Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Julie Walters, Matthew Lewis, John Cleese
Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s epic saga of the same name, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” marks the first chapter of Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliff) journey into an extraordinary world of magic and mystery as he begins his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After eleven years of living with his cruel and abusive relatives, Harry is summoned from his life as an unwanted orphan to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, Harry meets Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), who soon become his closest friends, and help him discover the truth about his identity as “the boy who lived”.
Identity is one of the strongest themes in the film is, and nowhere is this theme more perfectly illustrated than in the character of Harry Potter and the journey he takes towards discovering the truth about his identity.
The story begins with an infant being brought to the home of his Muggle relatives by a pair of teachers – Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris) and Professor McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith) - and a gentle giant named Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). While the child is introduced as Harry Potter, the unique importance of this baby, as well as the tragic circumstances which have left him to be raised by his human family, remain shrouded in mystery. The story springs forward eleven years, and Harry has grown up under the reluctant care of his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, but his life with them is far from an idyllic fairytale. Rather than sharing a familial bond with his surly relatives, Harry is treated as little more than a despised servant. It is only when Harry journeys to Hogwarts School, that he discovers that he is a wizard with a powerful secret: he was the boy who lived.
Another part of Harry’s identity is illustrated in this film, as we see the subtle connections that entwine Harry to Lord Voldemort, the dark wizard who murdered Harry’s parents when he was a baby. When Harry is at the zoo with his family for Dudley’s birthday, he is surprised to discover that he can speak to the Burmese python in the Reptile House. Harry shares this gift with his dark nemesis because Lord Voldemort, as the heir of Slytherin, was also a gifted Parsel-tongue. When Harry is choosing his wand at Ollivander’s the first two wands that he tries do not choose him. When the wand finally chooses Harry, Ollivander tells him that it is curious that the Phoenix whose tail feather imbues this wand with its unique magic, is the same Phoenix whose feather resides in Lord Voldemort’s wand; the wand that gave Harry his lightning scar and killed his parents. He believes that with this wand, great things can be expected from Harry…because Voldemort himself did great things.
It is the lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s forehead, that entwines Harry’s soul with that of Lord Voldemort and gives them their strongest connection. Several times throughout the film, Harry’s scar burns when he is in the presence of Lord Voldemort. When Harry first arrives at Hogwarts, he is sorted into Gryffindor House and as they are watching the Sorting Ceremony, Harry’s scar burns, and we then see Professor Quirrell with his back turned. I believe in this moment, Lord Voldemort saw Harry for the first time and his rage at realizing that this was the child who destroyed him, and inadvertently took a piece of his soul, was what made Harry’s scar burn. We see this happen again when Harry and Draco are in the forest with Hagrid, searching for the missing unicorn. Harry sees the Dark Lord feeding on the unicorn’s blood and his scar burns in that moment. We see this happening for a third time when Harry confronts Professor Quirrell during his final battle. In the moment that Professor Quirrell turns to face the mirror, Harry cries out in pain as his scar burns once again. I believe that in all these moments, the piece of Voldemort’s soul that was trapped in Harry was trying to rejoin its master’s soul.
Love is a powerful theme that is woven into the film. It was Lily Potter’s love for her son that saved Harry from being killed by Lord Voldemort when he was an infant. By sacrificing her own life to save Harry – an act of pure love – Lily shielded her son from Voldemort’s power and protected Harry from Voldemort’s curse. Love is also the catalyst which allows Harry to see his parents in the Mirror of Erised, a magical object that allows one to see the deepest desires of their heart. Although he can never truly be with his parents, this moment of being reunited with their souls in the mirror brings Harry a small measure of comfort and gives Harry the strongest part of his identity…he is their son, and he is loved by them.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is an enchanting and emotionally riveting film that weaves together a stellar cast, a well-told story, and stunning visual artistry to bring J.K. Rowling’s vision to life onscreen. This film is only the first chapter in a series that is highly recommended to anyone who loves Harry Potter.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliff, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Julie Walters, Matthew Lewis, John Cleese
Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s epic saga of the same name, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” marks the first chapter of Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliff) journey into an extraordinary world of magic and mystery as he begins his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. After eleven years of living with his cruel and abusive relatives, Harry is summoned from his life as an unwanted orphan to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, Harry meets Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), who soon become his closest friends, and help him discover the truth about his identity as “the boy who lived”.
