Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States) was a critically acclaimed and highly successful film released in 2001, based on the fantasy novel of the same name by best-selling author J.K. Rowling.

Alterations from the book

There are differences between the film and book, some of which are more prominent than others. Some of these include:

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• The characters of Peeves the Poltergeist, Professor Binns and Pansy Parkinson are omitted entirely.
• A scene with Peeves was actually filmed but left out of the theatrical cut: it is rumoured that a forthcoming extended "director's cut" will restore his scene.
• Harry doesn't find out that Lord Voldemort killed his parents until after he buys his wand.
• Harry never goes back to the Dursleys' between Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express.
• Harry doesn't meet Malfoy until after they get to Hogwarts.
• The scene at the hotel with the Dursleys is ommitted.
• In the book the man, who gave Hagrid Fluffy is Greek, whereas in the movie he is Irish.
• The Christmas Day scene with dinner, the Weasleys, and all Harry's presents other than the Invisibility cloak was cut from the theatrical release, but was included as a deleted scene on the DVD version.
• In the book, wizard chess involves the pieces calling out (oft-times contradictory) advice to the players. In the movie, it involves the pieces fighting and destroying each other when a piece is captured.
• Harry, Ron and Hermione discover Fluffy in a different way than stated in the book; rather than being tricked by Malfoy into going out of their dormitory at night and running from Argus Filch, they get lost when the staircase they are on changes direction.
• The book has Harry seeing his extended family in the Mirror of Erised, where in the film he only sees his parents.
• Ron joins Harry, Hermione, and Draco during their detention in the Forbidden Forest, rather than Neville.
• Quirrell's and Snape's protections for the Philosopher's Stone are omitted, cutting down Hermione's role in the final scenes.
• The story of Norbert the dragon is dramatically cut
• Of the centaurs, only Firenze is shown. The others, Ronan and Bane, are cut.
• Firenze is shown as a dark haired centaur in the movie. He is a blond, blue eyed palomino-colored centaur in the book.
• The climax is far more dramatic than in the book. For example, Quirrell gets turned to ash, which then crumbles, in the places that Harry touches him, rather than simply being burned. Harry also has a moment of hesitation, where it looks as though he might actually give the stone to Voldemort. Since Harry actually sees Quirrell die, rather than passing out before the professor's death, this could possibly lead to a plot contradiction in the fifth movie.
• The explanation that Snape dislikes Harry because of Snape's relationship to James (Snape hated him, even though James saved his life) is ommitted.