Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Rent Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on Amazon Video // Buy the book 
Written by: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Kelly Macdonald, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman,  Maggie Smith, David Thewlis
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle begins at Hogwarts.

Verdict
It's the final movie of the series. You have to watch it, and it provides the conclusions you desire. With the final movie split into two parts, it does suffer from pacing issues. Part 1 is mostly setup while this is mostly action. That's not a problem as the foundation has been set. There are plenty of big moments and real stakes in this movie. The ending, and the epilogue, are satisfying. Seven movies brought us to this point and it completely pays off. Looking at this movie just on it's own merits leaves it a big lacking. It can't stand alone. There is no way you would come into this movie without having watched the previous films.  If you've seen every movie in the series, you'll love it. If not, you'll be lost.
It depends.

Review
It's hard not to review this in tandem with Part 1 as they are parts of the same movie in essence. The two parts together complete an epic journey, but apart they each are lacking. Part 1 sets the stage and this ends the show, but neither quite stands on their own.

This is a very intense and touching movie that ends the series. There are revelations about horcruxes, how Harry and Voldemort are linked, and more.

This gives us the big showdown between Harry and Voldemort. It has emotional moments, but it also has a happy ending and a little epilogue that is just a touching way to end the series. It's hard not to like this movie because of what it is, the capstone to the series. It's difficult to separate my appreciation for the series from this movie as they are so intertwined. Seven previous movies built to this moment and it works.

 

Harry wasn't sure how to find the horcruxes in Part 1 with Ron and Hermione, but now ideas just come to him. He ends up where the movies began, Hogwarts. This is the location of the final showdown.

There are more than a few deaths. It's sad to see characters die, but a battle like this has to have casualties to make it feel like the stakes are real.

Harry has discovered all of Voldemort's horcruxes. Now it's a race to destroy them, and Voldemort in turn, before Voldemort's army destroys them.

There are big revelations in this movie. Snape's role as double agent or Voldemort supporter is finally put to rest. The method of how Harry must defeat Voldemort is a bit contrived, but the moment completely works. They've been good and evil, inextricably linked since the beginning. Their conclusion is fitting.

The wand owner through disarming seems a bit contrived. Maybe the book explained it better, but I didn't like how it worked in the movie. We've seen plenty of people disarmed and not had this issue of true wand owner until now. The true wand owner doesn't even seem to play much of a role.


The twenty years later epilogue is a big contrived, but I loved every moment of it. I wanted a few more moments with these characters, though my love for this scene stems from how I felt when I first read it. When I first finished the book series, I felt this sense of loss in that I'd never read another new Harry Potter book. That short chapter, made it just a bit easier.

I've been rewatching the movies for the first time since they've come out. Since I've completed the entire series, this is how I'd rank the Harry Potter movies: The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Sorcerers Stone, The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows Part 1, The Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Order of the Phoenix. 

Azkaban has the best story and execution with Goblet of Fire close behind. The Sorcerers Stone started the journey. As a kid I would have loved that kind of wish fulfillment. I still do. Half-Blood Prince is a surprisingly well rounded adventure. Hallows Part 2 is an incomplete movie, but it does conclude the adventure. Part 1 is mostly filler, but it's exciting as a nod for what's to come. Chamber of Secrets isn't bad, it just gets lost in the shuffle. I don't like Order of the Phoenix. Before I started my rewatch I thought it marked the start of the downfall of the series. It's not. It's just an utterly lackluster story.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

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Written by: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, John Hurt, Rhys Ifans, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Timothy Spall, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione race against time to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

Verdict
This is the setup movie for the big finale. With the final movie split into two parts, it does suffer from pacing issues. This one is the setup while Part 2 is the action. There's no payoff. Despite being setup, it's not a bad movie at all. It suffers from being overshadowed by the final installment. By it's very nature it's not meant to stand on it's own. If you've seen every movie in the series, you'll like it. If not, you'll be lost.
It depends.

