Absolutely dreadful 'Back to School'

Rating: 1/10 (15 January 2003)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was special because of the Magic. Seeing Hogsworth for the first time, Harry getting out from the despair that was his Muggle life, the young wizard saving the school from Lord Voldemort.
The Chamber of Secrets contains no secrets and the magic is dead. You simply revisit Harry and his crew - you see Hogsworth for the second time, Harry is rescued from the despair that is his Muggle life and a tad older wizard saves the school from Lord Voldemort. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is coming soon - I felt like I was sentenced early with 'Chamber'.
This film is a painful 2.4 hours long. Its the exact same film - the 3 are in trouble over and over again. The 3 know things that they refuse to share with the school's staff. The school's staff blames these 3 heralded students for continuous misdeeds and continuously clears them of the misdeeds as they again prove to be heros. A scene from the book's opening is nowhere to be found - making the end wrapup somewhat hokey as well.
You know about 40 minutes in that this movie is the exact same film that you saw last year with a different title. I spent the next 2 hours fidgeting and checking my watch. I wouldn't recommend adding this to your DVD collection when it is available. I, for one, would rather head back to my own school in September than watch this movie ever again. If you want to see a great back to school flick, skip this and rent....'Back to School'.
_GNXFAN