It's spellbinding!

It’s spellbinding!

Young critics give Harry Potter movie the thumbs up.

This is the film that millions of us have been waiting to see. Ever since we've known there was going to be a movie we've been asking "when can we go and see it?" And now it's here - and it's brilliant!

J K Rowling's stories and characters are magical and spellbinding - and cool! The books are class - and so is the film.

Favourite characters

In a story dominated by boys and men, the bossy know-it-all Hermione (Emma Watson) was a firm favourite. She doesn't look the way we expected - her hair should be tied up. But she's brainy and gets the mickey taken out of her, which is just right.

Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris) samples one of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans © Warner Bros.

Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) looks fantastic and has a strange liking for monsters. We particularly liked the enormous three-headed guard dog, which Hagrid calls Fluffy. Harry's friend Ron (Rupert Grint), who has some of the film's funniest lines, is also great. And with his greasy hair and slimy personality, Tom Felton was perfect as Harry's enemy, Draco Malfoy.

Favourite scenes

Harry first encounters the magical world in Olivander's wand shop, which really lives up to expectations. It is dank and musty, and crowded with old boxes which Harry knocks over. John Hurt makes Olivander himself come to life: he is old and kind but weird and mysterious. The moment when he tells Harry that his chosen wand is the twin of Lord Voldemort's is gripping.

The Quidditch match where Harry's house team (Gryffindor) play Slytherin is amazing. Quidditch is like a violent version of football or basketball played on broomsticks. The special effects are very clever.

The film isn't all thrills. Norbert the dragon is very cute, and it's sad when he is taken away from Hagrid. And the death of the unicorn, after Voldemort drinks his blood, is also upsetting.

But the darkest moment comes when we first see Lord Voldemort. Voldemort is looking for the Philosopher's Stone because it can turn normal metals into gold and give eternal life. The Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell, takes off his turban and Voldemort is living off the back of his head like a parasite.

Disappointments

Dudley (Harry Melling), Harry's cousin, isn't fat enough, but the moment Hagrid gives him a pig's tail and his Mum and Dad are chasing after him was funny.

Fans of the books may also be annoyed by some of the little details: the snake Harry meets in the zoo is from Burma instead of Brazil, Harry doesn't meet Malfoy until he reaches Hogwarts which is wrong. Sometimes it's all right to change books to make them into movies, but some of the pieces shouldn't have been left out.

Also, while some of the special effects are truly magic, some are overdone, and some look a bit fake.

But apart from these niggles, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is brilliant. We can't wait to see it again!

About the team

This article was produced by Leah Alford, 10, Steven Guy, 11, Vicky Palmer, 12, and Matthew Scott, 14. It was published in the Plymouth Evening Herald.

More on Harry Potter

Visit the official Harry Potter website or watch the trailer.

Harry Potter logo and photo are © Warner Bros. No other uses are permitted without the prior written consent of owner. Use of the material in violation of the foregoing may result in civil and/or criminal penalties.