Summary/Review
The movie opens with Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid delivering Harry to the Dursley's after the death of his parents. Here we first see use of the deluminator (important in the last movie), McGonagall as animagus, and Hagrid's flying motorcycle. Then just before Harry's 11th birthday we see one instance of him unwittingly using magic when his cousin Dudley made him angry. We also see his ability to communicate with snakes. The owls begin trying to deliver his invitation to attend Hogwart's and Harry eventually discovering upon Hagrid's arrival that he, Harry, is a wizard.
On the train ride to Hogwart's he meets his future best friends and partners in crime. Harry and Ron become fast friends and it is through persistent noseyness that Hermione also becomes best friends with the two boys. We see the three of them fight off a troll, uncover the riddle and secret of the Philosopher's Stone, and how to get to it. We are introduced to each of the mnor character's that play such an important role in the lives of the three through their time at Hogwart's. These include Seamus, Dean Thomas, Nevil, Firenze, Malfoy, and so many more. Fast forward to the final adventure. Each challenge in the end on the adventure to the stone utilizes a strength of each of the three friends: Hermione's thirst for knowledge and retention of what seems like completly random facts help them escape the Devil's Snare, Harry's innate ability to fly on the broom and his skill as seeker to get the key and avoid the flying keys, and then Ron's ability with Wizard's Chess that allows Harry to enter the final room and find the stone. It is here that he finds Quirrel/Voldemort. It is the love of Harry's mother that allowed him to survive as an infant and it is again her love that allows him to defeat Quirrel/Voldemort.
Thoughts/opinions
You can tell this is the first acting experience for our three main character's. They are young and green, but still do a decent, believable job at creating their characters. Hogwart's is fantasy-like and welcoming with a hint at mystery and danger, full of hopes and promises of both great and dark things to come. Of course my opinions today are skewed by having read all the novels and seen all the movies. However, this extra knowledge really allows me to see how events from the first movie set up important facts/characters/events for the future.
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