A demanding child but an enjoyable film.

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2002)

You would have to have been comatised not to have heard of Harry Potter this year! Even when we were on holiday in France my son found the J K Rowlings books `with different covers Mummy'. Sunday 4th November saw the World Premiere of the long awaited film adaptation of the first book, which was attended by a galaxy of celebrities clutching their children's hands.
`Why didn't we go?' demanded my seven-year-old, while watching the GMTV report on Monday morning. `Because we're not rich or famous enough!' I replied My son gave me an accusing look as he realised I was a failure. In order to salvage a bit of status I duly booked up for the premiere screening at my local cinema. By the time Saturday arrived I think I was more excited then they were!
Taking our telephone booked seats I was aware of a slight problem. Row C was a bit close to the screen for my long-sighted senile myopic vision. And for the first few minutes I wonder why a vastly expensive film had been shot out-of-focus! However as the book came to life before my eyes this problem became irrelevant.
Anyone who has read the book will have created strong images of both characters and locations. I am happy to report that my images on both accounts were more than fulfilled. Privet Close was an 80's housing development, rather than the 60's estate of my imagination, but that is probably more to do with my age! Everything else was perfect. The Dickensan appearance of Diagon alley, the power and wonder of the steam train (I think I'm showing my age again!), the majestic gothic Hogwarts, all enhanced by shooting from the perspective of a 11 year old. As for the characters, well Robbie Coltrane IS Hagrid! And Alan Rickman as Snape was as nasty, if better looking, than the Snape my mind created. Of the young newcomers all were excellent. Whilst Harry's incredulous wonder at the turn his life has taken probably reflects Daniel Radcliffe's own feelings, as he stood, hopefully, viewing the images of his dead parents tears prinked my eyes.
Although I was aware that Gloucester Cathedral had been used for part of Hogwarts I failed to detect its presence. Either I was too engrossed in the film for this type of detail or it was heavily disguised.
My own favourite scene is the Quidditch match. Quidditch is the wizard world's equivalent of football, with the exception that it is exciting to watch! Played on broomsticks with seven players aside the red ball, or Quaffle, is put in one of three hoops by opposing teams to score 10 points. The game is complicated by Bludgers, rogue black balls that zoom around trying to dislodge players. However two beaters have the job of protecting the rest of the team. Each team has a seeker whose job it is to catch the golden snitch, a walnut-sized ball that not only darts about but disappears from sight. The catching of the snitch scores 150 points and ends the game. Watching this game you will believe that broomsticks can fly and will hanker after your own Nimbus 2000.
For a writer to have so much control on a film is usual. Nick Hornby voiced the opinion, it's best to take the money and run! Joanna Harris was annoyed at the change of the heroine's distracter from priest to mayor in Chocolat! Whilst the film is not an exact replication of the book it is as near as a two and a half hours adaptation can be. That's two and a half hours which whiz by so that, like Harry, you are disappointed to be leaving Hogwarts!
11th November 2001
PS Senile myopia is one of the downsides of passing 40!