Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Reviews

Obviously, this movie was a big hit when it was released but, to be honest, I always had a hard time to really care about the damned thing. I mean sure, I have to admit it, the magical world was once again quite impressive and it was pretty neat to follow this group of young actors growing up in front of you but the plot was seriously barely entertaining. In fact, I started to get really bored during the last 30 mins (on the other hand, maybe I was bored because I actually saw this movie too many times by now). Furthermore, even though Rupert Grint displayed some decent potential, I thought that the acting provided by Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson was once again borderline cringe-inducing. It was even more obvious when you put them next to Jason Isaacs who was really cool here. Seriously, the guy really stole the show every time he was on the screen. Anyway, after 2 decent but still rather underwhelming installments, this franchise would fortunately take a refreshing direction with the following sequel directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Anyway, to conclude, even though I’m obviously not a huge fan, I have to admit it, it is still a decent blockbuster and it is definitely worth a look, especially if you like the genre. 

Excellent, appropriate adaption to the series. Lacks its own original creativity, and acting is poor here. Professor Lockhart is brilliant!

The 'Harry Potter' franchise is the most successful ever with the last one 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part Two' being the most successful, the second movie came out a year after the first

'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' is better than the original; flying cars, spiders, haunting voices make it a rare great sequel

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a worthy sequel. Like any good sequel, it takes what made the original entertaining, but doesn't rely purely on those things, and instead adds some new ideas to the mix. The result is a fun, fantasy film, that's even better than the original (though not by too much).

Once again living with with his cranky foster parents, Harry is met by a strange creature named Dobby that warns him not to go back to Hogwarts. Not listening to Dobby, Harry leaves his house with help from Ron Weasley (and two of his brothers), and they all go back to Hogwarts. Though things start going wrong, just as Dobby had warned, and by through a terrible tragedy, it is revealed that the feared Chamber of Secrets have been opened.

The most notable flaws in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is its start. The first half hour is fairly week, and a couple notches down from that of the original. The film takes a while to get going, and we also have a most annoying scene with Dobby, who- by the way- is one of the most annoying film characters in recent memory. Similar to Gollum, but without the redeeming psychological aspect, Dobby is a short, irritable, havoc causing creature that causes a lot of trouble for Harry. And yet, at the same time, we are asked to feel sympathy for the character. Impossible!

Still, once things pick up, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a clearly better film than The Sorcerer's Stone. The characters are becoming more defined, the Harry Potter universe continues to develop and expand, and the special effects (while still sketchy at times), are a dramatic improvement over the original.

That's not to say there aren't problems. Many new characters are hardly given more than a brief mention and exist purely for fan service. I would've liked to see more of characters like Pomona Sprout and Colin Creevey, and yet, after their introduction, they're hardly seen from again. One could argue that they were not necessary to the plot, but then why do they need to be here at all?

The acting is good, like in the first, though Daniel Radcliffe is significantly better in the role of Harry Potter as opposed to that of the original. Rupert Grint's role as Ron, on the other hand, seems limited to looking frightened all the time, and he's completely ignored during the climatic battle (Hermione Granger decrease in screen presence is even more extreme). Newcomer Kenneth Branagh portrays Gilderoy Lockhart in one of the more humorous roles in the film. Also, special kudos to Shirley Henderson, who delivers a pitch perfect performance as Moaning Myrtle.

John Williams' score is once again, excellent, though perhaps a bit less so than the original. The themes don't stand out as much as they did in the first film, but the score is still delightful.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is an improvement over the commendable original. Despite the nearly 3 hour run time, the film isn't often dull (in fact, I found myself more consistently entertained in this outing than in the shorter predecessor). It's funnier, darker, better acted, and more technically proficient than the first film, and the plot is far more unique and intriguing. This is indeed a successful sequel.

"A plot has been made at Hogwarts.... Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts this year." A Exceptionally Remarkable follow up to The Sorcerers Stone, it left me in Awwwe. I was basicly Praying for another Harry Potter movie. When Harry and Ron find out Hermione has been Petrfied they are not only worried about their best friend, they are also worried about finding out about The Chamber Of Secrets. When they find the Chamber Itself they then wish that they had Hermione with them. It not only brought them to the end of "that" adventure, It brings them together. So therefore, it comes to a conclusion, that this my favorite Harry Potter book and movie!!!!!

