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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition)
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Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Pictures
Find all by Warner Bros. Pictures
Directed By: Chris Columbus
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Theatrical Release: November 15, 2002
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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Retail Price: $19.98
Online Sale Price: $13.49
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Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith
The next installment in the Harry Potter series finds young wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and his friends Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) and Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.HARRY POTTER characters, names, and related indicia are trademarks of and (c) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights (c) J.K.R. (c) 2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
User Submitted Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition) Reviews
October 16, 2008
Year Two at Hogwarts
After the phenomenal success of J.K. Rowling's first four Harry potter novels and the first Harry potter film, there was no doubt that the boy wizard would be returning to the big screen. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, we are given a darker tale that explores the pasts of Hogwarts' students and professors. It was with this story that author J.K Rowling first began to experience a backlash from more conservative parents. Most were disturbed by the themes of death and violence, which Rowling insisted was her way of being more realistic and that by including these themes her books would be grounded in a universal reality. However some parents did not accept her explanation. They even went so far as to suggest that Satanism and a belief in witchcraft inspired the Harry Potter books and films. At first deeply insulted and angered by these preposterous accusations, Rowling later would dismiss them with her signature wit and sense of humor.
Furthermore this ridiculous controversy had no affect on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' Box Office intake. The film was a hit!
As Harry Potter prepares for his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is warned of a dangerous plot against the students. He's told of this plot by a manic house-elf named Dobby, who is forced to inflict injuries upon himself whenever he disobeys his master. Between bouts of self-abuse, Dobby explains that his allegiance to the wizard family that owns him prevents him form saying anymore, but he is adamant that Harry Potter should not return to Hogwarts, for Harry's own protection. Harry, obstinate as ever, tells Dobby that he must return to school, so Dobby goes about creating obstacles to prevent this. Dobby, it turns out, has been stealing Harry's mail, making him believe that his friends weren't writing him over summer holiday. Dobby did this in hopes that Harry might not be so eager to return to school if he thought his friends no longer cared about him, but this wasn't the case. After Dobby gets Harry into trouble and Harry's uncle Vernon locks him in his room, Harry's best friend Ron comes to the rescue. Ron and his brothers, Fred and George, show up at the house in a flying car and save Harry from the monotony of staying with his ill-tempered relatives.
Ron and his brothers take Harry to their small home in the English countryside, where Harry meets the rest of the Weasley family. Harry and the Weasleys go to Diagon Alley, where magical supplies can be bought, to buy all of the children's materials for the upcoming year at school. They bump into school bully Draco Malfoy and his father, Lucius, who harass the Weasley children for being poor.
When Harry and Ron are unable to take the train to Hogwarts, they take the flying car and are seen by muggles (non-magic folk), not to mention the fact that they crash into the school's Whomping-Willow tree. As punishment they are given detention. While Ron is given the task of polishing medals and trophies, Harry must assist the new self-obsessed teacher, Professor Lockhart respond to his fan mail. But that's the least of Harry's problems. Harry begins to hear an eerie voice reverberating through the walls, and he follows it and it leads him to a message written on the wall in blood. "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir... beware," it reads.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione uncover the meaning of this cryptic message, they realize that no one at Hogwarts is safe. An evil from the past has been awakened and students begin to turn up, literally, petrified. Soon no one can be trusted and some are even pointing the finger at Harry, but when Hermione and Ron's sister, Ginny become victims and the safety and freedom of all at the school is jeopardized, Harry must prove his innocence and save his friends. But can he find the Chamber of Secrets before it's too late?
As with the first film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was written by Steve Kloves and directed by Chris Columbus. The film is more selective in what content is included from the book, but overall it is a very successful adaptation. In many ways this film is superior to the first film. The special effects surpass those in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in realism, detail, and style.
The acting has also improved as can be seen in the children's performances. On a sad note, the brilliant actor Richard Harris, who plays Headmaster Dumbledore, passed away shortly after the film's completion. The cast features Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley, Kenneth Branagh as Professor Lockhart, Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Maggie Smith as Professor MacGonagall, Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, and Richard Harris as Headmaster Dumbledore.
Harry Potter's second year at Hogwarts tests his courage and his skills while showing viewers that greater challenges are to come.
I also recommend the superb soundtrack by John Williams.
September 29, 2008
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-Bluray
love each and every Harry Potter film so I'm sort of biased, but I will comment on Picture quality. Very good picture quality for an older Potter film coming from WB. I give it a solid 4/5 as there is a bit of softness throughout the movie, but still looks great coming from the DVD version I've seen so much of.
September 25, 2008
Better acting, that's for sure.
The trio is growing up. And so are their acting skills. I loved the ending with the... wait no spoilers! Great movie!
