Movie Review: "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald"

Director: David Yates
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes

When Grindelwald escapes from prison, he goes on a mission to spread his ideology and rally wizards to his cause. His goal is to find Credence Barebone, who Grindelwald believes is the key to victory in his fight. Albus Dumbledore has asked Newt Scamander to get to Credence and protect him from Grindelwald.

Movie Review #522: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (2016)

Movie: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"
Director: David Yates
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 13 minutes

Image Source

A wizard named Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) studies magical creatures from around the world, but when a few of his creatures escape in New York City, he must locate them before the wizarding world is exposed.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is the first spinoff/prequel to the Harry Potter franchise. David Yates returns to the director's chair to help bring this expanded universe to life based on a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. This entry is actually the first film in the Harry Potter universe not to be based on a book. Also, where the rest of the films took place in modern times in the UK, this one takes place in the 1920's in New York City. It introduces the audience to magic in a different way, from how it is taught to how it is kept a secret, and how magic related things are handled in a different environment. The biggest difference between the two countries is the laws about relationships between magic and non-magic beings. Where those types of relations are allowed in the UK, in the US, they are forbidden and there is a constant need for wizards and witchen to stay hidden. When Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, arrives with his briefcase full of magical creatures and a few escape, it poses quite the problem for the local magical law enforcement.

We love the imagination that goes into creating all of the fantastical beings seen in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." We have seen creatures in this universe before, but never to this degree. Despite the title, the beasts are not the main focus of the film. The main focus is about the aforementioned fragile relationship between wizards and witches and no-majs, known as muggles in the Harry Potter films. This is manifested in the fanatical group known as the New Salem Philanthropic Society that espouses, quiet literally on the street, how witches exist and that they're a danger to humans. It is the manifestation of what the American wizarding world fears. This group is comprised of a bunch of orphaned children, including Credence, played by Ezra Miller, who is constantly beaten by the woman who runs the orphanage, played by Samantha Morton. Of course, all of this politicking is juxtaposed with Newt trying to round up the mysterious creatures that have been wrecking havoc across New York. He does so with the help of Kowalski, played by the perfectly cast Dan Fogler, and Tina and Queenie, played by Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol.

Yates and Rowling manage to recreate that feeling of magical wonder here, and though this is mostly an introduction that sets up new story lines within this new universe, it manages to also be self contained, too. It serves its purpose in getting the audience excited to find out what more this universe has to offer. Bolstered by excellently cast performances and a lot of wizarding adventure, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is sure to delight even the most hardened critics at least a little bit.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2"
Director: David Yates
Year: 2011
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Now that Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) have discovered how to destroy the horcruxes, they need to locate the remaining few and face off with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his army of Death Eaters.

"Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows Part 2" is the epic finale to the Harry Potter series. It is once again directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves based on the final half of the final book in the series by J.K. Rowling. This last installment picks up right where the first half left off with a cold open even prior to the title screen. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, again played for the last time by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have discovered how to destroy the horcruxes, pieces of Voldemort's soul, and now, they just have to find the final ones, destroy them, and face off with He Who Shall Not be Named, again played by Ralph Fiennes.

With seven movies of build-up in the bag, this final installment gives us the brilliant, amazing finale we had all hoped for: an incredible showdown between the forces of good and evil, and Harry Potter finally fulfilling his destiny as the Chosen One. This film has non-stop, exciting action and deep, heartfelt emotion. It offers closure with one of the series' most complex characters, Alan Rickman's Severus Snape, which makes it even harder to watch since his passing in early 2016. "Deathly Hallows Part 2" also offers a deeper understanding in regard to Harry's relationship the aforementioned Snape and Dumbledore, played by Michael Gambon in flashbacks.

As the wizarding war comes to its conclusion it is clear that its effects will remain for years and possibly decades to come. Much like real war, none of those involved will ever be the same and will always live with the demons and loss that came with it. Many twists and turns happen in these last two films, and it's always incredible to watch how this entire world formed and ultimately ended. In a rare occurrence, this series finishes on a high point. J.K. Rowling proved that she really understood not only the overall universe, but her individual characters as well, never once losing sight of the end game, even when things got tough for our protagonists. David Yates and Steve Kloves managed to adapt her work brilliantly to the big screen, and we could not be more thrilled with the final product of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." It is always kind of bittersweet to see a series come to an end, but the send-off given to the audience is touching, poignant, and most of all, true to itself. Even though the wizarding world will now continue to expand in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," we know our journey with Harry, Hermione, and Ron, are over. Even though it's hard to say goodbye, they really could not have gotten a better farewell.

