Solid, by-the-numbers film, decent entertainer but not as good as the book

Rating: Null/10 (19 February 2009)

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' is adequate as a film but falls well short of the book. The cast is good though Daniel Radcliffe is rather green. The film however feels surprisingly by-the-numbers. A little more imagination and perhaps some risks could well have made it memorable, but it sticks to the printed text almost to the letter. While young fans will love it, adults may bemoan a missed opportunity. Still, its not all bad. Robbie Coltrane is endearing as gentle giant Hagrid, and the climax works very well. This film is a solid entertainer without ever reaching for anything higher.
Overall 7/10