Hey folks, Harry here... I watched about 40 minutes of the World Premiere live telecast stuff today and have to say that I really got quite excited in a weird sort of way. It was interviewing the kids and the grownups that crowded the fence line... The look in their eyes, that isn't the sort of fanatacism that you pay for, but real and honest jacked up enthusiasm. Those kids were doing Beatles screams... Scars on their foreheads, wands and books in their hands. Then you'd have the older crowd there as well... jazzed up. STING was really talking about the books, not in a blow-off sort of fashion, but in a real, I've read these things and love them sort of way. My favorite stuff I saw was watching Daniel Radcliffe. He had this just shy of hyperventilating nervous glee look on his face... You could see his nerves frayed and his strong desire to just get to his seat and watch the film. Well, Slartibartfast was our guy on the inside and here's what he had to say about it all....
Hi Harry,
Slartibartfast here, with my first chance to contribute something even remotely meaningful to the site. Now you may well have had dozens of these already, but in case you haven't here is my take on what will be the global event that is 'Harry Potter and The Philosophers (Sorcerers) Stone' and my first attempt at a review.
Firstly, to give a little background. Among my group of friends I was the first to read any of the Harry Potter novels and therefore I was instrumental in persuading many of my friends to follow suit and read the books...and every single one of them have loved the world of Harry Potter. Now I realise you have not read the books, and I will try and review the movie as a standalone work (which is how I believe it should be seen) but I must also mention the books in the review as I feel a great many people will be wondering how this movie holds up to the novel.
I was fortunate enough to have full access to the World Premiere tonight, which was one of the most star studded Premieres London has seen in recent years. When I first heard that Chris Columbus was directing the film I groaned as much as the next man and really couldn't believe how Warner Brothers could have followed such a smart move as securing the movie rights by signing such an uninspiring director to bring the vision of Harry Potter to the big screen. But I must say I take my hat off to Mr. Columbus, as no-one could have expected him to deliver such a faithful adaptation of the book as what is on show here.
The moment I heard the running time was over two and a half hours I knew that WB had complete faith in the finished project. This is a very long running time for what is fundamentally a kids film and let me just say that every single child in the audience (and there were a lot of them) were captivated by the movie that unfolded in front of their very eyes, with almost no fidgeting whatsoever.
On with the guts of the review. Firstly, Stuart Craig deserves serious KUDOS for his design work on the movie. The detail in the set design is right up there and is as literal a translation from the book as any fan could have hoped. Majestic sets, very solid looking CGI (much more Ray Harryhausen looking than the more recent CGI I have seen, sporting a very solid look without being overdone). Basically the look of the movie is pretty much the novel brought to life, from the magical Diagon alley to Hogwarts School, everything looks as it should. The visual highlight and major treat in the movie is the Quidditch match which is realised even better on screen than it was in my imagination and only bodes well for the later movies where the sport of Quidditch becomes an even more integral part of the plot. Great blue screen work here, with John Williams magnificent score only adding to the drama.
So, aside from the visuals, how does the movie play. Well, it starts slowly, which is fine if you are a fan of the book, but may leave you with itchy feet if this is your first foray into the world of Mr. Potter. However, as soon as the action moves to Hogwarts School it just doesn't let up. The 150 minutes running time seemed to pass in no time at all. Warner Brothers faith in Columbus to get great performances out of children seems now like a very sound move, as the principal cast of children all deliver decent performances at worst. Daniel Radcliffe is good as playing a Harry that all fans of the book can relate to. He's not my perfect Harry by any stretch, and at points he seems to be forcing it but the overall performance is more than solid. He seems to get better as the film progresses and is stronger in emotional or action scenes than he is in the more low key scenes. Emma Watson as Hermione plays a wonderful part, and only bodes well for the sequel. But the standout performance from the child actors is Rupert Grint as Ron Weasely who is absolutely perfect. He is a natural, no doubt about that and really tries his best not to steal every scene he is in. The catchphrase this holiday season will no doubt be Rons 'BLOODY BRILLIANT' and of I could sum up Rupert's performance it would be that it was 'BLOODY BRILLIANT'
The adult cast all do admirable jobs, the highlight being Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid who is about as perfect as one could wish. There is some great casting of minor roles who will appear more in subsequent films. Thus Julie Walters only has about 30 seconds screen time but it is good to see that they have cast such a quality actress as the role of Mrs. Weasley as this role will have more screen time in future movies. Richard Harris is spot on. Alan Rickman is great as Snape but you do wish that he had more screen time, but yet again it is just a set-up of things to come. And the rest of the all British cast all bring the characters of the book to life in a convincing way.
So what is wrong with it? Well, much like the book, it feels like a set-up of the things to come, introducing many ideas and characters. This is not a bad thing, but leaves us wishing for the next movie to come out tomorrow. The plot itself seems relatively slight, instead concentrating on introductions to the characters and the world they inhabit. For fans of the book this is not a bad thing, but I'm not sure how well it will hold up if you haven't read the book as the narrative strand seems slight (as it is in the novel).
The kids in the cinema were enraptured throughout, and I have absolutely no doubt this move will rocket to be one of the top earners of all time.....it may even outdo Titanic judging by the reaction tonight. Columbus has FAR exceeded my expectations, and this is the best adaptation of a novel I have seen since Misery. A sure fire success, a magical film in so many ways...and leaves you wanting so much more, and that is the highest praise I can give it. And in this time of Global turmoil this is a breath of fresh air.
Your friend and mine
Slartibartfast
