First of the series

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2004)

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the first film of the popular series about a boy wizard based on the books by J.K. Rowling. And in my opinion movie fantasies don't get any better than this. This is a terrific movie that has a lot going for it: great directing, wonderful storytelling, and fine acting. No wonder this series as already become a phenomenon.
This first adventure introduces us to Harry Potter, a young boy who discovers on his 11th birthday that he's a wizard, and goes on to fulfill his destiny at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fast-paced, funny, and wonderfully entertaining, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" never disappoints. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Grainger), and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) will have long careers thanks to this series. And don't forget that veteran British cast (Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, etc.). Everybody's terrific, with my favorite performances coming from Watson and Coltrane.
Sure this is a long movie at 152 minutes, but to me it felt a little shorter than that, thanks to its fast pace. Director Chris Columbus ("Home Alone", "Mrs. Doubtfire") wanted to get every element of the book into the film, and therefore he succeeded. Not to mention the beautifully technical aspects of the movie, which received well deserved Oscar nominations for Original Score, Art Direction, and Costume Design (should have gotten another nod for Visual Effects). And what comes out of this movie is one very entertaining show. Kids all around the world love this film, and well they should. This is a family film that even adults can like. So just sit back and enjoy it! I sure did!
***** (out of five)