Rating: Summary: 3 Stars after seeing it, 1 star after seeing Chamber. Review: I left this movie when I first saw it thinking of how it was a "not bad" movie. Many of the parts of the book have been completely eliminated. The action night adventure entitled "The Midnight Duel" in the book was completely eliminated, and actually ruins the whole point of them being afraid of Filch. The scene with them rescuing the dragon was also completely eliminated. The scene in the Forbidden Forest was also shortened. Basically, once Harry reaches Hogwarts, there are very few BIG action scenes until the end. (I'll also add that that has less action than in the book.) Nothing has been done to the action scenes to make them acceptable movie action scenes. Many of the effects are completely unbelieveable. It is almost impossible to look at that Centaur, Voldemort, or that Quidditch match and not notice how fake everything looks. Nobody acting in this movie was doing their best, espechily Harris, who's performance lacked any of the humor described in the book, but I guess the director is more to blame for that. Columbus does such a better job in Chamber that this movie looks like a complete joke in comparrison. But it was cool to watch, to see the things come to life, the wizarding world come to life, so 3 stars. I received this DVD for free. Otherwise, I wouldn't have owned it. -----------------------------------------------------------------
Rating: Summary: Harry Potter Rev Review: I love this DVD. It is very wonderful and has a lot of special features and is a wonderful movie.
Rating: Summary: Don't we wish we lived in Harry Potters world Review: This is an excellent translation of a loved book into a good movie. Perhaps I am too old (being 50 this year) but I think the reviews posted miss the point. I have read the books. The movie does an amazingly good job of translating a complex story to movie form. I have seen too many book to screen translations that did not work. The screenwriter has an unusual sympathy for characters and with the director/editor does a great job of communicating the story as well at setting the stage for future stories.
Rating: Summary: I Liked It. Who Knew? Review: As much as I hate to admit it, I did enjoy "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". This is the story of a young orphaned boy, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), who comes to discover that he is a wizard. Harry is sent off to boarding school at Hogwarts Castle to learn the wizard trade. While at Hogwarts Harry befriends two fellow students, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), who help him on his adventure.
Harry is well-known in the wizard world because he is the 'boy who lived'. Harry's parents were killed when he was just an infant by the evil wizard Lord Voldemort (Ian Hart). Voldemort tried to kill Harry too; but, he survived with just a scar on his forehead to show for it. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is at heart a coming-of-age story as Harry learns to trust himself and his friends. Harry learns much about himself and the sharp differences between good and evil. The film also has very good action sequences and special effects going for it. Particularly good is the key room scene where Harry is flying around on a broomstick trying to keep away from these flying keys long enough for his friends to unlock a door that they must get through. The special effects sequences have an animated quality to them without being childish. I can't say whether or not I look forward to the next installment in the Harry Potter series of movies. But if it's anything like this one, I won't change the channel when it comes on.
Rating: Summary: good Review: I thought that this film was pretty loyal to the harry potter book although in some cases I think it really missed out on some important parts. The special effects were pretty good overall, except for the quiddich match which was, in my opinion, a big disappointment. Daniel Radcliffe didn't do too badly for his role at potter but i'm sure he will get better as the movies progress. You might think that with these comments that I disliked the movie, but you couldn't be more wrong. There are definitely more good points than bad. The whole castle layout was perfect in my eye; from the great hall with its floating candles and pumpkins at halloween, to the Griffindor common room. Watching the movie made me love the books all the more as I was able to see the characters come to life in exactly the way I imagined them (all except for Dumbledore who I felt was a bit boring compared to the Rowling character, and the Weasly twins could do with a bit of liveing up). Overall, a brilliant film and one that I would watch over and over again.
Rating: Summary: Desappointing Review: It was hard at times to understand what was being said, not because of the actors' British accent, but more because of the quality of the sound. Moreover, this movie was too long, and wasn't able to substain the viewer's interest. I enjoyed the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" movie much more.
Rating: Summary: My review 2003. Review: I have thought thta the Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone VHS movie was well done>
Rating: Summary: Harry Potter - Just Read the Book Review: One day, I was home sick and I was perusing my bookshelf for something to read when I ran across this book. As a side note, the book made it to our shelf because a friend is a teacher and was reading it to her sixth grade class. The book was a very fast read and was good enough to make you imagine the characters as being very real. The movie did a great job portraying the book and followed the plot almost to the letter. The characters were quite real but the effects were just blah. The movie could use a little spicing up.
Rating: Summary: A Fun Adventure. Review: I have to admit that I haven't read any of the amazingly popular novel's from which this movie came. However, after viewing this film, I am certainly tempted to do so. While this film is certainly designed for the preadolescent market, it has those necessary hooks to keep even the most hardened realist of an adult interested. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is a young wizard, who after his parents were killed, was left with his mean and un-magical, aunt, uncle and bratty cousin who force him to live under the stairs. However, on his 11th birthday he is accepted into the Hogwart's School for young witches and wizards and enters a world of magic and mystery. While at school, he and his classmates Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) set out on a quest to find the Sorcerer's Stone (which will bring immortality to those who possess it) and to prevent an evil wizard from acquiring it. Outside of the main cast of children (who are excellent); this film is chocked full with an astounding cast of British actors. Robbie Coltrane (Henry V, GoldenEye) is perfect as the lumbering and loveable giant, Rubeus Hagrid. Alan Rickman (Bob Roberts, Dogma) once again proves that he can do sinister better than any living actor. English heavyweights Richard Harris (The Guns of Navarone, Unforgiven) and Maggie Smith (Tea with Mussolini, Gosford Park) give good performances. The short appearances by John Cleese (Life of Brian, A Fish Called Wanda) and John Hurt (I Claudius) round out this superb cast. The cinematography is fun and inventive with a superb use of computer special effects. The setting is a combination of gothic horror and Dickensian melodrama, which works to good effect. The story combines fairy tales of every shape and kind. From Cinderella to Greek and Roman mythologies, this movie weaves a storyline that is fun to follow. The appearance of Cerberus, the three-headed dog, now renamed as Fluffy is especially amusing. Now, despite all of these good things, the fact of the matter is that this is a fluff adventure. The characters are fairly cookie-cutter with very little time given to character development. The storyline is convoluted by its attempt to juggle too many plot lines. However, it is fun to watch and I'm glad I checked it out. I may have to borrow a child so I can go watch the next one in the theatres.
Rating: Summary: not up my alley, but very true to the book! Review: I just don't personally care for the harry potter series. but my sister a die hard harry potter fan, says this movie is true! i thought the acting was horrible... but, as far as following the series, this movie hits it on the nose. brings all those cool things from the book and makes them a reality, i just couldn't bring myself to give the 4th star...
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