Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but only if you've read the book
Review: I had already read the four currently published Harry Potter books when I saw the movie. The visual element was perfect. Everybody and everything looked right. And the movie was a lot of fun. However, when I thought about it, i realized that it would make no sense to someone who hadn't read the book; the movie would have seemed episodic and choppy if you couldn't mentally fill in the scenes that were cut. Particularly disappointing was the exclusion of Hermione's solution to the logic problem involving the bottles. The whole incident was cut, and instead Hermione played the "typical female" and waited behind with Ron to make sure he was OK. In a story with precious few strong females, cutting this scene was especially obnoxious. What are little girls going to get out of this? Boys can be heroes; girls have the wonderful privilege of crying, screaming, and tending to bruises. All in all, a fun movie, but READ THE BOOK FIRST. It's fun brain-candy if you've read the book. Otherwise, it just won't fly.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Potter Rocks
Review: I loved the movie in theaters and I ordered it. The special effects are amazing and the movie passes so quickly. I never wanted it to end. Although many cool parts of the book are left out in the movie, it was still great.If the whole book was made into the movie and nothing was left out, it would be about 5 hours long. I think that the length was good and I absolutely loved seeing the book come to life. I could watch it over and over and over again and never get bored.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- A Clasic
Review: I recently saw this video, and imediatly loved it, I have read all four books, and am, anticipating the release of the fith book. I would recomend this particular movie to anyone, parents, children, grandparents, teachers, anyone who enjoys reading would love this movie, and I do believe that people who don't even enjoy reading would love this movie! I think it's the best thing i've seen in years! I must admit that I even went back and saw the movie once after already seeing it with a friend, who also had read the books, and enjoyed them too. You will fall in love with the charcters, while watching this film.Well, this is all I have to say for now, but I highly encourage you to go see this movie, or at least rent it, and i'm sure after doing that, you will want to buy it!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter...-- Popkorn Junkie's (and my) review
Review: Have you read the book "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"? If you have then you know the entire plot of this movie-- if you haven't-- here's a brief synopsis: A young boy named Harry Potter is an orphan and lives with his only family-- his horrible Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley. His life with these people is awful-- they treat him like a "dog that rolled in something smelly" (to quote the novel) and make him sleep in the cupboard under the stairs. One day Harry receives a mysterious letter but his Uncle snatches it away and destroys it before Harry can read it. Soon, more and more letters come and Uncle Vernon starts to go mad-- he uproots the family to get away from the thousands of letters addressed to Harry. The next night a giant man barges in on the family and delivers a letter to Harry (one of the same that plagued Uncle Vernon)-- it's his acceptance letter to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is a wizard! The rest of the story involves Harry's first year of learning magic, making friends, playing Quidditch (like soccer on broomsticks) and finding out more and more about his past and his parents-- apparently he's famous in the world of magic! Ok, it's a great story and the novels have captured the imaginations of children and adults alike. The Harry Potter books are a phenomenon and the movie has been greatly anticipated. Fans will not be displeased with the film when it comes to the story line-- director Chris Columbus stayed true to the book in most respects (many small details are left out and some events have been altered just a little in order to help move the plot along better). The film was two and a half hours long, if all the little details had been left in the film, who knows how much longer it would have been. Now, the only thing that might disappoint those who are hard to please (like me) are the special effects. The movie is about wizardry and magic, yet there are only a few scenes in which anything magical happens. It would have been nice to see more magical things, especially in the class rooms (hardly any scenes about that at all-- which really disappointed me). The special effects that were there, some were fine, some were good, and others were laughable. Ever see "The Mummy Returns"? Remember the end with the Scorpion King animation? Some of the animations were that bad....but not all of them. So, do I recommend this film? Sure. It was fun and it's a good story-- obviously, or else the book wouldn't have been a hit in the first place. It is a little long...2 1/2 hours will do a number on your rear, make sure you've got a comfy chair! If you haven't read the books and you enjoy films in the genre of fantasy then you will like Harry Potter. If you did read the books, you'll be happy that nothing important was left out and nothing was bastardized-- (think "Circle of Friends"). You'll enjoy it I'm sure....I'm not sure if you'll love it....but you'll enjoy it. I dunno, maybe I should watch it again....maybe I'll end up loving it. But right now, when someone asks me I say "Ehhhh...it was good I guess". Take it for what you will.
