Director: Chris Columbus CERT PG

 

The plot: Even if you have yet to succumb to the they're-for-adults-too buzz on the Harry Potter books, you probably already know that this film is about an orphaned lad who, on his 11th birthday, is told he has magical powers and is summoned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You may know too that Harry and friends Ron and Hermione get up to all kinds of adventures, notably one that involves Potter's arch enemy - and the man who killed his parents - Lord Voldemort, who is seeking the precious Philosopher's Stone for his own nefarious purposes.

 

 

If you enjoyed the book, and just want to see it up on the screen in all its magical glory, you'll love this. Lashings of skill, care and money have gone into transforming JK Rowling's novel into a series of perfectly executed and beautifully designed set pieces: Harry's shopping expedition up Diagon Alley; the trip into the vaults aat Gringotts Bank; the Hogwarts Express; the Sorting Hat and, of course, quidditch. Chris Home Alone Columbus  decided from the outset that there was no point trying to hone the book's slightly sprawling storyline into a "movie plot". He had a canny instinct that the fans love it just the way it is, and that meddling would only lead to disappointment. He is well-served by a top-notch Brit cast: of the children : Emma Watson makes particular good value of her bossy, super-studious Hermione role ; among the adults, Robbie Coltrane is a magnetically warm and funny Hagrid, and Alan Rickman shamelessly steals scenes as the creepy, arrogant Snape, master of Slytherin House, the foes of our Gryffindor heroes.

 

 

If you fave not read the book, you'll have no trouble following the film, but you might think it's all a bit ... well meandering. You may find yourself sitting there wondering where it's all heading and may even become impatient for an invigorating storyline of the classic, overcoming -j eopardy - to - achieve - a - quest variety. We do get one, though - eventually.

 

Length: A bladder - challenging 152 minutes.

 

Verdict: The Philosopher's Stone is a wonderful, origanal book buoyed by a real winner of a premise, an array of superbly drawn characters and generous portions of wit. Judged purely as a film, this perhaps doesn't deserve to be (as it will probably become) the biggest movie of all time, but it's still a fine adaption and close to the best we could have hoped for. ****