The Chamber of Secrets has been open. Enemy of the Heir beware...

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2002)

From one who has read the novels several times, I can easily say that "Chamber of Secrets" was my least favorite novel of the four. However, as movies go "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" has much more for the eye and the ear.
With astounding visual effects, which easily out do it's predecessor "Sorcerer's Stone," and thrill rides with the flying Ford Anglia, Aragog and his family and the Basilik itself are all worth seeing in this blockbuster film. And did I mention the Quidditch? Well, let's just say that if the movie makers keep on this path, "Prisoner of Azkaban" will rock the world.
Though many scenes from the book were disregarded in the movie, it is well worth the wait in line to see. The De-gnoming of the garden, the Death Day Party, Ginny's Valentine to Harry, and any mention of "Percy's Girlfriend" are forgotten; the film makes up for it with the two new characters who lit up the screen: Gilderoy Lockhart and Lucious Malfoy.
You would have thought that Joanne Rowling had written Lockhart with the idea of Kenneth Branagh. He took the egocentric maniac and took it to a whole new level. Though he acted as Hamlet, and in "Much ado about nothing," this is the funniest role he will ever play.
Jason Isaacs as Lucious Malfoy was an excellent choice. He is both sinister and seductive to the camera. Now that I have seen this movie, which I will see again, I will not be able to read the books without imagining Jason Isaacs as Lucious Malfoy. He was nothing short of superb.
And what of the other characters? The original three sure have grown into their roles. Emma Watson (Hermione) is getting to be quite pretty, and is becoming very dramatic and talented. Rupert Grint (Ron) was much funnier this time around, even with his voice cracking. Daniel Radcilffe, however, was by far the best. You could clearly tell that he was much more comfortable with the role of Harry Potter, and he fit it perfectly. He is Harry Potter.
Do I have any complaints? Not really. Sure there are some things I wished they had heeded to, but it's not a huge loss. The movie followed the story of the heir of Slytherin perfectly, though there were minor changes. I guess my biggest complaint is that the digital effects, though spectacular, didn't go to something terribly important: Harry's eyes.
As any "Potterite" would know, Harry looks just like his father but "you have your mother's eyes." Well, they are supposed to be bright green like Lily Potter, but they movie makers have decided to ignore that detail, which is sloppy. Though Radcilffe's eyes are a lovely shade of blue, Harry has green, and the future importance of those eyes is unknown, but we know they are important. I guess we'll have to add that to the small things that the movie makers wanted to ignore which include Sirius Black not being mentioned in the first movie, and Dumbledore not telling Harry why Snape hates him so much.
But the movie was spectacular. I give it two thumbs up.