Great for Kids, Less So for Adults

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2002)

Everyone knows that technically this movie is top notch. Special effects, acting, directing; the whole package is as good as it gets. The team has accurately brought the best selling children's fantasy book to the screen, delighting children and earning themselves bank-loads of money.

That's great for kids and the studios, but what about adults? Actually, there's not very much at offer. Chris Columbus and Ms Rowling seem stretched pretty thin story-wise in this first installment of Harry Potter. Quidditch? The chess game? Learning to ride a broomstick? Big Deal. It doesn't seem new and not even on par with a Star Trek installment. It more resembles Disney's early 60s efforts like Herbie the Love Bug. Ok, so Harry's supposed to be in about the fifth grade or so. When he ages will the stories get more mature also? No, they won't. Four, five, six more Harry Potter films? Not for me, one or two will probably suffice.