It is strange going back and watching the original ‘Harry Potter’ film after so many years. While the film looks amazing and has a terrific and original storyline you are also reminded how fresh-faced and inexperienced Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were. Despite admirable performances they are occasionally out-acted by experienced actors such as Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris and Maggie Smith. It’s easily understandable but you can also tell that the young actors would easily benefit from the experience.
The first film in this series shows Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) journey into the world of magic. Through the help of Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) Harry is rescued from the clutches of his evil relatives and is started on his journey at the Hogwarts School Of Withcraft and Wizardry. Here he meets his new friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and of course his enemies lead by Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). Because of Harry’s lack of magic skills the school’s principal Professor Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris) takes him under his wing, a good thing as Harry soon finds himself under attack from the vilest of evil… Lord Voldemort.
Together Director, Chris Columbus and screenwriter, Steve Kloves do a wonderful job bringing the ideas of J.K. Rowling to life on the big screen. All the actors suit their characters and ideas such as the quidditch work terrifically well. Columbus and Kloves also do a fantastic job in keeping the film down to a reasonable length, and even though it is longer than the average film you don’t notice as the story keeps your truly enchanted.
The story allows for something that is rare with fantasy films. So often characterization is forgotten about, but here if bit-part characters are remarkably well-rounded. So much so that despite the fact he doesn’t get as much screen time as some of the actors Alan Rickman manages to steal the show in his role of the dark Professor Severus Snape. The story of Snape is one of the most interesting in the whole Harry Potter universe and Alan Rickman absolutely shines in the role.
While the acting of the youngsters may be off early on this is still a fine fantasy film that leads into one of the best series of films ever created.
Year: 2001
Director: Chris Columbus
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman
Classification: M
Runtime: 131 mins
Rating: 