Every franchise has a beginning
HPATPS is possibly my least favourite of the films, but certainly not my least favourite book. I guess the problem is that everything seems to happen a little too conveniently, in the book the clues have to be worked for more, here everything sort of just happens to fall into place when it needs to. I realise that's a plot convention, but if it's that obvious then it's...
The long way to magical maturity
If you watch The Philosopher's stone now, you are bound to know about Harry Potter. This film, even more than the others, shows how difficult it is to make a movie out of a much beloved novel, trying to attract both fans and neophites. It is definitely more for children than the books are, the dark side of Harry's Muggle childhood is not there, and little Daniel Radcliffe...
If you watch The Philosopher's stone now, you are bound to know about Harry Potter. This film, even more than the others, shows how difficult it is to make a movie out of a much beloved novel, trying to attract both fans and neophites. It is definitely more for children than the books are, the dark side of Harry's Muggle childhood is not there, and little Daniel Radcliffe glides across the screen with an expression of permanent wonder. On the other hand, due to the novel being shorter than the others, there will be fewer episodes that readers will miss, but the characters (especially Hermione) are simpler than on the page. All in all, a nice way to spend an afternoon inside.
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HPATPS is possibly my least favourite of the films, but certainly not my least favourite book. I guess the problem is that everything seems to happen a little too conveniently, in the book the clues have to be worked for more, here everything sort of just happens to fall into place when it needs to. I realise that's a plot convention, but if it's that obvious then it's a failure. There's a lot of emphasis put on fire too, fire seems to be the central theme of this story, from the steam engine of the Hogwarts Express to the many candles that fill the school, to the flames in the big showdown and then Quirril being burned by the love in Harry's touch. It adds an extra touch because fire always changes what it touches and all three of the main characters change in someway, Harry becomes to realise he has a home at Hogwarts, Ron begins to realise he's not just 'another Weasley' and Hermione realises that she needs her friends to be more than she is alone.
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