Euro centricity

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2001)

So you're tired of all those kids reporting on the disappointment of seeing their imagination violated when transformed on the big screen by techno-geeks. My son refuses to go because he doesn't want to ruin his vision of this modern classic. Good, but since I couldn't get out from under the staircase in Book 1, I really have nothing to lose.
Aside form the technical wizardry - did I see that sorting ceremony hat in "A Nightmare Before Christmas"? - costumes - I want that cloak of invisibility - score - wait, what score? - this film has its way with the audience incorporating all the escapism we all need. But this is a fantasy that relegates almost anyone who isn't traditional British white bread to minor roles like sports announcer, Centaur or walk on. Dare I ask author J.K. Rowlings or director Chris Columbus to bend towards diversity and give us a picture of even those reality-based British suburbia with a touch of multi-culturalism? Or is that too heavy a dose of reality.
The kids are cute and their parts well acted. The story moves and we find ourselves caring for Harry, Ron and Hermione. Did the casting director really look for an Opie look-alike for Harry's hapless sidekick Ron? Harry's muggle family was a little over the top but the plot-twists were well executed. It was pleasant to see the solid assortment of English performers who even in cameo roles gave solid performances. But are they all Caucasians?
What to watch for? There's a great shot of the inner-works of a lock on the vault holding the sorcerer's stone. The opening scene bridges reality and fantasy very well. The troll trashing the girl's toilet must have been based on memories from secondary education. And Harry's wand selection sequence makes me long for the day that merchants knew their wares.
The night before Harry Potter's opening, Steve Martin appeared on the David Letterman show to hype his new film "Novocain." "We're opening opposite Harry Potter. (audience laughter) We figured that Harry Potter would appeal to a select audienceÂ…everyone!"
Maybe next week, Steve.