2 hrs. 42 mins.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, John Cleese, Warwick Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Sean Biggerstaff, Julie Walters
Directed by: Chris Columbus
Rating: ** ½ stars (out of 4 stars)
It was a mere year ago that the worldwide sensation known as the Harry Potter well-oiled machinery conquered countless movie screens much to the delight of avid fans both young and old alike. No doubt that J.K. Rowling’s British bespectacled boy wonder of magical mayhem will be in high demand yet again after causing ticket sales to soar for last year’s frenzied first installment Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone. Well, director Chris Columbus and his cohort, screenwriter Steve Kloves, are back to further the excitable adventures of the good ole winsome wizard in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Although Columbus concocts another eye-popping and festive cinematic display showcasing hocus pocus hogwash that will please ardent HP enthusiasts, Chambers of Secrets is a mere regurgitation of what audiences endured the first time around. There is no notable distinction from the original film or thriving story that justifies the continued soul-searching trek of Rowling’s preppy protagonist.
Most likely folks (yes…us Muggles—you know—mere mortals without magical abilities!) will welcome the splashy world of Hogwartian forethought and other mythical ideology via the whimsy theatrics of the delirious special effects. Sure Harry Potter will cast a spell thanks to the exceptionally vibrant visual enhancements of this frothy fantasy. As a pliable production, Chambers of Secrets is appetizing eye candy that works on the giddy senses. But as a spry and extended narrative, this rollicking exhibition surprisingly shows not much imagination or distinctive intrigue. Nevertheless, it is an acceptable jittery joyride to behold more so for ardent Harry Potter enthusiasts to bask in with unconditional vigor.
Whereas Sorcerer’s Stone took the time to acquaint the audience with the major players, particularly Harry’s trusted sidekicks in that of the pretty and astute Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) and the easily startled Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), Chambers of Secrets is free to continue on with the notion that we have adequately defined who these unique youngsters are; they’re familiar so therefore all is well. But is that fair to suppress the complexity of Harry Potter and his cohorts while simply embracing another vicarious ride without considering the unresolved issues of these tykes’ apparent angst? What made the original showcase such a delightful gem was the combination of the characters’ inner conflict that meshed in sync with the surreal existence of weirdly pronounced protagonists invading their complicated lives. Somehow Chambers of Secrets manages to present our pimply-faced heroes as incomplete bystanders who are now casual slaves to the overzealous rush that is the Harry Potter calling card. All the pageantry and mystique about Harry and his comrades feel more gimmicky than it does empowering.
As the universe knows by now, the Harry Potter movies are based upon the captivating series of children’s books by the incredible and skillful creativity of high-in-demand author J.K. Rowling. Her riveting and hypnotic books took on a wistful life of their own by taking its youthful readers on a desirable journey filled with brash and exotic imagery. This being the case, the big screen adaptation of Rowling’s literary leanings have strangely been diluted by the incessant flash of an antsy popcorn flick that entertains more often than not but nevertheless corrupts the stability of Rowling’s insatiable read. Columbus and his wily collaborators undeniably deliver a roller coaster ride worth engaging in that feature an assortment of kooky and colorful characters to accompany the merry-minded proceedings. Still, Chambers of Secrets albeit its spontaneous and spunky nature lacks the substantive fiber one would think would come easily to this flamboyant fable.
We find our harried hero Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to his sophomore year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after a torturous summer spent with his insensitive and unfeeling family, the Dursleys. Harry’s period of self-discovery hasn’t amounted to anything special and his clueless guardians still treat him shabbily. Despite Harry’s prior attendance at the Hogwarts School where he supposedly uncovered the mystery surrounding his whole livelihood such as who his absent parents were and what his unique abilities were all about, the poor kid continues to suffer from a lack of acceptance by his indifferent relatives. Hence, there’s a brooding case of self-doubt and anxiety that still looms in the lost lad’s delicate psyche.
As Harry prepares to grace Hogswart with his presence, a funny-looking house-bound elf named Dobby (who’s sure to remind moviegoers of another bothersome hanger-on in the form of Star Wars miscreant Jar Jar Binks) keeps pestering him and best buddy Ron about not attending the school for fear that something sinister awaits their arrival. Brushing the nagging Dobby aside, Harry and Ron head on to school anyway in the Weasleys’ flying family vehicle. Soon Harry, Ron and Hermoine will be met with a rude awakening as haunting happenings start to unfold at the school. Everything seems to be occurring all at once. When circumstances dictate that bloody walls whisper ominous sayings to a shook up Harry while his fellow students seem to be walking on egg shells because of the looming danger surrounding the venue, the gang must investigate these frightening incidents and quick!
Of course it doesn’t help Harry’s cause that the scuttlebutt behind the madness has the worried wizard linked to a legendary figurehead known as Slytherin, one of the many founders of the educational establishment responsible for creating the infamous Chamber of Secrets. Within the Chamber of Secrets lies a vast series of spooky goings-on that include the release of a hideous monster lurking about the dark and dank school grounds. Consequently, somebody has exposed the potential disaster that is the mischievous Chamber of Secrets. Unfortunately, this dubious deed already contributes to a shady building that has an eerie aura about it in the first place.
Overall, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is admirably tenacious and flexible in its technical makeup. Cinematographer Roger Platt’s impeccable touch reinforces an exhilarating flair that invigorates this high-spirited exorcise with a blend of gaiety and gloom. A lot can also be complimented regarding the film’s diligence for detail ranging from the noteworthy costume and set designs to the moody and soothing tone of John Williams’ low-key musical score. Columbus and his reliable crew instill a busy and chaotic philosophy into their frenetic flick that helps this session spark some glorious havoc.
As cunningly manufactured and robust as this film looks, one can’t help but to question the heart of this movie’s gently disjointed focus. Columbus willingly goes for the light-hearted moments in which he selectively picks his spots, particularly due the aforementioned dimwitted Dobby as the instant comic relief. Also thrown in the mix are additional ingredients Kenneth Branagh as self-serving roguish Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor Gilderoy Lockhart and the intrusive ghost Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson) along for the silly chills and thrills. Yet Columbus awkwardly balances these innocuous screw-ups and their attached subplots with an installment that is admittedly more sinister in nature than its predecessor (the younger and more impressionable children might be apprehensive about the alarming inclusion of blood, giant spiders, slithering snakes or any other demonic device that might prove to be too scary).
Plus, the film annoyingly raises more questions then it cares to answer. For instance, we know that the disillusioned Hermione’s parents were Muggles. So how does this affect her psychologically and emotionally? And even though Harry ends up finding the diary that could help him solve the chamber’s pending threat on Hogwarts, why can’t there be another legitimate way that Harry feels alienated by his peers in spite of the ghoulish secrets that paint him as a bad apple? Because the filmmakers are so concerned with stocking this flaring fairy tale with revved-up furor, they skipped the finer nuances of a story that could have been considered more gripping and cohesively involving from a visceral point of view.
At almost a three-hour running time, Harry Potter and his hair-raising hooligans could have used some tightening up in the storyline department. With the steady diet of boisterous bounce that this movie exhibits and the endless parading of a who’s who of well-known British personalities from stage, screen and television that partake in this bloated kiddie carnival, Chamber of Secrets meanders on while seemingly avoiding the structured restraint that Rowling has methodically demonstrated in her disciplined written work.
This second succulent serving of Harry Potter may be all over the map like a feeble-minded person looking for interstate highway directions, but it does lend itself to do what it’s suppose to do…whisk diehard moviegoers away to another dynamic dimension in time where it counts the most—in the arms of the impressive box office heavenly gods.
Frank rates this film: ** 1/2 stars (out of 4 stars)