Review
It's hard not to review this in tandem with Part 2 as they are parts of the same movie in essence. The two parts together complete an epic journey, but apart they each are lacking. I remember when the final book was announced as two movies it felt like a cash grab. That's true to a point, but there is just too much content in the book for one movie. Even then we don't get everything in the books.

This is really enjoyable, though it is only half to a whole. It just doesn't have the pacing and conclusion. It's setup for the final movie, though it does have touching and big moments. It's focus is friendship. The moments between Harry and Hermione make you want to ship them a bit, but it's clear their relationship is strictly platonic. Harry's quest to stop Voldemort's power with the aid of friends is the opposite of Voldemort's seeking of power using people only as instruments of destruction. Harry and Voldemort have always been opposite sides of the same coin. While the movies don't delve into this, Voldemort created the mythos that is Harry. Voldemort saw a prophecy and chose to target Harry, creating the "boy who lived."

This movie picks up right after the sixth movie. Harry, Ron, and Hermione must destroy black magic horcruxes created by Voldemort. It's the only way to defeat him.

Harry has no plan, though many serendipitous moments aid them in the quest. Part of that are the friends Harry doesn't even know he has and his intuition. Dumbledore has left them tools for the quest that makes Dumbledore seem prescient.
I love the thread of friendship in this movie, even if it did deserve more time.

We're introduced to the Deathly Hallows, a wand, a stone, and a cloak that would allow the wielder to conquer death. Of course Voldemort wants them, though we only learn of his desire in this movie. The famed cloak is one Harry already possesses. It seems strange that no one made the connection beforehand. The Deathly Hallows are a popular fairy tale. This is one aspect of the series I have misgivings about. It seems that the general story for Harry Potter was in place since the beginning, but you could also argue this is Rowling taking the pieces she has and rearranging them to make it seem that way. Either way it's an intriguing story and she's crafted something marvelous, but there are a few lapses if it was planned from the beginning.

While I have issues with the pacing of Deathly Hallows 1 & 2, this movie ends in a great spot thematically. There is tragedy on Harry's side and Voldemort has a big triumph. This really is a solid movie, but I felt a rush to get through this to the real conclusion. This movie suffers because it is just part one.

I've been rewatching the movies for the first time since they've come out. Since I've completed the entire series, this is how I'd rank the Harry Potter movies: The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Sorcerers Stone, The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Deathly Hallows Part 1, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Order of the Phoenix.

Azkaban has the best story and execution with Goblet of Fire close behind. The Sorcerers Stone started the journey. As a kid I would have loved that kind of wish fulfillment. I still do. Half-Blood Prince is a surprisingly well rounded adventure. Hallows Part 2 is an incomplete movie, but it does conclude the adventure. Part 1 is mostly filler, but it's exciting as a nod for what's to come. Chamber of Secrets isn't bad, it just gets lost in the shuffle. I don't like Order of the Phoenix. Before I started my rewatch I thought it marked the start of the downfall of the series. It's not. It's just an utterly lackluster story.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Rent Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Amazon Video //  Buy the book
Written by: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis
Rated: PG
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Plot
As Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as "the property of the Half-Blood Prince" while learning more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.

Verdict
This movie is much better than I remember it. It's a natural progression from the fourth movie. I just don't like the fifth. The writing is solid and the adventure of delving into the past is fun. It follows the progression of the kids growing up as they begin dating, and it works well. This movie contains the huge Harry Potter spoiler, and it has a tragic event. It even makes Draco Malfoy look sympathetic, which is a feat.
Watch it.

Review
The sixth movie is surprisingly good. I thought the franchise dropped off starting with the fifth, and while this one is understandably doesn't quite stand alone it excelled where the fifth failed in further developing the characters and moving so fast as to be little more than an outline. This one slows down to provide a story.

Daniel Radcliffe and Michael Gambon play Harry Potter and Dumbledore

The writing is sharper than five and it's more adventure focused. Voldemort doesn't even make a cameo, though Tom Riddle does.

