The Chamber of Secrets couldn't be much worse

Rating: 3/10 (25 April 2003)

When I first read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I was blown away by it. Even better than the first book, it showed all the signs of a classic children's novel.
Therefore, I am quite amazed how someone can transform such an amazing story, into such a dreadful movie.
First of all, lets deal with the acting. While most adult characters were portrayed admirably, especially Gildroy Lockhard (Kenneth Branagh) and Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), every single kid in this movie was pathetic. Their performances showed the all the professionalism of a bad children's TV program. Most of the conversation was stiff, and unemotional.
Secondly, the plot. Whilst I see the difficulty in transfering a book to the cinema, due to sheer length, they really have left out most of the parts which made the book good. Characters come to conclusions so quickly that you could be left wondering what was going on.
Lastly, the tragedy of hollywood on the film. The book was filled with classic British homour, and to see the film be such cheesy nausiating hollywood pap, really annoys me.
I'll leave it there because just writing about the film depresses me.
2 out of 10