Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) - The Beginning.

Harry Potter is a phenomenal franchise.

That much should go without saying, but I feel as though even the most dedicated of fans forget just how monumental this property has flourished over nearly twenty-four years since the first book - rejected ad severallius - finally hit the bookshelves.

By 2001, three of Rowling’s books of the Wizarding World had been read by thousands, if not millions, of men, women and children around the world. The fervour of hitting your eleventh birthday and praying to see that Hogwarts letter get dropped through your letter box was paramount.

Let’s be honest: nobody would ever let these tomes sit to rest on a shelf. They had to hit the big screen.

Warner Bros. hit the green light, Chris Columbus sat on his director chair, the casting die was… cast, and the first Harry Potter film was released on 16 November 2001.

Nearly twenty years - TWENTY - separates us from the fantasy sensation that helped catapult the franchise - and the names of young and old actors - to new frontiers of fame.

To close out this ghastly year and help set the tone for the successor, I’m taking you back to the beginning of the HP film series; an octilogy of cinematic brilliance (to varying degrees of quality).

I’ll endeavour to cover all of them at some point, but, for now, let’s focus on the first.

Let’s get one thing straight: there may be a few hiccups along the way, but, the way I see it, the casting for each film is exceptional.

Every single actor and actress for each character looks, sounds and acts the best in their roles. Of course, some are changed around, others are recast, but the quality of the casting is outstanding for this film in particular.

The main HP theme - Hedwig’s Theme as it’s labelled - is one of the most recognisable melodies ever composed, leading us into the realms of Muggle and magic effortlessly.

John Williams never stops proving why everybody knows his name. With Dumbledore’s delivery of the Boy Who Lived to Privet Drive and the title card flashes up, the whole soundtrack not only captures the wonder and excitement of the Wizarding World, but also has an eerie tone being in a minor key.

I would argue the ‘prologue’ scenes with Harry’s gruelling enslavement under the Dursley’s are the most uncomfortable in the film.

The disdain that they each profess for the poor orphan makes your blood boil, but the latter outcome of Harry’s true importance to the story - and as a character - is so worth it.

Abuse should not be tolerated in any form, but I could possibly understand where Vernon and Petunia - played fabulously by Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw - are coming from. They know that magic exists and they want to prevent Harry from finding out since it is what led to his parent’s deaths.

Caring, I’m sure.

What will be a challenge for these ensuing pieces on the film series is deciding to focus on whether they are a successful adaptation of the book, or can simply operate as a film in terms of narrative, pacing and character development.

It would be generally in the later half of the series where you had the final book be split into two films because there is too much content to cover entertainingly

I’m coming out swinging here: Daniel Radcliffe is fantastic as Harry. At such a young age, some parts of his performance do seem a little exaggerated or not played enough, but there are a multitude of reasons that his casting is why I now prefer blue - instead of green - eyes in my HP headcanon.

The scene with the boa constrictor in the zoo is solid character development for Harry. His commiseration with the serpent about being in captivity is sold really well by Radcliffe.

Another slight depressing note about these scenes is how few instances there are of Harry having an emotional outburst over the injustices he suffers. It wouldn’t even occur to him that he is special, as it has been ingrained into him that he is lower class, sub-human even.

When the great giant Rubeus Hagrid - played by the esteemed Robbie Coltrane - breaks down the door of the Hut-on-the-Rock, we get this line from Harry after he receives a birthday cake.

“Thank you.”

I don’t know if it’s Columbus’ direction, Rowling’s writing or Radcliffe’s performance, but that simple line captures so much of what we love about Harry; as if he’s never received a gift as common as a birthday cake.

Admittedly, the pacing of the film is quite slow in this first section. I’ll concede that it is taking time to establish the deplorable life Harry lives at Privet Drive which informs so much about his character when he believes Hogwarts is his real home - an integral angle of his identity - but it is really when “You’re a wizard, Harry.” is uttered that the film alters its course in a new - and more engaging - trajectory.

I can’t believe it’s taken me years to finally notice the subtle visual cues of mistreatment of Harry in the Sellotape on his glasses to the clearly oversized shirt and trousers he is given.

Then we get to the first truly amazing segment of the film: Harry’s introduction to Diagon Alley.

It starts subtly as Hagrid and Harry approach the Leaky Cauldron. The signpost is blackened, but then fades into picture as they draw near. All the customers pay reverence to Harry - with Quirrell (Ian Hart) being set up for the climax - and the CGI of the bricks folding aside holds up really well.

Then the score strikes up with a twirling flourish as Harry and the audience are sucked head to foot into the weird and wonder of the Wizarding World.

