Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

 

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone - 2001

Coming up next on the blog is 2001's "Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone" (or Philosopher's Stone, depending on where in the world you live), the beginning of the story of the "Boy Who Lived" and his adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The film's cast includes Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Ian Hart, Julie Walters, Tom Felton, John Cleese, Alan Rickman, Elizabeth Spriggs, Matthew Lewis, and John Hurt.

This year marks 20 years since the Harry Potter franchise premiered.  On January 1, a reunion show, entitled "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To Hogwarts" was released.  So, it's in this spirit that we bring you today's post.  It's not going to be a scene-by-scene rundown like normal, but rather fun and interesting bits from the film as a whole.

Naturally, our hero is Harry Potter, an unhappy boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs of his uncle and aunt's home.  He is very surprised to find out he's actually a wizard.

One of my favorite characters is Uncle Vernon, played by Richard Griffiths to perfection.  He's just a funny guy.

Harry is taken to Diagon Alley by Hagrid and he stocks up on all the things he'll need for his schooling at Hogwarts.  It's here that we learn of "He Who Must Not Be Named".  Harry also gets an owl, Hedwig.

It's on the train to Hogwarts that Harry meets the two most important people in his life, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

After arriving at the village of Hogsmeade, Harry and friends are conducted by special boats to get their first glimpse of Hogwarts, and it is nothing short of spectacular.

We are also given a little bit of a tour of the school.  We meet Professor Minerva McGonagall (my personal favorite) and also the headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore.  There are moving staircases, talking paintings, resident ghosts, a sorting hat, and a whole bunch of other surprises for students.

Other teachers at the school are Madam Hooch (flying), Professor Quirrell (dark arts), Professor Flitwick (charms teacher), and Professor Snape (potions instructor).  They are all very different personalities.

Then there's the groundskeeper, Mr. Filch, who has a cat named Mrs. Norris.  Filch has quite a way with words.  Indeed, one of his quotes has me thinking of my own school.

We also meet a variety of students, including Seamus, whose spells never seem to come out right.  They quite literally blow up in his face.

Another thing I like about Hogwarts is their ability to throw some very good "themed" dinners.  The castle was just made for Halloween parties like this one.

The school can also play a mean game of chess.  You could very well end up dead if you make the wrong move.

I also love how by the end of the film, Harry Potter, who felt like such an outcast in the beginning, has finally found a place where he feels like he belongs with people who really care about him.

Another great thing about the movie is it's score.  It's very hummable.

Cast rundown:

   Daniel Radcliffe.................................Harry Potter

   Rupert Grint.....................................Ron Weasley

   Emma Watson..................................Hermione Granger

   Richard Harris...................................Professor Albus Dumbledore

   Maggie Smith....................................Professor Minerva McGonagall

   Robbie Coltrane.................................Rubeus Hagrid

   Richard Griffiths................................Uncle Vernon Dursley

   Fiona Shaw.......................................Aunt Petunia Dursley

   Ian Hart...........................................Professor Quirinus Quirrell

   Julie Walters.....................................Molly Weasley

   Tom Felton.......................................Draco Malfoy

   John Cleese......................................Nearly Headless Nick

   Alan Rickman...................................Professor Severus Snape

   Elizabeth Spriggs..............................Fat Lady

   Matthew Lewis..................................Neville Longbottom

   John Hurt.........................................Mr. Ollivander

And that's it for Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone.  Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling insisted that the cast be kept British.  For the children's auditions, hopefuls were told to read a page from the novel, improvise a scene of the students' arrival at Hogwarts, and finally read several pages from the script in front of the director.  The two actors that Rowling wanted involved in the film the most were Robbie Coltrane and Maggie Smith.

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