While we never hear the incantation for this spell – it makes quite a few appearances. Hermione seemed to have a real knack for conjuring portable flames that could be carried in a jar. She probably regretted choosing that hiding place though, seeing as a certain three-headed dog was on the other side of that locked door! Hermione used this spell to open a door on the forbidden third-floor corridor when she, Ron, Harry and Neville were hiding from Argus Filch. SpellsĪ handy unlocking charm also known as the ‘thief’s friend’. So if you're only just starting the series, you may wish to avert your eyes. Psst! This article contains spoilers for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Everything from a clumsy giant, the dark forest, a game of quidditch, to an important game of chess make The Sorcerer's Stone one of the most memorable entries into the Potter franchise.Illustration by MinaLima © 2020 Scholastic Inc., from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (MinaLima Edition)

This is clearly focused on the trio, but they each get a chance to chew up some scenery with the young wizards. Chris Columbus does a nice job of setting up all the relationships and characters we will come to love later like Hagrid, Dumbledore, and even Snape. In fact, he's barely in the movie, so his presence towards the end is unexpected, but I didn't feel like it was earned.īut the mishandling of the villain doesn't diminish the tremendous amount of fun The Sorcerer's Stone brings to the young franchise. He's a sketchy guy, but you never get a real sense that he's working to resurrect Voldemort. With that said, I wish they would have involved Professor Quirrell more in the main plot. Even though in Sorcerer's Stone it's hard to really call him in the big-bad, considering he's not resurrected yet, but his presence is definitely felt. Granted, heroes are only as good as their villains, and luckily they have a great one in Lord Voldemort. Watching the three of them play off each other so effectively at such a young age is truly awe-inspiring. Yes, the rest of the film is also impeccably casted with Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, and Tom Felton just to mention a few, but it's the core three characters that carry this franchise. I feel like I should first mention just how impressive it is that Warner Bros and their casting directors found the perfect Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

I'm happy to say that the first film, The Sorcerer's Stone, still undoubtedly holds up. In many ways, this was our generation's Star Wars. I, like many others, grew up with this franchise. If for nothing else, the Harry Potter films always find a way to give me a great sense of nostalgia.

Harry potter sorcerer's of stone