Chris Columbus has pledged to make adjustments faithful to the books, and succeeded. Reading the book makes us see the movie the way it is. But adaptation of the second was very long, less than the first child, and to me that climate was not "magic" and the incredible first. It is very good, very faithful to the book, shows the beginning of the ripening of the series (even very lightly). When you take the second and sixth films, see how the saga changed the face. And he feels a twinge of nostalgia. However, is by far the weakest of the series. And the problem is the same as in Stone, the script, that's so true to the book it becomes extremely tedious as the movie. And what makes it weaker than the first is that the magic in this direction from Columbus disappears almost completely. The film continues with good performances and great junior adults. Again a beautiful soundtrack Williams, and the effects a little better over the first.

After The Philosopher's Stone became a huge success there was going to be this immediate impression that The Chamber Of Secrets was either going to be a very disappointing sequel, or it was going to be as awesome as its predecessor. However, The Chamber Of Secrets turned out to be my latter first impression, apart from a bit higher! Just like The Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber Of Secrets became almost like a film for entertainment that gives the viewers more time to understand the characters a bit more before things get more personal.


In this second instalment, this almost becomes completely different, not only regarding characters but the style of the story. The story is admittedly quite slow and does take quite a while to get into the real plot of the story (the longest running Harry Potter film), but that doesn't effect my liking for this at all! One thing that the sequel lacks compared to its predecessor is the charm and magic for all families to enjoy. So, personally, The Chamber Of Secrets is better but that one weakness is where it isn't as good as its predecessor.


Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts School of Wizardry for his second year. After a confrontation with a house elf named Dobby, Harry escapes to the Weasley house with Ron Weasley in a flying car. They are then late for the train and have to ride it to school. When they get there, strange happenings invade the school. "Mudbloods" (people of Muggle families) are "petrified" by an evil monster lurking in the grounds. When every one suspects that it is him, the trio then set out to find the culprit and find out more than they bargained for: the diary of Tom Riddle, why Hagrid was expelled and what the Chamber of Secrets is and why is it so feared in Hogwarts.


After a disappointing performance from Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in the first one, there were the same expectations for this one as well. However, Dan's performance again wasn't entirely convincing as Harry, but he was at least a bit better in this one. So, I guess he could improve as the films progress, and as Dan gets to know the character a bit more. His acting is a bit forced at times which is the main weakness of his role as Harry. Rupert grint was good oncea gain as Ron Weasley. He perhaps was even funnier in this one because we saw a more cowardly Ron in this one. He is the unfortunate one to be best friends with Harry Potter of all people, but he becomes a hero in this one like in the rest of the films. Emma Watson proves once again that she is Hermione Granger for three reasons: a bookworm, a know-it-all and a girl with a heart. So, that pretty much sums up her character.


Although Robbie Coltrane wasn't in this film as much as The Philosopher's Stone, he still plays a very crucial role as Rubeus Hagrid. We go deeper into Hagrid's personal life in this one. Even after two great performances in the first two films from Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore compared to Michael Gambon in The Prisoner Of Azkaban onwards. I do honestly think that Harris was the much better Dumbledore. He showed stronger leadership, perhaps stronger power and we understand Dumbledore a lot more. Gambon was probably the best choice to replace Harris, but still prefer the older Dumbledore. Rest in peace, Richard Harris. In every single Harry Potter film, there is always one new teacher at Hogwarts (specifically Defense Against The Dark Arts) who are all different kinds of characters in The Philosopher's Stone there was Professor Quirrell and now in The Chamber Of Secrets, there is Gilderoy Lockhart. He is portrayed by Kenneth Branagh. Lockhart is a very likable character for me because he is an idiot who you can just laugh at, and Branagh portrayed that really well. So, it is a shame that he is only in this one.


After a great successful first film, Chris Columbus shines once again as director of The Chamber Of Secrets! I don't think there could've been a better director to start off a franchise so successfully. Out of the 8 films, there have been four directors in total for each of the films, but despite that, they feel a tad bit different every time; not only stories but they just look different and they become more adult as they progress. The script from Steve Kloves was a bit cliched at times and perhaps did last long, but it wasn't bad overall.


Overall, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is an absolutely awesome sequel that truly lives up to its predecessor but a tad bit higher. The acting was decent enough to like and care for the characters, directing was brilliant and it was just great entertainment to watch! It unusually made me feel proud to be British as well for some reason. Original novelist J.K. Rowling should be proud!

This was the first of the movies I watched after reading what there was of the series at the time. All in all, a good translation from the book, though a few things stuck out at me. There was absolutely no need, for instance, to take out the introduction of Lucius away from conflict.

Overall, I quite liked this movie. We still have our Quidditch match, we get the basilisk and the phoenix, we meet Lucius Malfoy and Guilderoy Lockhart...

They kept enough of the story, and the important bits of the story--like the identity of Tom Riddle.

Again, worthy of watching.