Use the force, Harry...

Rating: Null/10 (15 January 2003)

Take one Star Wars film, cover liberally with Wonka sweets, add in a dash of Cinderella (the evil step-family is pure cliché), and you've got a recipe for a meal of Hollywood leftovers. But a tasty one!
The storyline is an almost blatant ripoff of Star Wars (which this film franchise clearly aspires to being). Featuring Harry as the Luke Skywalker character: prodigal youth unaware of the mystic power he possesses, and occasionally using it recklessly; Hagrid as the Obi-Wan sage (though he looks more like Chewbacca); Dumbledor as Yoda; and Hermione as Leia. What it lacks is a charismatic villain to play the Darth Vader role. And you'll feel it, especially at the ending.
The film is worth seeing if only for the gorgeous visuals. Hogwarts is incredible and almost begs to be explored. Prepare to be amazed. The Quidditch scene is the only letdown, overblown and uninteresting. Tacked on to liven up a draggy part of the film. Kind of like the pod racing in Episode I. Oops! There's that Star Wars comparison popping up again!