Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Review By Vamp

I remember the hype and my neverending anticipation to see this when it was coming out. I had just begun getting into the books, at the time the first four were the only ones out, and my Mother told me that she wouldn't take me to go see this movie until I'd finished all of the books. Well when I finally did finish the books so that I could see the movie, impressing my teachers at the same time, we went to see the movie. It was one of my most memorable theater movie experiences. I was just blown away at all the images and the acting. It was like seeing EXACTLY what I'd read, and I gotta tell you the end result was me wishing I could go back over and over again. I couldn't stop talking about it either, and I began to annoy my friends. To this day this is one of my favorite movies of all time!

The director of this movie is of course Chris Columbus, and the story was written by J.K. Rowling, of course, and was adapted and turned into a screenplay by Steve Cloves. Steve Cloves does an EXCELLENT job in turning this bestselling book into an incredible movie, visually as well as storylinewise. It's just done so masterfully and this movie made Chris Columbus one of my all time favorite directors. They really knew what it was they were going to do, and EXACTLY how to put it into play. It's just overwhelming, and that is DEFINITELY said in a good way.

The visuals of this movie are some of the most STUNNING visuals I've ever seen in a movie. They're done so masterfully, and for such a fantastical movie it's made incredibly believable and convincing. The magic that is used throughout the entire movie is just so incredible to see, and it's just very interesting and convincing as well. I also liked the effects used to bring some of the characters to life. Hagrid for instance is one of the ones that they did REALLY well, and he looked EXACTLY as he pictured him when I was reading the books! They get his heigth down his beard, even his clothes. He even SOUNDED exactly as I pictured him. The quidditch scene is another one that was done VERY well, and the flying brooms were DEFINITELY done realisticly. It's all so unbelievable, but DEFINITELY, like I said, in a good way!

The storyline, which WAS infact adapted from the book, is VERY original, on J.K. Rowling's part because, well it's like George Lucas with Star Wars, she created an entire UNIVERSE pretty much with just her imagination, mind, pencil, and most importantly PAPER. It's a story that's got it all: Some creepy parts, sad parts, emotional, funny, action-packed, magical, paranormal, IT'S ALL THERE!!!!! It's definitely done in the right way as well. A boy discovers that he is not just some orphan whose unloved by his aunt and uncle with whom he lives with, and that he is actually a wizard and is to be taught at a school of wizardry, where he must solve a very complicated mystery! It's definitely one that is good for all audiences. It's one that is utterly gripping. You're interested from the opening scene and it just gets better and better from here on out! I loved every minute of it, and to this day I STILL do not tire of these movies!

Starring as the title character of this movie is Daniel Radcliffe. Harry Potter is an orphan who for that last ten years has been raised by his Aunt Petunia and his Uncle Vernon and living with his Cousin Dudley. He has been terribly neglected for pretty much his whole life. One day, a letter arrives for Harry in the mail, and upon seeing who it's from his Uncle tears it up, but soon more and more letters keep coming for Harry until they all are moved by his Uncle onto an island far away. Well on their first night there a strange visitor comes named Hagrid. Hagrid tells Harry that he is a wizard, and that his parents were NOT killed in a car crash, but were killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort. Hagrid also gives Harry a letter that explains that he will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When they get Harry's supplies and arrive at the school, Harry meets two people who become his best friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry also meets a kid who becomes one of his biggest rivals, Draco Malfoy. Harry is sorted into Gryffindor, one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Draco is, no surprise sorted into Gryffindor's biggest House rival, Slytherin. Draco proves to be one of Harry's biggest annoyances throughout the entire movie. Together they must try and figure out what the mysterious teacher Professor Snape is trying to steal. It's something, they know, that Hagrid had taken from a secret vault while at gringotts with Harry, and they believe that Professor Snape is after it. Harry also makes a kindly mentor, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, who is always there to help Harry out. Daniel Radcliffe does an AWESOME job in this movie, he is also EXACTLY what I imagined while reading the books. He's got the look, the attitude, it's all there! He's incredibly convincing as well. They DEFINITELY knew what they were doing when they casted him as Harry.

Rupert Grint stars in this movie as Harry Potter's best friend at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ronald Weasley. Ron is a boy with fire red hair, and a pretty much careless attitude. He comes from a HUGE family where the money is definitely not plentiful, and hand-me-downs are abundant, but he is proud of his lifestyle. When he meets Harry, he is astonished to finally have met him. Instantly they're friends and they meet Hermione Granger who is a strange girl who at first they don't like, but when a troll enters the dungeon, after they made her cry, and she doesn't know, they go to rescue her, and succeed, and she covers for them, and they're all friends. Well that's when they begin to learn everything about the whole mystery behind a room with a three-headed dog inside of it. They begin to believe that Professor Snape, their potions teacher, is behind it all. Though Ron isn't the wisest in his decisions, he's incredibly loyal and a big help to Harry throughout the movie, helping him out with things that happen in the wizarding world. Rupert Grint, who is one of my favorite actors, does an EXCELLENT job at portraying Ron, another exact picturing from the books. He has the attitude and the looks down to a "T" and it's really convincing.

