An acquired taste

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2001)

I went to opening night and got a horribly mixed feeling about the movie. I just could NOT get into the film for the first full hour, but once Harry saw the mirror, I was very much into it. But that first hour bothered me all night after I got home. During the film I couldn't help but think about what wasn't there, at home I couldn't stop thinking that I SHOULD have liked it, but something was wrong. I LOVED the last hour and a half, but that first hour....
I finally came to the conclusion that I had to see the movie a second time as soon as possible. While in line Saturday, an acquaintance of mine asked if I noticed that the Dolby system was off for the first hour of the opening run. I was livid! I realized that that was what the problem was!

When I saw the movie again, I was able to completely fall into the film and lose the 'adaptation' thing. As a movie by itself, I think it is wonderful! My second go was SO much better than the first time. I was in awe! The movie DOES have a charm to it. It is NOT the same charm as the book, but it's got its own charm. It is more like 'the Wizard of Oz' kind of charm.

I felt that the movie was more European to me, the first time I saw it. It SHOULD be more European! But like some of my favorite European movies, it's a bit of an acquired taste.
By the second time I saw it, I certainly acquired the right taste for this film! It is lovely through and through. It is in no way anything compared to the book. However, I put this up there with the 'Wizard of Oz' and the original 'Star Wars' trilogy, completely separated from the book.

It is a fiercely faithful 'adaptation,' but whereas the story is from the mind of JK Rowling, the heart of the movie is from Chris Columbus. He has a wonderful, dark imagination that fits very well in the HP world. It's just that getting used to his heart takes time after being so used to JKR's.

I felt that the acting was superb from everyone. People with the smallest parts, like John Hurt, treated their characters as though they were fully formed, and the whole movie rested on their performance.

The main characters were perfect. Robbie Coltrane IS Hagrid. I actually like his character even more! I can't believe Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were newcomers because their acting was so good, but then again I can BECAUSE their acting was so good. But my favorite performance was Daniel Radcliffe's. It's not because I think he's a doll, which he is, but he truly is Harry! Not once did he overstate his character, like so many child actors do. His reactions were true to the character, and the movie rides comfortably on his shoulders.
I found what I loved the most about the movie is what I love about the books. Even though the story takes place in a fantastic world that could easily turn artificial, everything and everyone just seem so normal for that world that it's completely believable. I think that Chris Columbus understood that part of the books and, also, shares in that philosophy. I don't think any other director could have pulled that off as well as he did.

I can now HONESTLY say, without a doubt, that I LOVE this movie! It is not the Harry Potter I fell in love with, but I love this Harry Potter, too.