Overall Rating
  Awesome: 30.96%
Worth A Look: 25.98%
Just Average: 17.08%
Pretty Crappy: 10.32%
Sucks: 15.66%
9 reviews, 227 user ratings
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone |
by Ani, the Whore of Corgan
"I've seen this movie eight times. Is that normal?"

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I thought this movie was going to suck, really. I love Harry Potter, and I was absolutely certain they'd fuck it up somehow but....WHOA!! AWESOME!!Pandemonium.
Such was my initial observation upon attendance of the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which hit theaters on November 16. Being a five-year devotee of the books, I grabbed a friend and some advance tickets to get a firsthand look at what all the hype was about.
Apparently, I'm not the only one the hype worked on. Even several hours early, the movie theater was jammed with people, some of them even in costume - and it wasn't just the kids, either. I was amazed at how many adults with dreamy looks on their faces were staring admiringly at the movie poster outside the door.
There was a minor stampede into the theater to get good seats. We nearly were trampled by a herd of small, robe-wearing children. I actually hadn't seen such complete chaos since Star Wars: Episode 1.
Obviously being the most hyped movie this year, I had high hopes for the film, especially since the trailers have been playing since late June. I was not disappointed.
While the film might start off a bit slowly if you haven't read the books, those of us who had were hanging on every second. Director Chris Columbus, apparently fearing the wrath of the Harry Potter fans, did a fabulous job of sticking to the story perfectly, with no changes to the plot.
The plot itself goes something like this: Harry Potter, an extremely unhappy 11-year-old, lives with his horrible aunt and uncle and equally horrible cousin Dudley. He exists in a tiny cupboard under the stairs and routinely serves as a punching bag for his cousin's friends.
One day, he receives a letter informing him that he's been accepted to Hogwarts, a school for young witches and wizards. He also discovers that he's famous, famous for being the only person ever to survive an attack from the evil wizard-gone-bad, Voldemort, who coincidentally also murdered his parents when he was a baby. SO not only does he escape his awful relatives, but he also gets to attend boarding school in a castle, fly on broomsticks, etc. All the while fighting evil, since of course, Voldemort still wants him dead.
The actors themselves portrayed the characters flawlessly. I loved the performances of the kids in the lead roles. I absolutely adored newcomer Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. He truly is the literary figure come to life.
The Harry Potter series, while mainly about magic, also has strong themes of friendship, bravery, and courage. These themes weren't downplayed in the screen version at all, which made the movie very touching as well as filled with quite impressive special effects.We laughed, we cried, we cheered at the Quidditch match, and we left the theater with exactly the same sense of delight as if we'd just finished reading the book. In my opinion, this film is definitely worth seeing, whether you've read the books or you haven't. Go to the movie theater. Step over the crowd of kids wearing brightly colored robes and pointed hats, grab a seat, and enjoy what's sure to become a classic.
link directly to this review at https://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=3892&reviewer=306 originally posted: 02/27/02 12:17:35
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Trilogy Starters: For more in the Trilogy Starters series, click here.
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USA 16-Nov-2001 (PG)
UK N/A
Australia 31-Mar-2002 (PG)
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