BBBB.5
(out of 5)
It’s Year Two for your favourite little wizard, and the new term isn’t bring anything but trouble. Initially warned against returning to the Hogwarts school of magic by a precocious little elf-servant, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) eventually makes it to the magical campus only to discover that he and his fellow students are all in grave danger. Something called the “Chamber of Secrets” has been opened, and students left and right are being paralyzed by whatever has been unleashed from its cryptic compartments. Naturally, our hero and his two best friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) team up to unravel the mystery and save the day. Supporting cast members Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane and Richard Harris (in his final film role) return in this superior sequel, plus there are some very welcome additions including Kenneth Branagh as celebrated wizard Gilderoy Lockhart, Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout and Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle. The special effects are as awe-inspiring as before, and though it runs a considerable near three hours, the delightful situations will keep your attention and the time will fly by quicker than the flick of a wand.
Warner Bros., Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures, MIRACLE Productions GmbH & Co. KG
USA/United Kingdom/Germany, 2002
Directed by Chris Columbus
Screenplay by Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Cinematography by Roger Pratt
Produced by David Heyman
Music by John Williams
Production Design by Stuart Craig
Costume Design by Lindy Hemming
Film Editing by Peter Honess
