Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone was the first of eight films in the Potter franchise and it blew us away when it first hit theaters in 2001. We were thrilled to follow Harry Potter’s journey as he first set eyes on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and as he made friends that would last throughout his lifetime.
Some scenes made the film an instant classic while others brought it down a notch. Here are 5 scenes from Sorcerer’s Stone that made it better, and 5 that made it worse.
IT’S LEVIOSA NOT LEVIOSA - MADE BETTER
One of the most memorable lines throughout the entire Harry Potter series comes from Hermione Granger when she hilariously corrects Ron in Charms class by the way he is pronouncing a spell. The spell is, of course, “Wingardium Leviosa” which causes objects to levitate.
When Hermione corrects him, we get a full sense of the tension that will soon develop between them. It’s hilarious to think that as much as they seem to despise each other in this scene, they will one day become husband and wife. It’s kind of adorable if you really think about it.
POOR CGI IN THE DUNGEON - MADE WORSE
We all remember how scared Professor Quirrell seemed when he shouted “Troll in the Dungeon!” throughout the dining hall. As kids, we were afraid to see this supposedly horrifying troll on the big screen as well, but most of us were met with disappointment when we discovered how poor the effects were for this dungeon troll.
It looks especially bad now in 2019, and it didn’t look so great then either. Yet we can’t really blame anyone. The film came out in 2001, after all, and the special effects throughout the rest of the film were purely gorgeous. Well- most of the effects throughout the rest of the film, that is.
cough cough three-headed dog cough cough
BOAT RIDE TO HOGWARTS CASTLE - MADE BETTER
One of the most gorgeous scenes in the film is when the kids go on the boat ride to Hogwarts castle. It is such an amazing scene both visually and emotionally because this is the first time the kids ever get to see Hogwarts.
This is especially emotional and beautiful because we know the pain that Harry has struggled through all his life and now he is finally going to the place that will soon become home. It is also the first time we as viewers get to witness Hogwarts and it has changed most of our lives ever since.
RON BRINGING HERMIONE TO TEARS - MADE WORSE
It was extremely difficult to witness as Ron brought his future wife to tears by pretty much humiliating her. He told Harry that it “was no wonder she hasn’t gotten any friends” and this crushed us back in 2001 and it still crushes us now in 2019!
Hermione didn’t deserve to be treated that way, even if Ron hadn’t meant for her to hear him. Luckily though, if it wasn’t for Hermione rushing to cry in the bathroom, Harry, Ron, and Hermione wouldn’t have become best friends. So secretly, it was a blessing in disguise.
PUSHING THE CART INTO PLATFORM 9 3/4 - MADE BETTER
Easily one of the most iconic and memorable scenes from the Harry Potter franchise came from the unforgettable cart pushing scene from the first film. Here, Harry must push his cart filled with his school supplies and transport through the brick wall into the wizarding world.
The scene has forever changed how people see platform 9 3/4 in London. It is now considered to be a tourist attraction where people pretend to push carts into the brick wall from the first film.
WEAK VISUALS FOR LORD VOLDEMORT - MADE WORSE
Lord Voldemort is supposed to be the darkest wizard of all time. Yet when we see him, it is the dictionary definition of anti-climactic.
It’s rather difficult to design an evil dark lord on the back of someone’s head and have it look terrifying (but not too terrifying because it’s still a PG-rated film). His design was certainly no easy task, but we were hoping for something a lot more horrifying than what we were given. However, The Goblet of Fire is a different story when it comes to Voldy’s design. That reveal was genuinely terrifying.
FLYING PRACTICE - MADE BETTER
We all recall that classic scene from Sorcerer’s Stone when Madam Hootch taught the first years how to navigate their broomsticks for flying lessons. It was hilarious not only because Ron got hit in the face with his broomstick, but it was also insanely cool.
The idea of “flying lessons” was so awesome to us back then, and it still is to this day. It certainly beats Algebra lessons, now that’s for sure!
THE THREE-HEADED DOG - MADE WORSE
It’s funny because Hogwarts is said by Dumbledore to be the safest place in the world, yet there is a monstrous three-headed dog taking a snooze inside the castle. So much for safe and secure!
We’d probably be sleeping with one eye open if we knew this to be the case. Yet although the concept of a giant three-headed dog is quite scary, the special effects are just scarily bad. Yeah, yeah, it’s 2001, it was a different time for technology, but man do those dogs look unconvincing!
WIZARD’S CHESS - MADE BETTER
Easily one of the coolest scenes in the Harry Potter films comes from the Wizard’s Chess scene towards the end of the film. We already know how brilliant Hermione is and how special Harry is, but so far we don’t know what Ron’s greatest strength is.
Turns out, he’s a total expert at wizard’s chess! Not only is this scene visually gorgeous, but it is also the moment when we truly realize how valuable the friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione is. They display in this scene how much they believe in each other and it is clear that these three will be friends for a lifetime.
THE DURSLEY’S PORTRAYED AS CARTOONISHLY EVIL - MADE WORSE
At the beginning of the film, we get to know Harry Potter along with the Dursley family. We are well aware of the fact that there are evil people in this world, but no one seems as one-dimensionally villainous as this family.
Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley are so terrible to Harry without any inkling of human decency or guilt for their actions, and we find it slightly hard to believe that people could be this awful. As the series progresses we begin to understand the multiple layers of The Dursleys (somewhat) but in this particular film, it just feels a bit cartoonishly evil.