My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 96%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (2010)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"
Director: David Yates
Year: 2010
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 26 minutes

After the death of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) embark on a mission to locate and destroy Voldemort's remaining horcruxes, each of which houses a portion of his soul. 

"Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows Part 1" is the seventh installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise. It is again directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves, based on a portion of the final novel in the series by J.K. Rowling. Really, this film is only the first half of a much longer movie. If we look all the way back to the fun, whimsical introduction we had to the magical wizarding world in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," it's hard to imagine the series would have ended up in such a dark place. Harry, again played by Daniel Radcliffe, is unable to go back to Hogwarts for his senior year of school. Instead, he is sent on a perilous mission to locate the horcruxes that house Voldemort's soul. As Harry, along with the ever-faithful friends Ron and Hermione, again played by Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, journey across the vast wizarding world, what used to be fun and full of life is now grim and lifeless, splashed with dark colors and even darker beings. There are even some sections that look straight-up apocalyptic with the bad guys now running the show. Voldemort, again played by Ralph Fiennes, and his Death Eaters have taken over much of the world, including the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort has begun a wizarding equivalent of an ethnic cleansing as the parallels between the Death Eaters and the Third Reich become even more clear. We see numerous leaflets of propaganda strewn about, which share similar imagery to ones seen in WWII Nazi Germany. Any muggle-born wizard is persecuted and tried for violating the law. At one point, we see one of these trials being adjudicated by the infamous Dolores Umbridge, played by Imelda Staunton.

There is a lot of emotion in this seventh film as death and tragedy lurk around every corner. Numerous characters, muggle and wizard alike, are killed off in this installment. Some of these deaths are enough to bring tears to your eyes. Over the past decade of films, we've grown attached to these characters who are now being killed off one by one. Even though they are not at Hogwarts anymore, Toto, it's still exciting to watch Harry and co. travel across the land looking for horcruxes, even though it involves a lot of wandering, because we never know what's going to happen next. It is definitely the precursor to the better, more action-packed second part of this movie, but "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" is still a fantastic movie in its own right. With Yates back as director, it's clear that his darker vision for the series has reached its peak. This is shown in the brilliant CGI, the harrowing landscapes, the deathly creatures, and the cliffhanger ending. These exciting adventures just keep coming in the series, which never once lost steam over a decade of time. If only Harry and his friends had more of it.......

My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2009)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Director: David Yates
Year: 2009
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 33 minutes

Now that Voldemort's (Ralph Fiennes) return is out in the open, the Order of the Phoenix must prepare for the eventual battle. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) has a special mission for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and wants him to befriend the new Potions master Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who possesses something very important to Dumbledore and the resistance. 

David Yates returns to the director's chair for the sixth entry into the Harry Potter franchise, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The film is once again written by Steve Kloves based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are back again, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The three have returned to Hogwarts the next year despite their unfortunate terrible prior year with Dolores Umbridge. Tensions are high everywhere they go as Death Eater attacks across the wizarding world have set people on edge. Dumbledore, played by Michael Gambon, has been trying to find ways to combat Voldemort's followers. He needs something from an old friend named Horace Slughorn, played by Jim Broadbent, who has recently agreed to become the new Potions master at Hogwarts, a position he held many years prior. Horace has a bit of an ego and likes to boast of his connection to famous wizards. Dumbledore hopes this will allow Harry to get close to Horace and convince him to give Dumbledore the clue he needs.

Despite dropping back down to a PG rating, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is still another very dark and grim entry into the franchise. In fact, we're not entirely sure why it received a PG rating at all. Death Eaters begin to infiltrate every aspect of the wizarding world, including the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts itself. We can tell the light has gone from this universe as what use to be a bright and colorful palette of stunning visual magic is now all washed in hues of grey and blue, offering a much colder feeling for a much drearier, colder toned film. "Half-Blood Prince" really marks the beginning of the war between the Death Eaters and The Order of the Phoenix. Some secondary characters get more prominent roles, such as Tom Felton's Draco Malfoy and Alan Rickman's Severus Snape, who will both become key figures from here on out. We start to question who we, as well as Harry and his friends, can trust, and start to understand that no character is truly safe, not even at Hogwarts, not even Dumbledore himself.

