Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 2002 fantasy film directed once again by Chris Columbus. This time around, Harry and his friends are solving the mystery behind the chamber of secrets, a hidden dungeon that's supposed to be causing students to become petrified. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman (in a much better role than the first film), Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Richard Harris, Robbie Coltrane, and Kenneth Branagh. Out of the first two Harry Potter movies, this one by far is my favorite and that's because it is better in almost every conceivable way. Chamber of Secrets isn't a perfect movie, but it's so amazingly good. From the beginning I instantly was more engaged in the movie. My issues with Sorcerer's Stone was that characters give exposition that isn't necessary and that the movie lacks some depth. The first issue was eliminated in Chamber of Secrets because while there is exposition, all of that was essential to the story and allowed us to understand things further. The explaining in this film is actually a strength because it really makes you curious and interested in what the chamber of secrets is. As far as depth goes, this movie is a step in the right direction. You would never show a Harry Potter movie in a film class meant for analysis because they are just made to adapt a series of novels. I absolutely accept that fact and Chamber of Secrets was enough depth that I need to enjoy a movie like this. Chamber of Secrets is also increasingly dark, but excels in it's ability to add humor...especially through facial expressions. You'd have to watch this flick carefully, but Chamber of Secrets is actually very funny. Dobby the house elf is hilarious in parts and Kenneth Branagh as Professor Lockhart is great. The combination of a dark plot line and funny scenes made for a really enjoyable time. This movie felt shorter than it was (almost three hours). My only flaw in Chamber of Secrets comes when Harry comes face-to-face with Tom Riddle. There's a few moments when Fawkes the pheonix just flies into the chamber and gives things to Harry. As the audience, we're lead to believe that Dumbledore has sent these objects, but it still feels too coincidental. Proving that point even further is when Ron and Harry return to Dumbledore's office, he seems to have no knowledge of what transpired in the chamber of secrets. That seems like a flaw to me. Things I love about this movie are how it maintains innocence and makes it go slightly darker. As I said, the character Professor Lockhart is funny and interesting at the same time. Alan Rickman gives a much better, deeper, and more intricate performance as Severus Snape than he did in the previous Harry Potter movie. It's an interesting mystery and all a great time. Overall, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a really good film that improves over the Sorcerer's Stone while also being able to transition to a darker story through the use of comedy. Three stars