Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone (2001) - The Definition Of Movie Magic!

Exactly 20 years since it first hit our cinema screens, and 24 years since it's first publication, Harry Potter continues to be a staple in British popular culture, with people young and old still reading and being engaged by the world that J.K. Rowling created. And with the first cinematic instalment being treated to a 4K re-release, it feels like the best time to reflect on this now 20 year old film. So, how does it hold up?...

Having neglected this series of films for a long time, it felt great to come back to it. I was astounded by the love and care taken to scan and restore the film to 4K, with crystal clarity, and the original colour pallet on full display for all to see and take in. As for the film itself, I was reminded of the countless merits that it holds. It stands a truly magical film, and a classic in British cinema. Even if you didn't know about the other stories that follow this movie, you can sit down and watch this on it's own, and be entertained by what it has to offer. I was honestly astounded by how well put together this film was. Especially it's incredibly planned out pacing. The film never has moments of dullness, and keeps the audience engaged the ever developing mystery, and Harry's journey into this all new world. The foundations for the ongoing story are also beautifully laid out for the audience to follow over the rest of the series. Writer, Steve Kloves does a superb job of adapting this origin story into a thrilling fantasy adventure. And while his work with the series would end up being a mixed bag, especially when it comes to handling characters such as Ron, it's safe to say he kicked the series off on a very high note.

Chris Columbus was the perfect director to introduce cinema goers to this magical world, and he does it with effortless charm. Hogwarts is brought to life that is believable and is sold effortlessly to children and adults alike. He was also the best director to help kickstart the young cast on their 10 year journey with their characters. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint knock their debuts out of the park, and show that they would go on to truly grow into their characters with each respective film, as well as the projects they got involved with outside of Hogwarts. The adult cast were also perfectly cast, and each person truly embodies their characters. From Maggie Smith and Fiona Shaw, to Robbie Coltrane and the late Richard Griffiths, they take the source material with such a level of seriousness, that the audience can truly feel engaged with the ongoing narrative. This film as well as the rest of the series was the biggest gathering of British acting talent for many years. I was also really impressed with the late Richard Harris, who was the perfect casting for Dumbledore. Despite only being in the first two movies, he will always be the perfect casting for Dumbledore to me, as he perfectly demonstrates the calm and approachable authority figure that Dumbledore was written as in the books. As good as Michael Gambon would be in the later films, nobody could do as good a job as Harris.

The standards for the production values were set very high from the start, with so much love and care being put into bring the world of Hogwarts to life. However, it's the visual effects that are the main area of weakness in this film. The production team began filming for this movie literally a year before it's premiere. And while they kept to schedule, having the turn around from the start of production to completion for such a big film such as Harry Potter, it feels like it was risky move. And as a result, the CG effects do show signs of being rushed. The Harry Potter film series generally has a really good combination between practical and computer generated effects. And for the most part, effects in this instalment were done practically. A prime example being the human size chess board which was the standout set piece for this film. And while I am delighted to see so many practical effects, it also means that the CG effects are sometimes more obvious. This is obviously due to CGI still being a developing form of technology at the time, and while it can sometimes be noticeable, it personally doesn't bother me too much, as I am too engaged with the story and this beautifully crafted world. Additionally, the CG work did provide some amazing work for a 2001 film, with the CG creatures being a prime example of what CGI would become a first class technology for producing over time.

But if I had to choose one aspect that perfectly captures the magic of Harry Potter, it would be the stellar and first class music produced by the master of film music, John Williams. Just when you think he couldn't possibly make another incredibly memorable and hummable theme, Williams once again establishes the Wizarding World with one of the finest pieces of music in film history. Just hearing the first 3 seconds of this film will identify it as being the theme to this staple of British cinema. The main theme for the series stands up really well against the rest of Williams' superb movie themes such as those from Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Superman. Extending my praise beyond the main theme, the entire soundtrack was really fun and lively, while still having motifs of suspense, fantasy and drama. Each of the key sequences in this film has music that can be easily identified as being from that sequence. Some specific examples being the reveal of the Hogwarts Express, the quidditch match and the final confrontation in the climax of the film. Having Williams composed the first two films was a genius move, as it set the standards for the music in this series to a very high standard.

After going back to a film series that I have neglected to enjoy, it feels wonderful to have re-explored this beautifully magical world, and I can't wait to revisit the rest of this Wizarding series. Having written this film off years ago as a dull kids film, it was astounding how much I enjoyed this film, with it's engaging story and really impressive performances by such a young cast. 20 years on, Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone still holds up as a fun entry to this world, and an overall magical masterpiece!

SCORES

Story - 5/5

Characters - 4/5

Production - 4/5

Acting - 4/5

Music - 5/5

TOTAL - 8.8/10