An almost perfect adaptation of a book...

Rating: Null/10 (16 March 2002)

However, that is where all praise stops. Having read all of the books (due to gentle nudging by my girlfriend), as well as having enjoyed all the books immensely, I was hoping for a lot in this movie. What I got... well, 95% of the story elements were in place, but 0% of the heart and magic were missing. Which kind of sucks, seeing how they are at a school for magic.
A reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes put it best by saying that Chris Columbus (the director) didn't have to make a great movie, he just had to avoid making a lousy one. And unfortunately, he just barely accomplishes that. NOTE: Chris Columbus, if I'm not mistaken, has never made a really good movie ever. But he was hand picked by J.K herself, so...
How to wrap this up... Ahh yes. It disturbs me greatly that a movie like this can out-gross one of the finest works in cinema recently, Lord of the Rings. Those darn little kids, they go a thousand times to see it and of course, have to bring their parents along. If you want a great fantasy, see the aforementioned LotR. There is a reason it has 13 Oscar nods.
It let me down completely. I felt nothing when the movie ended, except, 'Well, is that it?' No magic. No mystery. Simply... is.