Magical masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2001)

Here is the magical surprise of 2001. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the best movie that I've seen all year (so far). This I totally did not expect. This is a film that works not only on the level of special effects. It has a terrific story, wonderful characters, and a beautiful atmosphere. This was quite refreshing since so many of the movies today that feature special effects are weak on story and characterization. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the first movie in what is going to be a big movie series based on "Harry Potter" novels written by J.K. Rowling. So far four novels have been written with three more on the way. This movie has created so much hype that the second movie is already in the works. I think this is going to be a blockbuster franchise. The movie opens with the title character living with relatives that are cruel and heartless. Then Harry gets a letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and learns that he's a wizard. So he gets away from his despicable uncle, aunt, and cousin, and journeys to this special school to learn the tricks of his trade. Along the way he meets two young aspiring magicians who will become his best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He also makes an enemy in Draco Malfoy, who is kind of like the evil version of Harry. The faculty of Hogwarts include wise headmaster Albus Dumbledore; huge groundskeeper Hagrid; Prof. McGonagall, who can transform into a cat and back to human form in a flash; Prof. Snape, who's sinister looks create fear in the students; Prof. Hooch, the broomstick instructor; and Prof. Quirrell, who wears what looks like a turban all the time and studders alot. There are alot of visual elements that work wonderfully in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". My favorite scene is the one where the students play the game of Quidditch. That is a fascinating special effects sequence that is kind of hard to describe but is fulfilling to watch. It kind of reminded me of the pod race in "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" with its effects going across the screen at a rapid pace. Another great scene in the movie is the one where the three kids play an unusual high stakes game of chess, where the huge game pieces come to life. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" works on every level. In addition to the excellent special effects, it works on the direction and screenplay. The director here is Chris Columbus, who's worked in this territory before as the director of the popular kids- oriented 1990 comedy "Home Alone" and its first sequel, 1992's "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York". He worked with kids again in the little more adult oriented 1993 Robin Williams blockbuster "Mrs. Doubtfire". These three hit movies directed by Columbus were more lighthearted in its tone, but Columbus has been in more darker territory before. His directorial debut came with "Adventures in Babysitting", the black comedy from 1987 that was filmed in Chicago and starred Elisabeth Shue. Before stepping into the director's chair, Columbus wrote a couple of screenplay's for a trio of Steven Spielberg productions: "Gremlins", "The Goonies", and "Young Sherlock Holmes". "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" bares a resemblance to each one of those movies in some way. Those virtuoso special effects scenes when those big chess pieces comes to life was very much like some of the special effects scenes in "Young Sherlock Holmes". This movie is like an "Indiana Jones" for kids; so was "The Goonies". This movie is scary and darker in tone; so was "Gremlins". Though unlike "Gremlins", "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" isn't violent. It's scary, but not over-the-line scary. Columbus was a good choice as director of this movie (Steven Spielberg had a chance to direct this, but passed on it to make "A.I."), and it's his best film as director to date. He's brought this movie to life in exhilarating fashion. The screenplay is by Oscar nominee Steve Kloves ("Wonder Boys"), who did a superb job in adapting the movie from the book. The cinematography, editing, production design, and costume design are all first-rate and deserve Oscar attention, along with the visual effects. The performances are picture perfect. The three kids who play Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all acting newcomers and they were all perfect choices to play these characters. I think we'll be seeing alot of Daniel Radcliffe in the future. Radcliffe portrays Harry Potter to absolute perfection. He holds the movie together in every scene, and was a natural choice to play this character. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are very exceptional as Ron and Hermione. Like Radcliffe, we'll be seeing alot of Grint and Watson for years to come. They're all terrific young British actors (and they've all been signed on to star in the next "Harry Potter" movie). You couldn't have asked for a better supporting cast than the one that's featured in this movie, all a who's who of veteran British actors. Richard Harris (as headmaster Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (Prof. McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Prof. Snape), Robbie Coltrane (groudskeeper Hagrid), Zoe Wanamaker (Prof. Hooch), and Ian Hart (Prof. Quirrell) are all perfectly cast; with John Cleese, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Fiona Shaw, and Julie Walters featured in smaller roles. What a cast! I loved everything about "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". This is not just a movie for kids, but for the whole family. I've never read any of the "Harry Potter" books, but on the basis of this first "Harry Potter" movie, I think I'm going to go out and purchase the books. Or maybe ask to receive them as a Christmas gift. Speaking of Christmas, I think "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will be the smash hit of the Christmas season 2001. If it doesn't surpass last year's Christmas hit, "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (which opened at exactly the same time a year ago), then the American moviegoing public has completely lost it. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has gotten far better reviews that "The Grinch" movie did last year, and critically acclaimed movies deserve to be blockbuster hits alot more than critically hated movies like "The Grinch". From what I saw this weekend (a packed moviehouse and an opening day gross of $29.5 million), "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will be a blockbuster smash. BET ON IT!!!!!
**** (out of four)