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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
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TALK ABOUT MOVIES
November 2002
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
Directed by Chris Columbus. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Richard Harris. 2001, 152 minutes, Color, English, USA. Available at Blockbuster Video
Matthew: Someone might be tempted to make a parallel to Christianity. Like Christianity, there is a secret world within the world seen by ordinary men. Things look different there: suffering is a blessing; worldly success is not real success. There is a different order. The non-magical aunt's horror at having magical people in the family might be akin to an unbeliever's reaction to a family member's conversion. It makes no sense to the outsider. But once Harry gets into the magical world, there's no governing order. The Christian has a rule of life -- charity. Harry Potter is a superman -- his power excuses all of his offenses.
Ernie: If anything, he's taught that rules are meant to be broken. He's actually rewarded for it. And magic doesn't even seem to be the point. The girl is superior as far as formulaic magic is concerned, but he defeats the evil wizard because of something more transcendent than magic.
Matthew: The love his mother gave him when she died trying to save him.
Ernie: But you don't have to be a wizard to have that.
* * *
Ernie: Nothing is developed; stuff just happens. It's nothing but discovery --
Matthew: -- of how great it is to be Harry Potter.