A Fun Trip Into A Dark And Yet Wonderful Fantasy World

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2002)

I really hadn't expected to enjoy this movie, thinking it to be primarily directed toward children, but upon viewing it I discovered it to be a wonderful flight of fancy and fantasy, whisking the viewer into an unimaginable and yet completely believable world of wizards and magic, trolls and goblins.
It was a very impressive performance by young Daniel Radcliffe in the title role of Harry Potter, the wizard in training at the Hogwarts School of Magic who is called upon to save the day by saving the magic Philosopher's Stone from the evil Voldemort (Ian Hart.) In fact all three of the young leads were very good (Emma Watson as Hermione and Rupert Grint as Ron.) They brought an appropriate zest and enthusiasm to their parts. At the other end of the age extreme, the veteran actor Richard Harris was completely believable as Professor Dumbledore. Then, of course, there was perhaps the most endearing character of all, the gentle giant groundskeeper Hagrid (played by Robbie Coltrane).
The movie is a wonderful tale, mixing in an almost "Star Wars" type fashion the ideas of light and dark; good and evil. While most would think of it as a children's movie, it has moments of great tension and a surprisingly complex plot to go along with the fun parts of the movie that will endear it to the hearts of many. It also has unbelievable makeup and special effects. All in all, wonderful fun to watch.
8/10