After all the hype, merchandise tie-ins and media saturation, the hotly anticipated film version of JK Rowling's international smash book has finally arrived.

And what a blaze of glory it is. Illuminated with larger than life characters and mind-bending creations, the world of Harry Potter is truly a fantastical experience and a joy to behold.

Sticking almost religiously to the novel, director Chris Columbus has thankfully resisted the temptation to destroy its essence by littering proceedings with misjudged Americanisms and has retained the English roots.

For although the film has its flaws, it's quintessential Brit heart simply cannot be faulted and is sure to secure it a warm place in the country's cinema history.

For those who don't know, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is an 11-year-old boy unaware his roots lie in the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry. That is until he receives a letter inviting him to enrol at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and his life is transformed.

The basic premise would have us believe a sort of wizardry parallel universe exists where the magical ones rove backwards and forwards unbeknownst to normal folk (or Muggles) carrying out their mystical work.

Once at school, Harry makes friends with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) and the trio embark on all manner of adventures centred around the enigmatic Philosopher's Stone.

There's obviously far more to it than that, but in a nutshell it's a rollercoaster little mystery with shades of the Famous Five, Scooby Doo and Poirot all rolled into one and on broomsticks too!

Just about everything from the book gets a look in Fluffy the three-headed dog, the Invisibility Cloak and, of course, Quidditch, remaining favourites.

Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman have pantomime levels of fun as Dumbledore, Hagrid and Snape respectively and the only drawback to the whole thing really is the slightly glossy finish.

By.Marc Ashdown