Here we
are again, yet another year has passed, another wind has
blown; and yet again a new Harry Potter film has
come out. The second is a few steps down from the first, but
engages in new, fresh material which is more or less
inspiring, and is fun for young fans at the same time.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets may have
better special effects, and a more intelligent plot than the
first, but I still prefer those of its originator. The first
half an hour is too artificial looking, and even at times
awkward to watch, but when the story takes off everything is
magically enchanting. The sequel to the fabulous and admirable
Sorcerer’s Stone is an excellent score, but lacks
the personality of the first.
This
new adventure opens up to a lonely Harry Potter in his room on
Privet Drive
with the drab of a family who adopted him. They are getting
ready to have guests over for dinner, and Harry, as usual,
must stay in his room, not make a noise, and pretend like he
doesn’t exist. He enters his room only to see a house-elf
standing on his bed. The elf, named Dobby, speaks with
amazement as he says the words, “Harry Potter, what an honor
it is.” The two have a long conversation, which interrupts the
dinner party quite a few times, but Dobby is never discovered.
The bottom line: “Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts
this year!” Dobby had done everything he could to make this
possible. He stole all of the mail Harry was supposed to be
getting, created fury between Harry and his so-called
"parents", and when Harry officially tells Dobby that he
is going to return to Hogwarts, the little elf
uses his magic to throw a cake into one of the family friend’s
face. Harry is immediately blamed for this, and is locked and
bolted into his room, without food, for days.
He is
most luckily saved by his best friend Ron and brothers. They
drive up to his window in a flying car, and are able to pull
the bars which encage the glass off of the frame. Harry and
his owl, Hedwig, barely escape his Uncle and Aunt, Vernon and
Petunia. After putting up quite the physical fight from either
side of the window, the three boys are able to pull Harry into
the car, with the help of an abnormally strong engine. The
four station at Ron’s house after the trip, where everyone
except Harry gets quite the beating for using the magical car.
They stay there for less than a week in the movie, though it’s
practically the whole summer in the book, than leave for
Hogwarts. Ron’s brothers have no problem getting there, but
for Ron and Harry, it’s the most hectic experience of their
life. They are spotted driving the magical car in the “Muggle”
world, cannot run through platform nine-and-three-quarters,
and are almost killed by the most giant, and ancient tree in
the entire magical world. Once they finally make it to
Hogwarts, they are in for a big punishment, but not nearly as
much as what comes the next week. While serving detention
Harry starts hearing voices, and sees words written on the
wall. “The chamber of secrets has been opened.” This chamber
was founded thousands of years before Harry was born, by a man
named Slytherin, and had been searched for many times by the
leaders of Hogwarts, but never found. “Who opened it, why, and
where is it?” are the questions that face Mr. Potter.
I found
the movie as a whole to be of lesser value than the first, but
the direction, by Chris Columbus, and the cinematography by
Richard Pratt, was much better than the first. The special
effects were much cleaner looking, and the Quidditch match was
a lot more true to the book. The combined aerial shots to go
along with the always wonderful original score were fabulous
also. The costumes weren’t as good as the first, but the sets
were. Though I liked the beautifully done chess match in
The Sorcerer’s Stone, and it was better than the
final showdown in The Chamber of Secrets, this
was another win for filmmakers. With excellent skill in
filmmaking, acting, screenwriting, and plot; Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a new and fresh
sequel that will capture all fans hearts, and will make loads
of dough along the way.
-Danny, Bucket Reviews