The whole set design - for most of the locations, anyway - is practically designed. All of those costumes are handcrafted and it looks so fantastic. What’s even more impressive is how elements which seem insignificant for the present - like Gringotts, Griphook and Ollivander (John Hurt) - will play an stronger role in the future.

I just love Harry’s visit to Ollivander. How the stacks of wand cases allude to the immense history of wands, Ollivander’s admiration of great power despite its evil and Harry’s choosing of his holly-and-phoenix wand - awakening his innate magical power which is reflected in the greater colourful lighting - which further sets up his connection with Voldemort.

The film is just one literal and figurative magical introduction after another. Quick-fire roundtable:

The absolute wins Fred and George (James and Oliver Phelps, respectively):

Wow! They’re identical!

The gorgeously shot and presented Platform 9 and 3/4:

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger’s (Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) introductions, both immediate telling’s of Ron’s wizarding smarts and Hermione’s early pomposity and magical acumen.

We get to Hogwart’s itself. All the first-years are led across the lake with Hagrid leading and the castle is lit up gorgeously in the dark. All of its interior designs, all the major internal and external locations are crafted with detail and passion: from Snape’s dungeon to the Great Hall to the Quidditch pitch to the Forbidden Forest.

We’ve already seen Richard Harris’ extraordinariness as Dumbledore - Gambon would do it justice as well, though not to the same extent - Tom Felton’s Malfoy gets scolded by a wicked Incendio and then we get to see the longest running red-herring in history.

It is almost visual gold dust to see Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. His role would be better explored in future films, but his presence is established terrifically and Rickman’s vocal power over his lines is marvellous.

I believe the best sequence of action in this film is undisputedly the Quidditch match. The flying effects are a little askew but I can’t focus on that because I’m swept up by the kinetic pacing of the match with tangible tension when Harry’s broom gets bewitched and a tremendously satisfying resolution with Harry catching the Snitch and having his name chanted by the elated crowd.

As an adult, I can also appreciate that the film has seeds of some deeper subject matter, as demonstrated in the scenes with the Mirror of Erised.

I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.

It’s an example of Harry’s personal oppression. Even Harry’s deepest desires of his heart take a few seconds to fade into view because he’s had to suppress them for so long. It is illustrative of the magical world’s function as a parallel of reality in a lot of ways. Every special thing generally has a catch (like the Mirror, the eponymous Stone and even the minor detail of unicorn blood).

They bring you things that make you feel joyful, but, ultimately, they offer up simple and evocative lessons for anyone of any age.

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

Some details may have been tweaked or scrapped, but the film did manage to incorporate the climax in thematic line with the character’s abilities: Hermione’s knowledge of Devil’s Snare, Ron’s aptitude for wizard’s chess and Harry’s proficiency in Quidditch to grab the winged key.

Even for a kid’s film, you even have a - pretty decent - plot twist, only if you weren’t paying enough attention to (admittedly) very obscure moments in the film.

Spoiler warning:

Three…

Two…

One…

Yeah, p-poor, s-st-stuttering Professor Quirrell was Voldemort’s minion all this time.

I feel as though the action in the climax is… stunted, like Harry gets strangled then all he has to do is touch Quirrell and then he crumbles to dust. But I will say this scene - Voldemort’s frightening appearance on the back of Quirrell’s head, the fire, the dusting of Quirrell - leans sufficiently into horror.

Luckily, it’s the epoch of HP where everything ends on a happy note, so Gryffindor wins the House Cup through sheer favouritism and then the trio pack up to leave.

I love Harry and Hagrid’s quiet farewell, with Hagrid passing on Lily and James’ album on as well as the beautifully composed score that ends this film and the final instalment in a frankly magical way.

What a way to kick off the Harry Potter film franchise.

Philosopher’s Stone is something special. Not only does it set up an incredibly detailed and unique world - even if most of it doesn’t get as fully explored in the books - it is also a fantastic standalone film that probably didn’t necessitate a sequel.

There’s more than enough excitement and adventure to be had in this one outing. How Rowling managed to write a detailed story spanning multiple books (and films) through a linear narrative is impressive.

The characters are one of the best things this universe has to offer. Some of the most detestable and lovable people ever portrayed on screen found their fortune. So much detail in this film and nobody need notice it in order to be entertained for the first or thousandth time.

I would argue that the best performance - if one could award it - is Radcliffe’s. I know he’s the titular character and it is all about Harry, but I believe this is the film where we get to see the larger quantity of events from Harry’s perspective. It makes it more intimate between him and the audience as well as endearing us more to him as an underdog we can all relate to.

I wouldn’t say Philosopher’s Stone is my favourite - that belongs to Prisoner of Azkaban - but so much of what we love about the world of HP was brought to life here. It was a great beginning, and I hope it can allude to future times to come.