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| FILM DETAILS | Certificate
PG | | Cast
Daniel Radcliffe
Emma Watson
Rupert Grint
Kenneth Branagh
Richard Harris
J K Rowling. | | Directors
Chris Columbus. | | Screenwriters
Steve Kloves. | | Running Time
161 minutes |
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Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (PG) Plot
It's year two for Harry Potter at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When several of his fellow pupils turn up in a petrified state, suspicion at first falls on Harry. He sets about solving the mystery with friends Ron and Hermione. Review
Time for Chapter Two of Harry Potter And The Biggest Franchise In Film History.
Kids have been gagging for it ever since they threw their remote controls at the wall in frustration at not being able to access the deleted scenes on the Philosopher's Stone DVD. Adults aren't quite as hyped up second time round, maybe because the momentum was broken by the non-appearance of the fifth volume of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard tales. The result - basically an on-screen illustration of the book, not a proper 'movie' by any structural cinematic definition - will keep avid fans happy with its completeness, but confuse and at times bore the casual or non-reader with its reverential approach to the source material.
The assumption - and it's a fair one at that - is that everyone who sees this will have seen the original. So there's no need to pack in as much explanation of how the wizard world works or about Harry's backstory - the scar, his parents, Voldemort, everything that sets him apart from the other pupils. Chamber Of Secrets treats all of this as presumed knowledge and even abandons Rowling's school calendar structure when the action moves swiftly to Hogwarts. Instead, the focus falls on the central mystery (minus some diverting red herrings) while breaking the flow with a few upgraded favourite scenes, including a breakneck Quiddich chase.
The teachers - even Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane, who as Snape and Hagrid provided much of the first film's fun - are relegated to the background, which places even more responsibility on the shoulders of young Daniel Radcliffe. No longer has he simply to gape in wonder at the magic around him: this time the kid's got to act and, during the final encounter with 'Tom Riddle', Harry's fierce loyalty and bravery finds a determined Radcliffe hitting all the right dramatic notes. Harry, as a character, is beginning to come of age; this movie nudges towards a darker good-versus-evil thread for later movies. Radcliffe, too, is making the move from boy to teenager. His voice has broken and, if it keeps deepening at the present rate, he'll be out-rumbling Vin Diesel before they've even got to Goblet Of Fire.
Overall, Chamber Of Secrets' high points are funnier, scarier and more action-heavy than in the first movie. The effects also look more polished - no dodgy centaurs this time - and Dobby the house elf is an expressive little creation, even if he does induce that CG-inflicted disease, 'jarjaritis', during an early scene with Harry. On his second and probably final Potter flick, director Chris Columbus shows more visual confidence, and has become more daring with his swooping computer-assisted camera shots across landscapes and locations. But the film's length does remain a stumbling block - you could adapt War And Peace in a shorter running time - so perhaps only the most attentive children will remain spellbound for its entirety. Verdict
Such is the Harry Potter phenomenon that it's impossible (and maybe unfair) to compare Chamber Of Secrets to anything other than Rowling's books and the original movie. In those terms, it's what the fans demand, but a slight snub for the uninitiated. That said, it also offers a more imaginatively colourful world than almost every other children's film out there.
Reviewer: Alan Morrison
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Average user rating for Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
| | | Love the scenes with Kenneth Branagh!! LOCKHART 4EVER!!! ... Read More
| | | FanaticalAboutFilm About me | | 12:08, 03 October 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Good, but overlong ... | | | This second Potter film in ways does what the first did - it's a cut-and-paste of the book to film. This means it lacks any sort of artistic flair or it's own take on it's source material but is completely dependent on it. Shame, as JKR's books offer possibilities of interesting and imaginative adaptations.
The acting from the main trio range from decent to cringeworthy - Dan's facial expressions can be very blank, Emma's still at theatre school level and Rupert gurns his way through. But her... Read More
| | | sunnygirly2k4 About me | | 00:06, 30 March 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | | | | A little unbalanced and unfair in its review. Claiming that if you love the books you'll love the film and if you don't its kind of tough luck, but the director has to cater more towards existing fans but try and make it accessible to non fans and I think Columbus does this admirably and while not as good as Philosophers Stone (which I gave 5stars) its certainly worthy of 4. ... Read More
| | | hellboy22 About me | | 14:26, 08 January 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | | | | A little unbalanced and unfair in its review. Claiming that if you love the books you'll love the film and if you don't its kind of tough luck, but the director has to cater more towards existing fans but try and make it accessible to non fans and I think Columbus does this admirably and while not as good as Philosophers Stone (which I gave 5stars) its certainly worthy of 4. ... Read More
| | | hellboy22 About me | | 14:26, 08 January 2009 | Report This Post | |
| | | | | | Long live Gilderory ... Read More
| | | lynnshep About me | | 18:00, 18 July 2007 | Report This Post | |
| | | | | | Long live Gilderory ... Read More
| | | lynnshep About me | | 18:00, 18 July 2007 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | | | I dont see what everyone has got against the COS especially since it is probably the best adapted films from the novel. The effects, story and acting has improved dramatically from the first film and the franchise has taken its first step towards a much darker tone (one of the few things Curan did brilliantly with the weak Azkaban). On the whole one of the strongest Potter movies and has definietly set the standard for future Potter films. Spellbinding. ... Read More
| | | RLHaylor About me | | 06:42, 16 May 2007 | Report This Post | |
| | | | enjoyed it darker | | | Thought it was v. good slightly darker in tone than its predecessor. ... Read More
| | | alexisreaver2132 About me | | 10:05, 16 May 2006 | Report This Post | |
| | | | Harry Potter 2 | | | Easily the best after GOBLET, this movie gives a great second outing in the franchise. Brilliant fight scenes and story lines. ... Read More
| | | premierbaron About me | | 14:29, 18 March 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| DVD Extras |
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Released: 11 April 2003
Again, much better than its predecessor. Thankfully the clumsy reward-based structure of the first DVD has been banished and, save for a few games and quizzes, the focus is less kiddie-orientated. Among the 19 deleted scenes are several gems - like Harry’s first encounter with Lucius Malfoy in a dark magic shop.
An excellent featurette looks at making the film from sketch to screen, and the set tours give the option of investigating every nook as pointy-hatted characters go about their business around you.
An interview with the elusive J.K. Rowling and screenwriter Steve Kloves is an impressive addition, giving a rare insight into the author’s involvement in the films and her jovial relationship with Kloves.
A bewitching package, though more contributions from Columbus would have been welcome.
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