Second time's a charm

Rating: Null/10 (15 November 2002)

Yes, Virginia, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is a better film than its predecessor, even if it still isn't perfect.
Oddly enough, the second book in JK Rowling's modern mythology is sometimes considered the least (one hesitates to use the word "worst" in reference to the author's work) of the series, yet it makes for a more satisfying film. Perhaps this is because all the introductions are now out of the way--we know who the players are, we know the backstory, we know how Quidditch works. All we have to do is sit back and enjoy the show. The story--centering around an evil presence that's literally freezing students in their tracks--you either already know, don't care to know, or don't want me to spoil it for you. So let's get on with the assessment.
The two things "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" excelled at were the cast and the visual style, and the sequel follows suit. The triumvirate of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson continue to embody Harry, Ron, and Hermione wonderfully and without some of their previous awkwardness. The returning adults--especially regal Maggie Smith, perpetually sinister Alan Rickman, and the sagacious Richard Harris in his final bow--repeat their excellent performances, and are joined by a host of new talent. Kenneth Branagh is dead-on as the vain and perpetually poncy Gilderoy Lockheart. Jason Isaacs, with a mane of Aryan-blonde hair, snake's-head cane, and a wellspring of casual cruelty, seethes malice as the father of Harry's schoolyard rival. Miriam Margolyes and Gemma Jones have nice cameos as Hogwarts' eccentric-looking Herbology teacher and no-nonsense nurse, respectively. Shirley Henderson, in a foray outside her natural age range, has some excellent moments as Moaning Myrtle, a ghost who haunts the girl's restroom, trapped perpetually in adolescent awkwardness (no wonder she's miserable). Mark Williams and Julie Walters are good in too-brief roles as Ron's parents. Hogwarts itself retains the marvelously rich look of a book illustration brought to vivid life, captivating to the eyes and imagination. Key among the new sights are a garden of squalling mandrake plants and Dumbledore's pet, a phoenix that might have stepped out of a Brian Froud collection.
The keystone sequences and effects, on the whole, exceed the first film in terms of power and energy. The Quidditch match is ramped to fever pitch, with a chase that recalls "Star Wars'" dogfight through the Death Star's trenches. A scene in the Forbidden Forest will be sure to have arachnaphobes cringing in their seats. A journey to Hogwarts' past, shot in atmospheric sepia tones, is carried off highly effectively, and the climax works well on the whole.
With a plot containing strong currents of prejudice, genocide, suspicion, and self-doubt, as well as some subtle character moments, Steven Kloves and Christopher Columbus have come much closer in "Chamber of Secrets" to catching the nuances of Rowling's writing. Yet that ultimate goal, like Quidditch's Golden Snitch, continues to dart out of their grasp. Despite the two-and-a-half-hour-plus length, it feels like we never have enough time to enjoy all the marvelous sights and characters this movie provides. The opening and a sequence at Ron's home feel rushed, and some elements to the central mystery are glossed over. But if this film can enchant--and it does--with only a fraction of the source material's strength, it only goes to show how potent Harry Potter's magic really is.
PS--Stay through the credits. Trust me.