Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Film Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Film Review

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Posted 2022-07-05 by PerthKelfollow
PLEASE NOTE: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Originally released in 2001, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone directed by Chris Columbus is based on the book of the same name by JK Rowling. The movie introduced the world to many new actors - who by the end of the series became household names and very talented actors, as well as giving great roles to some old favourites.

Late one night, Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris) and Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith), professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, along with groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), deliver a recently orphaned infant named Harry Potter to his aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley (Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths), his only living relatives.

As Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) eleventh birthday approaches, owls attempt to deliver him a special letter - his invitation to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Uncle Dursley refuses to let Harry have his letter - knowing it means he's a wizard, so takes the family, along with his son Dudley (Harry Melling) to an island hut to try to escape Harry's destiny. But Hagrid arrives to personally deliver and ensure Harry reads his letter, on his actual birthday, and telling him he's a wizard. Hagrid also reveals that Harry's parents, James and Lily (Adrian Rawlins and Geraldine Somerville), were killed by a dark wizard named Lord Voldemort. The killing curse that Voldemort had cast rebounded, destroying Voldemort's body and giving Harry his lightning-bolt scar.

On board the Hogwarts Express - the train to the school - Harry starts to meet his new classmates, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) who in turn become his best friends.

As Harry studies magic, he learns more about his parents and Voldemort. Harry's natural talent for broomstick flying gets him recruited as the youngest-ever Seeker for Gryffindor's Quidditch team. While returning to the Gryffindor common room, the staircases change paths, leading Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the third floor, which is restricted. There they discover a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy. The trio discover that Fluffy is guarding the philosopher's stone, a magical object that can turn metal into gold and produce an immortality elixir. Harry suspects that Potions teacher and head of Slytherin House, Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), wants the stone to return Voldemort to physical form. When Hagrid accidentally reveals that music puts Fluffy asleep, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to find the stone before Snape. Fluffy is already asleep, but the trio face other barriers, including a deadly plant called Devil's Snare, which they get past on Hermione's advice, a room filled with aggressive flying keys, which Harry manages to catch on the supplied broom and a giant chess game that knocks out Ron after a rather violent game.

After overcoming the barriers, Harry discovers that Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Quirinus Quirrell (Ian Hart) is actually the one who wants the stone. Quirrell removes his turban and reveals a weakened Voldemort living on the back of his head, sharing Quirrell's body in order to survive. Dumbledore's protective enchantment on a mirror places the stone in Harry's possession. Voldemort attempts to bargain the stone from Harry in exchange for resurrecting his parents, but Harry eventually refuses. Quirrell, on Voldemort's orders, attempts to kill Harry, but when Harry touches Quirrell's skin, it burns Quirrell, eventually reducing him to ashes. Voldemort's soul rises from the pile and escapes, knocking out Harry as it passes through him. Harry wakes up after the fight in the school infirmary, to be informed by Dumbledore that the stone has been destroyed to prevent misuse and that Ron and Hermione are safe.

Having read the books prior to the movie's release, I can safely say this is a very good adaptation of book to movie. Yes, there are a few things missing or tweaked to make it work in the film, but overall the story follows the book relatively well. This is a good movie most of the family can watch - it might be a bit scary for little kids.

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83357 - 2023-06-11 06:41:01

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