Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a coming of age story with magic. The film is the first in the series based on the book of the same name by J.K. Rowling. Directed by Chris Columbus the movie includes a stellar supporting cast including Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman and Ian Hart.

The film was received with much anticipation from audiences. Many viewers had read the book themselves or read it to their children and so there was already a huge following. This could have been its downfall but luckily the author insisted on being heavily involved with the making of the film so she made sure all the characters were just as she portrayed them in her book.

Often with book adaptations the film is a letdown for fans of the original but this is not the case with the Harry Potter series.

The film is the start of Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) journey into young adulthood. He starts the film aged 10 then on his birthday he is visited by Hagrid a half-giant (Robbie Coltrane) who tells him he is a wizard and has been invited to Hogwarts the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He meets two other new pupils Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) who become his best friends and help him on his quest to find the Philosopher’s stone before Voldemort (the most evil wizard of all).

Cinema release 2001

Certificate PG

Available on DVD and Blue Ray