Okay, I'll admit I hadn't even read one Harry Potter book until the publicity for the first movie was in full swing. Methinks what really grabbed my imagination was this image of all those letters arriving via owl. I was intrigued enough to go out and get the book--which I read aloud to my darling Colleen.
(About a third of the way in, I turned to her and said "Hermione and Ron, those two are destined to get married." She simply nodded, with a smile.)
Frankly, I will admit that the loss of certain details saddened me, all the more because some made no sense to me and still do not. Why not, after all, have Dumbledore establish his quirky sense of humor once and for all with his "few words"? And I do rather wish Mr. Ollivander had been more of the charming-but-slightly-sinister person he is in the novels. One can also point out that Emma Watson even at age twelve is really much prettier than Hermione, but I don't feel the slightest need to complain about that. I'm a guy, after all.
At the same time, other moments were nothing less than perfect. The whole business with the Mirror of Erised was very touching--all the moreso if you've ever, EVER lost someone you loved. Of course, in retrospect, that scene is even more affecting. Likewise the first Potions Class captured all that was needed very well (although--a truly minor caveat--Alan Rickman is nearly twice Snape's age). And the final bit with Neville at the end-of-term feast...just lovely!
But more than that--and despite what I see as a few missteps along the way--the first movie of the series captures extremely well the feeling[/u] of the first book. In essence this is a story about an orphan who finds a real home--a wonderous, genuinely magical home--as well as real friends and then, a real opportunity to Do Right. All that is there. The film--rightly, imo--focuses on Harry's emotional journey, and nothing I think captures that better than when he simply takes Hedwig out for a little flight in the winter. I've always thought that visually, that owl represented something about Harry--the purity of his color, the grace with which he would fly (as does Harry, both literally and metaphorically), etc.--and that simple act of taking wing at Christmas echoed Harry's own joy as the first Christmas where he got presents (a very Dickensian touch that, but it works).
Adapting a novel-length work to under two hours of film-time is never easy, and rarely without a few stumbles. Methinks this screenplay does an admirable job overall. For example, notice how in the film Harry's discovery of the Mirror of Erised happened the same night as his eavesdropping on Snape and Quirrell? Or how the Trio's accidental discovery of Fluffy is handled in such a straightforward way--they got lost as the staircase moved? Myself, I miss the protection Snape erected for the Stone--those potions--but I see why it was done. Time. Still, this took away a time for Hermione to shine. Not that she really needs it all that much I suppose.
This film does begin to strike a subtle note in a change from the books that (so far) has carried through, and is one I regret. Rowlings' novels have established that while Hermione is excellent at any form of academics, Ron is the better person at handling a crisis that happens right at the moment. She tends to freeze (this changes over time). Here, that is almost reversed, and I regret it. It frankly spoils things ever so slightly to have Hermione give Ron a wand lesson in the midst of his rescuing her. I prefer the Ron who took charge when confronted with a gi-normous chess set and deliberately sacrificed himself.
One other minor complaint, and this has also been something popping up in all the films--a sight tendency to preach. Hermione's little speech to Harry before urging him to go on without her and Ron kinda stuck out like a sore thumb.
Still, as perhaps can be told, I've watched this movie again and again. It captured, if not every detail and nuance of the book, its heart and given that I loved the book, then it follows I am quite a fan of the movie.
