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An orphaned Harry Potter (Daniel Racliffe) is adopted by his cruel aunt, his mother's sister,
and her equally cruel family. But on his 11th birthday, Harry realizes that he is a wizard. Shortly after, he is whisked away by the mysterious Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane)
from his Cinderella cupboard existence under the stairs to enroll him at the exclusive Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, the boy who lived through a massacre
by an evil wizard, (the same wizard who inflicted on his forehead the distinctive "lightning scar"), is welcomed at Hogwarts as a celebrity wizard destined for greatness. With
his two new friends, the brilliant bossy Hermione (Emma Watson) and big-hearted insecure Ron (Rupert Grint), Harry learns and excelsin the basics of his craft such as tricks
of the wand and broomstick. As the trio revel in exciting adventures and misadventure with Harry always emerging as the hero, Harry unwittingly discovers and becomes deeply
involved in protecting the very guarded and sought after Sorcerer's Stone which promises immortality to anyone who possesses it.
Based on the first book of the mega-bestseller series of English author, J.K. Rowling, this
much-hyped movie is pure magic—awesome, fearful, funny and even sad. While a film version cannot possibly reflect all the details and nuances of the novel, this is a
faithful visualization of the book. There are extensive and fantastic special effects including huge impressive backdrops for the many highly imaginative lovable and weird
creatures such as the wraithlike spirits flitting in and out. But some of the gruesome monsters, trolls and goblins and the dark eerie dungeons can bring about nightmares for
the very young. The casting is perfect and the acting inspired, from the endearing three friends especially Radcliffe's Harry Potter to the eccentric professors with their
intriguing getups and ever-changing physical forms. This movie presents a delightful parallelism of the world of wizardry and our reality, extending to student rivalry in
studies and in sports, and man's desire for power and immortality.
This is one movie that can awaken the wonder of fantasy in the child in all of us, in both
readers and nonreaders of the book. While the movie is a product of man's imagination and ingenuity, its themes of love, friendship and goodness depicted by the "good"
wizards, as well as pride, envy and deception conveyed by the "evil" ones, are universal. However, there are no good witches nor good wizards in real life; they only exist in
fairy tales. Though wizardry is portrayed on a fairy-tale level, there is the danger that die-hard fans who idolize Harry and admire his heroic feats, might be encouraged to
dabble in witchcraft, seek sources of black magic, and may fail to differentiate the real from the reel. On the whole, this is a sure win-win for everyone, from the
international phenomenon created by Rowling and its subsequent lucrative royalties, to the overwhelming delight of Warner Brothers for outgrossing and dethroning previous
blockbusters, but especially for the countless moviegoers the world all over for this rare magical treat. Harry Potter has indeed cast a spell on everyone as the movie ended
with the theater resounding with a well-deserved spontaneous applause of joy and satisfaction.
(Date reviewed: November 23, 2001)
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