This is a series that managed to never really falter, even after six installments. This is an impressive feat for any series, but especially so for a series based off of children's books. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is an entry that has relationships formed, others broken, and character arcs coming into full fruition. These films are not just visual spectacles, but are truly emotional pieces of cinema as well, written stunningly and beautifully shot. We can't wait to see what's next for Harry, Hermione, and Ron, even if it's not anything good.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 84%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
Director: David Yates
Year: 2007
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes

While the Ministry of Magic does it best to quell any rumors about the return of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), Hogwarts has problems of its own when the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor starts laying down stricter and stricter rules, barring students from actually practicing any magic.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is the fifth installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise. David Yates takes over the directorial duties from Mike Newell. The screenplay here is written by Michael Goldenberg, and of course, is based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Much like the previous films, the entire cast has returned to reprise their roles with a couple on new editions, like a bizarre Hogwarts student named Luna Lovegood, played by Evanna Lynch, and the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge, played perfectly by Imelda Staunton. After the events of "The Goblet of Fire," Harry Potter, again played by Daniel Radcliffe, and Albus Dumbledore, played by Michael Gambon, are the subjects of a media smear campaign orchestrated by the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry is trying to quell rumors that Voldemort has returned and are in full denial mode. The Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, played by Robert Hardy, has been listening to rumors that Dumbledore is planning on building an army to overthrow him. This causes him to send the aforementioned Dolores Umbridge to Hogwarts to lay down the new law. Fudge has decided that a theoretical understanding of magic is enough, and now, the students at Hogwarts will no longer actually practice magic, they will just learn about it in books. Umbridge also lays down a long line of new rules, making life at Hogwarts miserable.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters are the magic equivalent of a neo-nazi terrorist group, one that has government ties and uses the media to manipulate the populous through propaganda. In "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," we begin to see some historical parallels as Hogwarts starts to become an authoritarian dictatorship under Umbridge. She uses fear and torture to try and control the populous, which is something we've seen throughout history. Harry, Hermione, again played by Emma Watson, and Ron, again played by Rupert Grint, have to go underground and start an illegal dueling club to give the students the practice they need to protect themselves from the inevitable death eater attack. This is where most of the movie is spent, lurking around in the shadows and trying not to got caught. We also get a deeper look into the growing resentment Draco Malfoy, played by Tom Felton, has for Harry and his friends. Sides begin to form, and it's really the beginning of the end once Umbridge and her brigade run the show.

Though "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" may not be the strongest entry in the Harry Potter franchise, it is still a fantastical film, and that's even before the wizard showdown climax. This is put on as an amazing spectacle that will delight the ocular and auditory senses, leaving you with a feeling of wonder and amazement. Director David Yates does a rather excellent job truncating the very long book into a condensed film, mostly with ease, though there are some lulls here and there. The casting department remains unbeaten in their flawless casting choices, and everything keeps moving towards the ultimate climactic final films.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
Director: Mike Newell
Year: 2005
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 37 minutes

Hogwarts is the host of this year's annual Triwizard tournament where three schools come together and compete for eternal glory. Meanwhile, the growing presence of Voldemort's followers, known as Death Eaters around the wizarding world, starts to create terror in an effort to revive their Dark Lord. 

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," aka the one where Daniel Radcliffe has distractingly long hair, is the fourth installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise. It is directed by Mike Newell, who takes the helm from previous director Alfonso Cuarón. Newell is known for such films as "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Donnie Brasco." This installment is written by Steve Kloves, still based on the book by J.K. Rowling. Of course, the whole cast returns, including the main three characters Harry, Hermione, and Ron, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. With each new installment comes a few new characters and actors, and this one is no exception. Here, we have a brilliant addition with 'Mad-Eye' Moody, played by Brendan Gleeson, Cedric Diggory, played by Robert Pattinson, Barty Crouch Jr., played by David Tennant, and of course, Ralph Fiennes, who takes over the role of Lord Voldemort. Timothy Spall also gets his part as Peter 'Wormtail' Pettigrew expanded a bit.

