Brilliant!

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2001)

One of the strange things about this movie is that although I left the cinema grinning from ear to ear, I did feel that it would not have stood alone without the books. Some people who have seen this movie but not read the books will undoubtedly say that they could not really become immersed in the experience properly - and this is very true. From the outset, I felt that many of the touches required familiarity with the subject material - the sorting hat and the stigma attached to the Slytherin House for instance, is something that is explained fully in the books, but not at all in the film.
My summary says brilliant - and this is precisely what this movie is. It has brought well-loved characters out of a book and onto the big screen. Harry, Ron and Hermione shine throughout the movie, and the acting is superb, especially from people who are so young. The fact that the movie and the book are so closely intertwined does not detract from this movie - in fact, since it encourages the viewer to read the books to find out more, it can only be a good thing and can only help to promote reading in the way JK Rowling intended.
A must see - but more importantly, a must read!
8/10