like a ready screenplay.The cast is simply terriffic, the music as well.It was pure pleasure to see the movie:
8.9/10

[The Other]

If I cold edit the subject I'd change my grade to a 9/10. But, I can't. I thought about it and it isn't perfect and a few things did irk me. So, 9/10 is it...

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

Well, there isnt much to say that hasnt already been said. The perforances (although the teachers had less character developement than Legolas and Gimli put together,...maybe) were all good, especially Hermione, who I see becoming a very good actress. The special-effects were,....adequate. Honstly, alot of them were just bad, but not in shitty sort of way, if you follow me. The score; not even close to the quality of Shores. Sorry, but one catchy theme does not make a great score, and besides Hedwigs Theme, there isnt muchto like (except the variations on it). Sets were great, although not exactly how I pictured Hogwarts. The casting; I didnt like Hagrid. At all. He is my only complaint. Well, him and Mr. Dursley. Sure, they did OK, but Hagrid wasnt Scottish enough (whch was my favorite part of he character; not being able to understand him) and Mr. Dursley wasnt fat, he was muscular. These may seem like little nit-picks, but if you are going to adapt a film so closely to the source novel, these kind o criticisms are to be expected. My only other complaint is that the film felt very episodic in nature, and not as coherent as it should have been. It also got a little slow, but thats not really a probem. Overall, 7/10.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

just wanted to drop in cuz i originally gave it a 10 outta 10, but now that i actually think about it i give HP and the Sorcerer's Stone an 8/10. emma watson and rupert grint made this movie 4 me!

[Horror whore]

I know this has nothing to do with the movie but does any other fan think that J.K. Rowling is secretly writing the rest of the series right now? They say she is only writing book 5, but that would not take as long as it's been. The other books didn't even take a year to write and by the time the 5th book will come out it will be going on three years since the 4th book... I'm very suspicious...

[Fergus]

I talked to my friends a few weeks back about this same thing, and I think they said something like she took time off from writing, and she has also been writing other books, though I can't remember what they were at the moment; I think one might've been about the history of Quiddich. My suspicion is she has "writer's block" --- OH, there goes the Potter series.

How long has it been since they released the fourth book? I remember I read them all in a three week period.... yeah, two summers ago, I think. And that was when the fourth book had just come out, and there was the "rush and buy the book at midnight" craze. Man, it's been awhile. Correct me if I'm wrong Horror, has it really been TWO YEARS?

[The Other]

Yes it has. The fourth book came out in the Summer of 2000...

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

She is definately not writing the other books. She is too worried about the films, that is the problem. I think she needs to stop worrng about the films, and work on the damn books.

[Zed]

Well, I hate to say that.......but I liked the movie.

I think that, no matter if you like the plot, or if you're a fan of the books, or if you're a die hard fan of Star wars or LOTR (I'm both), you got to accept that this is a very well executed film.

The costumes, the music, the cinematography, the Special Effects, the sound.....all the extras seems to be in the right place.

I have to add some strong performances by the kids and decent ones by the rest of the cast. Final result: a decent film.

Retorical question to George Lucas: who's the hell is responsable for casting Jake Lloyd for Episode I?. In my list he made the worst performance by a kid in the last five years!.


My grade: 8/10.


(I'll normally give this movie a 7/10, but I added an extra point because I was really expecting a lausy movie).

[PorcheRacer]

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz! woah! was that some excitement? Oh, never mind. ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz!

5/10

[B-ball Dude]

Great movie. I didn't like the video becuase it had horrible picture and the two worst deleated scenes (From the DVD). DVD 10/10 VHS 4/10 but the movie 10/10.

[Zed]

I got a general question about the movie.

What do you think about Daniel Radcliffe performance?

I heard both opinions....good and bad.

I think the kid is not that bad as some schmoes have said. Maybe he's not the best in movie history, but he earn his money there.

I also got to accept that his face and his makeup and his costume does a 75% of the job.