Good film, great cast, the Philosopher's Stone is well worth watching

Rating: Null/10 (26 November 2001)

OK, first off I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, so perhaps I am biased! However, I went with people who knew nothing of Harry Potter et al but they enjoyed it as much (if not more than) myself.

The children in the film are amazing. Probably Harry Potter himself is the most colourless at times, but this too is in keeping with the flawless character - Hermione and Ron are both excellent, and not at all 'stagey'. The adults, of course, are of the very highest calibre, even if you do come away with the feeling that Alan Rickman didn't have enough to do as Snape. Robbie Coltrane is very memorable as Hagrid.
I loved practically everything about this film, the special effects, whilst very good, do not intrude too much, even though I do feel the Quidditch match did go on for a bit too long. The start of the book, when Harry is with the Dursleys, is heavily abridged, but then you cannot include everything.
The film is long, and by the end I have to admit a few of the younger children in the audience were getting restless. However, an eight-year-old boy I know was absolutely enchanted for the whole two and a half hours. The pace is fast, but then there's a lot of book to get through!!
I am not a big fan of book adaptations, however I can easily say this is one of the very best. Of course, as usual you come away thinking about your favourite bits that they missed out, but that just encourages you to re-read the book.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a wonderful film, I wholeheartedly recommend it. It's imaginative, and if it doesn't bewitch you, nothing will!!