This movie shares an attribute of the earlier movies, except five. All the little pieces matter, from the potions book to the liquid luck potion. Harry's use of the potion is a lighter moment in the movie, he's filled with confidence and an intuition about how to succeed.

Rupert Grint and Emma Watson play Ron and Hermione.

Being sixteen, the kids are interested in dating. While it's difficult to do teen romance, this movie does a good job of it, better than most, by keeping it minimal. The first scene is Harry in a cafe with a waitress that likes him. Of course duty calls and he misses a chat with her. Ron is oblivious to Hermione's feelings and Harry is interested in Ron's sister Ginny.

It's more about the longing of what Harry and Hermione can't have which is an interesting parallel to Voldemort who longs to be immortal. These longings aren't completely divorced. Both come from a need for intimacy. It's the isolation that has driven Voldemort.
The franchise makes a point that Voldemort's lack of compassion and love is an issue. It's Harry's friendships that will help him, something Voldemort lacks. It's easy to ship a Harry Hermione relationship, and I expect that's intentional.

Alan Rickman plays Snape.

There's a recurring mystery with Malfoy and a seemingly nefarious plan he has. Snape, as ever, seems like a bad guy. We've always assumed Snape is evil, despite Dumbledore's protests. He's a Slitheren after all but this movie seems to all but confirm it when he promises to assist Draco's mission for Voldemort.

While the book developed this better, Harry gets a potions book that's been heavily noted by the "half blood prince." It allows him to excel in potions class and even save a life. Of course it's a bit of a cheat as Harry is standing on the shoulders of the book's owner.
The upside is that Harry can impress the class's Profressor Slughorn who has valuable information about Voldemort. The owner of the book is revealed, it's quite the surprise.

Tom Felton plays Draco Malfoy.

As a shock, this movie actually made me feel bad for Draco. Tom Felton does a great job in a limited role. He's given a near impossible task almost as a punishment for his father Lucius being sent to Azkaban. Draco is anxious throughout the movie, no longer bullying other kids but focused on his task of unknown destruction which we find out at the end. While the movie doesn't delve into it, we see that Draco is pulled by outside forces. His father was evil and that's what made Draco bad. With different parents, he probably could have been a good kid. It's when his father is out of the picture that we see him vulnerable.

Of course this movie (and the book) had a huge spoiler with a devastating tragedy at the end. I remember when the book and movie came out, the spoiler was HUGE!

The movie does end on a bit of a cliff hanger as a potentially unknown person holds the next piece of the puzzle that is the mystery of Voldemort. While this movie is setting up the end run, it's not a filler entry.

I've been rewatching the movies for the first time since they've come out. Up to Half-Blood Prince, this is how I'd rank the Harry Potter movies: The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Sorcerers Stone, The Half-Blood Prince, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Order of the Phoenix. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Rent Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on Amazon Video // Buy the book
Written by: J.K. Rowling (novel), Steve Kloves (screenplay)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Harris, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith
Rated: PG
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Plot
An ancient prophecy seems to be coming true when a mysterious presence begins stalking the corridors of a school of magic and leaving its victims paralyzed.

Verdict
This follows in the same vein as the first one, providing a fun adventure that's wish fulfillment for children. It's a solid sequel, almost as good as the first, surpassed by the third and fourth movies. It's part mystery, part adventure where a powerful child triumphs over evil. It's a standard plot, but the world building sets it apart.
It depends.

Review
There are a lot of Harry Potter movies and this one serves as the bridge from the buoyant wish fulfillment of the first one to the darker tones in later movies. The story is well crafted with all of the plot elements having a reason to be included. The flying car makes a few appearances, the water on the floors has importance, as well as Harry's ability to speak parsel tongue.

It's easy for this one to get lost as it isn't as good as the third or fourth and doesn't set the stage like the first one.

There's still a lot of world building as we and Harry are being introduced to just how big the wizarding world is. These seeds are all but abandoned in the later movies. This also isn't about a reluctant hero. It's right place right time because the wizarding world revolves around Harry.

