HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Starring:
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman,
Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, Shirley Henderson
and Richard Harris
Director: Chris Columbus
Running Time: 160 mins
Certificate: PG
Available to buy on DVD April 11th
About to start his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter (Radcliff) is visited by Dobby the House Elf much to the detriment of the Dursley's. Dobby tells Harry that he should not return to Hogwarts this year because if he does something disastrous will happen. Not knowing what to do and locked in his bedroom after the disturbance that Dobby's visit caused, Harry is rescued by Ron (Grint) and his brothers in their parents flying blue Ford Anglia. As they head to Hogwarts, strange things start to happen and Harry wonders if Dobby could have been right.
After the phenomenal success of the first movie, the anticipation for Harry's second adventure is astronomical and the good news is that this film is just as magical as the first, if not better.
More of a continuation of the story than a sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets adheres to the exceptional standards in family entertainment set by its illustrious predecessor, and then surpasses them. These movies are a delight for fans young and old but they do something that many other family films don't, they treat children with the same level of intelligence as the older viewer. Using story, character development and plot twists, elements that you never usually see in this type of movie, the filmmakers have produced a movie that will stimulate the younger mind as well as excite them with amazing action sequences. This is what makes Harry Potter so unique.
Without the hindrance of character and background development, The Chamber of Secrets propels itself along at a very brisk pace. From the flying car chase at the beginning to the exciting finale in the Chamber itself, this movie grabs you from the off and never lets you go. You won't believe that you've sat through two hours and forty minutes as there is always something happening to keep you enthralled.
This could have never been achieved if it wasn't for the superb performances from the cast, especially the three main young Hogwarts students. Daniel Radcliffe seems more at ease with the character and is not deterred by the weight of anticipation and pressure that he seemed under in the first film. He plays Harry with a new air of confidence and you now feel that the sense of potential greatness that Dumbledore, McGonagall and the other students felt is justified. Rupert Grint steals the show again as Ron's best friend Ron Weasley however. He has the comic timing of a comedic veteran, delivering lines that will simply crack you up. Emma Watson adds more emotion to the Hermione character as we see her open up more to her friends and not hide behind her spell books. As usual the cream of British talent surrounds the three principle characters. Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, John Cleese and the late, great Richard Harris all return as Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Professor Snape, Nearly Headless Nick and Professor Dumbledore and some instantly memorable new characters join them for the new adventure. Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfroy, father of Draco, is a villain you can instantly boo. Shirley Henderson brings Moaning Myrtle to life, so to speak, and Gemma Jones and Miriam Margolyes as Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout are always good in whatever they do.
Of all the new characters it is Kenneth Branagh's Gilderoy Lockhart that you will most remember as he steals every scene that he is in. As Hogwarts new celebrity Professor for the Defence Against the Dark Arts, Lockhart loves himself and isn't afraid of showing it, surrounding himself with portraits and pictures containing only him. Branagh embraces the role and shows he has a real talent for comedy adding another string to his already impressive bow.
As the first movie made so much money, a larger amount of the budget has been spent on the special effects. With the help of Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) the Quidditch match is more spectacular than ever and there is far more magic in the film but it is the computer-generated characters that have seen most of the SFX revenue. Dobby the House Elf is one of the best-looking computer generated characters to grace the silver screen. The animators have done a remarkable job and for a character that could have been another Jar Jar Binks, Dobby is very entertaining and never annoying. The basilisk and Aragog are also beautifully animated with Aragog's scenes been the most technical challenging and frightening in the movie.
After all this praise, I still have one grievance and that is John Williams' score. While the main theme is extremely good some of the minor score moments are too reminiscent of the Star Wars themes. This is only a minor complaint and does nothing to deter you away from what is a wonderful movie.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the perfect sequel. Just as enchanting as the first, the movie moves the story of Harry and Hogwarts to the next chapter. This is a new adventure and rarely retreads the halls that it has already visited, giving the viewer and the fans a new experience in this already established world. To me these movies are faultless family entertainment and I for one can't wait for the next one.
19 additional/extended
scenes, including more Dobby mischief, more flying car adventure, a frightening
encounter with the Malfoys in Borgin and Burkes and much more!
Crystal-clear, self-guided tours, which for the first time include background
characters, let viewers have an up-close experience, allowing them to linger
on the details of the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore's office and Diagon
Alley - including places never shown in the film such as more Diagon Alley
shops, the sitting room in Dumbledore's office and more!
Interviews with Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), Emma Watson
(Hermione) and other cast members who talk about making the film, favorite
scenes, what their friends think and more.
An exclusive interview with author J.K. Rowling and screenwriter Steve Kloves
about rendering the adventure to the screen.
Fun-filled activities allow viewers to escape the Forbidden Forest, sneak
into the Chamber and more.
Visit Lockhart's class, and get a closer look at his photos and memorabilia
through the use of still galleries.
Feature film available in English and Spanish; subtitles available in English,
French and Spanish.
The DVD-ROM has more than 15 special features including the following:
The One VoiceDVD
technology will allow users to navigate through the DVD-ROM features and
access set top features using only their voices, giving kids the illusion
of a magical experience interacting with the DVD.
An animated, interactive Hogwarts timeline provides important dates in Hogwarts
history with mini pop-up videos from the Harry Potter films.
A slider puzzle challenge featuring motion video.
Printable magic trading cards to collect and share with friends.
Jigsaw puzzles, matching challenges, downloadable screensavers and much
more!
The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks
Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher
The Usher 2002