Rating:
Summary: Good...but no substitute for the book
Review: I feel sorry for the dedicated, well-intended, talented cast and crew that had the daunting task of translating J.K. Rowling's wonderful book to the big screen in a way that would satisfy the millions of fans worldwide that the book franchise has built up. It may have been too much for anyone to pull off.
This IS the best possible movie they could have made of the first Harry Potter book. Except for a few cuts and tightening of the story elements (necessary for length but not helpful for the film), it's really right on target. Unfortunately, no amount of movie magic can top the experience of reading the Harry Potter books. As much as the realization of the settings and characters in the film matched my idea of how they'd look, the simple fact is...they were more alive and real while I was reading the book than they were when they were brought to life on screen.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not a book snob, by any measure. And I liked the movie...saw it twice in the theater. It's just that if you haven't read the book, you should do yourself a favor and buy it and read it. As cool as it was to see so much of it in this film, there real joy of the Harry Potter series seems -- in my experience -- to be in the simple act of reading them.
That's the movie's true weakness...the one "special effect" it could never contain. It does not absorb you in the charming, intimate wa the book does. For most book-to-movie translations, that's not a problem. But here...it's significant. When I thought about whether or not I'd buy this DVD, I realized that if I wanted to enter that world again, the best possible way to do it was to read the book again, not to watch the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Harry! You've done it again!
Review: Gosh, what can you say about this movie? Oh ya, terrific. This si the time to use the word magical. This was a great family movie and for all ages. Everyone will enjoy the acting. I though Emily Watson, who plays Hermione was the best of the youngsters. She was not shy about anything. The other acting abilities were first act too! Definitaly a movie never to be forgotten! My Grade:
A+
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter movie
Review: I am 15 and i really enjoyed the Harry Potter movie. I am a fan of the books along with my sister, who saw the movie and was also enthusiastic about it afterwards. I believe it can be enjoyed by all ages even though it is directed at a younger target audience. When i saw it with my mum, i could hear her laugh sometimes and my nanna said with excitement that it was great. The movie is faithful to the book, without losing the magic and anticipation of it. Some parts are changed or embellished, but I found that it made the movie more interesting, i didn't know every little thing that was going to happen. It was also fun to see parts that I knew from the book acted out on the big screen, and there were no dissapointments at those parts.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great movie that will be loved for years and years
Review: This movie is simply amazing! Watching it brings me so much joy because i know all the hard work and the effort they put in thi movie payed off they got so much money! The #1 movie of 2001! And probably going to be The #1 selling DVD/VIDEO of 2002! Kudos goes out to everyone who is in it and who made it! And i cant wait for Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secret's!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Urgh! NO!
Review: This movie is missing everything that is loved by readers of the book. Despite the fact that comign up wiht unknown actors who were British sounded like a good idea, the kids just don't cut it. The script is lacking some of the better moments of the book, and the subtelties that the book had are losed in the movie. The emotion is all gone in a movie that was made mostly for money. If you want it, rent it. But read the books first.
Rating: 
Summary: A good translations from the book
Review: Okay, many of you will be saying that the movie did not translate well from the book. My 12 yr old daughter would probably agree. But when one analyses it, it would have been impossible to incorporate so much from the book into the movie and keep it to a reasonable length. This must have been a huge dilemma for the directors and producers, "what to put in the movie". When one accepts this and focuses on the content of the movie, I don't think you can help but be pretty impressed with it. Bringing to life Harry Potter and his world was accomplished very well in my opinion. I found the movie atmospheric and I was drawn into his world. This to me is the mark of a good movie. I loved the settings and the overall colour of the movie. I thought the acting was okay, nothing to rave about, but adequate. I have seen the movie twice with my kids and I enjoyed it both times. I have a small collection of DVD's and I'm quite discerning about what I buy. This DVD will be joining the collection.
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