Rating: 
Summary: Novel adapted to the big screen
Review: Unfortunately, many people don't understand the penalties novels converted to screenplay will incur. So many were originally published on paperback, appealed to a wide audience and ended up being a classic, have since seen a producer attempting to do the same justice to it on the big screen.If every scene and every detail were to be reflected onto screenplay, then a movie could extend to many more hours than most would be willing to endure for a children's story. The inverse is also true. A movie originally written for the screen would require additional efforts by writers to convert a script into a novel. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a children's classic. The script writers did an excellent job of converting the original classic to something that is manageable, viewable and enjoyable to the wider audience. This is a movie well worth keeping in your video/DVD library and one which is sure to delight kids of all ages, as classics often do. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Uh..
Review: To Michael Gebert-Yes, the movie certainly did not live up to my expectations, but was it really necessary to blame America? There have existed a plethora of GREAT American movies, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone not being one of them. If anything, blame the director for forgetting the magic of the story.
Ok, anyway, the movie, first time around, was quite disappointing, perhaps because I was busy noticing all the details left out. But hey, that is what happens with all movie adaptations of books. It was nice, but seemed very choppy and...lacking, despite its length. There was no sense of anticipation or involvement. The movie didn't sweep me away, and it seems that anything having to do with Harry Potter should. I had major problems with the casting; I was fuming the duration of the movie about how the Weasley twins were NOT the Weasley twins, Ron was...ICK, Hermione's hair was not nearly bushy enough, Draco's eyes were supposed to be grey, and the actor was obviously too cute and pinchable to play that role. But otherwise, it wasn't bad. :o)
Rating:
Summary: A bit rushed, but well worth it
Review: After I first saw the movie, I was a bit disappointed. I was surprised at how rushed the film was and felt that they didn't spend enough time making Snape look like the bad guy. I realized, of course, that they couldn't fit EVERYTING into the movie, but who would really care if the movie was a bit longer? After I saw it a second time, I found that I enjoyed it more becasue I wasn't worried about what was different. I still thought that they should have focused more on the lessons and put in the "Wizard's Duel" that Malfoy and Harry had. The acting in this movie is amazing. I have rarely seen such superb acting, especially with kids. I thought that Emma Watson (Hermione) was by far the best actor/actress in the whole movie. Richard Harris (Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (McGonagall), and Alan Rickman (Snape) also did a marvelous job. My first bit of advise is, if you haven't read the book yet, read it before you see the movie and everything you see will make sense. My second piece of advise is to get the movie!
Rating:
Summary: A competent and faithful film
Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was a fabulous book. It's a good movie. It stays extremely faithful to the story (one might argue, too faithful) with very high production quality overall. There are some cheesy scenes -- the Quidditch match dazzles some unsophisticated viewers, but I found the special effects in that scene to be quite poorly done. The central story, that of a mistreated young boy who flourishes into a powerful wizard, is a universal theme that appeals especially to children. There is little objectionable material here, although some scenes are a bit scary. Two complaints -- Daniel Radcliffe looks the part, but lacks the spark that shines through in the books -- and there is a general lack of imagination on the part of the director, Christopher Columbus. Compared to the Lord of the Rings, which required a visionary director in Peter Jackson and included far more complicated themes, Columbus simply goes for the most sure-fire formulas for the box office. To use an analogy, this is the Twinkie and Lord of the Rings is the gourmet, many-layered raspberry souffle.
Rating:
Summary: A mix of great actors and newbies brings Harry to life
Review: When I read HP & the Sorcerer's Stone, I visualized, as best I could, many of the magical moments experienced by Harry. And I was eager to see what I had imagined on a big screen. For the most part, I was not disappointed.
Chris Columbus -- of Home Alone fame -- directs an all-star cast of British greats, mixed with a load of cute kids who, though not perfect, are creditable in sharing their awe and excitement at the magical world unfolding before them. I especially enjoyed Maggie Smith as one of Harry's teachers at Hogwarts, a part that is anti-thetical to her role the same year in Gosford Park. It is fun to watch seasoned, serious Brits acting in roles less serious and stiff than their norm.
What makes this film quite good is how well it was imagined. I am glad that the movie stays faithful to the book. What was in the book is what I wanted to see. Being able to WATCH a Quiddich match is itself worth the purchase price. Likewise for the life-sized-plus chess board. The visuals in the film are invigorating for someone who has read the book and dreamed about how these things would look.
The movie's weakness, albeit minor, is the same as its strength. It moves rapidly from one important scene to the next. So much happens so quickly that if one is not familiar with the book and the extensive background it provides, there is a great chance he or she will not "get" this movie. For those who already know the story, the movie shows all the parts we wanted to see without spending much time explaining what is going on in Harry's head or flashing back to the past.
Finally, I am still flabbergasted that people consider it necessarily to condemn this movie from a religious perspective. Apparently, this movie isn't for people who are too uptight, or those who take all literature too literally.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Potter
Review: Great movie! Even some people who haven't read the books will like this. Should buy!
Rating:
Summary: GREATEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!
Review: The Lord of the Rings was nothing compared to this movie! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (the movie) stayed so true to the book. Like many other people, I have wondered about what the characters would look like in real life. To me, ALL of the characters in the movie where almost exactly what I would have pictured them from reading the books. I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, but don't think that that is why I am rating it so high!
There were only 3 things i wish they had included in the movie. They were: The potions scene at the end, the sneaking of Baby NOrbert to the north tower, and snapes class. Besides that, I think the movie was awesome. I recommend this movie for kids 5 and up!!! Dont just listen to one person's review, I think you should read a few before deciding whether you should buy this DVD or not, because come people (to me!) rated this movie harshly! I also think that all of the religious krud about the Harry Potter books is ridiculous, and that some people are taking the books WAY TOO SERIOUSLY! The soundtrack, the sound effects, and the special effects made this movie even more great and magical! This movie is a MUST see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great FAMILY film
Review: OK, so it's not worthy of a little gold statue. I'm not rating it against every other movie I've seen in the past year, I'm rating it within it's class. It is simply a great film for your family to enjoy all together. I have kids that are several years apart (3 and 9), and, having been exposed to years and years of the same old kids movies, have been longing for new live-action G/PG movies that we can ALL watch and enjoy. My recommendation -- get it and watch it with your family. But be sure to share and enjoy the books, too! Note, though, that though I've nearly had my fill of animated kid's movies over the past 10 years, the one this year that really stole my heart -- and was in fact my favorite movie of the year hands down -- was Monsters, Inc. Disney wins again ;^)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie for children and parents
Review: I realize this is not a movie on the scale of Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings; it is, however, a very good movie for families to view together. There are not many of those around anymore. The younger actors are new to acting and yes you can tell and some say the scenes are quick but who really goes to a movie to disect it. I went with my 12 yeard old daughter who loved it and the books. She didn't care that the performances weren't Academy Award material. All she cared about was that the movie was very close to the book and it was very entertaining. I myself have seen the movie twice and read all four books. I also have to say that anything that get children back on the road to reading is an instant hit with me. I have never seen my daughter read likes she reads those books. She has also started reading other similar books that she never would have even thought about before.
Rating:
Summary: A Timeless Treasure
Review: When I first saw this movie with my mom, I fell in love with it instantly. I have already read the books and the movie followed the book exactly. All the effects, scenary, and characters came together to make this Harry Potter collage [or movie, so to speak]. The bottom line is....this movie is one of the most spectacular movies of all time! I highly recommend that you should buy this movie. All I have to say is that this movie is timeless! BUY IT! IT'S WORTH IT THE MONEY!!!
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