Harry Potter (Sorcerer's Stone) DVD
Warner Home Video
Rated: PG
Genre: Family
Length: 152 minutes
Director: Chris Columbus
Year: (2001)
Britt Gillette's Harry Potter (Sorcerer's Stone) DVD Review
An international phenomena, Harry Potter created real life magic when it conjured images in the heads of millions of children, inspiring them to read an actual book! Riding a crest of popularity, the Harry Potter books have moved to the big screen bringing to life the memorable creations of author J.K. Rowling. To date, three films are finished - The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban. More are on the way, and as promised, fans have not been disappointed by the big screen transition. Directed by Chris Columbus, the special effects in these films are absolutely astounding. Complete with moving stairwells, talking paintings, and flying candles, Hogwarts springs to life for Harry Potter and his fellow classmates. Even more magical is this franchise's ability to entertain audiences of every age with relative ease…
The first book and film in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, will mesmerize newcomers. The story follows the life of orphan Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) who, due to his parents' death in a car accident, is forced to live underneath the staircase at the home of his ungrateful Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths) and Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw). Annoyed by their incessant driveling over their own son, Harry dreams of a life without them. When an owl arrives with a mysterious letter addressed for Harry, Uncle Vernon disposes of it only to have owls continually arrive by the thousands with replicate copies for Harry. But Uncle Vernon is insistent that Harry not read the letters.
He packs up the family and takes them away to a remote location. But at the new house, the family is discovered by Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) who finally delivers the message to Harry that he is a famous wizard invited to begin attending wizardry school at the Hogswarts school for witches and wizards. Against his Uncle's wishes, Harry follows Hagrid who explains the origin of the mysterious lightning bolt mark on Harry forehead as well as the true circumstances of his parents' deaths. An evil wizard named Voldemort (he who must not be named) killed Harry's parents in an attempt to set up his evil regime. When he went to kill Harry, his wand carved the tiny lightning bolt on Harry's forehead just before he was killed himself by the young baby. As a result, Harry is famous among the world of wizardry.
En route to getting his school supplies, Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley where such tools of wizardry are sold. Soon after, Harry befriends Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) as the two embark on their first train ride to Hogwarts. On the train, they enjoy some wizard candy and meet a new friend, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). Together, the three are initiated into the rules and regulations of the Hogwarts school where The Sorting Hat chooses to place them each in the Gryffindor clan over Slytherin, home of Harry's classmate nemesis Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). Hogwarts is presided over by Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris), and Harry and his classmates are taught by the harsh professors Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and Severus Snape (Alan Rickman).
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover that something mysterious is guarded by a three-headed dog. Believing that Professor Snape is somehow involved, they set out on a quest to find out what the dog is guarding. Along the way, Harry is chosen to be one of the rare first-year students to play Quidditch, the three friends must overcome a series of obstacles to find out what the dog is guarding, and Harry must face down the evil wizard who killed his parents. In the end, Hogwarts and wizards everywhere are once again saved by the boy genius, Harry Potter…
Fun for the whole family, Harry Potter offers a film packed with special effects that will amaze, characters that will awe, and an entire world that will spark the imagination. Few movie goers can watch Harry Potter and not stand in awe of the creative genius of J.K. Rowling. As a result, each Harry Potter film is an absolute must-see…
Britt Gillette
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Posted on 20 December 2004