Paul_D
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2001
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This review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be SPOILER FREE, so proceed with confidence. For reference, I have not read any of the books, and only seen the original film once.
Strictly adhering to its much-cherished source material, the first film set up the world of Hogwarts and introduced the movie-going public to the mischievous trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. While much of the original's length was dedicated to establishing Harry's past, his historic ties to the school, and the traditions, customs and dark secrets of Hogwarts school leaving a relatively small proportion of the ample running time to tell the story of the Philosopher's Store (Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S. ), the sequel jumps straight into the narrative, and is a far more engaging film for it.
Daniel Radcliffe impressed many with his performance last year, and apart from a slight stutter in the opening scenes, is again, thoroughly convincing as the world's favorite wizard. Especially impressive are some scenes with a very funny CG character. I never even considered that he was talking to thin-air. Emma Watson (Hermione) is no where near as precocious as she was 1 year ago, and of all the child-actors she's certainly made the most progress.
Rupert (Ron) Grint's voice breakage is very noticeable and jarring at first, only. The knowledge that his moments of peril in the first film made him very popular must've gone to his head, because in this film his face is adorned with a look of terror in almost every scene. Quite funny, and thankfully there are more genuine moments of terror in this installment. A forest chase, and the final showdown make for a surprisingly heart-quickening experience. Confirming the publicity, its far more intense than its predecessor, grander, and altogether more satisfying for an adult audience.
The key additions to the cast, namely Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, a comic-relief character, injecting the film with a much-needed foil for the parade of sinister characters, and Jason Isaacs as Lucious Malfoy, add to the already remarkable cast. All the key players are back. Richard Harris, in his final screen performance, leaves a lasting impression on the character of Albus Dumbeldore. A fitting swan-song. His absence from further films will stick out and he will be missed.
Technically, the film is absolutely superb. Williams themes (along with new music by William Ross) is rousing and emotional where it needs to be. Nothing less is expected. The sound mix is explosive and reserved in equal measure. Directional effects were amazingly clear and well-placed. Cinematography is almost identical to the first. There seem to be far fewer eye-candy shots of the school, yet its more visually satisfying than the first film. Visual feasts like the Daigon Alley, and the Quidditch (sp?) field, are hinted at this time, rather than lingered over as they were in the first. Instead the visual focus is on the more subtle beauty of the sets and costumes. This really surprised me, and pleasingly Columbus and DP Roger Pratt have opted for a more claustrophobic feel, despite the chamber of the title being implausibly enormous.
When the film's denouement comes, 140 minutes after the opening titles roll, it delivers a disappointing villain, but a fantastic monster. The Basilisk scenes are intense and very well choreographed. The creature itself is undeniably very CG-looking, but pleasantly so ala LOTR, not annoyingly so ala the Scorpion King in Mummy Returns. The effects in this second film are more effective because they're all strictly story-driven, while much of the visual effects in the first were part of establishing the grandeur and wonder of Harry's world, having virtually nothing to do with the narrative itself.
I noticed myself chuckling and grinning throughout the last 90 minutes, and didn't expect too. Although I enjoyed the original, this second adventure is on a totally different level. Although many elements are revisited, its important to note that this doesn't feel like a retread. The characters have moved forward, and this story is altogether a new adventure. The heart-warming final scene, during which the entire theater I saw the film in clapped and cheered, sets up the chapters to follow wonderfully. The central trio is now established as the books characters in human form. Anyone that has seen and enjoyed the films will have an emotional attachment to them now. I hope that the suits at Warner Bros. stick with central trio as they grow up. Otherwise a substantial part of the magical will be lost. A fantastic film, and bring on the Prisoner of Azkaban, then the Goblet of Fire.
:star::star::star::star: / :star::star::star::star::star:
(Original film: :star::star::star:1/2 )
Strictly adhering to its much-cherished source material, the first film set up the world of Hogwarts and introduced the movie-going public to the mischievous trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. While much of the original's length was dedicated to establishing Harry's past, his historic ties to the school, and the traditions, customs and dark secrets of Hogwarts school leaving a relatively small proportion of the ample running time to tell the story of the Philosopher's Store (Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S. ), the sequel jumps straight into the narrative, and is a far more engaging film for it.
Daniel Radcliffe impressed many with his performance last year, and apart from a slight stutter in the opening scenes, is again, thoroughly convincing as the world's favorite wizard. Especially impressive are some scenes with a very funny CG character. I never even considered that he was talking to thin-air. Emma Watson (Hermione) is no where near as precocious as she was 1 year ago, and of all the child-actors she's certainly made the most progress.
Rupert (Ron) Grint's voice breakage is very noticeable and jarring at first, only. The knowledge that his moments of peril in the first film made him very popular must've gone to his head, because in this film his face is adorned with a look of terror in almost every scene. Quite funny, and thankfully there are more genuine moments of terror in this installment. A forest chase, and the final showdown make for a surprisingly heart-quickening experience. Confirming the publicity, its far more intense than its predecessor, grander, and altogether more satisfying for an adult audience.
The key additions to the cast, namely Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, a comic-relief character, injecting the film with a much-needed foil for the parade of sinister characters, and Jason Isaacs as Lucious Malfoy, add to the already remarkable cast. All the key players are back. Richard Harris, in his final screen performance, leaves a lasting impression on the character of Albus Dumbeldore. A fitting swan-song. His absence from further films will stick out and he will be missed.
Technically, the film is absolutely superb. Williams themes (along with new music by William Ross) is rousing and emotional where it needs to be. Nothing less is expected. The sound mix is explosive and reserved in equal measure. Directional effects were amazingly clear and well-placed. Cinematography is almost identical to the first. There seem to be far fewer eye-candy shots of the school, yet its more visually satisfying than the first film. Visual feasts like the Daigon Alley, and the Quidditch (sp?) field, are hinted at this time, rather than lingered over as they were in the first. Instead the visual focus is on the more subtle beauty of the sets and costumes. This really surprised me, and pleasingly Columbus and DP Roger Pratt have opted for a more claustrophobic feel, despite the chamber of the title being implausibly enormous.
When the film's denouement comes, 140 minutes after the opening titles roll, it delivers a disappointing villain, but a fantastic monster. The Basilisk scenes are intense and very well choreographed. The creature itself is undeniably very CG-looking, but pleasantly so ala LOTR, not annoyingly so ala the Scorpion King in Mummy Returns. The effects in this second film are more effective because they're all strictly story-driven, while much of the visual effects in the first were part of establishing the grandeur and wonder of Harry's world, having virtually nothing to do with the narrative itself.
I noticed myself chuckling and grinning throughout the last 90 minutes, and didn't expect too. Although I enjoyed the original, this second adventure is on a totally different level. Although many elements are revisited, its important to note that this doesn't feel like a retread. The characters have moved forward, and this story is altogether a new adventure. The heart-warming final scene, during which the entire theater I saw the film in clapped and cheered, sets up the chapters to follow wonderfully. The central trio is now established as the books characters in human form. Anyone that has seen and enjoyed the films will have an emotional attachment to them now. I hope that the suits at Warner Bros. stick with central trio as they grow up. Otherwise a substantial part of the magical will be lost. A fantastic film, and bring on the Prisoner of Azkaban, then the Goblet of Fire.
:star::star::star::star: / :star::star::star::star::star:
(Original film: :star::star::star:1/2 )