It is going to be Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), is a famous wizard. He is the only person to have survived the wrath of dark wizard Voldemort, an evil, evil monster of a wizard so feared that most witches and wizard's won't even speak the name.
Orphaned at a young age, Harry is placed at the doorstep of his evil Uncle and Aunt so he may grow up properly. But on his 11th birthday, Harry receives a letter (by owl no less!) informing him that he has been accepted to the "famous" Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
Just before learning of Hogwarts, however, Harry is befriended by Rubius Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Hagrid explains all about Hogwarts to Harry. He also explains why Harry had to live with his evil Aunt and Uncle. Hagrid helps Harry obtain his schooling items (A cauldron, an owl, and a wand, among other things) and then takes him to the train to leave for school.
On the train to Hogwarts, Harry befriends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), who will no doubt become his best friends.
Ron is a poor boy from a large, but loving, family of wizards and witches, all of whom have gone to Hogwarts at some time. With hand-me-down everything and a great spirit, Ron fast becomes Harry's best friend. Hermione, on the other hand, isn't as poor as Ron, and is incredibly smart. She is the only witch in her family; her parents are not.
New Students to Hogwarts are sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Harry, Ron and Hermione are all sorted into Gryffindor.
And thus begins Harry's life at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Along the way, he will learn how to play Quidditch, make magical potions, and fight the most awesome magical monsters imaginable.
However, there is one monster, more terrifying than all the others, that is going to cause trouble for Harry and his friends during his first year at school...
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was billed as the new Wizard of Oz. Well it isn't the new Wizard of Oz, but it is still a great movie. After all, this is a kid’s film. Philosopher's Stone was so well done that both adults and kids alike will love it. Fans of the book, rejoice!
Based on the phenomenally-well selling book by J.K. Rowling, the writer that put operate,muggle and Quidditch into our every-day lexicon, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first film from the series of books that went hurricane Katrina on the literary world. It is a faithful adaptation of the book, to be sure, down to even the most obscure of quotes.
Having young children as the main characters could have been tricky, but they managed to pull off the task with flying colors. Director Chris Columbus worked well with Dan, Emma and Rupert, coaching them in just the right way to bring out the best in them. The three leads have great chemistry together, and with the adult actors, give remarkable performances that are full of emotion, but acted just as you'd want good child actors to act. These small steps paved the way for their better and better and better performances in the future Potter films.
Several veteran actors give great supporting performances here-in. in many cases, supporting performers only enhance an already good picture, and with these veterans, you can't go wrong: The late, great Richard Harris as the all-important Albus Dumbledore; Dame Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall; Robbie Coltrane as Rubius Hagrid and the ever-popular Alan Rickman as the evil Professor Severus Snape. (I especially like Alan Rickman's performance. He's just so mean and, well, evil...)
Chris Columbus started the franchise off on a grand start, and did an incredibly faithful adaptation of the beloved children's book. Little kids won't be disappointed with the film. Just make sure they read the book FIRST before watching the movie!
Plot: 
The book takes us to a world were unicorns and trolls and magic spells are all around us. Where winged golden balls are chased by flying brooms and gold coins will still by you stuff. Chris Columbus did a terrific job bringing Steve Kloves' masterfully adapted screenplay to life. Seeing as who the Oscar goes to the best "Adapted" screenplay, I don't know how this one wasn't even nominated!
Visual Effects: 
The visual effects of this film were well done. In some scenes you can tell that things were computer animated, for sure, but only in some scenes (like the troll/bathroom scene and the Quidditch game). Still, the visuals look very impressive, and are just what one thought they would look like when reading the book.
Special effects, like the wand shop, and the owls delivering mail, and the entire chess game at the end were way past cool.
The art/set direction was also well done; the pictures hanging on the walls must have taken a along time to arrange, and everywhere you look there is something unique. Every room has something unique, and it's fun to look for all of this kind of stuff.
Sound: 
I hate to knock the sound category. I really do. John Williams received another Oscar Nomination for his exceptional score here, and it really is good. Not memorable, but it works well and enhances the film, as John Williams scores always do.
Character Development:
Atmosphere:
This is still a kid’s film after all, but adults will love it just as much as the kids. Fans of the book won't be disappointed, and anyone hasn't read the book (are there still people out there who HAVEN'T read the book?) will like it, too.
Realism:
What has happened here is the J.K. Rowling has invented a world for us to jump into. Steve Kloves made it possible for Chris Columbus to show us that world, and we actually believe that it is, or can be a real world. Not since Star Wars has there been a world invented that is so believably real the we can help but want to hang around and learn all of it secrets.
Warren’s Rating:
8.86/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
03-12-05
