J.K. Rowling’s books have created quite the stir – not only because it was originally meant as a children’s story for her own children – but also because it opened up a special imaginary world for people all around the world. Before Rowling’s novels about Harry Potter, fantasy and magic was a topic that was considered mainstream. However, these seven novels have become so popular that they are now being converted from the pages of a freshly pressed book to the big screen.
Harry Potter: The Character
The first novel of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, has a strong focus on his childhood – where he comes from, how he got there and foreshadows what battles are to come due to his parents’ background and his status as a so-called hero. Harry is not an ideal candidate for the hero status when compared to mainstream heroes as batman and superman, because of his lack of knowledge about his abilities, family history and even his own identity. Being a parentless child, Harry struggle to live with his extended family – the Dursleys, who dislike his presence in their house and treat him as a servant.
The novel begins in this setting, showing the surroundings that Harry has become accustomed to since his early childhood. He was placed on his family’s doorstep by Professor Dumbledore, his future guardian and life teacher at the Hogwarts School of magic. When Harry turns 11, Hagrid – Hogwarts’ key holder – comes to rescue Harry to bring him to the school. Here, Harry meets Ron and Hermoine and together, the three embark on several magical journeys, such as an encounter with a dragon, an evil and quite dangerous forest and a three headed dog that is guarding a very powerful and wanted stone.
From Book to Movie
Since the novel is packed with many magical and imaginary events and places, it would appear that the film has quite a challenge ahead as it needs to live up to the expectations and be accepted by the many Harry Potter fans. The book is not very descriptive and thus, one year is packed into 300 pages. The film needs to make up for these giants leaps, creating a consistency between the scenes and gaps that appear in the book.
However, when it was released in 2001, there was no question about it. The film does live up to the expectations. It successfully captures the depressing and quite rough attitude of the Dursleys, the magical essence of Hogwarts and the characters’ personality traits and looks. Ron, the young redheaded boy from the Weasley family, is captured quite well by Rupert Grint. His insecurities about knowing very little about magic and being from a poor family is portrayed very well in the film. Hermoine Granger, played by Emma Watson, is also portrayed well, showing off her talents and book smarts. Watson manages to communicate the know-it-all attitude that exudes from the book onto the screen by using facial expressions and body movements that only suits the character.
The most important part, however, is capturing the magic and essence of Hogwarts. The novel describes Hogwarts as a magical place, where anything is possible. However, this must be conveyed to the screen in a manner that not only keeps the focus on the magic, but does so in a way that it is believable and credible. Nothing is credible about a place where nothing is in control, where wands and potions fly around in the air.
The film manages to capture Hogwarts as a professional school, where there are rules and regulations. This is communicated by the authority of the school, the professors and the ghosts. Nothing in the film becomes questionable, as it stays true to the book. Many have even reported that Hogwarts was just as they had imagined after seeing the book on the big screen. Although the first film jumps around quite a bit in terms of events and introducing characters, it is simply demonstrating the very beginning to a very long and interesting journey.
- Studio: Warner Brothers Pictures
- Rating: PG
- Running Time: 152 Minutes
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