Rating: 
Summary: Great movie -- stupidly designed DVD
Review: There is a scene in the movie Galaxy Quest where Sigourey Weaver and Tim Allen have to make their way through an overcomplicated deadly maze of moving traps. Weaver shouts out something along the lines of, "This is stupid. The writer of this should die." That's how I felt about the designer of the Harry Potter DVD as I stepped through the 18 steps required to get to the deleted scenes. Perhaps Warner Brothers thought it clever to have the kids have to play a game to get to the extra scenes. Maybe kids do enjoy this. But they should have had a fast path for adults who have no desire at all to play the silly game but just want to get to the deleted scenes. Don't let this detract from the movie though. It's a wonderful film, that does a superb job capturing the feel of the book and transfering it faithfully to the screen -- no easy task, given the millions of kids who would have complained about even minor differences in the ways they pictured the characters looking and acting. So, do watch the film. But if you buy the DVD, go to the Warner site and download the FAQ on how to get to the deleted scenes. (Or maybe just wait, in hopes that Warner will get the message and come out with a DVD without the stupid game.)
Rating: 
Summary: Fun Fantasy!
Review: This is a thoroughly entertaining fantasy, fun for children of all ages. The movie's release worked out well for me because I had just finished reading J. K. Rowley's book at a friend's insistence.
Wisely, the movie takes us quickly through the early material of the book. Any more coverage of Harry's life with his Muggle relatives would have been tedious. Instead the film gets quickly to the good stuff after laying only the necessary foundation.
Harry, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Hermione, and the students and teachers at Hogwarts are all perfectly cast. Emma Watson's "Hermione" is a delight in every seen. Each member of the all-star cast is so well costumed and in character that he or she does not distract from the storytelling. It took me a while to recognize John Cleese and Richard Harris.
The first view of Hogwarts, the school for budding witches and wizards, is visually stunning. The special effects are so linked into the storyline that one tends to stop taking notice of just how remarkable they are.
If there is a shortcoming to the movie, it is that it attempts to achieve two purposes in a relatively short space of time--it must introduce us to these characters in their very unfamiliar world and it must tell the tale of the sorcerer's stone. This ambitious undertaking keeps things moving pretty quickly, and require plot resolution a bit more quickly than one might like.
Nonetheless, this movie leaves you anxiously awaiting the sequel. The DVD provides lots of interesting ancillary materials and curiosities.
Rating:
Summary: One of the coolest movies ever
Review: This movie was one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. I am and always was a big Harry Potter fan, and I have read the books about 3 or 4 times each. So when the movie came to theatres, I was a little nervous of what it would be like. I thought that it would probably [be bad] and I would hate it. But when I finally saw it, I loved it!!!! The only problem was that they cut out the part where Hermione helps Harry solve a problem with bottles (which was supposed to be the last obstacle protecting the Philosopher's Stone). I liked that part. But it was a very good movie overall, and a perfect cast was selected. I especially liked Daniel Radcliffe, because he plays Harry so perfectly and not to mention he's pretty cute. The DVD was fun, except the stupid Second Disc was driving me crazy while I was trying to find the deleted scenes.
Rating:
Summary: A good beginng, but can he keep up?
Review: I enjoyed the wide-screnn DVD version. The lack of extreme detail is expected when a book is being made into a movie. The only concern I have is: Can they keep up production speed for each additional movie. Each book represents one year of school at Hogwart's. How can they maintain the pace with the actors physical age.
A good first movie. They should spend more time on the next one with the plot development.
Rating:
Summary: A DVD Even Harry Would Be Proud Of
Review: Let's make this short and sweet. After buying this exact DVD from Amazon, I have played it over and over. The DVD extras are worth the price alone as you can do everything Harry did before getting to Hogwarts. The trivia games will test even the most astute Harry-phile. Not to mention the movie itself is fantastic. After seeing it in theaters, I went out and bought the first three novels in paperback and read each cover to cover. Now I wait for Book Four to be released in paperback, so I can continue my Harry Potter story following. All in all, this movie is fantastic as it doesn't leave hardly anything out from the book. My only sadness is that Chris Columbus will not be directing the third installment, as I feel he has a real knack for this series. So buy it, enjoy it, and as the commercial says...BRING THE MAGIC HOME.
Rating: 
Summary: Why must we play a goofy game?
Review: Generally when companies advertise deleted scenes on DVD, it means the owner can access them at will. This is not the case with Harry Potter. The deleted scenes were one of the reasons I purchased this two DVD set. However, I discovered much to my chagrin that I have to play a video game to see them. Although the Warner Brothers website shows the steps to access the deleted scenes, it is nevertheless a tremendous nuisance. I have never seen these scenes. I really have no time for 18-step games. I sent an e-mail to Warner Brothers asking them to send me a "disk-2" with no goofy access procedures. I doubt if they will, but it is fair request. Disk-1 was okay.
