Reviews

FILMS

Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (PG)

UNLESS you’ve just beamed in from another planet, you can’t have helped but notice that Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has finally arrived on the silver screen.

With an all-star cast – including Richard Harris, Dame Maggie Smith, Zoë Wanamaker, John Hurt and Leslie Phillips – and the writing expertise (no matter how controversial) of Harry Potter author J K Rowling, it’s not surprising that a box office smash would be the result.

The role of Harry Potter is convincingly portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, and the strength of his performance is mirrored by Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry’s school chums, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. All the roles, in fact, were extremely well cast – especially Robbie Coltraine as Hagrid. Robbie really filled the enormous boots of the lumbering Hogwarts’ school groundsman to perfection.

Alan Rickman, superb in the role of Professor Snape, was a very much under-used talent. This was true of most of the big name cast, who only seemed to flit onto the screen momentarily.

Comparison with the book is always inevitable in a transfer to screen. Such a rich source of material, with strong characterisation and storyline, could only really be portrayed in a film at least twice the length of this one which runs to two hours, 20 minutes. Having read the book, I was left with a sense of being “rushed” through the movie – there must also have been a lot of good material left on the cutting room floor.
I wouldn’t recommend this to under fives due to the progressively scary storyline, but whatever your theological stand-point on the Harry Potter “phenomenon”, I believe it would not be difficult to be captivated by the wonderful cinematography and awesome special effects.

My verdict? A truly charming film – destined to become a classic.

Review by Nick Cheesman, co-ordinator of id youth events, Tunbridge Wells
What Does The Bible Say About Harry Potter?, a new Connect Bible study resource published by Scripture Union – in association with Damaris Trust and Premier Radio – has been reprinted due to overwhelming demand. One of the study’s co-writers, Tony Watkins, said: “Our culture prefers to see good and evil as shades of grey. But stories in which good defeats evil still have a very strong pull on us. People are loving this in Harry Potter, and of course it’s very much part of the world of the Bible. It may seem strange but many people are now reading the Bible because of Harry Potter.”

BOOKS

Meet Jesus here

Mark For Everyone, Luke For Everyone, both by Tom Wright. SPCK £8.99; £9.99

DR Tom Wright deservedly holds respect as an accomplished theologian of our day. In his latest role, as the first SPCK Research Fellow, he has embarked upon an ambitious project. Mark for Everyone and Luke for Everyone are the first instalments. The intention is that Tom Wright should work his way through the whole New Testament.

Each volume is at once a translation of the book in question, commentary, devotional and a thoughtful analysis with the Gospel broken down into separate sections followed by Dr Wright’s insights. A novelty in these guides is the fresh translation of Scripture which is set out. It certainly reads clearly and (with the background of Tom Wright) is, no doubt, loyal to the original Greek.

Whilst commenting upon factual and textual matters, the strength of these books is the devotional manner in which Tom Wright makes each scene come to life. He focuses on the people involved and searches out how Jesus affected them in the dirt and noise of their daily lives. Then, when you have almost been drawn right into the scene which is being played out, he deftly turns the s Luke for Everyone potlight onto your own life, in this day and with today’s pressures. This series will build into a daily devotional library to challenge lives.

If you are looking for a book to wrestle with in theological debate, you should look elsewhere; if you wish to meet afresh the Jesus who broke into people’s lives while on earth, I heartily recommend these guides to you.

Eamon Mooney is a member of City Church Sheffield, a solicitor who lives in Sheffield with his wife and three young children.

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		FILMS Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (PG) UNLESS you’ve just beamed in from another planet, you can’t have helped but notice that Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone has finally arrived on the silver screen. With an all-star cast – including Richard Harris, Dame Maggie Smith, Zoë Wanamaker, John Hurt and Leslie Phillips – and the writing expertise (no matter how controversial) of Harry Potter author J K Rowling, it’s not surprising that a box office smash would be the result. The role of Harry Potter is convincingly portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, and the strength of his performance is mirrored by Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry’s school chums, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. All the roles, in fact, were extremely well cast – especially Robbie Coltraine as Hagrid. Robbie really filled the enormous boots of the lumbering Hogwarts’ school groundsman to perfection. Alan Rickman, superb in the role of Professor Snape, was a very much under-used talent. This was true of most of the big name cast, who only seemed to flit onto the screen momentarily. Comparison with the book is always inevitable in a transfer to screen. Such a rich source of material, with strong characterisation and storyline, could only really be portrayed in a film at least twice the length of this one which runs to two hours, 20 minutes. Having read the book, I was left with a sense of being “rushed” through the movie – there must also have been a lot of good material left on the cutting room floor. I wouldn’t recommend this to under fives due to the progressively scary storyline, but whatever your theological stand-point on the Harry Potter “phenomenon”, I believe it would not be difficult to be captivated by the wonderful cinematography and awesome special effects. My verdict? A truly charming film – destined to become a classic. Review by Nick Cheesman, co-ordinator of id youth events, Tunbridge Wells What Does The Bible Say About Harry Potter?, a new Connect Bible study resource published by Scripture Union – in association with Damaris Trust and Premier Radio – has been reprinted due to overwhelming demand. One of the study’s co-writers, Tony Watkins, said: “Our culture prefers to see good and evil as shades of grey. But stories in which good defeats evil still have a very strong pull on us. People are loving this in Harry Potter, and of course it’s very much part of the world of the Bible. It may seem strange but many people are now reading the Bible because of Harry Potter.” BOOKS Meet Jesus here Mark For Everyone, Luke For Everyone, both by Tom Wright. SPCK £8.99; £9.99 DR Tom Wright deservedly holds respect as an accomplished theologian of our day. In his latest role, as the first SPCK Research Fellow, he has embarked upon an ambitious project. Mark for Everyone and Luke for Everyone are the first instalments. The intention is that Tom Wright should work his way through the whole New Testament. Each volume is at once a translation of the book in question, commentary, devotional and a thoughtful analysis with the Gospel broken down into separate sections followed by Dr Wright’s insights. A novelty in these guides is the fresh translation of Scripture which is set out. It certainly reads clearly and (with the background of Tom Wright) is, no doubt, loyal to the original Greek. Whilst commenting upon factual and textual matters, the strength of these books is the devotional manner in which Tom Wright makes each scene come to life. He focuses on the people involved and searches out how Jesus affected them in the dirt and noise of their daily lives. Then, when you have almost been drawn right into the scene which is being played out, he deftly turns the spotlight onto your own life, in this day and with today’s pressures. This series will build into a daily devotional library to challenge lives. If you are looking for a book to wrestle with in theological debate, you should look elsewhere; if you wish to meet afresh the Jesus who broke into people’s lives while on earth, I heartily recommend these guides to you. Eamon Mooney is a member of City Church Sheffield, a solicitor who lives in Sheffield with his wife and three young children. © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.