This installment continues down the darker path that began in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." This is the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, offering continuing appeal to a maturing target audience. This sequel focuses on a competition known as the Triwizard tournament. It brings in wizards from other parts of the world beyond just the UK and Ireland, and shows the different look and approach each school has to magic, teaching, and wizardry. It also brings in fantastical new creatures like dragons and merpeople. As always, we get a look at Lord Voldemort, his growing powers, and his hold on his followers as the Dark Lord. Excluding Harry, some of kids at Hogwarts are also introduced to their first real experience with death in their world, none of which ever feels distasteful and fits into the film nicely. Just as the characters age, so to does the ultimate tale woven around them, be it happy or sad.

There is a lot of fun and excitement in the tournament itself, which makes for a wonderful viewing experience full of ever-evolving CGI and cool new wizarding tricks. This installment also ends on an extremely dreary, depressing note, showing that the lighthearted whimsical world of Harry Potter isn't all pumpkin juice and chocolate frogs, but rather a very dangerous place full of dark magic where no one is safe. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is a great follow up to the fantastic "Prisoner of Azkaban," but it's only going to get darker still.

My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 88%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Year: 2004
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 22 minutes

An insane wizard named Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison. He is believed to be a follower of Lord Voldemort. Now that he's free, Black is coming for his next target: Harry Potter.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is the third installment in the Harry Potter film series. This particular movie marks a turning point in the franchise. Alfonso Cuarón, the director of "Y Tu Mamá También," "Children of Men," and "Gravity," takes over the directorial duties from previous director Chris Columbus. He brings his masterful visual style and his unique, compelling, and rich point of view to the narrative involving The Boy Who Lived. The majority of the cast returns for this entry, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and many more. There is one big change in terms of actors here, and that is due to the passing of Richard Harris, the original Albus Dumbledore. In his place is Michael Gambon, who takes over the role for the remainder of the franchise. Much like previous film, a couple of new characters are added to the Harry Potter universe, including the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Lupin, played by David Thewlis, the wacky Professor of Divination Sybil Trelawney, played by the wonderful Emma Thompson, and the escaped criminal Sirius Black, played by the incomparable Gary Oldman. We are also told a lot more about Harry's parents and how they were betrayed by their friend Peter Pettigrew, played by Timothy Spall, as well as their connection to Sirius Black.

We mentioned earlier that "Prisoner of Azkaban" represents a turning point for the Harry Potter series, and Curón does a wonderful job representing that shift on screen. The film starts off very light in tone, displaying many comedic moments and putting on full display the whimsy and wonder of the wizarding world. Midway through the movie, we see a shift to a darker style of story, displaying the dangers and the ugly side of this universe. It is this darker side of the fantasy world that will become the focal point of the upcoming movies from here on out. This third installment in the franchise introduces the dementors, dark beings who guard Azkaban prison and feed on any happiness inside of people, leaving them with only their worst, most tragic memories in tact. One of the great things about the Harry Potter universe is that it matures with its audience, offering far more adult themes as the years pass and as the protagonists age.

Much like the previous two films, we have a wide variety of wonderful acting in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." The new additions to the cast really bump it up in terms of unique characters and seasoned actors, and Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have grown into their roles not just physically, but in their acting abilities as well. With such a stellar, compelling narrative, and its fair share of exciting action, this third installment in the Harry Potter series is one of our favorites. We love the darker shift in its storytelling and the magnificent CGI, and its in this sequel that we start to see pieces of the ultimate puzzle being put together in a bigger way.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Director: Chris Columbus
Year: 2002
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 41 minutes

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) returns to Hogwarts despite a warning from Dobby the House Elf (Toby Jones) to stay home. Once back at school, a rash of attacks happen, leaving muggle-born victims in a petrified state. As the school's paranoia rises, Harry becomes a suspect and now must unravel the mystery with the help of Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson).

