Movie Reviews: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I preface my review of harry potter and the sorcerer's stone by telling you I have read all four of the books by J.K. Rowling and absolutely loved them, so my expectations were very high. Movies rarely live up to your favorite books, but, director Chris Columbus collaborated with the author throughout filming, and brings to the screen an enchanting film that is very true to Rowling’s vision.

Eleven-year-old Harry Potter is an orphan living with his unpleasant aunt and uncle, but the dreadful Dursleys refuse to accept the fact that Harry is a wizard just like his late mother and the messenger owls from Hogwarts School of Magic will not be turned away.

Daniel Radcliffe won the role of young harry and certainly has the look. It took me a while for me to warm up to him only because in the book harry is really a point of view with everything revolving around him, seeing him in flesh and blood is awkward at first.

But as the story unfolds, Radcliffe loosens up discovering that in wizard world he is a hero, having defeated the dark forces as an infant. His new friend Hagrid played by Robbie Coltrane is a scene-stealer.

And so are Harry's best friends Ron and Hermione played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. These kids are wonderfully precocious

More perfect casting: Maggie Smith as professor Gonnagal and Alan Rickman as the surly Snape.

The look and special effects are also impressive like the quiddich game (kind of a flying soccer).

The plot line involves harry and his friends discovering that the evil Voldemort is trying to steal the sorcerer's stone to regain his powers, so they move into action trying to get past a scary chess game.

Some of the pacing is slow, which takes away some of the mystery and intrigue, but still you muggles out there will be wild about Harry.

I know the story so well that there was very little to surprise me, but this is still a spellbinding film full of fun and intrigue. It might be a tad scary for kids under seven, but parents and children alike will revel in the magic of harry potter and the sorcerer's stone.