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Rating:  - Not as good as the first film.
Let me make this quite clear. I actually did enjoy "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" for what it was. One one hand it was a fun experience for a Harry Potter film. But the biggest problem is the special effects. The special effects were kind of lame but okay. Not that bad but not that great. Could have been better.
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" continues where the first film left off. Harry Potter had a horrible summer spent with the Dursleys. As he packs his stuff and is ready to go onto his second year at Hogwarts, a mysterious house elf by the name of Dobby warns him that there is a terrible plot at Hogwarts. Harry Potter turns out that Dobby was right. A plot where the Chamber of Secrets has been opened for the first time in 50 years and who is the Heir of Slytherin and who opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago.
Generally, I don't like Chris Columbus as a director. But he does a great job explaining everything from the books to the first two Harry Potter films. Although at one point, we should find a new director who can possibly live up to Chris himself. But yes, all the directors leave out stuff from the movie, but the fact is that they don't want the movies to be six hours long, so they have to cut most scenes out to make it a 2 1/2 hour movie.
Rating: - Magical Mystery
"Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets" is an excellent film adaptation of J.K. Rowling's book. Having read the book, I was impressed by how recognizable the film was, very like the original. Chris Columbus directed "Rent," "Mrs. Doubtfire," & "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone," as it was titled in the USA. The young actors who are the leads fill the film well and seem to be growing in ability with each of the films. Daniel Radcliffe created a stir by taking off his clothes on the British stage for Equus and has appeared in "The Tailor of Panama." As Harry Potter, he does a good job of showing Harry's stubbornness, his loyalty and compassion. Rupert Grint was in "Driving Lessons" in 2006. As Ron Weasley he is the sidekick who can stand by Harry, even when he doesn't understand. Emma Watson seems a perfect choice to play the brainy Hermione Granger. I greatly enjoyed this film. From Moaning Myrtle to Dobby to Lucius Malfoy's malevolent snicker to the visuals as Harry slides down into the chamber, Columbus kept the pacing building right to the climax. Harry Potter unravels very much like a mystery story with the twist that the magical world events make the clues pure delightful fantasy. Words like "muggles" seep into our vocabulary with perfectly clear understanding. The bonus DVD is full of interesting cast interviews of the younger actors, the villains and the teachers. This is one of my favorite rainy day films to watch again & again. Enjoy!
Rating:  - What's The Sitch?
While sitting in my living room watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on ABC Family channel, I find I am seeing bits and pieces on my TV screen that are not in this edition of the DVD. For instance, Harry has arrived in Diagon Alley via flue powder and has an incident with a hand. In this DVD, which I own, Harry then immediately opens the exterior door to the shop and leave. In the version I am watching on ABC Family channel, Drako and Lucius Malfoy enter the shop to do business with the propietor. This is just one of the cuts I found in my DVD. There are others. In the library after the dueling club meets, Harry leaves the room and a conversation among his classmates ensues. Then outside the library, Harry has a conversation with Hagrid regarding roosters. I am disappointed to learn of the cuts in this DVD. I thought I was purchasing the theatrical release of the movie and not a chopped up version of the film. Any ideas on how to discern which is the real theatrical release?
Rating: - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
There's no doubt HP is back, and a good bit better than before (though not redeeming the first) The lines weren't delivered nearly as atrocious as the first film. The sets looked nice and the visuals were fairly well done. The whole film was actually very good, accept for the end. After the finale, every character started getting sappy and sobbing their eyes out. Aside from about 5 minutes of this we get a bit of atrocious acting from the caniving Draco Malfoy's father, Lucious Malfoy, who delivers one really long corny line (with his arm dramatically outstretched) that diminishes the rest of the films decent acting. After this a little house elf (a rip off of LOTR's Gollum Loydd Alexander's Gurgi all wrapped in one) comes out of nowhere and knocks his former "master" (yes, they, for some reason beyond me, decide to throw a anti-racism moral in there. As morally good as that is, the stories blind strive for poitical correctness is all to evident at points) down a large flight stairs and declares his apparent new life as a "free elf". Yup that about did it for me, a good movie destroyed by an awful ending, pity.
If you're a die hard fan of HP or liked the first film you'll probably like this one.
If you are neither of these things, go watch Lord of the Rings or read the well-written book this was based on.
Rating: - Good but not the best Harry Potter.
Well if you are in to the Harry Potter series, this movie needs to be watched. It certainly has a more childish and not quite so dramatic appearance though. ON the bright side this makes for a very enjoyable watch.
I would recommend this particular DVD because it comes with so many extras for so low a price. (Although getting it in Widescreen would be even better)
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