Potter's a prissy

Rating: Null/10 (1 June 2002)

Why queue up to watch a little public-school boy prat like Harry Potter? As well as being a mediocre film, Harry himself is but a shade of a character.
For a start, Harry never earns anything, or accomplishes on his own. Everything he achieves is gifted to him by someone's assistance. Think of his so called 'feats'. [a] the defeat (albeit temporary) of Voldemort. He only achieves this through somely vaguely referred to 'gift of love' his mother sacrificed herself for. His parents also left him a hell-load of money, an invisibility cloak and everything else he'd ever need to be a hero. Even getting to the final confrontation required more action on his friends' behalf than he himself was involved in. Ron, Hermione, McGonagall, Dumbledore, the Centaur and Hagrid constantly watch his back. Plus, remember that Harry ends up getting the girl, Hermione, instead of Ron, who obviously deserves her. What a rip off! quidditch heroism. Think about it... he's naturally gifted at Quidditch through some genetic talent, and given a Nimbus 2000 broomstick. How can the little b****** fail? This scenario sounds like some bad American gridiron film.
And think of the pathetic enemies he has to face. First Quirrell... a man who can be defeated by someone touching his face! Not exactly a formidable foe. Voldemort, who only exists as a face on the back of Quirrel's head. Last, and certinly least, is Draco Malfoy. What a misnomer. The name itself conjures up all sorts of epic fantasy hero connotations where the character himself is a pathetic nemesis of Harry, vastly inferior in every possible way. His polished aristocratic appearance belies his lack of courage, negligible skills and integral personality flaws.
The road to heroism is supposed to be one of hardship, of sacrifice and redemption... it's not supposed to be a friggin' gravy train.
As a side note, the film also makes great assumptions on the audience's behalf. When we're told that "Nothing will happen while Dumpledore is [at Hogwarts]", we're never told why, and these faults run constantly through the film. Some respect for the audience wouldn't have gone astray. Although it's essentially a children's movie, such condescension doesn't wash.