Again, there's magic in this film.

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2002)

Geeze, it was just last year I was raving about the most hyped film of last year, HARRY POTTER & THE SORCERERS STONE. I loved how well done it was protrayed from the J.K. Rowling best seller, the actors, sets, costumes, etc. I thought Daniel Radcliffe, was excellent as Harry Potter, as well as Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermoine Granger. Now, 364 days later, I experience more magic again in the follow-up sequel, HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. This time, unlike the original, the film begins right into the plot. Where the original introduced viewers to characters, locations, magic items and history. Think of it like, uh... LETHAL WEAPON 2, it begins right into the action, which CHAMBER OF SECRETS does as well. It's been three months since Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) left Hogwarts for summer vacation, and it hasn't been a fun summer since Harry is living at Uncle Vernon (Richard Griffiths), Aunt Petunia (Fiona Shaw) and rude cousin Dudley (Harry Melling). But Harry wonders why haven't any of his friends from Hogwarts (particulary Ron and Hermoine) haven't written to him. Then Harry meets Dobby, a house elf who warns Harry not to return to Hogwarts. Harry ignores Dobby, since Hogwarts is a million times nicer than his realitives. But this year attending at Hogwarts there are some faces introduced. First is Lucius Malfoy (that wonderful character actor Jason Isaacs) the cruel and vicious father of Harry's rival Draco Malfoy. Then there's Professor Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) who smiles proudly and is the most vain person you could ever see. But this year at Hogwarts (and why does this happen when Harry attends school there?) there is evil lurking about that turns some students petrified and messages written in blood on the wall warning about "the Chamber of Secrets." Like I said, I highly loved the orignal film, THE SORCERER'S STONE, and how does this one come up to par? This is another winner! I enjoyed this film just as much, if not more than the original. But then again, I've read the first two books of Harry Potter, and I enjoyed CHAMBER OF SECRETS more than SORCERER'S STONE. Why is this film better? First, the film goes right into the action, I understand the original had to introduce the world to the story, and that was fine. Yet this film goes right into the action and begins telling us what is going on. Like the STAR WARS, GODFATHER, and BACK TO THE FUTURE films, it assumes that we did see the first film (and who didn't?). Second, I always thought the action was more exciting and intense in CHAMBER OF SECRETS, and in this film it shows. Third, Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson all fit into their character roles so fine and well, that we are now acceppting them as Harry, Ron, and Harmione, just like we accept Harrison Ford as Han Solo, or Al Pacino as Michael Corlone. It's just that this time around, all three young actors seem more relaxed and calm about playing their roles, and I don't blame them. Plus the same goes for the other actors who are returning to this film. Finally, it's more darker, complex, and exciting than the original. With HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, the Potter films are becomming to be a series worthy of being placed with other great series like STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES. This film running about twenty minutes longer than the original, goes just as fast, if not faster than the original. Proof: I didn't have to go to the bathroom, I stuck it out through out all of the film. Sadly, this film isn't getting the hype like the original. I'm guessing that the press is tired of hyping up the Potter films and figures that it's going to be a hit. Then there are those people who feel like STAR WARS, "you've seen one, you've seen them all." Well, I'm hoping that word gets around and people realize that like the books, the Potter films are getting better as Harry gets older. I guess you can say that Harry Potter is indeed like fine wine and ages well with it. This film should do more business than the original, but not even the superior EMPIRE STRIKES BACK couldn't make more money than STAR WARS (A NEW HOPE to the Jedi fanatics).
All I can say is that the later part of 2001 is returning again with the success of another HARRY POTTER film. And I know it will return next month with LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS. It's a pity that we are going to have to wait for two years for HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONERS OF AZKABAN. It's also a pity that we won't experience the wonderful Richard Harris playing Professor Albus Dumbledore again. But hopefully the wait will pay off since I thought PRISONERS OF AZKABAN was much better than CHAMBER OF SECRETS (here's wishing Alfonso Cuaron the best of luck!)
But as for the films out right now, CHAMBER OF SECRETS is a excellent film. Is it for the entire family? Maybe, it depends. If the kids didn't get scared from the first one, or from reading or listening to the book, then it would be a great film for them. It helps build the imagination. If the kids might get scared, then SANTA CLAUSE 2 is a very nice alternate, NOT 8 MILE, which some parents seem to think it is. All in all, Harry's second year at Hogwarts is a successful one. And hopefully it proves that the Harry Potter films aren't going to be a overrun franchise like the BATMAN or STAR TREK films. Harry Potter now belongs in the dignified series. Don't miss it! ***** (out of five)