Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #421 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-06-15
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 146 minutes

Synopsis
American director Chris Columbus (HOME ALONE) brings the magic of British author J.K. Rowling's beloved best-selling fantasy novel to life in HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE. Eleven-year-old orphan Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) finds his world turned upside down when he discovers that, like his deceased parents, he is a wizard and has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With fellow first-year students Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) by his side, Harry's adventures begin in the rambling castle that is Hogwarts. Vivid special effects make Hogwarts' magic a reality with paintings that come alive, staircases that move themselves, friendly ghosts, and fast-paced Quidditch (the school sport) matches in which students zoom around on their flying brooms. Mixed in with the miracles of Hogwarts are its dark hidden chambers and secrets, which Harry and his friends encounter as they embark on a quest to keep a treasured powerful object from falling into the wrong hands. Staying true to the book with this film adaptation, Columbus follows Rowling's story to the tiniest detail, making it a special treat for readers who were smitten with the novel. Radcliffe is especially engaging as Harry, infusing him with a believable sense of wonderment. The star-studded cast also includes Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, and Robbie Coltrane.

Customer Reviews

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 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.

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 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.