I'm just wild about Harry (more or less ...)

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2001)

Not exactly *wild* but I really wanted to use that heading...
The good news is that they most certainly haven't screwed it up. The film is faithful to Rowling almost to a fault. Hogwarts looks like Hogwarts, and they've got Quidditch down just right. Only the most rabid Potterites will find fault with what's missing from the book (Peeves, some of the Malfoy scenes, a lot of the Dursley stuff) or what's added (Dudley's birthday and the reptile house sequence from Chamber of Secrets).
The kids are alright. Emma Watson may be the "breakout star" of the trio, she strikes just the right bossy tone, although I agree with the LA Times that she's a bit too cute (remember that Hermione is supposed to have bushy hair and buck teeth). The Malfoy and the Dudley are deliciously evil. Ron is sardonic and loyal, and a fine foil for Hermione. At first, Daniel Radcliffe seemed just a little overwhelmed but he can hardly be blamed for that. The Mirror of Erised scene pulled me in, and from then on the kid seemed to find his stride.
I don't know why at first I couldn't get used to the casting of Robbie Coltrane but now I can't imagine a better Hagrid, far and away the best adult performance. Except in the Mirror scene Richard Harris seemed limp as Dumbledore, I'm disappointed but not surprised 'cause I've never been a fan of his (it's really too bad Ian McKellen was off playing Gandalf). Most of the adult roles are little more than walk-ons so it's a bit unfair to comment on what little I saw of Maggie Smith or Alan Rickman (McGonigall and Snape).
The people who've been saying three hours is too long for a kiddie movie forget how hypnotic all this can be; the kids in the audience ate it all up (10:30 am on Friday, and I wasn't the only one playing hooky!). I'm really fed up with movies that use CGI to cover bad writing, but that's not the case here. Of course you couldn't've made this movie without computer efx, but they should have left the swooping camera shots for just the Quidditch sequence, I started getting nauseous every time they cut to the Great Hall with all the owl POVs.
Congratulations to screenwriter Steve Kloves for getting so much of the book into the movie without its running seven hours. This is Chris Columbus's best movie since Gremlins but that ain't saying much of anything. He's certainly channeling Spielberg as well as ever, but I do not mean that as a compliment. What I really, *really* hate is John Williams reminding me when the Big Moments are arriving. Rowling trusts her readers to find their own moments; Columbus and Williams would do well to learn to do the same (and come to think of it so would Spielberg!)
In short, the best popcorn movie of the year (in a year that frankly hasn't had much of any yet except for Shrek). By all means see it esp. if you're a Potter fan.
Acting: B/B+ (A for Robbie Coltrane) Production: A Music: F Script: A- Directing: B Overall: B+
Trailers: Monsters, Inc.: A+ (a special HP edition, don't miss it!) Jimmy Neutron: C+ The Majestic: C Scooby Doo: B- Star Wars: F