Rating:
Summary: welcome home to Hogwarts
Review: don't watch this movie without reading the books first because it sells it short. in order to make the movie less than fifteen hours long, they had to do a lot of cutting. they barely had room to get in all the major plot points. unfortunately, the character development (one of the things that makes Harry Potter so cool) suffered a lot for it. you have to read the books to truly appreciate the movie. i know there's a lot of hype around the books, but it's one of the very few books that actually deserves the attention it is getting. for those who already are familiar with Harry and the gang, this movie is like a homecoming. you already know the characters, so the lack of character development (or inaccurate character development) doesn't really matter all that much. it does capture the atmosphere and the mood of the harry potter books very well and is worth buying simply for that. the special features are also really cool, and fun to play with. on it's own, the movie is a good one. it's fun and fast and very magical. as part of the Harry Potter story, it's best if you just accept it as a visual aid to the books.
Rating:
Summary: A Magical Movie Despite a Few Flaws
Review: J.K. Rowling's mega-bestseller receives an excellent film treatment from director Chris Columbus, although the film falls just shy of true masterpiece status. You'd have to have lived in a cave in Afghnistan not to know the plot: Harry Potter lives a miserable existence in the cupboard under the staircase at the home of his Aunt and Uncle Dursley, and their spoiled rotten son Dudley. But just as Harry turns 11, he is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and his hidden heritage as a wizard is revealed, a heritage of fame throughout the world witches and wizards, a heritage with powerful enemies and unexpected dangers. Columbus does an outstanding job of re-creating Rowling's world onto the screen. Daniel Radcliffe is excellent as Harry, and the supporting cast is stellar, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Richard Harris as Hogwarts' Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, and Alan Rickman as the sinister Professor Snape. However, the movie's greatest flaw comes from its overly faithful adherence to the book. Out of sheer necessity, some scenes have been cut, but the movie sticks to the book like glue. This provides a limiting factor, as books and films are different media, following different rules. For instance, Peter Jackson made sensible changes on "The Fellowship of the Ring", by not being as slavish to that book, resulting in an improved film. Ironically, one of biggest bones to pick with this film is the elimination of a scene near the end of the film, where Hermione is denied a scene of physical courage that was in the book. Still, the widescreen version is a classic, with a wonderful score by John Williams. The DVD features are interesting, although a bit lacking, and are nothing special. It's also a pain to have to unlock the deleted scenes which are contained on the second disc. But, to paraphrase The Bard, "The film's the thing." And this is a film no family should be without.
Rating:
Summary: A Technical Marvel - Better for the Uninitiated Potter Fan
Review: Having not read any of JK Rowling's books was apparently a blessing in terms of purely enjoying the film version of Book 1. This is a thoroughly entertaining, richly layered film, with smart, supreme special effects, plenty of "oohs and aahs" and a nice mix of charming players, engaging plot devices and technical wizardry. Few true Harry Potter fanatics have expressed satisfaction with the film, which apparently sticks so closely to its book source, it misses the magic these readers had themselves conjured up in their imagination. As a result, a non-Potter-initiated viewer as myself was quickly swept away by the grandeur and illusion that unfolds on screen. The young Radcliffe seems the perfect choice, though I hope he grows into the role as he himself grows up - some scenes are wooden, and his slightly crooked smile seems out of place at times. His cohorts are equally engaging, though Hermoine's character is at times a challenge to enjoy. Ron Weasly is more effective both as a character and in terms of the actor who plays him, as he gives him real humanity throughout. A few scenes are simply awe-inspiring - Track 9 and 3/4 in London, playing quiddich in the air, the invisible cloak, the owl-delivery system at Hogwarts, and the 3-headed dog chose. Maggie Smith is winning, but Robbie Coltraine steals the movie with his tender performance as Hagrid. All in all, this is a strong start to what will hopefully become a classic on the order of the "Wizard of Oz." Don't judge Harry by his (book) cover - enjoy the thrilling film ride and you'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: When they said "hours of extra footage"...
Review: When they said that there was going to be about 2 hours of extra footage...I thought that they meant that there was going ot be about 2 hours of extra scenes. The extra scenes were too short, and I KNOW that there are still more scenes that they just didn't show. This really got me angry. But I also think that this was a really good DVD. The other extra features that they had were a little boring, and some of them were un-needed. But the movie was just like it was in theaters. AWESOME!
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