A poor start to the series

Rating: 4/10 (14 April 2020)

While the series improves as it progress, I found the first two instalments of the Harry Potter franchise quite unenjoyable. Rowling relies heavily on plot band-aids to cover up her mediocre writing and I really cannot think of a more overrated author. I don't even know where to begin regarding the logistical errors of Rowling's work in this particular story. The nonsensical Quidditch scoring system, the abusive Dursleys, Harry's entirely inherited magical abilities, the ridiculous house points scoring system (the ending is just a joke, if I was in Slytherin I would have rioted). These are all bad enough, but it's the overall lack of a cohesive plot that really makes this story so weak. There is no real reason why anything happens, it's merely just a string of random events designed to make the main characters look heroic while the adults gush over them from afar.
The casting choices are highly satisfactory at least, particularly Robbie Coltrane and Emma Watson. Daniel Radcliffe, however, is very weak in this first instalment- his wooden acting and excessive cutesiness become tiring very quickly.
The special effects are no better, especially considering the budget. The troll is simply laughable, the depiction of Voldemort is atrocious and the flying sequences and Quidditch match are like scenes from a daytime children's TV show. I'm not sure how a 21st century film of this magnitude can contain such uninspiring animations. The sets are very good and I do feel like they bought Hogwarts to life quite accurately, but everything falls apart as soon as any CGI is used.
On top of all these criticisms, the film is just way too long. I appreciate the attempt to tell the story comprehensively, but it's very difficult to consume this movie in one sitting, especially for children. Certain scenes could easily have been shortened or excluded without damaging the story in any way.