Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone relies heavily on the novel by J.K. Rowling, and that is a good thing. The imagination of Rowling to create this magical world is fun to read, and just as fun to watch. There is no reason to stray far from such original source material and director, Chris Columbus, does a great job of not trying to outdo the novel, but to stay loyal to it. Relying on kid actors to carry a film can be a tricky thing to do. The children do a well enough job, on occasion their acting can seem forced, but that is to be expected. The adult members of the cast definitely do not disappoint. They all do very well in their roles. They do personify their characters decently and help bring the magic of the Harry Potter world to life. The effects for this film are very good and enhance the viewing experience. The use of CGI and practical effects is balanced very nicely. This film gets the franchise started on a solid note and gives fans of the books something to enjoy. Even if you are not familiar with the novels, this is a film that is exciting to watch. There is a real sense of magic and wonder in this film that makes it really enjoyable to watch. The stakes are pretty low in this film compared to the rest of the franchise, so this is probably the most relaxed movie in the series. The score by John Williams matches the mystery of the magic perfectly. Without his score, this film may fall into mediocrity. This film is by no means perfect. The CGI can come across as cartoony at times and the cinematography at times seems like it should belong in a Hallmark movie. However, this film overcomes these flaws to be a great introduction to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Overall, I give this film a 8/10.