Let this reporter preface the following review with these facts: he does not typically like movies geared towards children, he has not read any of the Harry Potter books and he was not particularly amazed by the first film based on the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
With that in mind, let it also be known that he was amazed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Chris Columbus' second go-round at the mega-popular fantasy franchise is a far more clever, enchanting and balanced film than last year's predecessor. With Stone, audiences could sense the film's uneasiness of potentially letting down millions of skeptics and potential readers alike. After its amazing success, however, the pressure was gone and all key players returned self-assuredly for round two, giving the new film a much more confident feel.
Chambers is also a bit of a darker film than our hero's previous adventure. We re-team with Harry, back home before the beginning of his second year at Hogwarts. Before he leaves for school, he encounters a masochistic house elf named Dobby, who tries to persuade Harry that it is in his better interests not to attend school that year.
Unconvinced, Harry makes the trek to school to find out what danger may or may not be lurking there.
The film wastes little time in setting up the exposition before diving right into the near non-stop action. Scenes are extremely well paced, with few, if any, moments where the film drags. There are subplots and story elements that feel as though they were glossed over a bit and were probably better explained in the book. But overall, it's still a very tightly woven story for film.
At over two-and-a-half hours in length, Chamber did something amazing in this reviewer's eyes -- pass the "watch test." At not one point during the entire film did I glance at my watch due to boredom, something few movies have accomplished. Whether it was giant spiders chasing Harry or comical scenes with the positively goofy Kenneth Branagh, my eyes never left the screen.
Part of the film's success at captivating the audience is its powerful action sequences, surprisingly intense for a PG-rated film. The Quidditch match (the sorcerers' conglomeration of lacrosse and rugby) is far more violent (and therefore exciting) than depicted in the first film.
The movie's special effects have also been greatly improved over those of last year, but are used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary. Almost every locale is an actually constructed set (unlike the effects-reliant Star Wars franchise), adding to the authentic ancient feel of Hogwarts and the rest of Harry's universe. The character Dobby also happens to be the single most convincing CGI character ever seen in a film.
Corny moments and a little deus ex machina aside, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as trite as it may sound, is a solid film for all ages. In addition to turning a children's book into an epic tale for young and old, it turned this skeptic into a fan -- movie magic at its best. Grade: A-
