Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a routine movie that is in no way exceptional, but it is skilfully and spectacularly filmed Hollywood entertainment for the whole family. (11.04.2002)

I know that as an ordinary muggle I have no say in this, but why on earth didn't the creators conjure up a better lead? Daniel Radcliffe is awfully plankish, even though I can't expect miracles from a rookie. And I would also expect that in a project like this, some of the visual effects wouldn't be so blatantly digital. And while I'm criticising, Williams's music isn't one of the strong points either. I find Williams quite repetitive, and part of the main motif reminds me strikingly of one of the motifs in Schindler's List. On the other hand, the Quidditch scene was good and the the pawns with two swords in the chess game were cool. I also liked John Cleese’s appearances. And one more thing, I’ve made up my mind, sod cars, I’m getting a Nimbus 2000… (22.06.2003)

Äh, äh... nun, ich war durch die Umstände gezwungen, ihn zu sehen. Ja, es ist visuell perfekt, aber mein Gott, ich verstehe immer noch nicht, was der Brillentyp vorhatte. Es war zu ernst für ein Märchen, zu infantil für einen Fantasy-Film, nicht humorvoll genug für eine Komödie und nicht abenteuerlich genug für einen Abenteuerfilm. Columbus erinnert mich an einen Handwerker, der seine eigene Handschrift nicht in die Geschichte einbringt (einbringen konnte). Ein perfekt gemachtes kommerzielles Produkt, mehr nicht. Ich glaube, der Fehler liegt bei mir, selbst als Buch langweile ich mich nach ein paar Seiten. Du und ich sind nicht füreinander geboren, na ja, Rowling wird nicht verarme, stimmt´s... Und ich auch nicht, warum also traurig sein? (25.01.2004)

A slavish, unimaginative, and routine adaptation that has the ungrateful task of drowning the whole first half in slavish, unimaginative (what a pity given its magical nature) and merely routine introductions of the characters and their world. There's not much to criticize, but it's also completely without invention ideas of its own. Which is true of most of Columbus' movies. There is not one originally filmed scene, not a single interesting camera angle; simply nothing. It's as if a robot made the movie, page by page. And the extended version is worse because the extra scenes are not only completely unnecessary, but are as mundane as everything else. The casting of the child actors is quite successful but the acting is not great; yet it is slowly getting better with each episode. The adult “back-up" cast is invariably great. (21.11.2010)

Two decades have passed and the film that started it all hasn't aged a day. It's hard to say whether Chris Columbus knew the enormous phenomenon that was starting, but I am incredibly grateful to him for it. Without him, I would have never gotten into movies, but most importantly, I would have never discovered my beloved book source. And the nostalgia while watching "our new celebrity" wiped out by Severus Snape is truly immeasurable. It's not the best installment, but it's simply the first. (17.12.2011)

You either love Harry Potter or you don't understand why everyone around you loves him so much. I'm one of the former. I think I'm from the generation that enjoyed watching it the most. I was young enough to be enchanted by all the magic and old enough to understand it. I grew up with Harry and the individual installments always fit my age just right. And so, to this day, The Sorcerer's Stone is an all-time favorite of mine, and a story that brings out the little kid in me who firmly believes that Hogwarts exists :) (28.10.2010)

The beginning to a legendary series that has gained a large number of fans, just like its famous literary source. I have certain reservations about the first one, which still somewhat stays down to earth in many aspects and situations, and sometimes appears overly childish and wannabe comedic, but it successfully plays out a great magical game and the fictional world of Hogwarts is hard not to love. It’s a good start, though far from perfect. (29.07.2006)

Die Harry-Potter-Bücher habe ich vor sechs Jahren gelesen – die Hälfte davon im Krankenhaus, den Rest zu Hause. Sie haben mir gefallen, die meisten von ihnen habe ich in einem Atemzug verschlungen. Aber die Filme habe ich bis heute – eigentlich ungewollt – gemieden. Ich kann nicht sagen, warum. Die Verfilmung von Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen hatte auf mich heute dieselbe Auswirkung wie das Buch vor Jahren. Es ist immer noch die nette Kindergeschichte, welche die magische Welt vorstellt, die wichtigsten Figuren zeigt und unterhaltsam sowie spannend ist. Wenn ich mich nicht irre, ist alles Wichtige drin geblieben, und die Filmemacher haben auch nichts verdreht, was ein kleines Wunder ist. Die Musik von John Williams hat mir gefallen. Die Regie von Columbus hat zwar keine unvergesslichen Szenen gezeigt, sie hat aber auch nichts verdorben. Die digitalen Tricks hätten unauffälliger sein können, aber was soll’s. Die größten Trümpfe des Films sind die Kinderschauspieler*innen. Nicht nur, dass sie passend ausgewählt wurden, sondern sie können auch schauspielern – und wie! Vor allem Emma Watson, die tolle angewiderte Blicke wirft und mich mehrmals zum Lachen gebracht hat. Die großartigen erwachsenen Schauspieler*innen brauche ich nicht einmal zu erwähnen – es sind nicht nur viele Stars, es ist ein Himmel voller Stars. (06.09.2015)

Very nice in parts (especially the visuals of Hogwarts and, of course, the iconic central melody) and presented in an effective family package, but too sprawling and chatty, and it doesn't portray the characters (except for the final thirty minutes) or the plot in the way the relatively short book does. I like this film, but it’s pretty weak compared to some of the sequels. (14.10.2012)

"Yer a wizard, Harry." –– This is a beautiful tale about a wizard's apprentice that even after several years has not lost its original charm and atmosphere. When I watched it recently, believe me, I had the same wonderful feeling as when I first saw it. While I admit that the main trio does not exactly give Oscar-winning performances, they wonderfully make up for it with their childlike innocence – because, like the audience, they are gradually learning about this world of magic and enchantment, its many wonders, but also its dangers... I do not think I need to elaborate further in my review, because I do not believe anyone has not heard of this movie. (14.07.2008)

A spectacle free of caffeine, nicotine, and with the absence of sperm, excrement, and other interesting things, where next to the brilliant technical side (special effects, set design, costumes, etc.) the direction, the script, and the performances of the little actors gradually weep. (07.02.2007)