Emma Watson, who is one of my favorite actresses plays Hermione Granger, and she too looks almost exactly like I pictured whilst reading the books. Hermione is a girl whose parents are both what are called muggles, another name for non-magical people, and who began reading and remembering EVERYTHING in her textbooks when she got the news that she was a witch. When she meets Harry and Ron on the bus she gives the wrong impression whilst trying to be nice, and unintentionally makes herself out to be an insufferable know it all. When she catches a comment about this from Ron one day, it's the last straw. She heads to a bathroom where she can cry in peace, but unbeknownst to her, there is a troll on the loose, and when she attempts to leave, she is attacked by the troll. That's when Harry and Ron show up and knock the troll out saving her, and in her gratitude she covers for them, getting herself in trouble. After that they're all best friends, and together try and solve the mystery beneath the trap door and the three-headed dog. Hermione's vast knowledge of spells and magical items are an incredibly large help to Harry and Ron as they try and figure out this mystery. Emma Watson does an exceptional job as Hermione Granger, and she's got the whole know-it-all attitude down, and she definitely makes this role incredibly believable and convincing. She's another one that was a great casting choice for the movie.

Alan Rickman plays Professor Severus Snape. Professor Snape is the potions master at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For some reason he immediately develops an intense dislike for Harry Potter, whom he thinks is just a little brat. Whilst trying to get past the three-headed-dog on Halloween while the Troll is loose he sets the wrong impression and is constantly causing trouble for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Even at a quidditch match he jinxes Harry's broom hoping to make him crash. He always prevents them from being able to do things that are important as well. At the same time he has an incredibly strange relationship with the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell. He's really rough with him, and overally very hostile towards him. Alan Rickman, who is also one of my favorite actors, does an EXCELLENT portrayal of this greasy and mean villain. He's exactly what I expected him to be while I was reading the book, I think I notice a pattern here as well. He was an excellent casting choice that made the movie all the more believable and convincing.

Robbie Coltraine plays Harry's friend, Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid is the keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as a half-giant, and I'm serious, he's a very LARGE man. He's an incredibly gentle-hearted man, and just a really nice guy. When he hears that Harry has not been receiving his letters from Hogwarts, he goes to retrieve Harry, but what he finds out angers him completely. He finds out that Harry's Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon have lied to Harry his entire life. He learns that they even lied about how Harry's parents died, and he immediately dislikes them. When he takes Harry away he retrieves a mysterious package from Gringott's Wizarding Bank, that immediately catches Harry's attention. Hagrid reveals everything about the wizarding world to Harry and teaches him alot. Hagrid is also very loyal to the headmaster Dumbledore. He doesn't let any insults about Dumbledore pass without getting angry. Hagrid is also sort of forgetful and bad at keeping secrets. He's just a nice guy. Robbie Coltraine does an excellent job in this movie as Hagrid. Like I've already said, he was EXACTLY what I pictured, when I was reading the book. Robbie Coltraine does an exceptionally believable job that makes the movie really convincing.

Richard Harris, rest in peace, plays the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore is a kindly and fair old man who is definitely alot stronger than he appears. He's light and airy and just a really likeable guy. When Harry arrives at his school, Albus immediately takes a liking to him and ultimately acts like a grandfather and mentor to Harry. He's there to help Harry with things that he's having trouble with. Dumbledore is also a very, very exceptional leader, he catches everyone's attention, and naturally is a very powerful wizard. He's basically the guardian of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and every other student and teacher in Hogwarts. Richard Harris, big surprise, is exactly what I pictured as Dumbledore when I read the books. He does an exceptional job in this role, and he's very convincing and believable. Definitely another GREAT casting choice for the movie.

Tom Felton plays the character Draco Malfoy in this movie. Draco Malfoy is a Slytherin kid who tried to befriend Harry Potter and get him on his side, but failed and took Harry's resignation personally. Draco spends the whole movie trying to get Harry into trouble, and usually having his ratting backfire on him. He acts incredibly tough but deep down his is just a spoiled rotten little rich kid who is ultimately a really big coward. His ultimate goal is to see Slytherin triumph over the other houses, and to see Harry Potter fail. Tom Felton is ALSO who I pictured as Draco when I read the book, and when I saw him for the first time as Draco I was very pleased with his acting of the part. He did an incredibly convincing and believable job in the role, and guess what, he was another great casting choice for the movie.

So if you haven't figured it out yet, this is a must see movie. If you haven't seen it yet, then I don't know where you've been, but definitely go out and see this movie. It's incredible and the Casting Director definitely knew WHAT it was he was doing, and overally they really brought this book to life, and it'll go down in history as one of the most epic and remembered movies of all time!!!!!