A classic film

Rating: 10/10 (11 November 2001)

I saw Harry Potter film Saturday morning at 10.35 in Odeon Harrogate.
Ive read the books and went with 2 seven year olds (boy and girl) and my wife. Of the four of us only my wife hadn't read the book.
We all enjoyed the film very much including my wife who had doubts initially about sitting through a film nearly 2 1/2 hours long. The children sat and watched it without any moments where there attention strayed. It flies by.
I've never seen a film twice at the cinema but I intend to see this one again because there's so much to it.
The special effects are great and the film reminds me of a cross between Raiders of the Lost Ark and say an Enid Blyton Famous Five Film. However, its very English so it will be intersting to see what the Americans think. Its pure escapism with another World..Hogwarts School being created. In that sense there's no clash with the horrors of Sept 2001.
The costume design/ sets are brilliant ..eg Gringotts Wizard Bank and Diagon Alley Wizard shops (and the Gringotts goblins). The Move from London 2001 into Wizard London is magical as is the Kings Cross scenes.
All the actors are well cast, Richard Harris (who I've never been keen on plays a brilliant Albus Dumbledore)
The 3 main child actors are very good; they don't come over like some slightly obnoxious Annakin SkyWalker in Star Wars.
Harry Potter is fairly straight good guy ; so its a difficult part to play as like Superman he doesn't have much character. Ron Weasly is the character and he really looks the part with a distinctive rubbery face. Hermione Granger is bossy, very pretty and plays a strong part.
What you start to realise is how much has to be left out of a film which sticks very close,timewise,plotwise to the book. To portray the book in full would take a ten hour film so lots have to go eg Draco Malfoys first meeting with Harry on the train and rat scabbers attack and Hermiones logic challenge after Ron's Chess game beating up.
The stars (John Hurt , Cleese, Julie Walters etc etc ) all play great parts though one soon realises how cut down the characters have to be to get the main storyline in.
There are memorable scenes (and quite scary ones at that). (so not suitable I'd say for any under fives). The film will however appeal to adults as well as kids.
1) The Quidditch Match 2) The Wizard Chess Game 3) The Troll on the loose in Hogwarts 4) The encounter with Voldemort at the end. 5) Gringotts security systems.
I'm just giving a general flavour of a film which in my opinion is far superior to the last Star Wars and which is even better than Toy Story/Bugs Life.
My opinion is that this Harry Potter film will not just be a hyped wonder but will last a long long time in terms of popularity and staying power; it will thus do well on Video/DVD when the time comes but prior to that will enjoy a long run at the box office.
Cheers