Identity is one of the strongest themes in the film is, and nowhere is this theme more perfectly illustrated than in the character of Harry Potter and the journey he takes towards discovering the truth about his identity.
The story begins with an infant being brought to the home of his Muggle relatives by a pair of teachers – Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris) and Professor McGonagall (Dame Maggie Smith) - and a gentle giant named Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). While the child is introduced as Harry Potter, the unique importance of this baby, as well as the tragic circumstances which have left him to be raised by his human family, remain shrouded in mystery. The story springs forward eleven years, and Harry has grown up under the reluctant care of his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, but his life with them is far from an idyllic fairytale. Rather than sharing a familial bond with his surly relatives, Harry is treated as little more than a despised servant. It is only when Harry journeys to Hogwarts School, that he discovers that he is a wizard with a powerful secret: he was the boy who lived.
Another part of Harry’s identity is illustrated in this film, as we see the subtle connections that entwine Harry to Lord Voldemort, the dark wizard who murdered Harry’s parents when he was a baby. When Harry is at the zoo with his family for Dudley’s birthday, he is surprised to discover that he can speak to the Burmese python in the Reptile House. Harry shares this gift with his dark nemesis because Lord Voldemort, as the heir of Slytherin, was also a gifted Parsel-tongue. When Harry is choosing his wand at Ollivander’s the first two wands that he tries do not choose him. When the wand finally chooses Harry, Ollivander tells him that it is curious that the Phoenix whose tail feather imbues this wand with its unique magic, is the same Phoenix whose feather resides in Lord Voldemort’s wand; the wand that gave Harry his lightning scar and killed his parents. He believes that with this wand, great things can be expected from Harry…because Voldemort himself did great things.
It is the lightning-shaped scar on Harry’s forehead, that entwines Harry’s soul with that of Lord Voldemort and gives them their strongest connection. Several times throughout the film, Harry’s scar burns when he is in the presence of Lord Voldemort. When Harry first arrives at Hogwarts, he is sorted into Gryffindor House and as they are watching the Sorting Ceremony, Harry’s scar burns, and we then see Professor Quirrell with his back turned. I believe in this moment, Lord Voldemort saw Harry for the first time and his rage at realizing that this was the child who destroyed him, and inadvertently took a piece of his soul, was what made Harry’s scar burn. We see this happen again when Harry and Draco are in the forest with Hagrid, searching for the missing unicorn. Harry sees the Dark Lord feeding on the unicorn’s blood and his scar burns in that moment. We see this happening for a third time when Harry confronts Professor Quirrell during his final battle. In the moment that Professor Quirrell turns to face the mirror, Harry cries out in pain as his scar burns once again. I believe that in all these moments, the piece of Voldemort’s soul that was trapped in Harry was trying to rejoin its master’s soul.
Love is a powerful theme that is woven into the film. It was Lily Potter’s love for her son that saved Harry from being killed by Lord Voldemort when he was an infant. By sacrificing her own life to save Harry – an act of pure love – Lily shielded her son from Voldemort’s power and protected Harry from Voldemort’s curse. Love is also the catalyst which allows Harry to see his parents in the Mirror of Erised, a magical object that allows one to see the deepest desires of their heart. Although he can never truly be with his parents, this moment of being reunited with their souls in the mirror brings Harry a small measure of comfort and gives Harry the strongest part of his identity…he is their son, and he is loved by them.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is an enchanting and emotionally riveting film that weaves together a stellar cast, a well-told story, and stunning visual artistry to bring J.K. Rowling’s vision to life onscreen. This film is only the first chapter in a series that is highly recommended to anyone who loves Harry Potter.
© 2021 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.