Excellent follow-up to the 1st movie in the series

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2002)

I really enjoyed the Chamber of Secrets movie. Its an excellent sequel! The 2 new faces that really stood out for me were Jason Isaacs (Mr. Lucius Malfoy), and Kenneth Branaugh (Prof. Lockhart). Isaacs just radiates EVIL in his portrayal, and I don't think anyone could have played the pompous, egotistical Lockhart any better than Branaugh. The 3 kids were all much better in their roles. I particularly enjoyed the many facial expressions of Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who seems to have that skill down pat!
Now that I've seen it once, I will probably go back and see it again a couple times, as I did the 1st HP movie. There's just so much you pick up on the 2nd or 3rd time.
If I had to list any "gripes", it would be for a few things that transgressed the novel, but, I guess you have to give in to a few of these things when material goes to the big screen ... artistic impression and all that. Of course, loads of scenes weren't even in the movie, but they are all in my head, since I've read the novel many times, as well as all the HP books.
A very enjoyable experience. Though the movie is 2:41 long, it barely felt like an hour and a half. Well, I hear that the DVD will have an additional 18 minutes on it, so that will be just fine with me! Sigh, now we'll have to wait 1 1/2 years for the 3rd movie!