a good escapist movie

Rating: Null/10 (29 June 2002)

Like the HP books, the movie is a great escape to a fantasy world.
The film-makers have done an excellent job of bringing the book to life, in this reviewer's opinion improving upon the book which is tedious with plot conveniences (only, that is, from the adult point-of-view). The FX are very good; I liked the big dumb troll. The real and imaginary scenery excellent, and I liked the gate 'nine and three-quarters' transition at the train station, not just the running through the wall, but the change in setting from the business-like, sterile Muggle-world to the character charm - in more ways than one - of the wizard world.
The author's stipulation to use mostly UK cast permitted North American viewers to meet seasoned actors not usually seen here. The likeable cast of young actors appeared wooden at times. Rupert Grint was the most relaxed in his role, could even be Oscar material.
Some scenes dragged such as near the end when Hermione speechifies something about brains aren't everything. The veteran actors were better able to carry the sometimes weak dialogue (e.g. Richard Harris as Dumbledore, explaining how mother's love protected Harry from the hands of evil, by a lesser talent would have come off as trite). To someone who hasn't read the book, some aspects of the movie will seem pointless but it does stand alone quite well. I purposely did not read the first HP book beforehand.
Extraordinary details seem what you might expect, such as the living paintings, and the lady-ghost writing at a desk in one of the classroom scenes. I would like a brocade hat like Prof. Dumbledore wears at the closing banquet!
More highlights: Alan Rickman's threatening yet surprisingly sympathetic Professor of the Dark Arts; Maggie Smith's perfect schoolmarm demeanor; Sean Biggerstaff as the young bloke-ish sportsman. Warwick Davis was a delightful professor; David Bradley was spooky as the lanky, leather-coated caretaker; Robbie Coltrane suited the role of Hagrib, and was the clever device to disguise plot explanations by means of a running gag - "I shouldna' said that..."