|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It’s an epic fantasy
for the next generation that rivals what Star Wars was for the 70’s.
Visionary and entertainingly crafted, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone is great escapism centered on family-friendly (and religious
unfriendly) fun. John Williams’ signature, exhilarating music
definitely saves the film from its shortcomings, most of which are
from adaptation difficulties and time restraints. Several ideas
don’t have the opportunity to be properly developed or reasonably
translated to the screen, resulting in contrivances that are difficult
to overlook from a purely cinematic standpoint. Nevertheless, it’s
exciting and alluring, promising sequels that will further flesh
out the complex world created by author J.K. Rowling.
Orphaned and left with a magic-loathing family in London, young
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is the legendary boy who survived
against the vile Voldemort, a dark sorcerer feared throughout
the land. Bred in captivity like a snake in a reptile house, Harry
serves the role of Cinderella in a home where he tries not to
draw attention to himself while living in his cupboard beneath
the staircase. Like energetic escapism ought to do, the film demonstrates
that magic and destiny can save the oppressed – when Harry
turns 11, he is invited to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
to learn the art of real magic. “You’re a wizard,
Harry,” the enormous messenger giant Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie
Coltrane) declares as he escorts the startled child to a hidden
world with endless possibilities. |
|
|
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
(Richard Harris) is the classic white-bearded, elderly wizard in
charge of the school – a Yen Sid lookalike as wise as he is
old. Ian Hart is the simple-minded, stuttering “Defense Against
the Dark Arts” teacher Quirinus Quirrell, and Rupert Grint
is the light-hearted, red-headed schoolmate Ron Weasley. But Alan
Rickman steals every scene he’s in as the black-robed, mysterious,
conniving and suspicious potion master Severus Snape. As for the
children, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger proves herself to be the
best of the bunch, balancing a know-it-all bookworm aura with feminine
sensibility and serving as the brains of the three musketeers. Being
the first of a series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
spends most of its runtime setting up origins, locations and establishing
characters. The actual plot touches upon the return of Voldemort,
but is ultimately just the beginning of a complex and evolving story
arc.
Many scenes and characters are added simply to be faithful to the source material, which may please fans but drags out unessential ideas unnecessarily. The inclusion of Nearly Headless Nick (John Cleese) or a giant, interactive, battling chess game board come across as pointless or contrived. It’s further worsened when Dumbledore has to explain to Potter how he was able to combat various villains – something the audience can’t be told until after the confrontation. Even Quidditch, a magical equivalent of airborne, broomstick football, doesn’t advance the story – it’s simply there to set up an element to be revisited throughout the series. And here it’s presented like podracing, a fast-paced hyperactive competition just for show. Low points include depending a little too heavily on a young lead character, again like The Phantom Menace, and the under-developing or overusing of rushed ideas. But it’s always thrilling to see kids taking matters into their own hands, outthinking their peers, outwitting adults, and defeating the enemies. The film also has a splendorous visual sense, with inspiring set designs, costumes and special effects, and the inclusion of nearly every creature and notion derived for fantasy fiction; with magic, spells, an invisibility cloak, wands, witches, trolls, unicorns, werewolves, dragons, minotaurs and more, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Homer’s Odyssey and The Chronicles of Narnia all rolled together. - Mike Massie
Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I Read the Review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II |
More
Recent Reviews:
Recommendations:
|