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Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition)

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $14.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Harry is the best!!!!
Review: Hi I belevive that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be one of the best movies in the world!!My friends and I have read all the books and one of us even saw the movie!! We all envy her !!!! Ha ha any ways I loved the first one and this one is suposed to be much better!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intense new Potter film more polished but less magical.
Review: As an avid fan of the Harry Potter series of books and of the first installment in the film series, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" I give "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" a 9/10.

First, a general overview. This is a good movie. But it is very, very different from the 1st installment. It is interesting that most movie critics did not like Sorcerer's Stone but they do like Chamber of Secrets. Likewise, it is interesting to note that most kids seem to like Chamber of Secrets better than Sorcerer's Stone. (Maybe movie critics all have adolescent minds?). However, most adults I have talked to have said that they like the original movie better because it is more "magical". I would tend to agree. The first movie was truly amazing as one watches for the first time a movie depiction of Hogwarts, the great hall, wizards chess, and of course Quidditch. It was pure magic from beginning to end. The second movie, of necessity, was less expository and jumps right into the plot. As a result, a lot of the magic is lost. The trade off is that there is much better character development. The only characters developed in depth in the first movie were Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid. In the second movie there was much better development of the Dursleys, Draco Malfoy, Dumbledore, and others. Despite its pluses and minuses, it is definitely worth seeing and was very well done.

A few specific comments: Special effects (notably CGI) were much, much improved. There was only one scene where I said, "Oh, that was CGI" and that was not for bad reasons. It was because it was a particularly good CGI scene. The rest of the CGI just blended in, which is what you want.

The 3 young actors: Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson, pulled off far superior acting in Chamber of Secrets with much more emotion. Other highlights were Dobby (sheer genius, they could not have done better), Fawkes the phoenix (beautifully done), and Moaning Myrtle (who provided some brilliant comic relief). Acting from return actors Harris, Smith, and Rickman was also superb.

The movie also sports some great effects: Parseltongue, for instance. I was critical that they would not be able to pull this off, but they did a great job. It is impossible to describe. You have to see it.
Visual effects were also well used, not only to contribute to the world of magic, but to add humor to the story. The Cornish pixies and the mandrakes were an example of this.

Notable characters are Draco and Lucius Malfoy who are truly mean in this episode. Kenneth Branagh's part as Lockhart is a bit reduced from the book. However, he nails this roll brilliantly giving it the right amount of flamboyance mixed with hidden incompetence. Professor Sprout was cute. And Errol, the owl, was absolutely hilarious. And I can't forget Collin Creevey who was also very well cast.

In general the movie is more intense, but then again, so was the book.

Finally, the movie sports a truly wonderful ending. I would be willing to bet that this ending was spontaneous, not scripted. It was a moving and appropriate ending for a largely dark movie.

Harry Potter fans, enjoy! This film is great for the family, however, some of the scenes may be too intense for kids 8 and younger.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: As Bad as the First Harry Potter Movie
Review: I'm sorry to say that I almost hated this movie. I've read all the Harry Potter books and they are all so outstanding. Unfortunately, the two movies are devoid of the magic that made the books so special. Let's hope the new director of the third movie changes that.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An amazing new entry in the film version of the series.
Review: When I first heard that the second installment of the Harry Potter series would be darker, moodier, and creepier I had my doubts, after all why would a children's story do something creepy? Who cares?! They did it and it was amazing!
I'm an avid horror fanatic, and having classic horror elements in this film drastically upped the enjoyability of the film for me, from the moment Harry starts hearing "voices" to when he starts talking to snakes in the snake language, to the blood text threats written on the walls. Granted this is still completely appropriate for most kids, but the movie succeeded in grabbing my attention, and keeping me glued while the mystery surrounding the Chamber of Secrets was unraveled. The first movie was great, but this movie surpasses it on many levels. I am so eager to find out what happens next that I may actually read the third book, as I don't have the patients to wait until Summer 2004 for the next Potter film.
My only complaint is that two of my favorite characters, Herminie, and Hagwit (I don't know how to spell their names) were both seriously under used. I understand the book was the same way. I would liked to have seen Herminie have a more prominate role in this film, but I was also grateful to see Ron have a more prominate role in the film, and even some actual heroism on the part of Mr. Potter himself. This film was far less reliant on sidekicks and incidental heroics than the previous film, which had some of the same sort bizarre coincidental antics that Star Wars Episode 1 suffered from. Seeing Harry actually fighting, using spells himself, rather than being reliant on the aid of others proved to me that Harry is indeed worthy of the hero status that had been placed on him, rather than just a poor little rich kid with all the right resources, and amazing side kicks to do all the work for him that some sudden critics have been claiming him to be.
Certainly a little too dark for the under 5 age group, but otherwise an amazing film that I recommend for most people 6 and up. Dark enough for adults to enjoy, but not gory enough to be unfriendly to children.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Chamber" is a solid sequel
Review: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," based on J.K. Rowling's novel of the same title, is the follow-up to 2001's box office megahit "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Director Chris Columbus takes us back into the world of the title character, a young wizard who has lived most of his life among "muggles" (i.e. non-magical persons). "Chamber" chronicles the adventures of Harry and his friends at Hogwarts, the school that trains young wizards and witches in the magical arts. But all is not well at Hogwarts: Harry must uncover the truth behind a dangerous mystery which threatens his classmates.

