Based on the J.K. Rowling book of the same name, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a popular movie among tweens. Not only are the three main characters eleven-year-olds, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione must deal with similar issues that preadolescent Muggles face. For example, Harry is forced to live with his terrible relatives because his parents died when he was a baby. Ron copes with life in the shadow of his older brothers. And Hermione learns to balance intellect with friendship. Therefore, because Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone focuses on issues concerning tweens, the movie is excellent for preadolescent viewers.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a story about the battle between good and evil. The movie and story begins when Dumbledore and McGonagall meet on Privet Drive in the middle of the night to leave baby Harry with his aunt and uncle. Harry spends the next ten years of his life being neglected by his aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon and bullied by his cousin Dudley because his parents are dead. As Hagrid later explains, James and Lily Potter were murdered by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. "First, and understand this, Harry, cause it's very important. Not all wizards are good. Some of them go bad. A while back, there was one that went as bad you can go." (DVD) However, because his mother sacrificed herself to protect Harry against evil, Harry survived and Voldemort's body destroyed. Yet, when Harry arrives at Hogwarts School or Witchcraft and Wizardry, he soon learns that someone or something is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone and the importance of continuing to fight evil. In the end, Harry risks his life to save the wizarding world from the return of Voldemort. Throughout the movie, Harry and his friends learn that evil exists, that good opposes evil, and that good must never stop fighting against evil, which are also facts that preadolescent Muggles realize.

Along with the battle between good and evil, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a movie about choices. Like Muggle tweens, preadolescent witches and wizards are faced with a myriad of decisions. As soon as he arrives at school, Harry is presented with a choice between Gryffindor House and Slytherin House by the Sorting Hat. (In simplistic terms, Gryffindor is the good house and Slytherin is the bad house.) When Harry first sits down, the Sorting Hat remarks, "Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?" (DVD) Harry replies, "Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin." (DVD) He does not want to be put in Slytherin House because, as Ron tells him, "There's not a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn't in Slytherin." (DVD) As the Sorting Hat continues to debate over which school house in which to place Harry, the young wizard carries on saying, "Anything but Slytherin. Anything but Slytherin." (DVD) After a few agonizing moments, the Sorting Hat announces, "Then, better be Gryffindor!" (DVD) What Harry does not yet realize is that he was not put into Slytherin House because he asked not to be put in Slytherin House. Although he does have some of the qualities prided by Slytherins such as ambition, Harry chose the good house as opposed to the bad. This decision is especially important in the later Harry Potter movies when Harry compares himself to Voldemort. Muggle tweens also realize that the choices they make affect their futures.

As for female characters, Hermione Granger is an outstanding role model for preadolescent girls. Unlike traditional female roles, she is neither passive nor weak but a strong, independent young witch. Hermione is not a Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty who needs to be rescued by a Prince Charming. She actually helps her male friends when they are in trouble on more than one occasion. For example, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione enter the trapdoor to rescue the Sorcerer's Stone near the end of the movie, the trio lands on a plant called Devil's Snare. As the vines wrap around the three young witches and wizards, Hermione says, "Stop moving, both of you. This is Devil's Snare. You have to relax. If you don't, it'll only kill you faster!" (DVD) Using her advice, both Hermione and Harry calm down enough to slip out of the Devil's Snare. Ron, however, continues to panic. Hermione thinks out loud for a way to save her other friend, "I remember reading about this in herbology. Devil's Snare. Devil's Snare. "It's deadly fun but will sulk in the sun." That's it! Devil's Snare hates sunlight!" (DVD) Hermione pulls out her wand and shouts "Lumos Solem," which produces a bright light. The Devil's Snare vines let go of Ron, and he falls to safety. Instead of holding to gender stereotypes, Hermione saves her male friends.

As illustrated in the previous example, Hermione is also a smart young witch. She is not an innocent or uneducated female but intelligent and studious. After she rescues Ron from the Devil's Snare, Ron sighs and says, "Lucky we didn't panic." (DVD) Harry corrects him and gives Hermione her due credit with, "Lucky Hermione pays attention in Herbology." (DVD) Like her studiousness in Herbology, Hermione does well in her other classes as she diligently finishes all of the assigned homework and reading. She also spends quite a lot of her spare time in the library, which turns out to be essential in solving the mystery of the Sorcerer's Stone. After Harry is nearly thrown off his broom during a Quidditch match, Harry voices his concerns about Professor Snape to Hagrid. Hagrid replies, "Nonsense! Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" (DVD) Harry asks in return, "Who knows? Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?" (DVD) Further into the conversation, Hagrid says, "What that dog is guarding is strictly between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel." (DVD) After a few weeks of searching for clues about the mysterious Flamel, Hermione finds the name in a book she checked out from the school library for a bit of light reading. She thumps the book down in front of Harry and Ron and says, "Here it is! Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone." (DVD) Hermione uses her intelligence to solve the mystery, which is a positive example for tween girls.

Finally, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is also a film about love and friendship, both of which are important concerns of preadolescents. For example, Ron sacrifices himself during the game of chess so that their side wins and Harry can save the Sorcerer's Stone. Ron allows himself to be taken in the best interest of his friends. In the same scene, Harry instructs Hermione to help Ron and send for Dumbledore. Hermione responds, "You'll be okay, Harry. You're a great wizard. You really are." (DVD) Harry modestly replies, "Not as good as you." (DVD) "Me?" she says, "Book and cleverness. There are more important things. Friendship and bravery. And Harry, just be careful." (DVD) Hermione, like preadolescent Muggles, understands and exhibits the importance of friendship.

After the conversation about friendship with Hermione, Harry continues into the next chamber and discovers Quirrell attempting to steal the Stone for Voldemort. When Harry manages to find the Stone in the Mirror of Erised, Quirrell tries to kill the young wizard and take the Stone from him. However, Quirrell cannot bear to touch Harry and turns to ashes. After Harry is safely recovering in the school hospital wing, Dumbledore tells him why Quirrell could not touch him. As he explains to Harry, "It was because of your mother. She sacrifices herself for you. And that kind of act leaves a mark." (DVD) When Harry touches the scar on his forehead that he received as a baby when Voldemort first tried to kill him, Dumbledore says, "No. No, this kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin." (DVD) Harry asks, "What is it?" (DVD) Dumbledore simply replies, "Love, Harry. Love." (DVD) Because his mother died to save him, Harry is offered further protection from evil even after her death. Like Muggle tweens, Harry learns the incredible importance of love against hate and good against evil.

Although Harry Potter is an eleven-year-old wizard, he and his friends are popular figures among Muggle tweens. Harry, Ron, and Hermione deal with mean relatives, face significant choices, and learn the importance of friendship. Because these preadolescent witches and wizards confront the same challenges and issues the Muggle tweens face, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is an notable and outstanding film for preadolescent viewers.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Dir. Chris Columbus. Perf. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. 2001. DVD. Warner Home Video, 2002.