Not UNimpressive

Rating: 8/10 (16 November 2001)

I saw this film at the first showing on opening day, not because it excited me THAT much but because my friend paid. I had read all the books not because I love that kind of book, but because I had a few long plane rides. My attitude toward this whole Harry Potter phenomenon is that it's a great way to get kids to read; the books are fun, but I don't think any of it reason for excitement. So the movie version, in my opinion, should bring something really special, after all it is a scapegoat from reading the books.
I was disappointed, however, to find that it was no more (nor less, mind) than it needed to be.
Director Chris Columbus, I am sure, was not an exciting choice for the producers. He has no style to speak of, which is appropriate, but boring. I don't expect the project to be handed to Darren Aronofsy, but it needed a little more "magic," if you will, behind the camera.
The effects were not disturbingly bad, but I for one am bored with computer effects. Animatronics are getting better just as are cgi effects, so maybe a few more of those could have replaced some of the more obvious cgi's.
The acting was fine, not great, except in the cases of Richard Harris as Dumbledore and the boy who played Draco Malfoy, the evil student. Those two are examples of exceptional acting.
The screenplay was generally loyal to the book. But as in Most instances of a book translation to film, the occasional interesting subplot must be sacrificed and some elements and characters that were truly vivid in the book are cut down to become vague plot catalysts such as Hagrid's character and the whole Sorcerer's (or Philosopher's) Stone wrap up.
Was I completely let down? No. It was a refresher course for the book since I read it a while ago. But by no means should it be an alternative to the book. I know kids are going to go ape poopy over it because there really isn't anything in it to let them down unless they are really snobby kids. I was just disappointed because I'm a snobby viewer.