Virtually the entire cast of the first film has been reunited for "Chamber." Seeing the familiar faces back in the familiar settings (the banquet hall, a Quidditch match, etc.) is like a reunion with old friends. But the script (which is, on the whole, scrupulously faithful to Rowling's novel) throws in some marvelous new characters, creatures, and situations that bring a freshness to the familiar elements.

As in the first film, much of the film depends on the chemistry among the film's heroic triumvirate of Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe) and school chums Hermione Granger (Emma Watson, providing the brains of the team) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint, providing a solid blend of loyalty and comic relief). The three are excellent; their naturalness in the fantastic tale really draws you in and makes you believe them.

The heroic trio is well backed by a large supporting cast that consists of both talented youngsters and some of Britain's greatest acting veterans. Among the new faces to the ensemble is Kenneth Branagh, who brings a great comic sparkle to the pivotal role of Gilderoy Lockhart, a vain and boastful new teacher at Hogwarts. Jason Isaacs is a formidable villainous presence as Lucius Malfoy, the father of Harry's school rival.

Harry's magical world is one which exists parallel to (and largely unseen by) the "muggle" world, and has its own rich history, culture, and visual flair. The filmmakers have done a fine job of further fleshing out this marvelous fantasy world, and the story ultimately leads to a satisfying conclusion. A captivating blend of fantasy, suspense, heroics, mild horror, action, and comedy, "Chamber" is a rousing delight which I would recommend for viewers of all ages.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST
Review: This is ten times better than the first Harry Potter movie. I saw it on the first day with my friend, man I was just amazed. The special effects were fantastic, the acting was superb and of course the plot was great. My only concern is that they left a few things out that were great in the book. One they left Peeves again, Two there is no death day party, Three they have again made Harry with brown hair and blue eyes instead of black hair and green eyes, Four is that they asked there Transfiguriation teacher about the chamber instead of their history teacher (you should know who they are), Five is that they made Harry and Hermione seem like they are in love or something, and six Harry threw Dobby the Diary in a sock in the book and in the movie the sock was in the book. Thats all I can think of right now, I may have missed some things but I tried to be as complete as possible.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful acting, and a decent adaptation, too!
Review: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the second installment from director Chris Columbus, continues right where the first left off. Harry finds himself spending a miserable summer with his horrible Muggle relatives who alienate and neglect him. Only when his best friend, Ron, comes and rescues him from his cell of a room do things start to improve. But Harry has received a mysterious warning from a house-elf named Dobby: he will be in grave danger if he returns to Hogwarts. With the help of Ron and Hermione, will Harry be able to save Hogwarts from a deadly evil?

Overall, "Chamber of Secrets" was very enjoyable. The acting couldn't have been better. Daniel Radcliffe nearly outdid himself this time around. He is everything Harry should be and seems to pull it off effortlessly, quietly endearing the audience to him. Rupert Grint is fabulous as well. His facial expressions and voice inflections always find a way to make me smile. Kenneth Branagh (who I haven't been fond of in other roles) is obnoxiously appealing as the flamboyant Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) shine in their roles as perfectly as they did in "Sorcerer's Stone." The late Richard Harris gives a memorable and touching performance as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

The special effects were stunning. From the Whomping Willow to the quidditch match to Aragog's spidery lair to the final confrontation in the Chamber of Secrets, everything (particularly the quidditch match) looked thoroughly real and was all I could have hoped for it to have been.

It was a lot of fun seeing some of my favorite scenes brought to life. I absolutely loved the polyjuice potion part (it was so funny!), Harry's stay at the Burrow (although I wish that part could have been longer), and Ron, Fred, and George's flying car rescue of Harry.

However, there were some aspects of the movie that I found less appealing. Be forewarned, there are more differences from the book in this movie than the first. Most of them don't really get in the way of the story, but a few I found to be personally annoying (and won't mention them here for fear of spoilage).

"Chamber of Secrets," like every movie based on a book, loses something in the translation from page to reel, but Chris Columbus has succeeded once again in creating a spectacular representation of the magical world that we Muggles have come to love.

Bottom Line: Not as good as the first movie but still a must-see for HP fans. The brilliant acting makes up for most plot changes.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Better than the first
Review: I went to see the movie the day after it came out, and i liked it a lot better than i thought I would, since sequels have a reputation for ruining original films. The only thing that I didn't catch were several lines ( to many crying babies when the ... basilisk died ) and is it just me or is Rupert Grint getting to old? I mean by the filming of the next one he's going to be 15 and soon their going to have to find a replacement actor, as well as one for poor Richard Harris. This movie had better special effects than the first one and it has much better actors, even those like Bonnie Wright, and the others who are just getting started. It has more laughs than the first, too. And this time they're intentional.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Special Effects!
Review: This movie was great, one great sequel, with more action than the movie, including that Ron knows how to drive a car, that can fly, why if cars we like flew, in 2002, they would be sold out by the minute! I think there is also a good performance by the cast: Daniel Radclife, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Richard Harris, Jason Issacs, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, and Julie Walters. I also liked the part where Tom Riddle written his birth name, then changed it to "I AM LORD VOLDEMORT", the time where Malfloy and Harry, were in a match between wands, where Dobby, was trying to get Harry hurt, and the time where, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine, drank the Polyjuice Potion, and changed faces. I give it a ***** (5 out of 5). It also has great sound effects.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Comments about the movie
Review: The movie was alright overall but I would definitely recommend the book over the movie. I thought Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is better than the first movie. So if you think the first movie is good, watch the second.


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