Review of a few Camera Angles in the Movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Review of a few Camera Angles in the Movie

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Directed by: Chris Columbus

I decided to watch and dissect this film because Harry Potter movies are able to make the magic shown in the film feel real. The movie uses a lot of special effects and different angles to create scenes that really bring the book alive. This movie uses a plethora of camera angles throughout the film to relay different messages and emphasize different points.

For starters, the movie opens with a close-up of Harry Potter as a baby. This scene is an important start to the movie because it gives a good backstory on Harry's life and where he started. Already, this is a valuable scene for the movie but the camera angles brings even more significance to it. It emphasizes his scar which continues to be a symbol for Harry as well as a crucial detail to the plot. 

The shot used for this scene is an establishing shot. This scene captures the setting for the rest of the movie and paints a picture of the magic that this school holds. The school looks like a castle and because of the shot, the audience is able to see the sky which creates an ominous tone. Overall, this shot sets the mood for the next scenes to come. 

 This scene uses a long shot which conveys the image of how large the classes were. All four tables can be seen, each representing a house the new students could be sorted into. Along with that, it shows the audience the small details such as all the students' excitement. The scene also puts emphasis on the hat which is the current main event. The props used and shown give the audience an idea about how the school is old, yet the lighting looks elegant and magical. 

This image is from a scene where Harry is looking into the Mirror of Erised and seeing his dead parents. This shot is taken from a point-of-view angle. Although at first glance it may not seem like point of view, the viewer is seeing what Harry sees when he looks in the mirror. This scene is important to the plot because it shows the mysteriousness and suspense behind this mirror. The angle is even more important because this mirror is known to show one's deepest desires which means seeing Harry's dead parents through this angle makes the audience connect more with Harry and understand into his mind. 

The last shot I chose is a shot from the end of the movie when Harry faces off against Voldemort's spirit. The shot is a high angle shot, meaning it is taken from above the subjects. This makes the characters appear smaller and the setting much greater. For this scene in particular, the mirror looks very large in comparison to Harry or Voldemort and although he's on a lower level, Voldemort appears as an equal to Harry. The room itself appears very substantial, including the size and width of the stairs. Overall, this scene is important for the plot because it sets the stage for the battle about to be fought while at the same time making the characters seem small, emphasizing the mirror.