Needs more character development

Rating: Null/10 (22 November 2001)

It was an ok movie. I was disappointed that the emphasis was so heavily on special effects. I thought that more character development of Snape and McGonagall, and the students and their relationship to each other would have benefited the film a great deal. Many of the special effects (the killer plant, the boat ride, Gringotts banks, the turning stairways) could have been sacrificed to provide screen time for enjoying the relationships between the students and for establishing the rules and environment of Hogwartz (Ron beats Hermione at chess, Fred and George are a couple of bludgers themselves, Percy is Prefect and proud of it, Ron and Hermione tit for tat, some classes are with Slitherins and some are with other houses and some are just Gryffindor, the names of their different classes, Snape protected Harry because Harry's Dad saved Snape's life) to the overall improvement of the film.
In addition the character development scenes they did have didn't have enough reaction shots. Reaction shots tell the audience what everyone on the screen is thinking about events and each other. There weren't enough reaction shots to Hermione's academic show offs or to Snape's speech the first day of Potions class, or to Harry being chosen for Gryffindor, or to Professor McGonagall's putting Harry on the quiditch team. It leaves the scenes feeling flat and takes away from the psychological suspense of a scene.
I hope Chris Columbus chooses to shoot more reaction shots in the next one. They add to the cost but they add so much more to the feel of the movie. And I hope that whoever edits the next one decides to use the footage of the outstanding performances of the cast that lend substance and true pleasure and attachment to a film over the flashier thrill rides if they are faced with a such a choice again. I'm looking forward to the next one being a five star classic.