Rating: 
Summary: "A rather BIG surprise"
Review: When Harry Potter came to the big screen, I did NOT go to see it. I was of firm standing that it was kidd stuff. Then, a few weeks ago, the people on abc2 news had it on as a "movie event". I figured since it was free, why not watch it? Needless to say, I was realllyyy surprised. I sat, spellbound through ALL commercial breaks, so I would'ent miss any of the story. I've never read a single book in the series, so I can say with out them, this movie still can stand on it's own. P.S. John Williams' score is amazeing!!!! P.S.S. Still, I will say that "The Lord of the Rings" are much better movies, and if you LIKE Harry Potter, You'll LOVE them.
Rating: 
Summary: This Century's Peter Pan
Review: "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone," or as I understand it's released in Great Britain as "HP & the Philosopher's Stone," is a great DVD. Most critics feel if there's a fault to the film, it's that it's TOO faithful to the book. It'd been some time since I'd read the book when I viewed the film. I kept saying, "Oh, I remember that!" Chris Columbus has done an excellent job bringing this magical world to screen. I think Harry Potter, films included, will become as a part of our culture as Peter Pan. The actors are each wonderful in the movie, although action rather than character development is the strength. Daniel Radcliffe does a great job showing the innocence and bravery of Harry. Rupert Grint is a hoot as Ron. Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore gives such a calm wisdom to the part. Maggie Smith as McGonagall is as wonderful as she was in "Gosford Park." Robbie Coltrane who played a great buddy to Johnny Depp in "From Hell" does a great job as the half-giant Hagrid. Alan Rickman perfected screen villany in "Die Hard" and "Robin Hood"; so we love to hate his wonderful sneer. He also performed the great service of seeing Sean Biggerstaff who plays the Quidditch team's head Oliver Wood in a stage play, giving him his first screen break in "The Winter's Guest." Biggerstaff was my favorite of the supporting actors. Fiona Shaw is delightful as the spiteful Aunt Petunia. Tom Felton has come a long way since appearing with Jodie Foster in "Anna & the King" to his role as the hateful Draco Malfoy. John Hurt as Mr. Ollivander the wand salesman does a nice cameo too. The effects in the film are excellent. We really believe in Harry's invisibility cloak. It's such a hoot to see him at night in the restricted section of the library with his hand holding a lantern poking out from under the cloak, as if the hand wouldn't give him away! The three-headed dog, the plant that smothers and the flying keys are all marvelous effects. The DVD version's second disc takes you on an interesting tour of Hogwarts. Now, I have to go back and find those deleted scenes! Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone is thoroughly entertaining. Relax & have fun!
Rating:
Summary: A hearty, destiny-driven quest
Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" may be best summed up as a hearty, destiny-driven quest. The costume design, art direction, and score by the invincible John Williams are among the best of the year, but it is the film's strict adherence to J.K. Rowling's engrossing tale that makes it worthy of its record setting box office numbers. A far more centralized and child friendly flick than "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", Harry Potter fans could not ask for anything more than what fluidly caresses the movie screen. I don't imagine that the movie is any less fun on the small screen, either. The only measurable flaw with "The Sorcerer's Stone" is Chris Columbus' failure to bust out the magic of child actor directing he showed in deserving family films like the "Home Alone" series. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, who play the popular triumvirate of Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, often seem delayed in their reactions and pretty stiff in their dialogue. Radcliffe redeems himself when it counts, though, in a cliffhanging ending that pits him against his worst enemy and unescapable destiny. Alan Rickman's strong but underused performance as nasty Severus Snape made us hate his role all the more. My verdict: A film worthy of family time and enjoyment that children and, yes, even teens like myself deserve to see when they go to the movie theater. David's Favorites: Best actor or actress: Alan Rickman
Best scene: Quidditch game.
