Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Review
by Bob Bloom (bobbloom AT iquest DOT net)November 15th, 2002
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002) 3 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright. Music by John Williams. Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Screenplay by Steve Kloves. Directed by Chris Columbus.
Magic, mayhem and monsters stalk the corridors of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
This delightful sequel to the popular Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone continues the adventures of J. K. Rowling's young wizard-in-training as he returns for his second year of education in the magical arts.
This feature excludes much exposition as that was necessary in Sorcerer's Stone. We are familiar with Harry's family as well as his friends and enemies at Hogwarts.
Chamber of Secrets is a less benign excursion. The intensity and scares have been ratcheted up, and the younger filmgoers — those about 7 or 8 and under — may find it frightening.
Chamber of Secrets may leave you breathless. At about 2 hours and 42 minutes, the movie hardly lets up. Yet for all its special effects and digital creations, it lacks the magic and wonder of the original.
It forgoes such wonderful bits as the new students being boated across the lake and their first glimpse of Hogwarts or the shopping spree through Diagon Alley. But, that is to be expected of a sequel.
Still, the jaded or cynical filmgoer may take all the effects for granted — and that, too, is a sad statement on today's movies. For not even a sorcerer's wand can recapture Sorcerer's Stone sense of awe.
But Chamber can stand on its own, especially during its final confrontation when Harry finally uncovers the secret of the hidden area.
Among those back from the original are Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson), Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), Professor Dumdledore (the late Richard Harris), Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) and Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith). Also returning for a brief glimpse are the Dursey's Harry's cruel Muggle relatives.
New to the series are Kenneth Branagh as the flamboyant, super-egostistical Gilderoy Lockhart, the school's new Defense Against Dark Arts professor; Jason Isaacs as the hissable Lucius Malfoy, Draco's snobbish and arrogant wizard father; and Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley, Ron's hero-worshipping younger sister.
Another added treat is the digitally created Dobby, the mysterious house-elf, who tries to prevent Harry from returning to Hogwarts in order to save him.
Director Chris Columbus, back from directing the first Potter film, maintains a lively pace, with another exciting Quidditch match, a flying car, giant man-eating spiders and a very old and grumpy willow tree.
Chamber of Secrets is more somber and grayer than the first film. It's moodier and more serious as well. Columbus and cinematographer Roger Pratt have muted the colors, giving Hogwarts a more mysterious and menacing atmosphere.
Radcliffe, Grint and Watson seem more comfortable and less self-conscious in their roles. It will be interesting to see how long they can stay with the franchise.
While Chamber of Secrets is a self-contained story, some plot bits and character relationships can easily be picked up in future adventures, especially the growing enmity between the Malfoys and Harry.
It will be the summer of 2004 before the third Harry Potter tale reaches the screen, but Chamber of Secrets should be able to satisfy you — at least for a little while.
And while it contains some of the flaws of most sequels, it is a rousing undertaking that should mesmerize you.
One last tip: Stay through the end credits; Columbus provides one final scene that will leave you laughing.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected]. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on golafayette.
Bloom's reviews also appear on the Web at the Rottentomatoes Web site, www.rottentomatoes.com and at the Internet Movie Database:
http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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