WRITING PIECE 1

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; a movie that will cast a spell over your mind, literally!

By Chris Ice, 2019 8th of March

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a must-see movie! It’s a red-blooded adventure,
dripping with atmosphere, filled with surprises at every turn. It tells a roaring tale of magical and
eccentric characters which interact with gruesome things like the three headed dog, Cerberus,
the size of a mountain, known for its devilish behaviour being unable to tame. The author of the
original book, J.K Rowling, came up with the idea of having the world of wizards and witches.
She used a pseudonym to convince people she was a male; an important factor to determine
whether the book should be published or not. Over the years, with a creative mind, this story
has been brought to life by producers. Over time, this movie has gained popularity, winning
several awards, one of them being the Nominee Oscar award. As a teenager I believe it's
important to offer my opinions on whether this movie is suitable for those aged 5-18, aiding
individuals in choosing which content to consume.

Left on a suburban doorstep as a newborn, Harry is raised by his aunt and uncle, treated as a
slave, then summoned by a snowstorm of letters to be a student at the one and only Hogwarts.
Harry grows up in this school making friends - and enemies along the way. He then goes on to
fight his nemesis, Voldemort, his essence left behind. The great feats Harry does reflects upon
what we can do if we try harder. It pushes people to go on and achieve their goals.

The special effects used in this movie are preposterous, enhancing the suspense and wonder of
this movie. As shown in daily Hogwarts feasts these special effects are used to portray ghosts
like “nearly headless nick”. Other scenes include Quidditch to convey the Golden Snitch is a
small, round ball that is hunted down by the players with the fastest brooms, the seekers. It has
small wings which give it the ability to fly. The fact that it is given a mind of its own, amazes
viewers, symbolising the impressive abilities of computerised visual legerdemain. Fluid camera
movements are another important feature of this film. They help audiences focus on a character
during specific scenes, allowing them to see clearly. Without this technique, the screen would
shake too much, disturbing their focus.

However, I have some complaints about this movie. The ending is scary for kids under the age
of eight and may cause nightmares, which I saw for myself after my younger sister had this
reaction. Furthermore, some events are executed far too fast, viewers won't keep up with the
pace, being forced to watch scenes again to ensure their understanding. Despite these minor
issues, overall, this movie is spectacular, conveying a kaleidoscopic world of magic, which
enchants the viewer to watch on. I recommend those over 10 to watch it as it will give them a
different perspective of the world as the fantasy world is set free from the boundaries of the
physical world, making the impossible possible.
WRITING PIECE 2

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Book Review

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a fantasy book filled with intriguing and
fascinating adventures. It is written by J.K Rowling. The book features a story about a
boy who lives with his ordinary aunt and uncle when the boy gets an unexpected
envelope that invites him to a school of magic. A series of mysteries arise and the boy is
sent on a dangerous quest to figure it out.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has some amazing characters to go along
with the plot: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Aunt
Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Voldemort/AKA he who must not be named. Harry Potter is
a famous boy most known for his past, he’s also smart and caring. He is also the main
character of the story. Hermione Granger is a smart girl who is Harry Potter’s friend.
Ron Weasley is an anxious but brave guy, he is Harry Potter’s companion in his quests.
Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts and is a very intellectual and intelligent
person. Hagrid is a large man who brings Harry Potter to Hogwarts. Aunt Petunia is
Harry Potter’s thin and nosy aunt, Uncle Vernon is her husband, however, he is rather
plump. They both raise Harry Potter in the beginning.

Along with the entertaining characters, there is also an entrancing story-line. In the
beginning, Harry Potter receives a series of consecutive and never ending letters,
inviting him to Hogwarts: A school of Magic. When Harry arrives at school, he meets his
new friends and teachers. Hogwarts is a huge school and while Harry, Ron and
Hermione are trying to find their way around it, they stumble upon a three headed
cerberus. Rather intrigued by this, the trio try to find out more from Hagrid who reveals
that the dog is guardian of the Philosopher’s Stone. On a mission to try and find out
about this stone Harry overhears Snape threatening a teacher about stealing the stone.
Harry concludes that Snape is trying to steal it and tries to protect it before Snape can
get it. The trio of friends then go through a series of tasks, including; a bird-key puzzle,
a dangerous real-life chess game and a potion testing. Ron and Hermione stay back to
get help while Harry finds out about Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is an amazing book with great characters and
an interesting story-line. While the novel is amazing itself, the little details make it more
exhilarating. I couldn’t stop myself from turning the page! I would recommend Harry
Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for any age as it is a timeless read. It receives a
★★★★★ from me.