Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - A Movie Review

It’s time for our first year at Hogwarts School of Wizardry. This is so exciting!

Based on the book series by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was the first in the series to be released to theaters in 2001. Learning that he is a wizard who inhabits magical abilities, Harry Potter is sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While making new friends, Harry learns crucial secrets.

It’s crazy to think that it has been twenty years since the first Harry Potter movie aired on the big screen. I have always been a major fan of the series. The Harry Potter films have had a major influence on the world, for people of all ages. One of the best parts of Harry Potter is that it provides audiences with an invigorating imagination.

Daniel Radcliffe was incredible as Harry Potter. He has come a long way in the last twenty years. Radcliffe did an incredible job with his emotional connection to the character. Harry has never had it easy.

Now that Hogwarts grants Harry the opportunity to have resources that he never had until now, he is unsure of how to respond. Radcliffe’s emotional journey is an integral part of the story, challenging him as an actor.

The friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione is impactful. You can be friends with anyone no matter how different you are. In their film debuts, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were terrific. Grint and Radcliffe were spectacular in their interactions, especially when they are first introduced.

Hermione Granger has become a positive figure for young girl audiences. She is a bright witch for her age who is not afraid to stand up for her own. Watson was impeccable. I enjoy watching her grow.

In a way, every character that appears in the Harry Potter films has connected to audiences. Credits that cannot go unmentioned are the late Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Fiona Shaw, the late Richard Griffiths, Harry Melling, the late Alan Rickman, and several others. No small part is ever too small in the Harry Potter world.

Did you know that in the scenes where the students were doing their homework, the child actors were doing real homework? The Harry Potter series holds many secrets in this creative journey. That’s what I like most about the series. Everyone found a special bond.

Though noticeable, the special effects are extraordinary. It was fun seeing the actors fly around on brooms, perform magical powers with their wands, and see animals that you wouldn’t see on the streets. Filmmakers used several cool tricks to make this magical world look real. They succeeded.

Locations were well-chosen. King’s Cross has become a popular area for fans to gather. At seven years old, I still remember how excited I was to see Hogwarts. I would love to take a class at Hogwarts. Filmmakers spent countless hours building sets. And props. Daniel Radcliffe went through 160 pairs of glasses across the filming of the Harry Potter series!

Chris Columbus deserves an honorary mention for bringing the series to life. Not every element from books can be incorporated into movies, but he did a spectacular job with set construction, set details, but most of all the characters. He went for realism and established the strongest bond between a cast in film history.

For those who have yet to read or see the Harry Potter series, I deeply recommend that you do so immediately. It took time for me before I invested in the series. Once you do, there is no turning back. Enjoy a Harry Potter marathon.