Ok...but lacking in something magical

Rating: 6/10 (2 March 2002)

Let me start by saying that I am among the few who have not read any of the Harry Potter books...and I am also one of the few who did not flock to the theatre as soon as Harry Potter was released. I did finally go to see it today, only because I had a request to make a Harry Potter costume for somebody for Halloween...so I had to check it out. I was also curious to see the "famous" Harry Potter...and check out the film that is up against Fellowship of the Ring for an Oscar in Art Direction, Music Score and Costume Design. Sounds as if I might be a bit biased against Harry Potter already doesn't it? I'll admit I was. But don't jump to conclusions yet....
After seeing the film I can say that on some levels I enjoyed it. It was a wonderful, albeit too long, children's film. I liked most of the characters, but especially Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid. I think Daniel Radcliffe did a fine job as Harry and enjoyed Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley. I told my husband after the movie that I would have enjoyed it immensely had I been 10 years old. I found the first half (at least) of the movie to be incredibly slow, as if it were setting up the plot to come. The plot was slow too...too much concentration on the details of Hogwarts instead of developing the story IMO. FX weren't all that great if you ask me (particularly the end with Lord Voldemart-spelling?-I found it rather cheesy, not to mention the troll. Speaking of the troll, I recall someone telling me that the troll in the Fellowship fo the Rings was probably copied from HP&SS...ehem...well, while I found the troll in FOTR rather lacking, it was much better than the one in HP. He reminded me of Shrek!
The music was one of the high points in my opinion...it was the most magical touch to the movie. It fit perfectly most of the time and wasn't too overpowering for the most part.
The costume design was OK, but it was well rather costumey. It didn't feel real, yet I'm not sure it was suppose to. I think this film is intended to be pure fantasy...childlike fantasy. HP was good light entertainment, enought to take you away for an afternoon, granted you have comfortable theatre seats...it seemed to drag on.
As far as my seeing it to assess the competition Fellowship of the Ring has for an Oscar...I would think the FOTR has nothing to worry about from HP. A good little film but I don't think it can compare to the big league fantasy film of 2001.