By Courtney L. Woods
Things have changed since Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) finished his first year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry; most notably his voice and the fact that the Dursley’s (his aunt, uncle and cousin) have given him a room and are not making him dwell in the cupboard beneath the stairs anymore. On the eve of his return to the school, which he now considers his home, a troublesome house elf named Dobby warns him of trouble brewing at the school (in between beating himself senseless with a lamp and knocking his head against the closet door for “punishment”) and does everything in his power to prevent Harry from returning. Despite Dobby’s efforts, Harry perseveres and returns home to Hogwarts.
Reunited with his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson); Harry finds that Dobby is correct about the trouble; students, ghosts, and even cats are being attacked by an unseen villain that “petrifies” it’s victims. Mysterious, blood-written words appear on the school’s walls, warning that the Chamber of Secrets has been open. Hot on the trail, Ron, Hermione and Harry encounter the normal shady characters like Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and Harry’s pubescent nemesis, Draco Malfoy; as well as new faces like the super self-absorbed Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; who seems to be no more than a fake and Lucius Malfoy (Jason Issacs), Draco’s dastardly and creepy father who believes that only people from pure blooded wizarding families should be allowed to attend Hogwarts (as opposed to those who have “muggle” parents).
The pure magic of the film is in large courtesy of the cast, that includes Hagrid, the large yet loveable gameskeeper (Robbie Coltrane), Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and the wise and gentle headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore (the late Richard Harris, who sadly passed away in October). Also, the faithfulness to J.K. Rowling’s enormously popular books and the eerily mysterious score by John Williams (“Hedwig’s Theme” embodies magic and childhood curiosity) helps the second film in the franchise surpass the first.
However, the film clocks in around 2 hours and 40 minutes, which may be too long for some; but true Potter-ites will appreciate the attention to detail. As in the first film, there is a horribly glaring shortage of Alan Rickman’s Snape; a character in the books that the readers can’t decide whether to love or hate. Kenneth Bragnah is the perfect Gilderoy Lockhart; who prances and preens in a deliciously self-consumed way (his classroom is covered in smiling pictures of himself). Rupert Grint is the best cast as Ron, his funny face and red hair; not to mention the fact he has a backfiring, broken wand (at one point he casts a spell, which ends up falling on himself-he throws up enormous slugs for ten minutes), a large, hilarious family, and a very dumb owl named Errol-that flies into windows gets confused.
Cardinal Grade: B+
