HARRY POTTER
AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Action-packed but uneven sequel crams scenes together to be faithful to the bookreaders but ultimately derails the big-screen action!
2-1/2 stars (out of 4) [(2002)USA/Warner Bros./Rated PG] - (2 hrs. 41 min.)
Directed by Chris Columbus
Screenwriter: Steve Kloves
Source: Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Lead characters/Cast
Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger - Emma Watson
PLUS new character:
Gilderoy Lockhart - Kenneth Branagh
Review:
Well now, here's a 'Harry Potter' story that should scare the little kiddies right back to the nursery room. Finally Harry's adult audience gets to see the young wizard get his hands dirty while solving the riddle of the 'blood on the wall.'
Unfortunately, this tale is so grim that it really doesn't merit repeated viewing and is little too much over the top while the original left most adult audiences wanting more.
The excessive length of J.K. Rowlings source novel has also forced the filmmakers to dash through the daily doings of Hogwarts school and get to Harry's 'stunning' new enemy.
Similarities to "The Ring" aside, this is a bold effort that almost succeeds but flying cars and villains that morph into giant snakes still have a 'been-there-done-that' feeling.
Only Kenneth Branagh's ("Rabbit-proof Fence") hugely comic performance (that is undone by the story at the end) saves this from being just a darker rehash of Harry 1.
I really think the fault lies with writer J.K. Rowlings source material, and would hope in future that the screenwriters will expand on the material instead of slavishly copying its derivative situations that are only a revelation to ten year old readers.
In conclusion, if you're not a pre-teen then you shouldn't buy - but RENT - Harry 2. If you are a pre-teen, then you've already pre-ordered the DVD.
[Final note: And if you haven't already - READ THE BOOKS (they're much better than the movies - so far)!]
Supporting characters/Cast
Nearly Headless Nick - John Cleese
Hagrid the Giant - Robbie Coltrane
Professor Flitwick - Warwick Davis
Uncle Vernon - Richard Griffiths
Albus Dumbledore - Richard Harris
Lucius Malfoy - Jason Isaacs
Professor Snape - Alan Rickman
Aunt Petunia - Fiona Shaw
Professor McGonagall - Maggie Smith
Mrs. Weasley - Julie Walters
Moaning Myrtle - Shirley Henderson
Aragog - Julian Glover
Professor Sprout - Miriam Margolyes
Mr. Weasley - Mark Williams
Dobby - Toby Jones
Ginny Weasley - Bonnie Wright
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Argus Filch - David Bradley
Madam Pomfrey - Gemma Jones
Tom Riddle - Christian Coulson
MOVIE TRIVIA (Pt. 1) from IMDb.com Daniel Radcliffe has said that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is his favorite book.
"Let's just hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day" dialogue was improvised by Radcliffe and Isaacs.
Daniel Radcliffe was initially only offered £125,000 (approximately US$181,500) to film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Actor's Union Equity stepped in, however, and negotiated new terms that increased his salary to roughly £2,000,000 (US$3,000,000).
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Zoë Wanamaker does not appear in this film as Hogwarts' flying instructor, Madam Hooch. Her character was written out.
Christian Coulson landed the role as Tom Riddle, even though he was 23 and exceeded the 15-17 age group set for auditions.
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Many Harry Potter fans went to see the Scooby-Doo remake just to see a Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets trailer.
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The Weasley's car is a Ford Anglia. This is actually the same color and model car that author J.K. Rowling and her best friend from school used to ride around in when they were younger. She used the car for the book, and later the movie, out of her fond memories driving in it.
Fourteen Ford Anglias were destroyed to create the scene where Harry and Ron crash into the Womping Willow.
The train station interior used in the film is Kings Cross in North London, whereas the exterior shot is actually St Pancras. The two stations are adjacent to one another, but not the same building. This was done because the architecture of St Pancras is much more visually appealing
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As Hagrid is taking Harry away from Knockturn Alley, we see, in one of the shop windows in the background, an entire set of Harry Potter books.
As Harry enters Prof. Dumbledore's study, a portrait of Gandalf the Grey (LotR) is included in the collection of the great wizard paintings. It is above the doorframe and slightly to Harry's right.
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Notable Crew:
Production designer: Stuart Craig
Music by John Williams
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MOVIE TRIVIA (Pt. 2) from IMDb.com
Some of the portraits in Hogwarts are actually faces of production designer Stuart Craig and executive producer Mark Radcliffe.
-------------------------------------- A cinema manager in Stavanger in Norway reported that the film was making his younger patrons ill. Evidently many children who had overindulged on sweets and popcorn were throwing up when Ron begins vomiting giant slugs. "It is not a particularly fun task for our employees to have to wash away the sick," he said.
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While chatting with the Grangers at the bookshop, Mr. Weasley says, "I understand that other muggles are afraid of you." This makes little sense unless you know that both Hermione's parents are dentists.
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The tapestries hanging in the Gryffindor Common Room are copies of the "Lady and the Unicorn" series, a set of 16th century tapestries that are now displayed in the Cluny Museum in Paris.
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CAMEOS: All four of director Chris Columbus's children appear in this movie. Eleanor Columbus plays Susan Bones (also plays her in the first movie), Brendan Columbus plays a boy in study hall, Violet Columbus plays the little girl with flowers and Isabella Columbus plays the little girl in the bookstore
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When Harry and Ron are called to the dormitory it has been ransacked. As Harry sifts through the pile of books on the floor you briefly see Volume 4 of the Encyclopedia Magica from TSR's Dungeon and Dragon's second edition.
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In the UK, this became the first movie to achieve a million DVD sales in its first weekend.
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Kate Duchêne, who plays Miss Hardbroom on the TV series "The Worst Witch" was reportedly offered a role in the movie but supposedly declined. But if you watch closely during the final scenes in the Banquet Hall, at the head table on the left side you will catch a glimpse of her in her Miss Hardbroom costume.
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