Hogwarts is beset by mysterious attacks where victims are petrified. Of course Harry, Ron, and Hermione feel the need to figure it out. All the clues to resolve the mystery are presented early on and I appreciate that about the story. Harry always seems to be near the attacks which bring some suspicion. That's something he better get used to!

The main plot is a pretty standard mystery, but the layer of magic makes this a lot of fun. It easy to pick apart the magical elements because the world isn't well reasoned. Magic is included for fun.

Voldemort makes an appearance though his form is more of a memory. The significance of this is explained later on. Voldemort endeavored to become invincible, and this is part of that spell. Voldemort preserved part of his soul in a diary.

Of course Harry wins, though I wondered why he didn't attempt any magic. It's a fantastic adventure as Harry and friends do what adults couldn't.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

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Written by: Michael Goldenberg (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Natalia Tena
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Verdict
While this movie marks the start of the decline and bloat of the movies, it's still enjoyable though you do need a primer to see this one unlike the other movies. It's full of people and big events, though the movie doesn't have time to really develop anything. It relies on big set pieces and large egos instead.
While Hogwarts has always been a safe haven, now it becomes a very dark place as Voldemort rises to power and chaos begins.
Watch it.

Review
I enjoyed this movie, but it's much more convoluted than the previous movies while also relying more on the developments of the previous movies. Dolores Umbridge is a villain that you love to hate, but what are her motivations? Why is she so difficult?

 

The underlying story isn't as good as the previous movies and this one moves away from fun magic to dire consequences. That's fitting with Voldemort back, but this story seems poised to have more mystery and double agents working for the ministry though it fails to deliver. I don't recall what happened in the books, but in the movie Umbridge is a heel because the plot requires it.

Luna Love good is an example of the story creating whatever character needed to push the story. It seems odd we've never seen her before. I don't recall how the book handled her character, but in the movie it's clear she's present because she's in the books. I don't recall what part she plays later in the book or movies.

 

It's fun to see Harry embracing a leadership role, though hesitant. He forms a secret group to train classmates how to fight.
So much of the movie revolves around Umbridge and not Harry. Sure, she's the push that he needed to take action, but the story is just thin. This is the point where the movie just doesn't have the room that the books do and it shows.

Umbridge is a weird filler villain when Voldemort is looming large and Death Eaters are causing destruction. We do get to see Voldemort again at the end in a big battle with Dumbledore. This movie has a specific focus on spectacle and that battle is where it pays off.

This movie is filled with big scenes, larger than what we've seen in previous films. For how much happens in the movie, the underlying story is surprisingly shallow. We're introduced to a lot of different events and people, but we don't have time to develop those stories, because of that this movie feels a bit hollow. The movie doesn't have time. It's relegated to two an a half hours while the book was the longest of the series and three times longer than the first book.

 

The Order of the Phoenix should have played a larger role. They show up at the beginning and end. That's it. They are an underground group formed to fight Voldemort because the public doesn't believe Voldemort is back. The government and press discredit Harry and Dumbledore. The reason isn't exactly clear. It seems like disbelief mixed with fear. That's an intriguing premise and the movie pivots to focus on a bad principle instead.

It's an enjoyable movie, but there isn't much story. A bad principal becomes head of Hogwarts. Is she working for Voldemort? She's certainly helping, but she isn't a double agent. She's just annoying and terrible at her job, quite possibly life.

I've been rewatching the movies for the first time since they've come out. Up to Phoenix, this is how I'd rank the Harry Potter movies: The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Sorcerers Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Order of the Phoenix.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Rent Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Amazon Video / Buy the book
Written by: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Robert Pattinson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane, Jason Isaacs  Maggie Smith
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
In his fourth year, Harry finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares of Voldemort.

Verdict
The Harry Potter movies went downhill after this one, but at least this was a great send off. This has a lot of touching moments as the kids continue to grow up. We get to see Harry becoming a hero even if he is reluctant. This movie provides more spectacle as the movies were becoming more popular, and the stakes are much higher. It's darker, like the third, but that's inevitable when the most evil wizard is close to a return. The nice thing about this movie is that the driving force, the tournament, isn't a bad guy after Harry. This movie isn't about escaping evil, but developing his abilities.
Watch it.

