Praise As the Darkness Gathers

Rating: Null/10 (30 December 2002)

I liked Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I found it an adequate rendering of Ms. Rowling's novel. There were minor annoyances, yes. For cinema to be effective, certain exaggerations must be employed. To Daniel, Emma, Rupert and everyone else who participated: my heartiest congratulations on a job well done! And God rest you, Richard Harris, you'll be missed.
I am not surprised that some reviewers did not understand the great to-do about Hagrid's return from Azkaban at the end of the film. The reasons for this will be made clearer in the next one.
A word of warning to those following this series: the atmosphere of darkness and foreboding grows with each installment. Sadly, this is augmented in real life by the witch hunters who are still going around saying Harry Potter is about devil worship. Poppycock. He's far too busy fighting evil to waste any time worshipping it! In fact, it is his zeal for the good fight that so often leads him into danger.
Harry's bravery, his spunk, and the loyalty between him, Hermione and Ron, will see them through some difficult times ahead; and if the first two films are any indication of those that follow, I'll be watching every minute and cheering them on.