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Plot Summary
Harry Potter is no ordinary
young boy. He has special wizard powers! Best of all he gets to study at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a magical place where homework
is not boring old sums and spellings! It’s the summer holidays and Harry
has returned home to his horrible Aunt and Uncle who have no time for him.
He is visited by Dobby, a
strange little elf like creature. Dobby tells Harry not to go back to
Hogwarts School, as he will be in grave danger if he does.
When
Harry upsets his Aunt and Uncle he finds himself locked in his room but
Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), his friend from school, comes to rescue him in
a flying car. (I know it’s getting a little silly!). In spite of
Dobby’s warnings Harry and Ron return to the school…
Review
Based on the hugely popular
Harry Potter books by J K Rowling this is the second big screen adventure
for Harry. First there was Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone now
we have The Chamber Of Secrets. The first movie had wonderful sets and
costumes that created a magical world with imaginative characters and now
this movie has all that and more!
This time around the story is
more interesting. It is a little darker with elements of distrust and
prejudice added. The scenes gel better together where as in the first
movie the story was a little disjointed as if trying to fit in too many of
Harry’s adventures.
There are definitely more
laughs in this movie. Harry Potter and his friend Ron Weasley are a little
older and the movie doesn’t try to hide this. It actually gives more
opportunity for some cynical and glib remarks from the pair. The new
character of Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), the Defence Against The
Dark Arts Professor, is very funny. He is an over-the-top arrogant
character who is full of his own importance.
There are loads of special
effects that have helped create new interesting creatures like Dobby the
house-elf. The special effects are great and one spectacular scene has
Harry and Ron being chased by an army of spiders in the dark forest.
This is essentially a
children’s fantasy adventure but younger children might find it a little
long and a bit scary in parts. It will probably appeal most to the 9 to 99
year old age group.
I thought Daniel Radcliffe was
more expressive and looked more comfortable in his role this time. He
worked well with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson who played Ron and Hermione.
The trio make up a likeable but formidable force against things that go
bump in the night!
There is a great cast in the
movie. Richard Harris, in his last role, is great as the wise and
“grandfatherly” Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Kenneth Branagh is a
welcome addition and Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman all
play great characters.
The
first Harry Potter outing was great and the Chamber Of Secrets is even
better. As a children’s magical fantasy adventure this belongs with the
best of them.
Reviewed by Niall Quinn,
Premier Movie Reviews
2002 |