American director Chris Columbus (HOME ALONE) brings the magic of British author J.K. Rowling's beloved best-selling fantasy novel to life in HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S... more
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and newcomers to the global fantasy phenomenon. An adaptation of J. K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (known as t...
and newcomers to the global fantasy phenomenon. An adaptation of J. K. Rowling's enchanting, funny debut novel,Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone(known as the...
Petunia unaware that his parents had been a wizard and a witch. When he is invited to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry he discovers that there are two worlds: that of the Muggles where he grew up and the magic and fantasy world where he is destined to live...n
wonder, magic and fearful chills of JK Rowling's phenomenal bestseller in John Williams' outstanding score. Williams typically avoids the source material for the films he scores, but he reportedly derived great pleasure and inspiration from Rowling's first Harry Potter adventure, and created a perfect motif (fully expressed in "Hedwig's Theme") to dominate his score, first heard as a dreamy celeste waltz and embellished through myriad incarnations and moods, often with a sinister edge befitting the darker tones of Chris Columbus' direction. Fantastical allusions to Saint-Saëns and Tchaikovsky are evident (among others), while Williams' epic track is "Quidditch Match", a breathtaking frenzy to accompany the film's dazzling highlight. And while Williams occasionally flirts with self-plagiarism (with inevitable variants of hisHookandStar Warsthemes), this is nevertheless a richly regal score that brilliantly evokes the mystery and magic of Harry Potter's world. --Jeff Shannon
Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio. Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history... As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments, adding further atmosphere and intensity to the story Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Age 9 and over) --Susan Harrison
Advantages: Good fun and entertaining Disadvantages: long and not as good as the book
...the fifth DVD in the Harry Potter series Harry Potter and The Order of the Pheonix, I have decided to review the previous four films. This is the first of the four - The 2001 Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (or Sorceror's Stone for our US friends). Before I start I must state that I am a big kid and love Harry Potter but don't worry that doesn't mean that I will babble on inanely about how brilliant the film is despite its flaws. Like anything ... ...stories about the boy wizard Harry Potter. Born to wizard parents, killed when he was a baby by the evil dark lord Voldemort, Harry had been brought up by Muggles (non magical folk) until the age of 11 not knowing who he really was or his significance in the magical world. In the Philosopher's Stone the reader/viewer and Harry begin a journey of discovery into this magical world and discover his past, his new world and glimpse his future.
There ...
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Advantages: It's like the book...only with pictures! Disadvantages: Nah, not really
...as the book') but young Harry Potter fans can be very persistent. (As can the older ones - I think my wife was more excited than anyone about seeing it!)
How to introduce the film? Anyone who's read the books will know exactly what to expect and will only want to know how it compares. Those who have yet to become familiar with the charms of J.K. Rowling's world-famous wizard but can't help but be interested by the hype, will need a wee bit more ... ...miserably by his adoptive family, Harry is amazed and surprised to find out that he's really a wizard - and quite a famous one too.
His parents were actually killed by an evil wizard, Voldemort (sorry, "You-Know-Who"!) but Harry somehow repelled the attack, nearly destroying the murderous magician. Harry is left with a lightning scar on his forehead and a legacy he finds it difficult to live up to when he is invited to the wizard school, Hogwarts. ...
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![Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone [HD DVD] [2001]](http://picnic.ciao.com/uk/65077724.jpg)
![Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone [2001]](http://picnic.ciao.com/uk/65498954.jpg)
