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Movie Review of "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Rating = MPAA PG: scary moments, some creature violence and mild language.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a movie based on the Harry Potter book series written by J.K Rowling that was released in theatres on November 15, 2002 and filmed in London, England.

This movie is about a boy named Harry Potter (Daniel Rodcliffe) who had a horrible summer. Not only did he have to put up with his overbearing Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dersley but it seems as if his best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) have forgotten him as they haven't replied to a single one of his letters.

Harry is anxious to start his second year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizzardry but a house elf names Dobby (Toby Jones) appears in Harry's bedroom to warn him of great danger if he should attempt to return. Despite the elf's mischeivious efforts Harry returns to Hogwarts but not before he's recued from the Dursley's dreary clutches by Ron and his brothers and whisked into the warmth of the Weasley's household.

Upon arriving at Howarts Harry finds that his first year heroics has caused him to become the center of much unwanted attention.

BUT not even Lockhart can offer an explanation for the sinister new terror that's attacking the school.

Weird things start to happen at the school such as students somehow being turned into stone. It becomes clear the Chamber of Secrets - a legendary hidden chamber of evil built by a Hogwarts founder, the nasty Salazar Slytherin - has been opened.

Legend has it the chamber can only be opened by the true heir of Slytherin and once it is the beast within will be unleashed to rid the school of those undeserving to study there. It will get rid of all the witches and wizzards who came from non magic heritage (or muggles as they're called). This put Hermione in particular danger since she comes from muggle parents.

YIKES - Harry has his hands full trying to figure this one out especially since he's suspected as the one who opened the chamber.

This movie has a lot of special effects. Dobby is just as you'd imagine him with torn cloths and huge eyes, the flying car, the creepy spiders nest, the walluping willow - all done with exquisite details. Some moments in the movie don't seem real especially in the end and it runs a little long (161 minutes) but it's hard not to get caught up in the exciting chain of events.

All in all Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a movie I would see again and recommend any movie lover -young or old- to see. I give it 4/5 thumbs up.