Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
By jdb_educator for CVN
Critics Rating: A
Overview: A wonderful, pretty faithful, "look" at the book. Watch as a Child Wizard begins his adventures...and becomes a hero. Excellent special effects, a marvellous world of wizards and muggles (non-magical folk).This is great family film fun.
Running time: 153 minutes.
Film Board Rating: This film is rated PG.
Studio: Warner Brothers (owned by AOL, Time-Warner, just as CNN is)
Genre: Adventure/Fantasy
Review:
The most hyped, most screens and most theaters released movie in history hit audiences with a CNN reported 8200 movie screens to full houses. Hopes are it will reach or exceed 100 million dollars. Is it worth it? I think so! Will it happen? It is likely.
I love the books J.K. Rowling has written and I am delighted to see how kids and adults have both taken to the stories. Sadly, some of the relationship magic has not translated yet to the screen, but if they follow the books, we will see more of that in future movies. (Read the books!)
For me, (lol) I could finally visualize the quidditch match, YAY! I have also been reading that Daniel Radcliffe is taking hits as the child actor portraying Harry, but nope, I just do not see that. I see understated direction here and like it. Harry has always been a very internally controlled character in MY mind, and I laud Daniel for his performnce. As for movie crowds here? the first evening (6:15 PM) showing was sold out,here in Hobbs, New Mexico. The second, a late 9:45 PM start, was about 50% capacity and there was some spontaneous applause after the show that surprised me.
The mix of special effects, action, characters,and pleasing acting, faithfulness to the novel (better there than Hollywood usually gets!) were fun for me. What pleases me, may not please or satisfy other viewers, so here at CVN we would love to hear your thoughts on this movie!
The Plot: An orphaned child, overcomes growing up in a truly disfuctional household, discover he is a magical hero and begins a series of 7 planned book and film adventures! (as long as the audience holds up!)
Main Cast:
Daniel Radcliffe
Harry Potter
Rupert Grint,
Ronald 'Ron' Weasley
Emma Watson (II),
Hermione Granger
John Cleese,
Sir Nichol De Mimsy-Porpington (aka Nearly Headless Nick)
Robbie Coltrane,
Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid
Warwick Davis,
Professor Flitwick
Richard Griffiths (I),
Uncle Vernon Dursley
Richard Harris
Headm ter Albus Dumbledore
Ian Hart,
Professor Quirrell
John Hurt,
Mr. Ollivander
Alan Rickman,
Professor Severus Snape
Fiona Shaw,
Aunt Petunia Dursley
Maggie Smith,
Professor/Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Julie Walters,
Mrs. Molly Weasley
Zoë Wanamaker,
Madame Hooch
References:
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone at IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes on Harry
Pre Production: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
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