MOVIE REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
MOVIE REVIEW: Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Daniel Radcliffe, Maggie Smith) 1/2
In Roger Ebert's review of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he mentions a pit of tendrils known as the Devil's Snare not once, but twice. This may sound harsh, but it is certainly a reflection on my overall impression of the film when I don't even remember what scene he is referring to. Honest, I have no idea what he's talking about.
I'd like to think I was at a real disadvantage when I watched the movie because I haven't read any of the J.K. Rowling books. Now I'm thinking that's more of an excuse because, after all is said and done, having read the books may be the only reason so many fans have fallen under the movie's spell -- they want to see how each chapter translates to the big screen. Too bad director Chris Columbus didn't put the books down long enough to make the end result a little more cohesive.
It stars Daniel Radcliffe as the bespectacled Harry, an orphan who is raised by "Wicked Muggle People". We know this because they don't let him receive mail, they force him to sleep under the stairs, and they hammer shut the front door to the house from the inside. Harry is visited by Robbie Coltrane because he is obese, forgetful, and has a British accent. (This makes the young ones chuckle.) Coltrane tells him he is actually a wizard and, if he is willing to appear in front of dozens of blue screens and green screens, Harry should join him. Judging from the special effects for the rest of the movie, the young Potter agrees. Along the way to Hogwarts School, the Top Gun of magic if you will, Harry meets Danny Bonaduce and Gaby Hoffman. They become friends who stumble into many adventures: they evade the clutches of a cut-out Shrek, they flirt with Cerberus, and their most difficult challenge of all proves to be pronouncing everyone's names (Dumbledore, Voldemort, Draco and Quidditch sound like alien cusswords).
For some reason, the entire second half of the movie is shot in the dark. We see an eyeball here and a candle over there, and that's about it. This is because, after a certain point, the special effects team knew they had to throw in the towel. There are a few "bright" spots however. Maggie Smith, usually known primarily for playing stern but motherly teaching types, here plays... wait, bad example. Alan Rickman, usually known for shady, sneaky characters in big budget blockbuster movies, here plays... oh, never mind.
I was going to give Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone two stars, but I must confess hearing the gasps of delight from the children in attendance reminded me of my own childhood joy when I once thought The Never-Ending Story and Labyrinth were mind-expanding and creative in their design. If the Rowling books are opening up millions of kids to things they'd never imagined before, all my best to them. Me? Well, let me put it this way: I won't be lining up to see the next installment, Harry Potter and the Box Office Behemoth, anytime soon.
