Better than the first, but it loses its touch half way through

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2002)

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is my favourite book, and it has transferred to the big screen, and what fun it was! From the word go, you do not stop smiling until the scene where Harry is doing Lockharts fanmail. Such jokes will not be forgotten: 'I didn't know you could read.' Eroll flying splat into the Window, and Harry's face when he realises he has to travel through Floo Powder. So many funny moments, however, when the plot takes over it can start to drag and get a bit boring, for those who have read the books anyway. Dobby, Fawkes and the Basilisk were absolutely brilliant and the adult cast are again the perfect cast. Daniel Radcliffe, although a better performance than the first movie (which isn't hard), was still making me and other adults around me let out a snigger when he delivers a bad line 'Of course, Phoenix's have healing powers'. I don't know how anyone can say he can act. Emma Watson was brilliant, as she was in the first movie, and the Mudblood scene was most touching because of her performance and Robbie Coltranes. Rupert Grint and his annoying but brilliant facial expressions are back, he takes the show away from Danial Radcliffe which isn't hard. He is so much more believable than he was in the first movie. Kenneth Brannagh was absolutely perfect as Gilderoy Lockhart! That's all I have to say about that! The performance I was most disappointed with, which was Daniel in the first movie, was this time round Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. Maybe it was his voice that let him down or the way he looked frightenly like Eminem at one point before delivering a terrible line 'Good one Goyle'. Whatever it was, he was terrible this time round and was much better as the puberty-less Draco in the first film. Alan Rickman as Severus Snape was underused as well as Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid and Dame Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall. Shame.
The adaption from the book was done brilliantly. There was no particular thing I missed from being put into the big screen such as Nick's Death day Party. This time round, Steve Kloves took the right things out and put the right things in. I actually enjoyed the extra things that was put in such as Cobby jumping around on the bed and Jason Issacs (who also played his part perfectly) contribution of 'Well lets hope that Mr. Harry Potter will always be around to save the day'.
After such a great movie, I don't know whos idea it was, they absolutely ruined the ending. The cheese was melting of the screen as I was melting into my seat. Somehow, Hagrid turned into the hero, don't ask me, I don't know how it happened.
Over all, a 8 out of 10 and a great farewell performance from the Late Richard Harris. Congratulations the crew and cast, much better than their first offering.