Directed by Chris Columbus
Novel by J.K. Rowling
Screenplay by Steven Kloves

Daniel Radcliffe .... Harry Potter
Rupert Grint .... Ronald 'Ron' Weasley
Emma Watson .... Hermione Granger
John Cleese .... Sir Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington (aka Nearly Headless Nick)
Robbie Coltrane .... Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid
Warwick Davis .... Professor Flitwick
Richard Griffiths .... Uncle Vernon Dursley
Richard Harris .... Headmaster Albus Dumbledore
Ian Hart .... Professor Quirrell
John Hurt .... Mr. Ollivander
Alan Rickman .... Professor Severus Snape
Fiona Shaw .... Aunt Petunia Dursley
Maggie Smith .... Professor/Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Julie Walters .... Mrs. Molly Weasley
Zo? Wanamaker .... Madame Hooch
Tom Felton .... Draco Malfoy
Harry Melling .... Dudley Dursley
David Bradley .... Caretaker Argus Filch

Produced by Todd Arnow (associate producer), Michael Barnathan (executive producer), Chris Columbus (executive producer), Duncan Henderson (executive producer), David Heyman (producer), Mark Radcliffe (executive producer)
Original music by John Williams
Cinematography by John Seale
Film Editing by Richard Francis-Bruce

MPAA: Rated PG for some scary moments and mild language.
Runtime: 152

STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
The long-awaited film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's best-selling novel, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, is directed by Chris Columbus (HOME ALONE) and stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Eleven-year-old Harry is a curious boy who discovers that although he has been raised an orphan, his real parents were wizards. With this knowledge, Harry sets out to learn how to make his own magic. His best friends and cohorts, Ron Hermoine (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) accompany Harry on his adventures.

Review by
MIKE FURCHES
mike@furches.org
Web site www.furches.org

Mike is the Senior Pastor at United at the Cross Community Church in Wichita Kansas. United at the Cross is a church made up of individuals not often accepted in other churches. The church consists of former gang members, drug addicts, prostitutes and others. Mike also speaks nationally on various topics and is a freelance writer. To learn more about Mike and his ministry link onto www.furches.org. In the arts Mike has worked with top music artists such as Steppenwolf, Marshall Tucker Band, Kansas and has an active interest in film. Mike is pictured with his music band "Route 66."

Harry Potter & The Search for the Sorcerer?s Stone

Oh boy, here goes. I know that I am getting ready to get in some hot water on this one but instead of complaining lets let the steam bath begin.

This weekend, I saw two movies that are similar in many ways yet different in others. One of the things that was so amazing was the response, especially from Christians, to both films. Both have wizards, magic, spells, trolls, people disappearing, and I could go on and on. One happened to be Harry Potter and the other was The Lord of the Rings. I had never read any of the Harry Potter books and have seen so much information and misinformation over the Internet that it is virtually impossible to decide what is true and what is false regarding Harry Potter. I did do some investigation into the issue myself when I was visiting Salem Mass a few months ago and what I found out to be the thoughts among the Wiccans in that community, after specific and personal discussions related to the books, and the author’s intent are very likely two different things. This is not unusual; even the Devil did that with Scripture when tempting Jesus.

The truth of what comes across in our emails is not validated just because someone heard so and sent it to us. I have unfortunately been reminded of the old Proctor and Gamble group whom many criticized, associating them with Occult activities, based primarily on their logo. You don’t hear these comparisons as much any more due to the fact that Proctor and Gamble is suing for libel those people who spread easily disprovable lies about their company. After the assignment of several large lawsuit awards, many of the rumors have stopped. I would venture to say that many of those same people have tried to find a more easily accessible group to complain about, and the Harry Potter group just happens to fall into that category.

Harry Potter is a movie that has been in theaters for some time now and has also been the benefactor of several recently written books. There is a great deal of controversy among Christians as to the appropriateness of the books. While many attack its focus on wizards and witchcraft, these are character types and practices that are easily accepted in other works such as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Lord of the Rings and numerous other fantasy works. The arguments regarding Harry Potter are many of the same arguments that were thrown at The Wizard of Oz some years ago. The lack of consistency among Christians is one reason that many who are not Christians remain so critical of the Christian Community. I firmly believe that if Christians were making the same effort to love the people seeing this movie or reading the book that they are in criticizing the movie, they would be surprised at the results they could have in reaching a lost world. As mentioned earlier, I saw both The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter on the same day and that, at least in the theater in which I saw the movies, a different clientele was present at each showing. I was frankly surprised that not as many children were at the Harry Potter screening as I had anticipated.

After seeing the movie Harry Potter, I must say that I believe moral and relevant issues are addressed in the movie. One can choose to focus on those issues or on the fact that this is a fantasy movie. I would choose myself to look at issues of acceptance and working together that are focused on in the film. Throughout the movie, Harry and two young friends must work together to overcome an evil wizard who is responsible for killing Harry’s mother and father. It would be easy to draw the same comparison of how Christians must work together, using their gifts to build up the Kingdom of Heaven. There are other lessons of value and morality throughout the film that keeps the film from being this great evil being propagated among many circles. There is value in Harry Potter whether we choose to accept it or not. The lessons of those values and their presentation to a lost world are the primary issue for me.

One of the things I must comment on is that while I view the film as fantasy and as having positive attributes, I personally didn?t see this as a great film, it was okay, but far from great. I enjoyed some of the sequences throughout the film and the special effects, especially the flying sequences were enjoyable. I was disappointed in the story itself and thought that the characters were not adequately developed. This is especially so after seeing many of the reviews of the film.

It should be obvious that I don’t have an issue with fantasy. Lewis and Tolkien use it wonderfully and it is a format that makes it easy to use allegory to tell of the battles between good and evil. I also believe that for some, Harry Potter will have value and that it portrays several worthwhile components. I also happen to believe that if having to choose between two movies that deal with some of the same issues, within the same format, that The Lord of the Rings is a far better movie.

Between Harry, his two friends, and a three headed dog I’d sweep away the guy whose name you can’t mention and end up with a 5.

ABOUT THE MIRROR
-Before seeing the film, I heard others mention that Harry "communicates with the dead" (divination) by talking to his parents in a magic mirror. But in the film, they do not "communicate" at all, and there is no intention of contacting a spiritual world for communication. He simply sees an image of them, because the context of the mirror is that it shows you what you most deeply desire, a hint at your true self and what you want; Harry dreams of being reunited with his family. (And what is a movie screen but a reflection of our dreams as well?)

I was concerned when Ron Weasley wondered if the mirror foretold the future, then was relieved when Dumbledore reassured Harry what it really was, and the dangers behind it. What he says about the mirror, that it contains "no knowledge or truth" and that "men have wasted away before it" (by relying or obsessing on it) can be said of deceptive fortune telling devices like palm reading and astrology in real life. He says now that Harry has found the mirror, it will be hidden away in the dungeon. Everything that is dangerous or relates to some actual occult principle is described in the story with a warning.

ABOUT THE OCCULT AND CONTEXT
I will admit that some of the images and ideas in this film may not be suitable for very young children, and that it could potentially make some of them curious about the occult. (I also admit that I still have not read the other three books, so I can only speak for this one at this point.) However, I think one thing that is freaking some of us Christians out over HP is failure to recognize context. Most cults and denominational splits in the church derive from taking one Bible verse out of the context of the whole book. Some of us raise these controversial quarrels by saying, "The Bible says..." without researching or praying for understanding of why it was originally “said” or to whom it was addressed.

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