Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

A sheer example of marvelous filmmaking, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” brings all the elements of the book to the motion picture directed by Chris Columbus (“Home Alone”). A difficult task it must have been for the filmmakers to convert a internationally famous book into a movie capable of making a standard runtime. The tome by J.K. Rowling is charted with seemingly endless amounts of information which one would have thought was impossible to fit into the likes of a movie, yet somehow the filmmakers have done it and magnificently I might add.

The visuals are breathtaking. The effects team have made the impossible, well, possible. From animated pictures to floating heads, our imaginations are left to roam wondrously. The back drops are remarkable, painted with vivid color schemes and capturing beautiful landscapes that are all too real. While there’s a considerable amount of darkness enveloping the story-line, in general, the mood is of joyous temperament as a children’s film should be.

Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter in the picture. He’s a fresh face to the industry and his inexperience is often obvious, but for an amateur, his performance is well grounded. The supporting cast stands on the same level. Emma Watson, in the shoes of Hermione, is noticeably shy on camera, but it brings more likeability to her character from the viewer’s perspective. Finally, Rubert Grint takes on the character of Ron. If anything, the actor is ideal for the role, holding all the necessary traits to successfully portray the image we’ve developed from reading the book.

Unlike most films adapted from a book, regardless if it was a worldwide hit or not, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” consists of all the vital elements that readers found most intriguing. While a reasonable amount of material had to be dumped in order to ensure the movie would meet an essential runtime, most of what captivated readers in the first place can be found in the motion picture and for that, an exceptional amount of credibility goes to the filmmakers.

One of the few movies nearly dead on with book from which it’s adapted in terms of key material, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is a tremendous motion picture. Viewers are certain to have a magical time with this one!