Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

In the UK, it went under the title of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Sorcerer%27s_Stone_(film)

Info
-Made in 2001 by Chris Columbus, can't imagine having a name like that, people might confuse him with the explorer
-Based on the book by J.K. Rowling
-Fantasy film
-The movie follows young boy wizard Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his friends, brainiac Hermione Grainger and best friend Ron Weasley.
-When the movie was casting for actors,  Rowling insisted that since the book was based in Britain(England, seriously, is there a difference), that most of the actors be either Irish or British

Plot
-Harry Potter is a typically ordinary boy of 11 years old. He lives with his horrible stepparents, The Dursleys, who reside in Surrey. On his 11th birthday, he learns he's a wizard, famous in the world of magic for defeating a great wizard named Lord Voldemort, who goes by the name He Who Must Not Be Named, when he was a baby and he escaped death by a small lightning shaped scar. This wizard killed Harry's parents. Hagrid, the gamekeeper at the school tells Harry he's a wizard, that he's been invited to Hogwarts. After leaving his home and going to buy school supplies from Diagon Alley, a special place for witches and wizards, he goes to board the train at Platform 9 3/4 hidden in London's Kings Cross Station

-While on the train, he meets Ron Weasley, a boy with flaming red hair from a large, poor family that's also pure blood and Hermione Grainger, a terrible know it all born to non magical dentist parents. Once they are all at school, the first year students are then sorted into 1 of 4 houses; Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. When the Sorting Hat is placed on Harry's head, he hopes he will not be put into Slytherin because of the reputation that house has for spawning and creating bad wizards and witches. He winds up in Gryffindor with Ron and Hermione.

-At Hogwarts, Harry quickly discovers he has a knack for the school sport Qudditch, basically like soccer played on brooms, as a Seeker, who has to go after a small gold ball that will win the team 150 points. He also learns that his father was a member of the team. One night, he, Ron and Hermione find a giant 3 headed dog in the 5th floor. They manage to take down a fully grown mountain troll and Harry is knocked off his broom by a cursed ball. He discovers the Mirror of Erised, backwards which spells Desire. This mirror allows anyone to see what is down in their hearts, their innermost, deepest desires. The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, finds Harry and tells him the mirror will be moved soon and that he should not go looking for it. With a slip of the tongue from Hagrid, Hermione learns that the dog is guarding something called The Sorcerer's Stone, which gives the owner the power of immortality. One night, Harry is caught out of bed by the janitor there, Argus Filch and is given detention. His detention is to be with Hagrid and look for a wounded unicorn. He comes upon one and sees a dark hooded figure drinking the silvery blood from a hole in the unicorn's side. When it comes after him, he is rescued by a centaur named Firenze who sends the figure off into the night. Later on, he concludes that the figure was Voldemort. Later on, he, Ron and Hermione come to the conclusion that Snape, the Potions professor, is trying to get the stone to restore Voldermort to full strength

-After learning from Hagrid that the dog can be put to sleep using music, Harry, Ron and Hermione decide that Snape was the one in the pub and try to warn Dumbledore. They break into the deeper parts of the school and suddenly face obstacles; from playing wizard chess that comes alive and attacks, to flying a broom to get a key. Hermione uses her skills of spells to get past the Devil's Snare, a sun-hating plant, and Ron uses his skills at Wizard Chess to get them all safely through the game. And as for Harry, he must go on alone.

- In the final room, Harry finds out that it was not Snape who wanted the stone, but Professor Quirrel, who was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He reveals that it was he who let in the troll, he who put a curse on Harry, and that Snape was protecting him. Due to a spell in the mirror, Harry finds the stone in his pocket. Quirrel removes the turban and turns to show Harry the face of Voldemort. He tries to escape but Quirrel starts a fire and he tries to convince Harry to give him the stone. When he refuses, Quirrel tries to kill Harry, but when his fingers and hands touch him, it hurts Quirrel. This causes him to turn to dust and die. When Harry gets up, the spirit of Voldemort passes through him and it knocks him out.

-Harry wakes up in the school infirmary, with the headmaster nearby. He explains the stone has been destroyed. He goes to the great hall where everyone is in wait to see who has won the house cup. Gryffindor wins, and as an added bonus, all school exams have been canceled, leaving Hermione thinking "Oh no". Then he thinks that Hogwarts is his home.

Cast

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, the film's protagonist. Columbus had wanted Radcliffe for the role since he saw him in the BBC's production of David Copperfield, before the open casting sessions had taken place, but had been told by Figgis that Radcliffe's protective parents would not allow their son to take the part.^[1] Columbus explained that his persistence in giving Radcliffe the role was responsible for Figgis's resignation.^[1] Radcliffe was asked to audition in 2000, when Heyman and Kloves met him and his parents at a production of Stones in His Pockets in London.^[12] Heyman and Columbus successfully managed to convince Radcliffe's parents that their son would be protected from media intrusion, and they agreed to let him play Harry.^[1]Rowling approved of Radcliffe's casting, stating that "having seen [his] screen test I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry."^[13] Radcliffe was reportedly paid £1 million for the film, although he felt the fee was not "that important".^[14] William Moseley, who was later cast as Peter Pevensie inThe Chronicles of Narnia series, also auditioned for the role.^[15]
• Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, one of Harry's best friends at Hogwarts. He decided he would be perfect for the part "because [he has got] ginger hair," and was a fan of the series.^[14] Having seen a Newsround report about the open casting he sent in a video of himself rapping about how he wished to receive the part. His attempt was successful as the casting team asked for a meeting with him.^[14]
• Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend. Watson'sOxford theatre teacher passed her name on to the casting agents and she had to do over five interviews before she got the part.^[16] Watson took her audition seriously, but "never really thought [she] had any chance of getting the role."^[14]The producers were impressed by Watson's self-confidence and she outperformed the thousands of other girls who had applied.^[17]

• John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts.
• Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant and the Groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Coltrane was Rowling's first choice for the part.^[18] Coltrane, who was already a fan of the books, prepared for the role by talking with Rowling about Hagrid's past and future.^[1]
• Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, the Charms Master and head of Ravenclaw House at Hogwarts.
• Richard Griffiths as Vernon Dursley, Harry's Muggle (non-magical) uncle.
• Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of the most famous and powerful wizards of all time. Harris initially rejected the role of Dumbledore, only to reverse his decision after his granddaughter stated she would never speak to him again if he did not take it.^[19]
• Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell, the slightly nervous Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. David Thewlis auditioned for the part; he would later be cast as Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.^[20]
• John Hurt as Mr. Ollivander, the owner of Ollivanders, the finest wand producers in the wizarding world since 382 B.C.
• Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, the Potions Master and head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts. Tim Roth was the original choice for the role, but he turned it down for Planet of the Apes.^[21]
• Fiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley, Harry's Muggle aunt.
• Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress, head of Gryffindor and transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Smith was Rowling's personal choice for the part.^[18]
• Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, Ron's caring mother. She shows Harry how to get to Platform 9¾. Before Walters was cast, American actress Rosie O'Donnellheld talks with Columbus about playing Mrs. Weasley.^[22]

Rik Mayall was cast in the role of Peeves, a poltergeist who likes to prank students in the novel. Mayall had to shout his lines off camera during takes,^[23] but the scene ended up being cut from the film