Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Way Back Wednesday - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Normally, I don't do a Way Back Wednesday movie unless it is at least 15 years old, but I'm making an exception this week because of the premiere of the 6th movie in the Harry Potter series. My daughter and I attended a midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and it got me stoked up about the series again. So, I present you with the movie that started it all ...

... Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in 2001 and is the first film in the Harry Potter series based on the novels by J.K. Rowling.
It is the tale of Harry Potter, an ordinary 11-year-old boy serving as a sort of slave for his aunt and uncle who learns that he is actually a wizard and has been invited to attend the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry is snatched away from his mundane existence by Hagrid, the grounds keeper for Hogwarts, and quickly thrown into a world completely foreign to both him and the viewer. Famous for an incident that happened at his birth, Harry makes friends easily at his new school. He soon finds, however, that the wizarding world is far more dangerous for him than he would have imagined, and he quickly learns that not all wizards are ones to be trusted.
Although I am of the mindset that no movie can ever be as good as the book, this first movie did a good job of showing us the world of Harry Potter and life inside of Hogwarts Castle. The acting wasn't great, but the main characters were very young. One great thing about the movies is the characters have all remained the same (with the exception of Dumbledore) and have grown in their roles.

This movie was our first introduction into the visual world of Harry Potter and although it accurately captures the child-like qualities of the book, it also is fairly faithful to the book. Some true Potterphiles were upset exact dialogue from the book wasn't used, all in all the movie gave us the essence of the book.

Even as an adult, it was magical to see the size difference between Hagrid and the other characters, just like the books. My first glimpse of Diagon Alley was almost exactly how I pictured it in my imagination, using the words of Rowling. It was nice to see the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione blossom from first encounter to a deeper bond.

I have watched this movie - as well as all the others - at least a dozen times, if not more, and I never get tired of it. This is one movie I will even stop on whenever I run across it while flipping channels - it is one I hope to be able to share with my grandchildren.

Favorite movie quotes:

Harry: I can't be a wizard. I'm just Harry, just Harry.

Hermione: Harry, no way! You heard what Madam Hooch said. Besides, you don't even know how to fly!
[Harry ignores Hermione; giving Malfoy an evil look, he flies up. The class stares up at him]
Hermione: What an idiot!

Draco Malfoy: Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask you yours. Red hair... and a hand-me-down robe... you must be a Weasley.

Dumbledore: What happened down in the dungeon between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows.

Dumbledore: I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit-flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them. But, I think I could be safe with a nice toffee.
[eats it]
Dumbledore: ...Ah, alas, earwax.

Hermione: Stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's LeviosA, not LeviosAR!

Hagrid: Dry up Dursley, you great prune!

Seamus Finnigan: I'm half and half. Me dad's a muggle; Mam's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out.

Caretaker Argus Filch: A pity they let the old punishment die... Was a time detention found you hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons... God, I miss the screaming.

Professor Severus Snape: Mister Potter. Our new... celebrity.

Lord Voldemort: There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it...

Sorting Hat: Ha! Another Weasley, eh? I know just what to do with you... GRYFFINDOR!

2 comments:

KrisMrsBBradley said...

I almost never see movies based on books I've read, but when I saw the kid playing Harry, I could not believe how closely they had gotten him to the image in my mind. The casting in these movies has just always been spot on.

There is a magic about the Harry Potter series - both the books and the movies - that is rare in books these days. Loved by boys and girls, adults and kids, in countries all over the world.

I'm seeing the movie in a few hours, and I am almost as excited as my daughter!

Anonymous said...

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a adventurous and family movie directed by Chris Columbus.... the winner of a high-stakes search for a director to bring the first in a hoped-for franchise of Potter films to the screen by Warner Bros. Upon his 11th birthday, Harry Potter , who lives in misery with an aunt and uncle that don't want him, learns from a giant named Hagrid that he is the orphaned son of powerful wizards.I like this movie very much..i Download Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movie from this website