A brave attempt

Rating: 6/10 (12 November 2001)

Given that they set out to make a film of the book, this is about as good as it could be. The cast are well-chosen, the scenery and effects eminently appropriate.
However, the unfortunate effect is merely to demonstrate that Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone works much better as a book. Like all good adventures, Harry Potter has a whole lot of plot. There simply isn't time to fit the plot into the film comfortably without sacrificing other things. The relationships between the characters are thinly drawn, and the atmosphere of the school doesn't really come through.
There's nothing overtly wrong with the film, and Harry Potter fans shouldn't be too disappointed, but, as so often, it's a much better book than it is a film.