Comparable to: "The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
Rating:
Summary: The Magic Within Us All
Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" uses many tried and true elements of legend and myth to touch both the imagination and the heart. It is a story of wonder, adventure and friendship, as a young man overcomes adversity to realize his true potential and to find himself. Harry reprises literary devices used so successfully in other legends. Like Cinderella or Pete of "Pete's Dragon," he is a kind of hostage to a dysfunctional family who treats him as a servant. Like Cinderella, Pete of Pete's Dragon, like Batman and Superman, Harry is an orphan who overcomes personal tragedy and circumstances when he finds a wondrous magic within himself, the power to transform his life into something much greater than it was. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is a wizard, who upon reaching the age of eleven, is invited to become a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But first he must be extracted from the clutches of his Uncle and Aunt Dursley by his protector, a huge, hairy man named Hagrid (Robby Coltrane). Once he is at Hogwarts, Harry learns potions, incantations and how to fly on a broom. Hogwarts is a fascinating place, a castle-like arrangement of stone buildings where ghosts and magical things abound, including paintings where the subjects move and speak. The scenes, costumes and special effects are exciting and fun. Harry makes two great friends at Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione, a boy and girl, respectively. The three of them conspire and cooperate in an effort to learn the secret of the Sorcerer's Stone, which can grant eternal life, but which is hidden in a section of Hogwarts that is guarded by a three-headed, giant dog. They overcome obstacles like a giant Mountain troll who wants to kill them, and find magical tools to aid them, like the cloak of invisibility. This first installment of the saga of Harry Potter introduces the young Harry and serves as a compelling invitation to learn more. There are those who have criticized "Harry Potter" as being some sort of advocacy of the occult, an affront to established religions. It is none of that - the students of Hogwarts even celebrate Christmas. "Harry Potter" is an adventure story that seeks to rekindle our childhood sense of wonder, that time in our lives when anything and everything seemed possible. It is ultimately a story of hope: how an unremarkable person can change his life for the better by discovering great reservoirs of courage and resources within himself, of which he was previously unaware, and go on to accomplish things he previously believed impossible. That's not a bad message by any means.
Rating:
Summary: The Boy Who Lived
Review: "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone" Was a great book but it leaves you with the thought of how these characters would look like in real-life. The movie takes you to that imagination! Looking at Quidditch as a true sport, seeing a three-headed dog growling, and seeing the face of evil! The movie made a great hit as the books. At first I thought that the movie wasn't going to survive but was I wrong! I loved that movie! That is why I gave the movie 5 stars!! A show of how much I love the boy who lived...lived in the imaginary(magical) world and in the real-world(muggle)!
Rating:
Summary: Really and truly is the "Wizard of Oz" of its time!
Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was definitely one of the best films of the year and one of the best fantasy films of all time. I was not disappointed at all, unlike some fans of Harry Potter. I thought Chris Columbus did a great adaptation of the book and I couldn't have asked for better. The film was very faithful, only leaving out some small scenes because you honestly could never fit the entire book into the movie...I mean, just look at "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"! Some people claim that a movie can never live up to the book it is based on, but in some cases that is not always true. Sometimes, the movie is actually BETTER than the book--so give the movie a chance! And also, I hate it when people say that, if a movie is apart of a series, since the first movie was bad then they do not want to see the other movies. Well, if you've read all four Harry Potter books then you know the better, more interesting stuff comes later...so just stick around and see the other movies before you judge even if you thought "Sorcerer's Stone" was boring and/or disappointing. I thought the casting was absolutely perfect! Daniel Radcliffe doesn't just PLAY the role of Harry Potter...he IS Harry Potter! Rupert Grint is funny and witty as Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson is smart and charming as Harry's other best friend, Hermione Granger. Tom Felton is really great as Draco Malfoy, Harry's arch rival at Hogwarts, Alan Rickman is creepy as Professor Snape. Richard Harris is mezmorising as Professor Dumbledore. Robbie Coltrane is hilarious and wonderful as Hagrid, the half friendly giant. And Maggie Smith is superb as Professor McGonagall. The rest of the cast are really good, too. In another review down below, I read that they are going to replace Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint (probably along with the rest of the child actors) for the "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" film and the rest of the Harry Potter films. I really hope they do not do that...these child actors are perfect! I thought they were going to do a film each year because each year these child actors will be a year older, like they are in the books. So they really do