Read the book before you watch the film

Rating: 5/10 (8 October 2018)

I was six years old when 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' first came out in 2001, and my Dad took my sister Beulah, who was nearly eight years old at the time, and had already read the book, to see it at the Movie House Cinema.
First of all, it is directed by Chris Columbus who directed comedy films like "Home Alone" and "Mrs Doubtfire". Second, like most of the later Harry Potter films, it is a 2-hour film which leaves out a couple of important characters and scenes.
It leaves out the introduction to the Dursleys, Mr Dursley's day at work when he hears the news about the Potters before we see Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid leave Harry on the Dursley's doorstep.
Dudley's best friend Piers Polkiss who comes with Harry and the Dursleys to the zoo is omitted. The snake is changed from a Boa Constrictor to a Burmese Python.
Mrs Figg (who would later appear in the film version of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix', played by Kathryn Hunter) looking after Harry while Aunt Petunia buys Dudley's Smelting's uniform is omitted.
Uncle Vernon moving Harry to Dudley's second room is eliminated, so we don't know why Harry gets it in the next film.
The scene where Harry and the Dursleys go to a hotel in eliminated, so instead they go straight go to the hut.
Hagrid, after he breaks the hut, mistakes Dudley for Harry, because we know the boy who plays Dudley is called Harry Melling, until Harry corrects him straight away.
The scene where Harry first encounters Malfoy in Madam Malkin's Robe Shop is omitted. The scene where Harry goes back to The Dursleys for the remainder of the Summer Holidays is omitted, because after buying his school things, Hagrid brings him straight to the Platform.
The scene where Malfoy challenges Harry and Ron into a duel in the trophy room at midnight and tipping Flich off is eliminated. So we don't understand why Herimone escorts Harry to the Trophy cabinet and shows him that his father was also a seeker. Also eliminated is Neville when he, Harry, Ron and Herimone first investigate the third floor corridor and first encounter Fluffy.
Even The Nobert story-arc was all a single event: Nobert's egg is revealed, hatches, he is discovered and sent to Romania by Dumbledore, by the next scene, when he is supposed to be given to Ron's brother Charlie who is actually with dragons.
Scenes where Ron is brought to the hospital wing after being bitten by Nobert, Malfoy is brought to Snape's office, and then Harry and Herimone bringing Nobert up the astronomy tower, and caught by Flich, and are brought to Professor McGonagall's office for detention along with Neville are also eliminated, so we don't know why Malfoy spots Harry, Ron and Herimone in Hagrid's hut who get caught by him and Professor McGonagall in the corridor.
Also eliminated are both Ronan and Bane the centaurs who Inform Hagrid about Mars being bright and then later argue with Firenze after he rescues Harry from the hooded figure in the Forbidden Forrest.
The scene where Harry and Herimone enter the Potions table before Harry enters the final room through the purple fire is also eliminated.
The scene where Harry faces Quirrell while touching his skin before he passes out is changed to burning him into ashes causing Voldemort to leave his body.
And lastly, When Harry wakes up in the hospital, he gets a visit from Dumbledore, Ron, Herimone (who both tell him that he missed the final Qudditch match) and Hagrid, who was upset about how he never should have told them how to get past Fluffy, while only in the film Dumbledore tells him that his scar is a mark of love.
Even the ending scene where Harry shares one last goodbye with Ron and Herimone before the Summer holidays start, is omitted, instead ending Harry sharing one final moment with Hagrid who gives him the Photo album, when he should have given him when he had visited him in the Hospital wing, before he departs onto the Hogwarts Express.
In conclusion, I think 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' is above average but it is a perfect introduction to the Harry Potter films to introduce to the young crowd, if you haven't read the books yet.
Book: 10/10
Film: 5/10