bnorthup
11-15-2001, 06:23 PM
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (PG)
At the Circus
3.5 stars
An elegant piece of Pottery
Review by Brent Northup
There’s little doubt that Chris Columbus will conquer America this weekend.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," directed by Columbus, opens nationwide today. First screenings occurred at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning in many cities. Helena’s first showing is at 12:30 p.m. this afternoon at the Circus.
Chances are a few students with slight coughs that kept them home from school will have recovered sufficiently to stand in line at the Circus this morning.
This afternoon at 5 p.m., the Circus is sponsoring a Potter costume contest. Young fans between 5 and 12 are invited to dress up like their favorite character from the world of Harry Potter. Prizes include Potter books and movie passes.
Insiders are predicting an opening weekend approaching $100 million.
Enough of dollars and hype. Will the movie live up to expectations?
I’ve seen the 150-minute movie and from the perspective of someone who has read NONE of the books, Harry Potter is a quite wonderful PG-rated family film made with a touch of class.
My appreciation of the film begins with accents: Hollywood has translated the British novel into a film with an all-British cast. Can you imagine how many Beverly Hills parents are crying in their caviar over their son’s rejection notice?
Even more impressive, they cast an unknown lad for the lead – a boy as yet uncorrupted by fame. Daniel Radcliffe is quite disarming as the boy who is surprised by his new powers. The "adult" cast is a splendid ensemble that includes Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, John Cleese and Julie Walters.
Visually, "Potter" has an elegant Dickensian feel that pays attention to the tiniest of details. There are silver plates at dinner, candles hanging from ceilings and a haunting stroll down Diagon Alley.
My favorite moments are inside the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I loved the talking hat that assigns students to groups. I loved the eccentric teachers who lectured on potions and taught students to ride brooms. I loved the uniforms and the rituals.
As for the script, I withhold highest praise because I was constantly whispering to my daughter: "Who is that? What’s happening?" In short, this film isn’t a "stand-alone classic." The script assumes we have read the books – and, therefore, is able to ignore such niceties as transitions.
Overall, the film never rises to the level of great cinema, because Columbus, while a good craftsman, is no auteur. The film lacks the sense of an assured, consistent style that master directors transmit in their films.
While Columbus is no John Ford or Akira Kurosawa, but he’s made a technically impressive movie, nonetheless. The parts are more impressive than the whole, in some ways, but one can't help but be thankful because this movie is so much better than in might have been. Adaptations of children's literature are so often disappointing that we have reason to be thankful.
So, yes, by all means head for the Circus. But be sure to bring a book to read while you stand in line – perhaps one by J.K. Rowling.
END
At the Circus
3.5 stars
An elegant piece of Pottery
Review by Brent Northup
There’s little doubt that Chris Columbus will conquer America this weekend.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," directed by Columbus, opens nationwide today. First screenings occurred at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning in many cities. Helena’s first showing is at 12:30 p.m. this afternoon at the Circus.
Chances are a few students with slight coughs that kept them home from school will have recovered sufficiently to stand in line at the Circus this morning.
This afternoon at 5 p.m., the Circus is sponsoring a Potter costume contest. Young fans between 5 and 12 are invited to dress up like their favorite character from the world of Harry Potter. Prizes include Potter books and movie passes.
Insiders are predicting an opening weekend approaching $100 million.
Enough of dollars and hype. Will the movie live up to expectations?
I’ve seen the 150-minute movie and from the perspective of someone who has read NONE of the books, Harry Potter is a quite wonderful PG-rated family film made with a touch of class.
My appreciation of the film begins with accents: Hollywood has translated the British novel into a film with an all-British cast. Can you imagine how many Beverly Hills parents are crying in their caviar over their son’s rejection notice?
Even more impressive, they cast an unknown lad for the lead – a boy as yet uncorrupted by fame. Daniel Radcliffe is quite disarming as the boy who is surprised by his new powers. The "adult" cast is a splendid ensemble that includes Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, John Cleese and Julie Walters.
Visually, "Potter" has an elegant Dickensian feel that pays attention to the tiniest of details. There are silver plates at dinner, candles hanging from ceilings and a haunting stroll down Diagon Alley.
My favorite moments are inside the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I loved the talking hat that assigns students to groups. I loved the eccentric teachers who lectured on potions and taught students to ride brooms. I loved the uniforms and the rituals.
As for the script, I withhold highest praise because I was constantly whispering to my daughter: "Who is that? What’s happening?" In short, this film isn’t a "stand-alone classic." The script assumes we have read the books – and, therefore, is able to ignore such niceties as transitions.
Overall, the film never rises to the level of great cinema, because Columbus, while a good craftsman, is no auteur. The film lacks the sense of an assured, consistent style that master directors transmit in their films.
While Columbus is no John Ford or Akira Kurosawa, but he’s made a technically impressive movie, nonetheless. The parts are more impressive than the whole, in some ways, but one can't help but be thankful because this movie is so much better than in might have been. Adaptations of children's literature are so often disappointing that we have reason to be thankful.
So, yes, by all means head for the Circus. But be sure to bring a book to read while you stand in line – perhaps one by J.K. Rowling.
END