Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Chris Columbus (2002)

154min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tom Hutchinson

Youngsters who worship the bestselling work of fantasy author JK Rowling will find this sequel to The Philosopher's Stone even more to their taste. The mood is darker and more scary, but adventure tinged with danger has always been attractive to children. Here, predatory spiders lurk in the Forbidden Forest, there's a mandrake root with an ear-splitting scream and Ron (Rupert Grint) even exchanges a kiss with Hermione (Emma Watson). Director Chris Columbus (again working from a screenplay by Steve Kloves) has allowed some mechanical repetition to creep in, but overall this manages to be ingenious as well as faithful to its source. Of the adult performers, Kenneth Branagh stands out as the egotistical new teacher Gilderoy Lockhart, managing to upstage even the special effects, but, sadly, the character of Dumbledore (Richard Harris) is mostly lost within the convolutions of the plot.

Summary

The young wizard and his friends return for their second term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to discover a strange serpentine power is petrifying the other students. Meanwhile, Harry is haunted by a sinister voice in his head urging him to uncover the dark force that is stalking the corridors of the school. Fantasy adventure sequel, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Kenneth Branagh.

Cast & Crew

Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe

Ron Weasley Rupert Grint

Hermione Granger Emma Watson

Prof Albus Dumbledore Richard Harris

Prof Minerva McGonagall Maggie Smith

Gilderoy Lockhart Kenneth Branagh

Rubeus Hagrid Robbie Coltrane

Prof Severus Snape Alan Rickman

Mrs Molly Weasley Julie Walters

Mr Arthur Weasley Mark Williams

Moaning Myrtle Shirley Henderson

Lucius Malfoy Jason Isaacs

Uncle Vernon Dursley Richard Griffiths

Aunt Petunia Dursley Fiona Shaw

Professor Sprout Miriam Margolyes

Nearly Headless Nick John Cleese

Draco Malfoy Tom Felton

Professor Flitwick Warwick Davis

Ginny Weasley Bonnie Wright

Mr Argus Filch David Bradley (2)

Dobby, the house elf Toby Jones

Aragog, the giant spider Julian Glover

Tom Marvolo Riddle / Lord Voldemort Christian Coulson

Dudley Dursley Harry Melling

Cornelius Fudge Robert Hardy

Madam Pomfrey Gemma Jones

Madam Pince Sally Mortemore

The Sorting Hat Leslie Phillips

Director Chris Columbus

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: Warner BrosGuidance: May be edited for violence.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-rayReleased on: 15 Nov 2002

Drama Children's

Full Episode Guide