• Bond Actor: Robbie Coltrane
  Bond Role: Valentin Zukovsky
  Bond Movies: GoldenEye & The World Is Not Enough
• Bond Actor: John Cleese
  Bond Role: R & Q
  Bond Movies: The World Is Not Enough & Die Another Day

One of the successes of 2001 is the film adaptation of JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book, helped by a British cast & director Chris Home Alone Columbus. The three lead children fill their roles with ease, a bewildered Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ), a 'wicked' Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grant ) and a proper Hermione Granger ( Emma Grant ) but it is the elders who steal the spotlight.
Robbie Coltrane as the friendly giant Rubeus Hagrid gets the best lines and builds the relationship with the young wizard. Memorable lines include "You're a wizard Harry" and "I shouldn't have said that" or "I shouldn't have told you that". He has the best entrances, arriving at the beginning on a flying motor bike to deliver the baby Potter and knocking down a lighthouse door on his 11th birthday. He also has some different pets, his dog Fang, a baby dragon, and a 3 headed guard dog called Fluffy.

The film is 'spot the British talent': Alan Rickman as the sinister Professor Snape, Maggie Smith as friendly McGonagall, Richard Harris as head Dumbledore with cameos from John Hurt ( Ollivander ), Julie Waters ( Mrs Weasley ) and Zoe tv's Love Hurts Wanamaker as broom expert, Madame Hooch. John Cleese as ghost Nearly Headless Nick makes a couple of comic appearances. Watch out for Robbie's tv Cracker co-star Geraldine Somerville as Harry's mum.

The story covers Harry's first year at wizard school and the hunt for The Philosopher's Stone which gives immortality. A memorable theme by Oscar winner John Star Wars Williams, well timed into his score. During the flying Quiddith match with accompanying music, I was expecting to hear "Let go Harry, feel the force !" as he mounts the broomstick. Of course the ending has the villain getting 'stoned'.

The film has loads of charm and will become a regular of the Christmas tv schedules. Look out Mr Bond, we have another British film series as we follow the wizard each school year. The extra DVD has behind-the-scenes interviews with director & producer, explanations of magical terms voiced over by Carry On star Jim Dale [?] and much more.

So all aboard The Hogwarts Express for a family treat. The rest is history.

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