Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Don't let the missing half a star bother you at all. If I'd had the pleasure of watching this film as a child I'm sure this delightfully dark tale of wizards would live rent free in my head with a five star rating. Harry Potter wasn't a story I was allowed to watch as kid. I'm 24 and just now watching it with my family over the holidays. Yes, I've seen it before one or twice but it hit home this time around. Even a room of grown adults still had a blast with this classic. It's such a fun world to exist in and it's presentation is flawless. It's like a Lord of the Rings kids meal. It's dark and scary, but only enough to keep all ages curious without scaring the children (to death). Potter is a character you can't help but root for.  He's a clever twist on the chosen one trope fantasy loves to abide by. We know he's special, has strong magic, and his parents were famous (and left him tons of money). We just don't know what his place in the story is yet. The mystery is welcome as the plot dips into the story of the Sorcerer's Stone, which keeps the mystery alive while providing more questions than answers. When the film ended it was hard not to put the next disc in and keep the marathon going all night.

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