Never in my memory have I seen a movie so boring.

Rating: 3/10 (8 December 2001)

The first half hour or so my focus on Harry Potter was still there excusing all the obvious clues that this will be a flop to slow start. But after more of the same thing the bells began to ring that I might have to put up with this for the remainder of the movie.
I had not read Harry Potter. I'm a 28 year old male. I enjoy fantasy science fiction and have read many such books. I consider myself to have tremendous concentration and can appreciate a wide range of movies or documentaries even those that might put some people to sleep.
But I have never in my memory come across such a movie as this. Given all the hypes and that the movie has some basis in a top selling book surely there must be something in it?
Usually top movies provide inspiration as well as good action, some dramatic scenes and engaging plot. Who can forget the moment when Luke Skywalker stepped out into the dusk pondering at the sky with longing for his destiny with matching music just as powerful. Or ET with the simple touch of love between a boy and an alien that lit up your heart.
Harry Potter can only be mentioned along side those movies to provide a contrast. Harry Potter made me want to leave the cinema. I was scratching, I was turning, I was very uncomfortable. When my popcorn and drink ran out I was very irritated. I thought maybe it was the seat which was too soft, the popcorn which made me feel too hot, trying to avoid the obvious.
Harry Potter is one-dimensional, very plain, fails to develop the characters, their relationships or the world of magic itself. Everything happened in the movie as if the director expected everyone had already read the book and loved it so much that no real work needed to be done with the movie itself. I was considering buying the book to see what all the fuss was about. Having seen the movie, I am now very doubtful that I will risk wasting more time and money in case the book is anything like the movie.
To be fair, my young colleague who watched this movie with me largely enjoyed Harry Potter. However, many had already read the book prior. The special effects were also quite good.
This movie is not recommended for all but the young and naive.