The Real Weird Sisters review the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with special guests Tim Ahlin (@shutuptim) and Paul Asleson (@paulasleson). Be aware that the show may contain spoilers for events which take place later in the series.
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Tags: Sorcerer's Stone, Movies
I was a teenager when the books came out and they never appealed to me, they seemed to childish. One weekend I was visiting my younger brother and he was watching the Prisoner of Askaban. I liked it but was a bit lost so I went back and watched the previous two movies and liked them, but did not love them. I later took a road trip with my brother and he had the audiobooks and I fell in love at that point, listening and watching the series many times.
So for me, these characters on screen have always been the characters of Harry Potter. You all really ragged on Radcliffe, and yes he has some pretty rough moments in the first movie but did pretty decently for an 11-year-old, and I could care less about Harry’s eye color. The biggest, “Wow that’s bad acting” for me is at the chess board when Harry yells out to Hermione not to move. it is really bad.
Emma Watson did an amazing job with Hermione. She had to play Hermione annoyingly to begin with, but not so much that we don’t hate her and resent her becoming part of the trio.
I do agree that Rupert Grint was the best of the trio in the first movie for sure. His expressions are classic.
The Producers had no idea what the future would hold and were really taking a chance casting these kids that would take us through 8 movies. The balance of the unknown kid actors with high-class talent was a wise move. Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and many of the other older actors are just great throughout the series and balance the somewhat choppy kid actors.
I also disagree with the Sisters that Harris is the better Dumbledore, I could not see Harris in book 5 and 6, he is just too calm. I just don’t know how Harris would have pulled it off. However, I do like Harris in the first two books. Harris has much more of a grandfatherly aurora about him which suits the first two books just fine. Gambon on the other side does play his role a bit too frantic at times, and can be a bit much, but he also carries the power that Dumbledore is supposed to have much more obviously.
I agree with almost all your questions as to why did they have to change this or that from the book. The random and arbitrary changes are of course the most annoying, but I also get eliminating the long scenes of Norbit and having to hurry up the plot there in the middle. There is a lot that goes on around the Norbit chapters that would have been a bit long for the movie and have very little to do with the eventual plot. I totally forgot about Hagrid playing the theme song. So odd, but kind of fun at the same time. I also get the shortening of the various trials before getting to the actual chamber with Quirrell. It is sad to not see the potions test, but I also see why it was cut.
The scene in the chamber is pretty wild for a PG-rated movie, watching Quirrell go after Harry and be reduced to dust is pretty intense. And seeing Voldemort on the back of Quirrell’s head, so creepy. Voldemort asking Harry to join him stuck me this go round as very Dart Vaderish. “Join me or die.”
And while we are on the subject, seriously girls, you have never seen Austin Powers or recognize John Cleese???? How does that happen??
Looking forward to Chamber of Secrets next week!!
I listened to the trivia podcast and it was so much fun! Congrats on blowing the other teams out of the water.
When I saw how long this podcast was, I was deliriously happy.
The movies may be short sighted but CoS spoiled the Ron and Hermione relationship big time.
My husband saw How To Suceed in Business staring Daniel Radcliff and he was blown away by his performance. And he never got into HP.
Oh man, I just remembered Dudley scarfing down the cake. That was a funny sight.
My favourite Tom Felton fact was when he was sorted as Griffyndore and though he was devestated not to represent Slytherin, JK told him she knew all along.
I think an only-British cast is authentic. I remember that Rosie wanted to play Mrs. Weasley. I looked up the non-Brit HP actors too.
Alice, you should check out thegeekcanpaint (dot) com. His Snape is very different from Rickman but fits the character perfectly.
Haha, I never thought of Neville being more resiliant than Ron in terms of falls.
Great episode! Tim had lots to say and he was able to fit in nicely. Paul’s more on the quiet side. I’m going to catch up with the rest of the special episodes before listening to Chamber of Secrets.
I saw the movies first. My dad, brother and I still love to plop down and watch them so I think I will always have a place in my heart for those memories. Those characters will always be the characters from the movies to me and as for Radcliff’s performance he was a child, give him a break.