Review
This was my favorite of the first four movies when I first saw them, though now that's distinction belongs to Prisoner of Azkaban. Both are very good.

The third movie was darker in tone, and this continues. One of the first scenes involves Voldemort killing a minor character. At Hogwarts the big event isn't a killer basilisk or a fugitive, it's the Tri-wizard Tournament. Finally something positive, at least it should be.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry is selected as the fourth in the tournament despite not meeting the age requirements and not wanting to be in the tournament. I haven't seen the movies that followed in quite a while, but this movie is Harry wrestling with being a hero and his own morality. In every task, his considerations are broader than himself. He wants to save everyone. Maybe that means he has a hero complex, but being in the spotlight is something he's always tried to avoid. He attempts to save everyone, but that is based more on circumstance than his past driving him.

This movie does have a few gaps in the magic. There were, as in every movie, a few instances that I questioned why magic wasn't used. Then again magic is often used as a curiosity in the movies, not always as a well reasoned addition to the world.

Emma Watson as Hermione with Krum

I wish the movie had fleshed out the other tournament champions. They are cool characters because we're told they are, but developing them more would have made their plights more important. I understand this is already a long movie, but I'm curious how the other champions bested the trials.
We see none of that, only Harry's perspective. That makes it easy to root for Harry, when he's the only competitor we see. Despite that, the story is a great way for Harry to be in danger without re-treading too much ground from the previous movies.
Harry has more than a few heroic moments, but it's a bit of manipulation as the characters he's saving, other than Ron or Hermione, aren't developed.

Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe as Ron and Harry

The stakes are much higher in this movie with death and destruction becoming almost common. We see Death Eaters, which are a cool design, though not as menacing as Dementors. Voldemort is finally back. This movie is bigger, with more effects, and the main villain finally revealed. I did miss the smaller focus the previous movies had, but Voldemort and Harry facing off is a huge moment in the series.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Rent Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Amazon Video / Buy the book
Written by: J.K. Rowling (novel), Steve Kloves (screenplay)
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson
Rated: PG
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Plot
In Harry's third year at Hogwarts convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison, coming to Hogwarts for Harry.

Verdict
I like the Harry Potter concept, and this is one of the best movies in the franchise. This movie is a bit darker than the first two, providing an intriguing and well plotted story where every element has a purpose while we're also watching these kids grow up. This is one of the best Harry Potter movies in tone and execution, and it also avoids the bloat that started with the fifth movie. Even if you haven't seen the other movies, you can enjoy this one.
Watch it.

Review
Harry Potter is great wish fulfillment. A neglected kid turns out to have great power. That makes the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone a lot of fun despite being derivative.

Lupin, Ron, Hermione, Harry

While it helps to know at least the first movie, you could enjoy this movie without having seen the previous ones. Harry is back at the wizarding school Hogwarts, but what no one wants to tell him is that Sirius Black, an underling of the evil wizard Voldemort, has escaped Azkaban prison and is after Harry. Azkaban is a terrible place, devoid of joy. Dementors, magical prison guards, are at Hogwarts to thwart Sirius, but no one can stop them from bothering Harry. In one of the first scenes one begins to seemingly suck away Harry's soul. That's what Dementors do. They are especially attracted to Harry due to his misfortunes. They pose a constant threat to the school and to Harry despite ostensibly there to capture Sirius.

Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe as Hermione and Harry.

I love this story. It's an intricate plot with some nice reveals that aren't all that surprising if you've seen this before or are really paying attention. Hermione has a way of popping in to every scene and Ron is having quite the time with his pet rat. These points are easy to miss, but significant.
Hermione's trick of attending multiple classes is crucial to the main plot and part of how Harry manages to save himself. There's a lot of what we see isn't the full story going on.

