IT IS the most eagerly awaited film of the year - and after attending a special screening of Harry Potter last night, JANE HELMICH says it's worth the wait

MUGGLES - that's us ordinary people to wizards - will surely love this truly spell-binding film.

Recreating the magic of J K Rowling's story was always going to be the biggest challenge facing the film-makers, but they have triumphed.

Readers are sometimes disappointed or even infuriated by what happens to much-loved books when they become movies, but this is remarkably faithful to the essence of the novel.

For those who do not know the story, orphaned Harry has a miserable life living with his aunt, uncle and cousin, the dreadful Dursleys, until he reaches his 11th birthday and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

He discovers he is a very special boy - not just because he is a wizard and has a natural talent for the school game of Quidditch - and, helped by two new friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, he embarks on a fantastic adventure.

No-one strikes a false note, even if some characters are not quite as you imagined when reading the book. Robbie Coltrane is brilliant as gentle giant Hagrid, and Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, et al, are all excellent.

Despite being surrounded by such a stellar cast, the young actors - Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione) - are not overshadowed. It is reported that the special-effects bill was more than £100 million, and they are breathtaking - literally, in some places.

There is plenty of humour, but it is also quite dark at times and may scare very little ones. It is also quite long for a family film, just over two and a half hours, but time flew as fast as the golden snitch in a game of Quidditch.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, directed by Chris Columbus, goes on general release on November 16.

*Pictured: Magic scenes as Harry Potter's class learns to fly at Hogwarts