While much has been made of Columbus' faithfulness to the book, one cannot help but feel this is ultimately rather superficial. Little effort is spent on creating the world of Hogwarts (its play on the English public school system is one of the delights of the book) which gets short shrift, as indeed does the web of interpersonal relationships between teachers and students. The whole thing is a mad rush to get through the plot, and atmosphere is an early victim.
While it might be unfair to criticize the film on a personal reading of the books, the extent of the hype and the unspoken assumption that the film is a big event courts attack. The fantastic work of the computer graphic artists who have created Potter's magical world has only a tenuous relation to cinematic language. Neither does Columbus have the distinction of George Lucas of creating an indelible part of modern culture with Star Wars, however one might reject the over-burdened and increasingly fatuous development in the prequels. Ultimately, it is hard to get over the fact that these much-hyped films, for all their technical wizardry and splendid casts, are superfluous.
Unable to give greater depth to the story -- just telling it is more than the film can manage -- Columbus makes do with more effects (more things than whiz around and crash). While he has created a visual treat that is supposedly darker than the Philosopher's Stone, it is little more than a confection.
RSS