A Little Hairy.

Rating: 4/10 (15 December 2001)

It is a crime for this movie to get an almost 8/10 rating and be among the top 250 on the IMDB database.
I would give this movie an 8/10 rating in regard to sticking with the book. It is one of the most faithful scripts that I have ever seen portrayed on the big screen.
As an unpublished author, I respect JK Rawlings's creation (and her drive to be published) and I have enjoyed the books immensely. The fact that this movie sticks so close to the book is actually it's down fall. There is almost no creative intervention by director Columbus and this movie is one of the few that could have used it.
The movie works better in the always fascinating "fleshing" of previously "written" characters. That is to say that all of the characters in the book, that are brought to life by the movie, are interesting to see just for that fact.
Otherwise it surprised me that this movie was such a bore. The CGI's were good - impressive even, but that failed to spark any real interest beyond, "I wonder what this-or-that character will look like".
I do not make a habit of reviewing any single plot feature on IMDB. This is covered very well by other IMDB posters that have donated their time. But I can say this, I was embarrassed by the pace of the plot. I invited several fellow adults to the movie that knew nothing of Harry Potter - and I noticed, time after time, that all of them were checking their watches regularly. I even found myself recalling the book and asking myself, "Does anything exciting happen next?". The answer is sadly no. Although the book was a joyful and fast read, the movie falls flat in delivering any of the suspense. And, more importantly, it did not deliver on what made me enjoy the books so much - the feeling you get when you read (or watch) something that reminds you of the magic in your own childhood. Not that there is any real magic in anyone's childhood, but friendships and adventures, that is the real magic (STAND BY ME / King's short story THE BODY).
As to the critics/parents demanding Rawling's head because of the Witches and Sorcerers in the book and movie - Hey folks, time to posse up some responsibility for your children. An educated child, whose parents talk to and have discussions with them, would never believe that anything in this movie is more than a movie. Or that a fiction book is anything more than a book. Reading Potter or any book is 1000 times better than 20 minutes of MTV, Pokemon, Power Rangers or whatever other mass media outlet that parents allow to baby sit their children. One reviewer cited CS Lewis's CHRONICLES OF NARNIA as a more wholesome form of reading. And I would agree that the Narnia stories are superior, but more wholesome? It is true that they usually parallel a biblical story or theme, but the relationship is usually so subtle that a child will not pick up on it. And yes, there are witches and other magical beings in the stories (even Santa Clause). Just because Lewis is a writer who writes on Christian themes, it does not make his stories less of a fantasy. Read THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by Lewis if you want your morals to be properly chastised.
If you are really looking for a good time to spend on some magic themes, try watching BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE 10TH KINGDOM (mini series).
4/10 - Too long, too boring, no magic.