Chris Columbus returns to the director's chair for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the second film based on the books by J.K. Rowling. Also returning are Daniel Radcliffe as the titular Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, as well as all of the actors from the first film who comprise the staff at Hogwarts. New to the cast is Kenneth Branagh, who plays the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. He is a celebrity in the wizarding world through the novels he has written about his exploits battling monsters and his wheeling and dealings in the practices and teachings of the Dark Arts. Women swoon over him, but whenever he tries to show off his skills, it never quite turns out right for him. Also joining the cast is Toby Jones as the voice of Dobby the house elf, a lovable but creepy looking house slave who is desperately trying to keep Harry Potter from returning to Hogwarts. Harry returns to Hogwarts anyway, and once there, a string of attacks on muggle-born students starts to occur, perpetrated by the heir of Slytherin, who is eventually exposed during the film. A few of Harry's unique gifts and his propensity to be in the wrong place at the wrong time unfortunately make him a prime suspect in these attacks.

"Chamber of Secrets" continues to expand on the Harry Potter universe, adding more magical elements like flying cars, whomping willows, screaming mandrakes, and giant spiders. New characters also pop up as well, including the aforementioned Dobby and Lockhart, as well as Lucius Malfoy, played by the perfectly cast Jason Isaacs, father to Tom Felton's Draco Malfoy, and Arthur Weasley, played by Mark Williams, the patriarch of the Weasley family. Much like its predecessor, this sequel is a fun fantasy adventure film with wonderful visuals and many moments of great excitement. This film is a bit darker than its predecessor in terms of content, but that's merely a foreshadowing of the things to come. There's more action and it's a bit frightening at times, especially when the actual chamber of secrets is involved. Despite being one of the shortest books in the series, it wound up making the longest film of the eight. That being said, despite its length, the story is very engaging and we always want to learn more about the characters, spells, charms, potions, places, and people in the ever expanding world of Harry Potter.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001)

Image Source

Movie: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Director: Chris Columbus
Year: 2001
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 32 minutes

An orphan named Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) discovers on his 11th birthday that he is a well known wizard and has been invited to attend the elite Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is directed by Chris Columbus and is the first installment of eight films based on J.K. Rowling's series of "Harry Potter" books. It stars Daniel Radcliffe as the titular Harry Potter, as well as Rupert Grint as his best friend Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as their friend Hermione Granger. Joining them are Richard Harris as the original Professor Albus Dumbledore, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Robbie Coltrain as Hagrid, Zoë Wanamaker as Madam Hooch, Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell, and Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick, among many others, who comprise the staff at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As a baby, Harry's parents were murdered by the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry is left to be raised by his unpleasant aunt and uncle Petunia and Vernon Dursley, played by Fiona Shaw and Richard Griffiths, who abuse Harry and overly spoil their rotten son Dudley, played by Harry Melling. On his 11th birthday, Harry discovers he is a wizard and is invited to attend Hogwarts as he is thrust into a world he never dreamed existed.

This film is mostly an introduction to the magical world of Harry Potter. We start to get a glimpse into the lifestyle of wizards and witches, including things like magic wands, flying brooms, mail delivering owls, different houses (Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw) that separate the students via a talking sorting hat, Quidditch, and every flavor jellybeans. Harry learns about his past and how he became famous by being "the boy who lived." This film also begins the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's bond as friends, and introduces the audience to their foes, a fellow student and member of Slytherin named Draco Malfoy, played by Tom Felton, and his two minions Crabbe, played by Jamie Waylett, and Goyle, played by Josh Herdman.

We very much enjoy this beginning of the Harry Potter film series. It is a fun family adventure with a compelling story that keeps you engaged throughout its run time, always politely poking and prodding that there is a bigger, more magical fantasy around every corner. It is full of beautiful set pieces and tremendous visuals that help bring this intricate, crazy, splendid world to life. This is a story that can appeal to everyone both young and old. The cast of veteran actors that make up the staff are fantastic in the roles, and the young newcomers are quite good in their own right as undiscovered child actors who have been thrust into this vast universe of magic. We really do believe Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson as fast friends, and as they go on their first adventure together, it's not hard to see how and why this series exploded. It's full of suspense, wit, peril, adventure, brilliant CGI (for 2001), and above all, a mostly faithful adaptation to its source material.

It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since the release of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," but we love it just as much today as we did when it first came out. This a wonderful, visually striking, fun, adventurous beginning to the wizarding world of Harry Potter!

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!