AtoZ Challenge: Fiction to Film: Harry Potter and The Socerer's Stone

                                  

Ahh... Harry Potter. While controversy may swirl around the author of these books, there is no denying that Harry Potter managed to catch the imaginations of many of us in its day.

I was slow to catch on to the Harry Potter rage. It was middle grade- I was not, and the premise sounded too farfetched to be compelling... but I was wrong. Once I got around to reading them, I loved the books and I was so excited, if nervous, when the first Harry Potter film followed four years later. After all it's hard to beat the magic of the books.

But, in my humble opinion, the movie was so GOOD. 

To start, the casting was amazing. All the characters were the very picture of what was described in the book, and the kids actually looked like kids! The adult casting was also on point. Hagrid is exactly as I pictured him in my head, even if some special effects had to be used to make the actor who portrays him, Robbie Coltrane, look like the 8 foot (12 in the books) half-giant he was intended to be.

The sets were amazing, and the first time we entered the great hall in Hogwarts for the sorting hat ceremony, I knew I was hooked. 

Speaking of...while the books never did, the movies give me winter holiday vibes and I tend to re-watch them in December leading up to the holidays... Anyone else? I think its the excellent soundtrack.

There are so many pieces of the story that I could not quite visualize when left to my own devices but the movies accomplished beautifully, like

Quidditch

 

Nearly Headless Nick

 

Fluffy

 

and Wizard's Chess

JUST SO WELL DONE!

I think the story line was accurately captured as well. At times, it felt a little bit like a highlight reel, but nothing that actually hurt my understanding of the story.

And I know that the movie opened the door for so many to read the books, and all the successive books following.

                                                    

As the characters age, the story gets darker, both in the books and in the movies. The story continues to meet its audience at a level they are ready to accept. Unfortunately, I think the later movies got a bit weird, but let's end on a positive note..
                                                

What are your thoughts? Did you love them or hate them? Share in the comments below!