Review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) by Renzo V — 08 May 2014

"WIZARDS, SNAKES AND SPIDERS...".

- The second installment of the very popular 'Harry Potter' film franchise is this 2002 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', based upon the novel of J.K. Rowling and directed by Chris Colombus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire). In this magical story, the young wizard attends his second year at Hogwarts. Amazing effects and likeable characters will please young and old. With re-appearing cast members: Daniel Radcliffe (the Woman in Black, Kill your Darlings), Emma Watson (This is the End, Noah), Rupert Grint (Driving Lessons, Into the White), Tom Felton (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Belle), Richard Harris (Gladiator, Patriot Games), Maggie Smith (Death on the Nile, Hook), Robbie Coltrane (From Hell, Van Helsing), Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Warwick Davis (Willow, Leprechaun) and Julie Walters (Billy Eliot, Calander Girls) and adding to the list Jason Isaacs (Peter Pan, Black Hawk Down) as Lucius Malfoy and Bonnie Wright (After the Dark) as Ginny Weasley. Hold on to your wands, 'cause you're in for a spin!

During the summer vacation, Harry Potter (Radcliffe) is having a hard time dealing with his relatives. One night, he gets a strange visitor in his bedroom: Dobby the house elf, who has come to warn him not to go back to Hogwarts. After being rescued from his uncle's home by his best friend Ron Weasley (Grint) and his brothers who 'borrowed' their fathers flying car, Harry spends the rest of the holidays at the Burrow, where he meets Ron's parents and his sister Ginny (Wright). The whole family and Harry travel to Diagon Alley to go shopping for school supplies. They meet up with their friend Hermione Granger (Watson), encounter the new Defense against the Black Arts teacher Gilderoy Lockhart, but also stumble upon Draco Malfoy (Felton) and his father Lucius (Isaacs).

After missing the Hogwarts Express, Ron and Harry fly to the school with the car where they make a crash landing against the Whomping Willow. When trying to sneak into the castle, they are caught by Professor Snape (Rickman), who wants to punish them. Luckily, headmaster Dumbledore (Harris) and Professor McGonagall (Smith) intervene. As a punishment Harry needs to help Gilderoy Lockhart. One night, when leaving the professor's office, Harry hears a icy voice coming from inside the walls. Following the voice, the young Potter discovers a bloody message written on a wall saying: 'The chamber of secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir... beware. ' It doesn't take long before several students are found petrified. When Hagrid (Coltraine) gets the blame and is send to the Azkaban Prison, Harry, Ron and Hermione are determined to solve the mystery and help out their friend.