An almost perfect introduction

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2018)

I believe that the "Harry Potter" series needs no introduction, but just in case, this is the first movie in the eight-part series based on J. K. Rowling's, at this point classic, novels. It's about a young eleven-year-old boy whose parents got killed by an evil wizard Voldemort when Harry was a baby. After being raised (and mistreated) by his aunt and uncle not to know anything about the wizarding world, he learns of his true origin when he's admitted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The rest is history.
This is a charming and magical start to a wonderful series with a perfect atmosphere, music, acting and overall direction. No doubt Chris Columbus knew what he was doing and he absolutely nailed the tone. It's magical and the way the world unfolds before our eyes feels organic. All the comopnents make the magic almost tangible.
When we mention the magical feeling of the movie, we can't go without mentioning John Williams' iconic score. His music feels like a natural part of the world, like an entity of its own. And how can we forget the nostalgic value it bring to so many people (including me)? It's very easy for those who grew up with the series get teary-eyed at some particular moments that the music enhances. Among many other things, the music brings Rowling's story to life the way it feels like it was meant to be.
The casting is excellent and the characters feel like they have been pulled out straight from the book. The child actors and the adult veterans make for a delightful bunch that yoi can't help but warm up to. Everyone has their own personality and such a variety is a joy to watch.
However, one thing that holds it back a little is that the world-building comes at the expense of a slick-moving plot. Obviously, this is a large world that we need to be introduced to and understand its rules and that's why the plot doesn't truly kick in until sometime in the second half. Also, some CGI did not age very well, but it was 2001, I think we can let it slide. Especially since most of it actually holds up quite well.
Of course, it didn't contain every single thing from the books, but it's overall a worthy and magical adaptation. If you haven't watched this yet, what are you waiting for? If you want a magical escape, you won't only get that, but the beggining of an epic adventure that you won't forget soon.