Harry with the Marauders' Map

These movies always have a bit of fun with how magic could be used, and each year in school Harry realizes the wizarding world is always growing larger than he imagined. A mischief map helps the plot kick into gear, but I have to wonder how the Weasley twins figured out how to unlock and lock the map. A neat bit of trivia is that the names of the creators of this map link to characters in this movie, but it's never revealed specifically. I believe the book does reveal that Mooney, Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail are Lupin, Sirius, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew.

A Dementor.

This movie is definitely darker, but Harry is growing up and the threat of Voldemort is coming closer, so the tone fits the plot progression. After all, an escaped prisoner wants to kill him. While Cuaron gets plenty of credit, as he should, the script and story are very good.

I don't dig too deep into the overarching narrative as it is quite remarkable that every notable and/or terrible event at Hogwarts involves Harry Potter. That's just how this story has to work. I like the first four movies the best of the franchise. Upon first watching I liked Goblet of Fire the most, but at this point it's Prisoner of Azkaban. After the fourth movie the films couldn't keep up with the books, which becoming increasingly larger while the movies stay the same length. The movies also become more focused on spectacle as the narrative becomes more convoluted.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Rent Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on Amazon Video // Buy the Book
Written by: J.K. Rowling (novel), Steve Kloves (screenplay)
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watons, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis
Rated: PG
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Plot
Orphan Harry Potter enrolls in teh Hogwarts school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. 

Verdict
This is fantasy escapism with a perfectly simple plot. A neglected boy who seems ordinary in every way turns out to be a famous wizard. It's wish fulfillment and while the movie isn't subtle at all in making its points, it leans so hard into them that it works. It's a an enjoyable movie that manages to have a lot of fun with magic, though the logic doesn't always stand up to scrutiny.
This was the first step into a world that got much more complicated, but even alone this movie is a lot of fun.
Watch it.

Review
I was old enough to miss the Harry Potter craze. I watched this movie on a whim and soon watched all the movies that were currently out which were only four. The first movie really drilled down into what a lot of kids wish for. I know I did, I wanted more than I had, to be specifically unique and powerful. As a kid adults hold all the cards.

After the movies, I then began reading the books, jumping into this at the perfect time as I only had to wait a month to read the sixth book after finishing the fifth. I thoroughly enjoyed the books, though the movies began tapering off after the fourth.

This movie leans so hard into the tropes it comes out successful on the other side. Harry Potter is the adopted son of the Dursley's and the regularly mistreat him. Harry's room is the tiny space under the stairs. He gets no new clothes or toys while Dudley Dursley gets everything he desires yet is never happy.

"You're a wizard Harry!"

This all changes when Harry turns eleven. Harry discovers he's a wizard, a very special wizard that survived an attack by the most evil wizard Voldemort. Voldemort is so evil no one dares speak his mind. It's a plot that's brilliant in its simplicity.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardy

Harry is enrolled at Hogwarts, a school for wizards, despite the Dursley's being against the idea and admitting they knew he had magic powers all along and never telling him.

Harry is instantly special and popular, two things he wasn't before. He's also good at Quidditch, a wizard sport played on brooms. He befriends Ron and Hermoine.

Hogwarts is a giant magical fun house to a degree. It's divided into dorms or houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The houses seems a bit overly simplistic with one house basically comprised of villains or at least villain hopefuls. Harry's nemesis Draco is a Slytherin.

There isn't much subtlety to this, but it's that fantasy wish fulfillment that charms. A lot of people wished for special powers or unique abilities as a kid.
Harry is the hero of this story, saving the wizard world from the evils of Voldemort. No adult could do such a thing.

Harry, Ron, and Hermoine.

The magic can be fun, though there are some holes in the logic. People on the train station aren't startled when kids disappear into a wall? While the later movies show how magic makes life easier for wizards, there's a lot that isn't easier in this movie. Maybe that's to make the kids appreciate the hard way, but I'd guess it's more spectacle than not. I don't blame the movie or book for having fun with magic and creating some big set pieces.

It's best to enjoy this purely as a kid's movie though it could be a bit more kid friendly.