September 10, 2008
Zooms Along
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is the type of movie that will be around forever. So far the two Harry Potter movies have been excellent movies in which spirit of the books by JK Rowling has been captured and expanded upon.
Chamber of Secrets is about Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) second year in Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and something is attacking the students. The fact that these students are of mixed parentage, one being a muggle(non-magical and the other being a witch or wizard) leads to a very unstable environment at Hogwarts.
Directed by Chris Columbus and written by Steve Kloves this movie packed with the details that Rowling weaves throughout her book. The score by John Williams is excellent and well suited to the movie. Roger Pratt's cinematography is amazing. There is flashback to an earlier time at Hogwarts by way of a magical Diary that is brilliantly lit and shot in a sepia tone that looks just like the color of old paper.
Kenneth Branagh gives a great performance that should have gotten more attention at award time. Jason Isaacs owns the role of the villainous Lucius Malfoy. His costuming and look are very well matched with that of Draco Malfoy, a nemesis of Harry's. Shirley Henderson as a ghost is also very good and steals her scenes. Returnees Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, and in particular the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore are very good. Christian Coulson does a good job as the mysterious Tom Riddle.
Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) are very good in this movie and have their characters down. Watson in particular is excellent.
Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets in an underrated movie that is a must see.
September 1, 2008
Great
There were some things missing from the book, but it is stil a very good movie
July 17, 2008
Harry Potter & Chamber of Secrets
The product was what I ordered and came in a timely manner. What more could I ask?
July 14, 2008
The magic of Harry Potter
We purchased this DVD for our grandson. He seems to be delighted and thrilled with the storyline which pleases us to no end.
June 13, 2008
excellent
Better then looking at this movie on blu-ray then on regular dvd. Very, very clear and excellent sound.
June 3, 2008
Impressive Followup To Part 1
I'm not sure this movie really deserves 5 stars. But seeing that it follows the 1st phenomena ("The Sorcerer's Stone") as well as could be expected, I'll be generous. It is now a few months after the end of Part 1, and Harry is spending his last few summer days with the Dursleys before he leaves for school. The Dursleys have not really changed since part 1. They are still abusive to him. Harry is wondering why he has not heard from his friends at school over the summer. To make a long story short, Harry gets an unexpected guest (Dobby) who accidentally reveals that he doesn't want Harry to return to school, because it could be dangerous. Naturally, Harry gets angry and in their conflict, Harry ends up making the Dursleys angry. Harry and Ron are unable to get through 'Platform 9 3/4' which makes them realize something is up. But in an under the table way, they make it to school, but end up making the cold but virtuous Professor Snape angry. (His anger is understandable to some extent.) Moving on, Harry meets Ron's sister Ginny who takes a liking to Harry. We also meet Kenneth Brannagh's character. (A writer who seems friendly enough, and is skilled in the study of Defense Against the Dark Arts.) He seems friendly enough, but we see that he is not exactly an expert. In a memorable conflict, Professor Snape knocks him out. That is not to say that Brannagh doesn't mean well at times. At times, it really seems he wants to help. (such as when Harry breaks his arm) But he doesn't really know what he is doing. (Rather than fixing Harry's arm, he makes the broken bones go away.) The major suspense in this movie has to do with the Chamber of Secrets. Throughout the film, certain parties become paralyzed (including Hermonie), and we see mysterious and creepy writing on the walls. Harry eventually gets hold of the diary of Tom Riddle, and learns that the kind hearted Hagrad has a questionable past. (Perhaps he housed a killer monster.) To make matters worse, Hagrad is arrested and Dumbledore is suspended. Harry and Ron go to Hagrad's old monster friend for information. But while he tells them some useful information, we see that his gratefulness to Hagrad (for saving his life) does not extend to Hagrad's friends. Tesions rise when Ron's sister Ginny disappears. This leads to a climactic showdown between Harry and a dark wizard we know quite well. To be sure, this movie deletes some things from the book. (Ginny's Funny Valentine's Day Card to Harry, Nearly Headless Nicholas's celebration of his death party, and some others.) But the only thing I really missed was when Dumbledore gets suspended, Malfoy expresses his hopes that Professor Snape will be made headmaster, to which the slightly flattered, but still virtuous Professor Snape insists that Dumbledore will be back. If you liked Part 1, don't miss this great sequel.
May 24, 2008
Fantastic sequel.
"Let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day."
"Don't worry. I will be." -- Lucius Malfoy & Harry Potter
Fantastic sequel. Great performances again by Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Alan Rickman. Kenneth Brannagh does well as the new DADA teacher: Prof. Lockhart. Jason Issacs is wonderfully cast as Lucius Malfoy, Draco's father. Another great screenplay by Steve Kloves and great direction by Columbus.
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