In the run up to the release of 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 you really love you can forgive the flaws but you can also point them out more objectively.

There is always a danger when a well loved book is adapted for the big screen that the essence of the book is lost - it becomes a parody or a simple condensing of scenes into a 2 hour 30 minute slot with all the soul ripped out. This was my biggest fear when I first sat in the cinema preparing to watch it. I remember my husband asking me as we sat there waiting the start of the film if I was excited and yes I was but I was also apprehensive. I was also concerned that the director who had brought us Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire and Bicentennial Man, Chris Columbus was going to give us either some gooey, misty eyed version of the book or over do the humorous elements of the book and turn them into a Home Alone style slapstick fest. I knew deep down that I would take the film to my heart but I was prepared to be disappointed.

The opening scene calmed my nerves slightly - it was reassuringly accurate as Richard Harris appears as the magnificent headmaster of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore. And at this point I realised that I had to try and separate my mental images from the books from those of the film so that I could settle back, watch the film objectively and enjoy. To a certain extent I managed it but I then started doing something even more annoying. I started thinking "oh I wonder how they will do this?"

My overall impression of the film was that it was faithful to the book - Steve Kloves' screenplay even took lines from the book but they were incredibly minor lines. Normally the biggest criticism with an adaptation of a book is how much is left out or how the story is altered. I don't actually see this as a problem as long as the spirit of the story is retained. The feel of the magical world in this film was like something out of a Dickens novel but with much more colour, as were the costumes. This is in stark contrast to the suburban environment that Harry was used to. And really this was how I saw it in my mind so I expect that is how everyone else saw it. The Harry Potter phenomenon was huge before the films so to ensure the film's success you have to keep those who are already familiar with the works happy and yet keep it entertaining for the newcomers. And let's face it Warner Bros would not make a film that they didn't think would make money. The filmmakers knew they had a captive audience but if they got it wrong they risked alienating the fans. So you always felt as if they would play it safe.

Together with the costumes, make up and acting performances the characters and creatures of both the muggle and magical world really come to life. They may not have had the best script to work with but the characterisations were superb and all the characters were believable. The main flaws only came about in my mind because of the divergence of my imagined characters and the screen personas but from an acting standpoint the adult cast excelled.

Other key performances which although small parts added a great deal to the film were from stalwarts of British acting - the likes of John Hurt as Ollivander the wand maker - eccentric, intuitive and yet very creepy, David Bradley as the nasty Hogwarts caretaker (and let us not forget his cat), Zoe Wannamaker as Madam Hooch, the flying teacher with the scary eyes and finally Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw as Mr and Mrs Dursley, Between these two they delivery a superb performance as the gruff Uncle and prim and proper Aunt of Harry who grudgingly take him in after the death of his parents - totally as I imagined them to be and totally engaging on screen.

We didn't see many creatures in this film but the Goblins at Gringotts were excellent. As for the centaurs, Fluffy, Norbert and the appearance of Lord Voldemort this was completely CGI and although it was good even 6 years on it looks a little worn.