Harry Potter

Cellar Door

November 16, 2001

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Harry Potter is not at all bad. Easily the most massive children's film ever made, it manages to hold interest (Steve Kloves did the script)for 2 1/2 hours without flagging. The three kid leads are sensational (director Chis Columbus resists temptaion to make them cuter than they are), and while the effects are as good as you'd expect at these prices, the real kudos go to the set and costume designers. While the story nominally takes place in the present, the world Harry inhabits for most of the film is Dickensian/Medieval in design. Lots of good supporting work from Richard Harris, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman (who really knows how to curl an eyebrow), but if the film belongs to anyone it's Robbie Coltrane. Children -- especially little girls -- will love it.