Review of Harry Potter and The Philosopher`s Stone (Widescreen)

Introduction

The boy who lived.

That was the first phrase that appeared on the page - the first four words that opened a new door in the imagination of the late 20th century readers and shot desperate author JK Rowling to realms she couldn`t have possibly even dreamt of. Her first book, Harry Potter & The Philosopher`s Stone, was a critical success, a book that made witches and wizards `cool` again.

The book, the first of seven, is about a young boy, Harry Potter, who finds out on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard, and he is eligible to attend Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. When he arrives, he finds a world like no other: a world that is intriguing and exciting - and that`s what you imagine just by reading it.

So yes, it was inevitable that Hollywood would come knocking. Or to be more precise, Warner Bros., accompanied by Home Alone helmer Chris Columbus.

Video

It is presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, and as expected of a recent print, it is crisp and clear throughout with no compression signs visible. The visuals are deep and well defined, and colour saturation and flesh tones are just right, with no unnecessary glare. For the first time in Region 2 land, two versions of the same DVD have been produced - a Widescreen version and a horrible, cheap and tacky Fullscreen alternative. Basically, it is Warner Bros. trying to cash in on little kiddies complaining about the `horrible` black bars at the top and bottom of the picture - but then again, what prevents them from putting 2.35:1 and 4:3 transfers on the same disc? Marketing of course!

The book was very visually descriptive, so fans of the book (and hell, there are millions of them) will be very p***ed off if Columbus makes a half-arsed attempt at the transition. Luckily, the cinematography and directing is excellent. From the sweeping sets of Hogwarts to the magic of Diagon Alley, it is almost exactly how I imagined it would be. Any complaints? Yeah, I suppose there is one. Quidditch. Ah, a word that surely made the film-makers chew their pencils down to fine stubs as they thought - How does one stage one of the most memorable set-pieces? To be honest, it is quite a good attempt (and rumour is that The Chamber of Secrets will be better Quidditch-wise), but you can`t help thinking that the CGI looks a bit fake, it doesn`t last as long as it should - and it just isn`t as exciting and thrilling as reading Rowling`s words. Damn.

Audio

A DD 5.1 track is on offer, and the surrounds are very active, with the subwoofer given a good workout during the action-set pieces. The main audio stream is crisp and clear, with good ambience levels.

Steve Kloves was given what seems like an almost-impossible task in condensing the book into a film - but it is a good adaptation nonetheless. Sure, it does cut out certain elements, but the material that is needed is included. Talking of `condensing`, this clocks in at 147 minutes: rather long for the kids if you ask me, but then again, this isn`t just for kids...

Features

This 2 disc set contains the following extra material:

Self-Guided Tour of Hogwarts - anyone played Broken Sword or other `point and click` games? Well if you have, then this is for you. Navigate the school using the arrow keys on your remote, exploring (a rather limited view of) Hogwarts and its inhabitants.

Explore Diagon Alley - play a few interactive games set against the backdrop of Diagon Alley.

Interactive Games - catch a snitch, mix potions and perform transfigurations et al.

DVD-ROM Features - yet more features aimed at the kids, a collection of material such as wizard trading cards and material for your PC.

Interviews - 16 minutes worth of interviews with the film-makers. Quite insightful to put it bluntly.

Trailers - the choice of teaser or theatrical trailers, available on the first disc.

The menus are animated well, with music in the background and an animation of Hogwarts, combined with clips from the film when you`ve made a selection.

Harry Potter & The Philosopher`s Stone is presented in a deluxe drawer case, with 2 disc holders, and chapter listings and extra features information printed on the case.

Conclusion

The film is just what one would expect thankfully - a magical adventure that appeals to all ages, that captures the essence of the book and a bit more. The performances are good, from young Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasly (he landed the part after learning about it on Newsround), Emma Thomas as Hermione Granger and then the ensemble cast of British thesps (notable mention goes to Alan Rickman as slithery Professor Snape). Chris Columbus directs well, and he will be returning for the next gig, The Chamber of Secrets.

Disc wise, the presentation is good, crisp visuals and audio. Extras? Poor to be honest. This is aimed at the younger generation, as all it really contains is a set of (boring) interactive games. It seems hard to justify a second disc for this lot. The only good thing is the collection of interviews, but what we really need is a `mature version` - commentary, documentary, more interviews et cetera. As it stands, nothing to write home about at all.

Overall, a good film combined with a fairly good disc. Just what fans wanted, and yes, I have to admit, I`m looking forward to part deux...