Slavishly Faithful Adaptation

Rating: 5/10 (13 December 2005)

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is devotedly faithful to the book.
The special effects, especially the Henson Creature Shop and the quidditch game, are fun, but not fantastically magical.
There's a lot riding on those three kid leads, more than probably any kids can communicate; it makes one realize how much of the book really takes place inside Harry's head.
The great British character actors are underutilized, especially John Cleese as nearly Headless Nick.
The music is too loud and obvious.
A must for fans of the books but this won't make any converts. It is long -- don't take kids too young to read the book; the little kids in our audience were screaming to go home already.
(originally written 11/25/2001)