Rating: 
Summary: Overrated, underacted, overblown, uninspired...
Review: I walked out of this movie in the theatre, preferring instead to view it on DVD. Having read the books, I was extemely excited about the movie. I LOVED the introductory scene between Richard Harris and Maggie Smith. The tone was right, there was just enough "magic" and the acting was superb. Then the movie flash-forwarded (as does the story) to introduce the ten year-old Harry. And Daniel Radcliffe was TERRIBLE. Not only was he over-acting in his responses to every single situation, he was uaing an altogether incorrect response. The Harry of the books was scared and confused by the things happening to him...at least until he arrived at Hogwarts, but Radcliffe gives Harry no surprise to find out he is a wizard...sure he says the lines, but they are uninspired and completely lifeless.I would give this movie an even lower rating if it were not for the remarkable supporting cast. Rupert Grint was DELIGHTFUL as Ron Weasley, coupling a youthful wonderment with the shyness and embarassment of an underpriveledged youth. And Sean Biggerstaff as Oliver Wood easily comes across as the most believable character in the entire film--watch this guy, he's going to be big someday. Overall the film has a gold-veneer polish that will at least make you smile at a few points, but it is not the entertaining juggernaut it has been made out to be. Go read the books to find out what you're missing. Let's just hope that in the next installments, Radcliffe either learns to act. or is replaced with someone who has more going for them as an actor than merely looking like the character drawn on the book covers. The DVD itself is fun, incorporating an interesting (if time consuming) game on the second disk. The DVD will appeal more to children (as per its design) than it will adults, but makes for a good rental. You will undoubtedly want to add this to your permanent collection if you are a Harry Potter fan, otherwise, skip it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bad
Review: I must say that I agree with reviewer Kethlenda that though it's a good movie, I don't think that anyone who hasn't read the books would understand it. I have read the first four books many, many times, and I plan to read the fifth book the day it's released in the U.S.. However, my older brother has not read the books, yet he watched the movie with me. He was constantly asking, "What?" and said at the end that he didn't understand about 3/4 of it (not his words exactly, but from what he told me, I'd say that I'm being generous when I state "3/4").
I also agree that the part about Hermione solving the potions part of the puzzle should not have been cut out. I was horribly distraught when I saw that they had cut that part out. For me, that was one of the coolest parts. I wanted to see how they would show the fires that appear at the doors. It wouldn't have been that hard. They could have used CG (computer graphics) for it, just like they'll probably have to do in book #4.
Anyway, overall, good book; one of the more faithful movies that I've ever seen, but DEFINITELY not perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie! Tedious Special Features.
Review: The movie adaptation of JK Rowling's wonderful Harry Potter books was wonderful. Yes, there were some deleted scenes, but overall, their absence did not detract from the plot. Books will always be better than their movie adaptations, regardless of who wrote them. I have yet to see a 100% true adaptation that was entertaining. One of my favorite parts of owning a DVD player is seeing the deleted scenes. In order to get the scenes for the Sorcerer's stone, though, you had to go through a series of "visits" to Diagon Alley, Hogwarts grounds, & classrooms. While, theoretically, this would be fun, in reality, it was way too much to go through in order to get a paltry extra 10 minutes of footage. It was a worthwhile buy, though, and I'll watch & rewatch it for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest Special Features!!!!
Review: I loved the special features on the dvd the scenes that weren't in theatres were hilarious the yearbook feature was cool too even the different languages was too So this had to be the best hit of 2001 I had to read the book before I went to see it when it was in theatres now I'm starting on the second book and going to see the second movie this November. my cousins are really big Harry Potter fans and saw this movie 10 times. I think this movie get 2 thumbs up go get this or you'll regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Movies from Books
Review: I usually dislike a movie that is from a book because it is usually missing a lot of important details that the book has which I know cannot be helped. Sometimes things are changed which is a big no no! But picking out key elements is a must have if you are going to be successful with the movie, fans, and readers. I thought the movie did well with following the plot of the book, key elements were targeted and things that were left out weren't really needed. The characters were very convincing and were just as I had imagined them from the book. Other movies from books could take a few notes from this one. I just hope they are just as successful with the next Harry Potter movie.
Rating:
Summary: A first timer at Hogwarts
Review: I really enjoyed this movie. My children have watched it about 20 times in the 3 days that we have owned it and I have watched it at least twice. I had never read the Harry Potter series novels and had no idea what to expect from this movie, but I was not disappointed. The movie is fast paced and I found it easy to follow. This movie made me want to purchase the other Harry Potter novels and left me anxiously awaiting a sequel!
I did watch the deleted scenes and out takes. I didn't find it hard to get to them, but it was a little time consuming.
