Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first film in the Harry
Potter series based on the novels by J.K. Rowling. It is the tale of
Harry Potter, an ordinary 11-year-old boy serving as a sort of slave for
his aunt and uncle who learns that he is actually a wizard and has been
invited to attend the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry is snatched away from his mundane existence by Hagrid, the grounds
keeper for Hogwarts, and quickly thrown into a world completely foreign
to both him and the viewer. Famous for an incident that happened at his
birth, Harry makes friends easily at his new school. He soon finds,
however, that the wizarding world is far more dangerous for him than he
would have imagined, and he quickly learns that not all wizards are ones
to be trusted.
Once upon a time (and
not that long ago), in the vivid, fertile imagination of author J.K.
Rowling, a character was born: A boy. A young boy named Harry, who was
destined to become one of the most beloved characters to emerge from a
work of fiction in a long, long time, and was quickly embraced by young
and old alike in all corners of the world. And now, thanks to the magic
of the cinema, Harry and his companions fairly leap from the pages of
the novel to the silver screen in the phenomenal motion picture, `Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,' directed by Chris Columbus and written
for the screen by Steve Kloves. Indeed, Harry Potter is a boy, but not
just any boy; because Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) just happens to be a
wizard. But, orphaned as a baby, Harry has been raised by his Aunt
Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and Uncle Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths), who
never let him in on the fact that he was, well-- what he was. It seems
that Petunia didn't approve of her own sister-- Harry's mother-- because
she was a witch; nor of Harry's father because he, too, was a wizard.
When Harry turns eleven, however, the secret is out of the bag when--
after some strange goings-on-- a giant of a man named Rubeus Hagrid
(Robbie Coltrane) shows up at the Dursley's door to collect Harry and
take him off to `Hogwarts,' a school for wizards and witches and all who
would perfect the gift with which they were born: The gift of magic!
And from the moment Harry boards the train (from station platform
nine-and-three-quarters) that will take him to his destiny, the magic is
alive-- for Harry, and for the audience, as well; and it's a journey
you will never forget.
What a monumental undertaking to even
think of attempting-- translating and transferring this passionately
beloved work from novel to the screen. Because to millions of people,
Harry and his companions are so much more than merely characters in a
book; these are characters for whom people have made a special place in
their hearts, which puts a great burden of trust upon the man who would
attempt to bring them to life. And Chris Columbus, it turns out, was
the right man for the job. More than rising to the occasion and with
some magic of his own-- and a lot of help from an extraordinarily
talented cast and crew-- Columbus has delivered a film that is not only
true to the story, but true to the very spirit that makes Harry Potter
so special. The special effects are absolutely beyond astounding, and
Columbus, with a keen eye for detail and without missing a beat, keeps
it all on track and moving right along at a pace and with a sense of
timing that makes this an absorbing, thoroughly entertaining and
enjoyable experience from beginning to end. From the opening frame you
get the feeling that you're about to have a singular experience; and
you're right. Because you've just entered the world of Harry Potter.
And it's magic.
Even having the best special effects do not a
great movie make, however, and this film is no exception; what catapults
this one to the top are the performances, beginning with Radcliffe,
whom you quickly forget is an actor playing a part. And that about sums
up what kind of a job this young man does here. Without question, he
IS Harry Potter, physically and emotionally, and when he waves his wand
and does what he does, you believe it. A wonderful performance by a
gifted actor who has a great career ahead of him; without question the
perfect choice for the role of Harry.
Also turning in excellent
performances are Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as
Hermione. As with Radcliffe, the casting here could not have been more
perfect. Grint is `Everyboy,' with that special glint in his eye and a
manner that makes him especially endearing. And the spunky Watson adds
some real sparkle to the film as Hermione, the one with the sense of
urgency and the wherewithal to get things done; a real role model for
young girls everywhere.
It's obvious that a lot of care went
into the casting of this film, and it's a big part of why it is so
successful. Richard Harris, as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; Maggie
Smith as Professor McGonagall; John Hurt as Mr. Ollivander; Ian Hart as
Professor Quirrell. Exceptional performances from one and all, with two
that stand out as especially memorable: Robbie Coltrane, who readily
conveys the fact that Hagrid's heart is of a size that matches that of
the man; and Alan Rickman, as Professor Severus Snape, deliciously droll
while demonstrating menace through the fine art of articulation.
The additional supporting cast includes John Cleese (Nearly Headless
Nick), Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley),
Zoe Wanamaker (Madame Hooch), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Harry Melling
(Dudley) and David Bradley (Filch). From Rowling's imagination to the
written page to real life (albeit via the movie screen), `Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone' is a triumph many times over; a unique film of
truly universal appeal, the likes of which is as rare as, well-- a
sorcerer's stone. A film in which adults and children alike will
rejoice, because it speaks to the heart in a universal language of life,
love, experience and imagination; a film that states unequivocally that
magic exists-- as long as there's a single child with a single dream
somewhere in the world, and real wizards like J.K. Rowling, Chris
Columbus, Steve Kloves and every member of this wonderful cast and crew
around to bring it to life as they have here. An instant classic in
every sense of the word, this is truly a film for the ages. A
remarkable achievement, this IS the magic of the movies. I rate this
one 10/10.
Stars:
9 October 2013
(France)
