Very good start to a series; some people just whine too much

Rating: 9/10 (26 November 2001)

I am more than a little surprised to see critics of Harry Potter grousing about bad chess moves and details from the book being left out. Lighten up. A movie never includes every detail from a book, nor does it get every small matter of opinion (i.e. chess strategy) correct. A movie entertains, and when it comes from a book, it creates a living world that more of less matches the world the reader had imagined. Harry Potter #1 does a very good job of bringing this world to the screen.
I have read all of the books, so I am aware that my mind may have automatically filled in details that someone who had not read the books might be puzzled by. Even so, the movie makes as much sense as a fantasy/fairy tale can, and you have a good time watching it. I won't get into the plot because either you already know, or if you don't, trying to explain it here wouldn't do the movie (or book) justice.
I do agree with one criticism that the movie doesn't allow the viewer learn much about the main characters. The Big Three (Harry, Hermione and Ron) are pretty much thrust into the movie and you learn what you can from their actions more than from any exposition. A fourth character, Neville Longbottom, in particular seems to suddenly appear and disappear and then appear again rather awkwardly. But again, that's OK. This movie was 2.5 hours long; it included as many details as it could. At some point, reality dictated that some things be left out. I have a hunch we'll learn more about these characters in the next movie and beyond.
The Quidditch game was far more exciting than the ridiculously slow and cliched "pod race" in Star Wars" The Phantom Menace. In fact, Harry Potter is a far better movie all around. It certainly opens a new world of imagination. It deserves a 9.