Overall, I think that this was a very entertaining movie and good family entertainment!
Rating: 
Summary: A DISAPPOINTING FILM
Review: I am a fan of Harry Potter and have read all the four books. I was quite disappointed when I watched this film. This film is only a "trailer" of the book. The story, instead of flowing smoothly and full of humor, tends to just rush and jumped from one chapter to the next one. The sense of humour is missing and to make matters worse, some important parts are not there (e.g. Hermione's role to solve the logic problem before Harry finally met the Dark Lord).
This is film perhaps is only good for those who have not read the book yet.
Rating:
Summary: Haven't read the book & shouldn't have seen the movie
Review: BOY was I surprised! Really surprised about that bad movie I'd just seen while leaving the theatre. Most people who have seen the movie know the Potter-universe as good as their pant pockets. Not me, but I really like kiddy-movies, it's always very entertaining and the kids mostly show up with enormous lust and fun for acting. Not little Harry. He's just REALLY terrible and it takes a lot for me to place such statement. His 3-hour-lasting-smile completly spoils his character, his look on the face doesn't change a bit - or if, then a little cute bit. He's been trapped in his tiny room for his whole so-far-childhood and is being "released" by his unimaginable destiny. There are two extreme situations but Harry (re)acts like he's just luckily found 5 Cents... Storytelling is extremly inpatient, journeys between real and Magic-world are unspectacular and some scenes are just ridiculous, like the final chess-battle, where the other kid is riding the horse and acting as if the end of the world depends on him. Hey, you're just sitting on a chess horse probably made of wood you could jump off (or did somebody paste you on it?). The ideas are brilliant, the whole university-stuff is undoubtly very cool. Nevertheless: the things that happen in that environment are being prepared somehow "carelessly". I think the movie is more attractive to the people who've also read he book and some of them confess that the story is really difficult to follow the way it's being told in the movie. I had my troubles following the much-too-fast-paced storytelling. It's a MTV movie that requires a lot to stand throught the whole 3 hours!
Rating:
Summary: A glorious engrossing fantasy film
Review: I loved this movie when I saw it in the theaters and still do when I see it again on DVD. But. There is still but about this DVD. I was eager to get this and was delighted to read that it would be on 2 DVDs. I thought that the first disc would have a magnificent picture with Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and DTS ES tracks. It was a disappointment that it didn't include a DTS track, even though there seem to be space for it, since there are no audio commentary or other special features on the first disc. The picture was good with vibrant colors and the sound track was good too, but it lacked that extra dynamic sound that SO many DVDs lack, that almost all newer laserdiscs had (even on movies in mono sound). But I bought this movie mainly for the movie itself. The movie is magical in every way, with a virtually perfect cast. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry has just right amount of charm and charisma to make the character work on the big screen. Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith are just a few of the great English actors who star in this movie. I think this movie will endure for many years to come. Now for the negative side, the special features disc. It is true what other reviewers have said that it is made like a kid's game. I wanted to see the documentaries about the different aspects of the book to film process, but all it contained (or at least what I have found) was a 15 minute documentary that reminds me of the bad 'behind the scenes' programs on E! or other entertainment TV stations, that are shown when the movie is in the theaters and don't really say much. The documentary did say some, but it was all in bits and pieces. There should just have been a link to a game version of the features for kids and a normal features menu for adults. The movie, though, is worth the movie I paid for the entire release, but I don't think I'll be watching the features disc much at all.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely Enjoyable But Excessively Literal
Review: J.K. Rowling's novels have been such a phenomenal success that the film version of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE had a built-in audience that had to be pleased--and director Chris Columbus set out to do precisely that by cramming as much of the book as possible onto the screen. The result is a fast-paced film with arresting visuals and plenty of special effects. But while it looks magnificent, it doesn't really capture the novel upon which it is based. The problem, of course, is that Columbus and company have crammed so many of the book's details into the film that there's not much time for either story or character development: we're too busy looking at owls, shifting stairs, and the like, and it becomes somewhat difficult to keep track of the main story line and the numerous characters who support it. Fortunately, the cast is strong enough to carry it off--the young Emma Watson is particularly enjoyable, and the main characters are supported by a host of distinctive actors whose memorable faces help keep us more or less on track. Ultimately... it is a fun film, very enjoyable for adults as well as children, and you'll probably watch it several times over and enjoy it each time. But it does not live up to its billing as "the event film that doesn't disappoint," nor is it really imaginative enough to be considered "the Wizard of Oz of this generation." The second DVD has a number of add-ons designed largely for the younger set (some of them require a computer) that they will enjoy; there is little in the way of special material for the grown-ups. Recommended nonetheless.
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