Review

[frances at forever.u-net.com]

Here follows my few comments on the film.















I was exhausted afterwards, having seen it twice!! Can't believe I did 
that and haven't done anything like that since Star Wars. At two and a 
half hours, I was surprised that all the young children managed to sit 
through it without creating, so it must have kept them occupied. 

First time round, I wasn't sure about the first half of the film, it 
seemed a little stilted, but the second half was excellent. Second time 
of watching, was much better and it all seemed to flow better too. I 
thought the film kept quite true to the book, and it wasn't too badly 
edited considering how long the film would have run if they'd included 
everything. I would be interested to talk to someone who hasn't read 
the book (and there were some in the cinema) to see if they understood 
the plot without the background we have from almost knowing the book 
off by heart! A professional reviewer I heard hadn't read the book and 
one of his comments was there were bits of plot that didn't go 
anywhere, such as the Norbert storyline. There was no collecting of the 
dragon by Charlie and co. 

On the cast. I can see why they picked Dan to play Harry; he does have 
a very strange sort of screen presence. I found him very easy to relate 
to. BUT there is something about him I'm not sure of. I remember 
reading a threat on one of the posts describing Harry as being a blank 
canvas that children could project themselves onto and it is very easy 
to put yourself into his shoes. Sometimes I felt I just wanted to shake 
him because he took everything in his stride without seeming shocked at 
all. It's difficult to explain. I think they have done something to his 
eyes, but the colour isn't green - more green/blue and isn't really 
right. I have seen stills where they are green, but too green. His eyes 
are striking however and really do have that 'mirror of the soul' 
quality. He carries off the scenes very well and does hold the film 
together, especially when you consider the whole film is from his point 
of view and he is in every scene. There is a quick little moment when 
the Harry in the mirror winks at the real Harry – a lot of emotion in 
the MirrorHarry in that one expression. There is also a little sad 
scene (well I thought it was) when Vernon is blocking up the letter 
book, and we see a brief little glimpse of Harry playing with a toy 
knight on a horse. He is in his cupboard on his own and you get this 
impression of him being so on his own all the time. James and Lily are 
shown in the mirror, and Lily is also shown in a little flashback scene 
showing Voldemort's attack. Lily was fine, but I thought James was much 
too old and too tidy-haired! In several of the reviews I have read, it 
is commented that the house shown in the flashback was a semi-detatched 
one. I didn't think it was, but will have to look again. I thought it 
was a large house out in the wilds.

Hermione is a little over the top, but I think she works well and I 
warmed to her as the film when on. Ron gets lots of the funny lines but 
is just excellent in the chess scene. He spents most of the film with 
that look we've seen in all the publicity pictures, but in the chess 
scene he genuinely looked worried and the actor showed what he is 
really capable of. 

Alan Rickman is just lovely as Snape, really nasty without being evil, 
but sadly underused. There were a lot of his scenes removed. Snape does 
lots of 'looks', watching Harry out of the corner of his eye etc. 
Interesting part, when he first sweeps into the potions class (all 
flowing robes and slamming doors!), he tells the students what potions 
are all about. He comments that some people are natural at potions and 
several knowing looks pass between him and Draco. This certainly sets 
up Draco being his favourite student AND also that Snape knows Draco 
already

The problem here, with a lot of plot lines is that there are things in 
the first book, which actually don't matter until later in the series. 
(eg. it is not until PoA that you realise why Snape was trying to save 
Harry on the Quidditch pitch). Any reference not required for this film 
has been taken out, so they might have their work cut out in later 
films making up for what was lost here. 

Hagrid got loads of laughs and has a running thing of saying things he 
shouldn't and then saying to him "I shouldn't have said that". He 
really is a huge gentle person and I'd love to know how they managed to 
make him look like a giant - it was very convincing.

Draco is better than I expected. There is no robe shop scene and they 
have moved the bit from the train where he holds out his hand to Harry, 
and put it just before the Sorting ceremony. He manages to carry of the 
nasty looks very well. When Ron laughs at the name Draco Malfoy, the 
look he gives is classic canon-Malfoy. His hair is too yellow blond 
though, but his blue/grey eyes are just fine. An additional little 
scene has been added in the detention in the forbidden forest (which 
they keep calling the Dark Forest) scene. We now have Harry and Draco 
together (had to check my book when I got home to find out if this was 
in it or not). It's a nice little touch with Draco complaining about 
having to do servants work and just wait until his father finds out. 
Harry asks him if he is scared. BUT Harry calls him Draco! Draco is 
also shown as an excellent flyer. During the flying lesson, when he 
takes Neville's Remembrall, he almost leans onto the broomstick in a 
very show-off way before getting on properly while in the air. 
Unfortunately the other students do block this, so you have to be quick 
to catch it. Oh, and he had a nice dress sense. When he shops Harry, 
Hermione and Ron to McGonagall he is wearing a dark green high-necked 
sweater and slacks – no Muggle jeans here! 

Quidditch is excellent even though we only have one game. It is just so 
fast that it is hard to really take it all in seeing it the first time. 
I know this was computer generated and some have said you could see 
this, I couldn't and it certainly didn't spoil things for me. The 
Slytherin team where as nasty as we would expect and seem to win by 
basically beating everyone up rather than by skill. They did have girls 
on their team, however, whereas in the book Slytherin was an all-male 
team.

Most of the effects are fine, but I didn't like the Centaur very much. 
The movie score works very well, and the use of the "Harry's theme" 
throughout leads to a magical feel. The sets are good. We don't get to 
see much of the dorms, but the Gryffindor common room is good, although 
I expected a much bigger room. Of course, it could be that we only get 
to see part of it. The Great Hall is `great'. Interesting extra is that 
we see the students using it at other times than just for meals. There 
is a scene where clearly the students are doing homework etc. and Harry 
and Ron play chess there rather than in the common room. I like the 
idea of the Hall being a general gathering place.

The climax scene between Harry and Voldemort is actually quite scary. I 
need to reread the book to find out what happens and how to compare it, 
however.

I'd give it 8 out of 10 at the moment. But I can't wait to go and see 
it again. I am sure the debates over it will continue for months and 
months (first being was James really a seeker, second just what is now 
acceptable as canon!). My advice is to go and simply enjoy it for what 
it is a great way to spend two and a half hours!