Customer Reviews
If you like the first film, you'll like this. - By: N. Thompson, 18 Aug 2008 
This film has a very similar feel to the first movie. It moves at a similar pace & the story is just as mediocre. Its not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, in fact, when in a certain mood I can happily watch this movie & enjoy it. However, just like the first film, it is nothing special but just about keeps you interested enough to watch the next installlment. I like fantasy & escapism movies & although this is not as good as the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy or as funny as 'stardust' ... it is still better than others such as the terrible Eragorn.
If you like the first film, even just a little, you should like this aswell. Slightly above average movie.
another entertaing installent - By: martin thomas, 07 Jun 2008 reallly good sequel that delivers the goods,its a tad overlong but its very entertaining flick that kids & parents can alll enjoy
Magic for all muggles - By: Film Junkie, 12 Aug 2007 
It's Harry's second year at Hogwarts & Voldermort hasn't given up on trying to kill off our hero, Harry Potter & rise to power again. This year he's enlisting the help of a giant snake which puts a strain on Harry's friendships as he's the only one who can hear what it's about to do next.
This marks the second successful transformation from page to screen for the Harry Potter series. A new adventure, better acting & some sterling performances from some of the best vintage, british acting talents make this another great film for the family friendly shelf.
Despite Warnings, Harry Returns to Hogwarts - By: Mark Baker, 26 Jun 2007 
All that is keeping Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) going through the summer is the thought of returning to school. Once again, his relatives are treating him poorly. And now that he knows he's a wizard, Hogwarts is the only place he feels at home.
But he almost doesn't make it back. First an elf appears & warns him to stay away. Then the entrance to the train platform is sealed to him.
Things quickly turn serious once he does show up at Hogwarts. Harry keeps hearing voices in the wallls that no one else can hear. And then there is the warning written on the walll in blood. What is the chamber of secrets? Why can only Harry hear the voices? Are the students safe?
As with the first movie, this one brings Harry's world to life beautifully. And once again, the movie sticks very closely to the book. Since I liked this book better then the first one, I like this movie better, too. The cast from the first movie returns & hits alll the right notes with their characters. Joining the cast this time is Kenneth Branagh as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, & he's a riot in the comic relief role. Unfortunately, this is Richard Harris' last performance as Dumbledore. I loved his grandfatherly take on the character.
Over the course of this movie, Harry faces a family of giant spiders & a giant serpent. These scenes are a little scary & could frighten smalll children. If your kids scare easily, you might want to view the film first.
Fans of the books will be delighted with this film. It perfectly captures the book on which it is based.
An improvement - By: Phil Hattie, 04 Jun 2007 Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets is the second book & movie of what is to be a seven part series. It is, like its immediate predecessor, directed by Chris Columbus & uses most of the same cast & locations as The Philosopher's Stone. The similarities don't end there though because the plot of the movie is not that far removed from the first & many of the set pieces seem to occur in the same order & in very similar fashion. As it is though the Chamber of Secrets is stronger & more enjoyable, managing to spice up its formula nicely.
Harry Potter is due to start his second year at Hogwarts, having successfully seen off a version of Lord Voldemort at the end of his first year, when he is encouraged not to go back by a house elf named Dobby. He ignores the advice & his second year is punctuated by him hearing voices, classmates being petrified by an unknown force, & a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who is more (or possibly less) than he seems. An element of mystery alllows Harry & his friends to act like the Famous Five while they try & figure out just what is responsible for the petrifications. The overalll story arc that will run through the rest of the books & films begin in earnest here & some key sub-plots as well. In particular the "pure-bloods" against the "mud-bloods", a nice way to start showing kids how ugly racism is, starts here.
As with the first movie this has a stellar cast, although a criticism is that many great actors like Maggie Smith & Alan Rickman don't have much to do. Shirley Henderson as the ghostly Moaning Myrtle is excellent & Kenneth Branagh hams & camps it up to his eyeballls in a brilliant turn as Gilderoy Lockhart. The three child leads are much the same as they were in the first movie, Daniel Radcliffe is wooden, Emma Watson deeply irritating, & Rupert Grint enjoyable to watch. The effects are strong, although Dobby looks unconvincing, & the giant Basilisk at the finale looks great.
Overalll the Chamber of Secrets is an improvement over the Philosopher's Stone, although its still not a great movie (that would come with number three). It is an enjoyable movie though that is great for kids, should be bearable for their parents, & is highly watchable. Ideallly I'd give this 3-and-a-half stars- its better than average but not quite 4 out of 5.