not need to replace them. So please do not replace any of these actors, because that will only ruin the movies!! Did I mention the special effects? Because the special effects are truly amazing!! I especially loved the big chess board scene and the Quidditch match, though in the book, they have two Quidditch matches. Hogwarts castle is truly spectacular! John Williams' score is haunting and breathtaking. The dialouge is OK, but it's really a children's fantasy film...it's not supposed to be another "A Beautiful Mind". For those who say "The Lord of the Rings" is better, get over it! They are two totally different movies! I really wish people would stop trying to compare movies like "Harry Potter", "The Lord of the Rings", "Spider-Man", and "Star Wars" because they are all different. Why do we have to choose between them? Can't we like them all?! The DVD includes the following special features:
*Never-before-seen footage
*Deleted Scenes
*Self-guided tour of Hogwarts
*A game where you can mix potions, perform transfigurations, explore Diagon Alley, catch a snitch, explore the library, and "attend" classes (you actually have to play this game in order to get to the bonus footage and deleted scenes...I didn't know this until after I bought the DVD and it's kind of tricky)
*Theatrical trailers
*DVD-ROM PC Extras
*Selected Scenes
*Languages & Subtitles in English and Spanish
*Top picture quality
*Top audio quality
*Two discs--first disc plays full-length film; second disc plays special features "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is a wonderful film! It's rated 'PG' for some scary scenes and mild language. As for all this religious stuff against Harry Potter, I'd say that the story of Harry Potter doesn't teach your children to learn black magic...if anything, it teaches them good friendship and what good verses evil means. Film Grade: A+
DVD Grade: A-
Rating:
Summary: Better Than The Book!
Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", is a great movie why no wonder Chris Columbus (who is the director of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"), wanted to direct this movie. I also like the cast: Daniel Radclife, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Ian Hart, John Hurt, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters. There is going to be a "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," and "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban". I don't know if there is going to be a "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", but I hope there will be one very soon, ansd so I give it a (5 out of 5).
Rating: 
Summary: 4-Star Film, 2-Star DVD Set!
Review: "Harry Potter" is a decent movie with good acting, good visual effects and weak-but-interesting storytelling. My concern HERE is the DVD packaging. Having the opportunity to release some fine behind-the-scenes material, Warner Bros. has really messed up this time. Instead, they've released a stupid kiddie-Video Disc. The only safe-havens on this disc are an interview featurette (With the filmakers commenting on this film as well as the sequel, which will also star Kenneth Branagh), theatrical trailers, and deleted scenes that I can't even find yet! Take a hint, and get your kids the VHS. Trust me, you'll save some money for a good reason! Movie Grade: B+; DVD Grade: D+
Rating: 
Summary: Middle school girls love it -- too scary for little kids
Review: "The Sorcerer's Stone" is a good buy for parents of girls in grades 5-7. That group seems to really love this film. For adults there is very little depth to the characters or the story and one viewing is probably enough. Still, this film is more entertaining for moms and dads than many other kid films. The child actors are enjoyable to watch and the scenes are well done. No expense was spared on scenery or special effects so the three-headed-dog looks just as realistic as the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. For younger children the effects are a little too well done, and therefore pretty scary. The book version I will recommend as entertaining for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A treat for Muggles and Magicians alike!
Review: >>A real treat for Muggles and Magicians alike. The actors were truly beautifuly selected, besides the actor for Malfroy. He didn't do so hot at some points, to me, but for the most part the actors have a gift.
>>It goes really HEAVY on special effects, and in most cases, something like this could get over-done, and in truth, it does, but it's magically crafted to fit every crucial element and non-crucial alike. There are many extras in the background, such as pictures moving, so keep an eye out for that (:
>>The music is supposedly done by John Williams, and he's doing pretty well, again, suceeding with Harry Potter. Creepy themes as well as happy melodies that should keep you tied to the screen if nothing else.
>>The characters' faces, etc, seem pretty accurate. I've always wanted to see the end scene in a movie. One person told me once that any movie spoils a book...I completely disagree.
>>I've never cared too much for Quidditch...it's much better on screen and much more interesting.
>>How the heck did they do that scene where they were running into platform 9 3/4??? Computer, somehow, again, it was magically crafted.
>>The whole thing goes in-depth, and it's a long movie, one that can keep young and old alike glued.
>>Sure to enter the top 3 best selling movies @ the box office ever. No doubt about it. Great movie. Even if you aren't a Harry fan (I WASN'T. WASN'T is the key word) you'll still enjoy it, and possibly, like me, be swept into the whole Harry thing!!!
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