I will start off by telling you that I have not read the Harry Potter books. I am reviewing this movie as a movie, not as an adaptation, not as a fan. I am reviewing on the entertainment of the movie.

With that said I will tell you that I was bored, I found the film to be long and slow. This is the first of seven films that are set to be made from the books by J.K. Rowling. The movie is set in England with a baby Harry Potter left on the doorsteps of his Aunt and Uncle. When Harry turns eleven he is offered the chance to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Once there Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) finds out that he is the famous son of two powerful wizards. His mother and father were killed by an evil wizard who practices the dark magic.

Harry makes friends with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) another first year wizard who happens to have twin brothers already at the school, and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) who is the daughter of muggles. In case you don't know Harry Potter speak, a muggle is a person who can not do magic.

With that Harry, Ron and Hermione set off on what is basically "Home Alone" with wizards. They go along and get into trouble as young brilliant minds do. There are many scenes and pieces of dialogue that reminded me of "Star Wars". Harry struggles with the truth of his parents deaths as well as being famous.

It is my belief that those who have read and enjoyed the books will love this film, for it is amazing to look at. The problem is that people like myself who have not read the books find that many of the characters are not developed in the movie. We are given short introductions to them and I would guess that they must play bigger roles in the future movies. It is almost as if they should have made the second or third book first and then come back to this as a prequel.

The child actors do a admirable job as well as the supporting cast which includes Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore,the Headmaster of the school, Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall and Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, who steals the scenes that he appears in. Alan Rickman plays a mysterious wizard named Severus Snape and is the most underdeveloped character of the bunch.

At a running time of 2 and a half hours this movie dragged and I found the last 20 minutes to be the most engaging.

In the end, the great special-effects, wonderful scenery and fine acting did not make up for slow pacing and characters that were hard to care about.

- Ted Pfeifer