Certification. PG
Running Time. 2 hours 32 mins
Director. Chris Columbus
Cast. Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Ian Hart, Harry Melling, Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Emma Watson.
Rating. 62%
Twenty-two years ago today Warner Brothers Studios released the big screen adaptation of Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. At the time, J.K. Rowling's book had sold in excess of 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into 47 languages. I struggle to comprehend how exactly you translate such a universally adored book into a film. Where to begin, and who should be entrusted to direct such a project? Steven Spielberg was apparently in the frame, along with the likes of Terry Gilliam, Alan Parker, Mike Newell and M. Night Shyamalan. In the end, Warner Brothers Studios handed the project to Chris Columbus, director of Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire and Bicentennial Man.
The translation of the opening instalment of the Harry Potter series was always going to be a formidable challenge. Nothing can ever compare to the imagery and characterisation created in the mind of the reader. However, Columbus worked with established screenwriter Steve Kloves, in conjunction with J.K. Rowling, to adapt the original source material. The result is impressive, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone certainly captures the essence of the book.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone may not be as refined as subsequent films. Understandably, it suffers from the need for exposition, which contributes to the film's uneven pace. Yet, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone deserves great credit for setting up the series and laying a solid foundation off of which the other films could build upon. Immense care and attention have gone into bringing the world J.K. Rowling envisioned to life. Whether it be the towering Hogwarts Castle or the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, every part of the film oozes charm, and an innate attempt to create a unique, authentic sense of wonder. Beyond the grandiose locations, the film marvels in the detail of the classrooms, the school's moving staircases, Professor Dumbledore's deluminator, the Mirror of Erised and Platform 9¾.
Impeccable casting, particularly of the young actors, ensures that the audience (or at least those audience members who have read the books) are all too familiar with the main protagonists of Harry, Hermione and Ron. Daniel Radcliffe portrays Harry Potter as an intelligent, unaffected child who maintains his wide-eyed wonder throughout the film. Emma Watson perfectly embodies the precocious and academically ambitious Hermoine Grainger. And Rupert Grint creates an honourable Ron Weasley, who would appear to buck a class system that exists even in Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. All three deliver likeable, natural performances - all the more impressive considering when they first started filming Radcliffe was 11, Watson was 10 and Grint was 12.
The three young actors are supported by an incredible cast. When the Warner Brothers Studios' executives first approached J.K. Rowling to purchase the rights to the Harry Potter series, she said yes, but on one condition. She said that as she imagined all the characters to be British, all the actors cast had to be British or Irish. By and large, they were. Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, John Hurt, Ian Hart, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw and John Cleese - the list goes on.
In striving to include almost every major episode in the book, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone results in a run time of two and half hours. Some elements could, and probably should, have been omitted to reduce the run time. The contrived climax is particularly weak and cumbersome. From the outside, it would appear that J.K. Rowling's original source material was sacrosanct and that Columbus was afforded few liberties.
Even though Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone is the most innocent of the series, the film serves as an inviting entry into the franchise. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone is viewed through the eyes of an 11-year-old - a first year student at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry - the film always aspired to appeal to a younger audience. With inspired casting and the combination of charm and intellect that permeates throughout the film, director Chris Columbus creates a magical family film that perfectly captures the founding friendship of our three heroes.
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