Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson (II), more
Director: Chris Columbus
Edition: VHS
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, NTSC
Rated: PG
Studio: Warner Home Video
Video Release Date: April 11, 2003
VHS Features: NTSC format (US and Canada only. This VHS will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about VHS formats.)
Color, Closed-captioned, NTSC
TM & (c) Warner Bros.
Harry Potter Publishing Rights (c) J.K. Rowling
From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia
ASIN: B00008DDXB
Editorial Reviews
First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. --Jeff Shannon --
Description
The next installment in the Harry Potter series finds young wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and his friends Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) and Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.
Customer Reviews
Very Well Done, and Entertaining, August 5, 2003
Reviewer: TheStickRules.Com
The Harry Potter saga started as a group of runaway best selling books, and then they turned the books into movies.
Sometimes this can be a disaster, other times, the movies deviate from the books.
HOWEVER, in this case, the Harry Potter movies are every bit as entertaing as the books. They also stay TRUE to the storyline which is very important to a majority of people.
I am in my 30's and I was able to sit through this entire movie without once being distracted or feeling bored, theaction and pace were wonderful.
This one is very worthwhile in your library of DVD's, an if you have kids, I hope to one day, they will love it !
Passable, But Not up to the Original, August 4, 2003
Reviewer: john hardy iv from Everett, WA United States
Not as awe inspiring as the first film, the introduction to the Potter mythos, this film returns to that world decently. However, a distraction was the fact that the primary kid actors have aged quite a bit beyond their original roles. It's quite startling watching the second film then checking out the 'Hogwarts First Year' section and seeing them much younger. Too bad they couldn't do a Lord of the Rings and do as many films as possible quickly, heh. Still, the effects were a lot better. The basilisk was better CGI than the firsts three headed dog and ogre thing. Decent matinee fair, but nothing to seek out like the Two Towers and likely a disc I won't buy for my collection.
An excellent movie, August 4, 2003
Reviewer: Bashar from Houston, TX USA
This is a wonderful movie! Rich in colours and an excellent storyline. But its a bit rushed. The DVD comes (like the first one) loaded with excellent features! I strongly suggest you read the Harry potter Books before you watch the Harry potter Movies, though!
A darker feel than the first, August 2, 2003
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer from England
First of all I should probably admit that I've never read the Harry Potter books and I wasn't particularly a fan of the first movie. My first thoughts when watching the second instalment was that it was better, but nothing spectacular. The plot has Harry returning again from his horrible home life back to Hogwarts and a mystery concerning the Chamber of Secrets, forewarned to open up and release a hideous monster that can kill just by looking at you. When characters start turning up paralysed it's up to Harry and his friends to uncover what's going on.
Just as in the first movie, this seems more concerned with translating the book directly to the screen rather than transferring its spirit. This being the case it often comes across as a lot of set pieces, which are impressive as standalones but aren't linked together very well. Unfortunately though, most of the enjoyment to be found here (at least for adults) comes from incidentals rather than from the whole film - a marvellous horticulture lesson, a flying car and the all too brief cameo appearances from a host of well-known British faces. On a brighter note, Daniel Radcliffe isn't quite so wooden this time round (though it's hard to believe that he was hand-picked from thousands for much else than his resemblance to Harry). Emma Watson as Hermione is fantastic though, again stealing every scene she's in, and Kevin Kline makes a highly enjoyable appearance as a fraudster magician.
Perhaps what makes The Chamber Of Secrets really stand out from The Sorcerer's Stone though is the fact that it is distinctly darker, perhaps preparing the way for things to come as Harry matures. This darker tone is mostly evidenced by the darker finale, involving a giant snake that Harry must face alone, and some simplistic yet subtle references to racism against 'mud-bloods' (those not born pure-wizard). Plus, for anyone who's scared of spiders, you'd best avert your eyes before Harry and Ron enter the woods. Though the Harry Potter films are in fairness better done than many children's movies out there this still loses out to The Two Towers, although the fact that Y Tu Mama Tambien director Alfonso Cuaron is set to take the helm for The Prisoner Of Azkaban brings hope to any older viewers hoping for a more involving movie. I'm told that the books, as well as being much better than the movies, are also getting much darker, and this is surely the direction to take in order to make Harry Potter more intriguing.
Unsubstantial..., August 1, 2003
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer from China, Mexico, USA
After that many adult friends recommended me to watch "Harry Potter" and considering all the scandal this movie has produced, I decided to see the movie (two years after its appearance)...
The special effects and the imaginative ground, I think, are great: great sound effects, moving images in pictures, talking letter, flying cars... However, I did not like the movie. The plot is not centered into something substantial; it does not make a strong ethical, humoristic or mysterious statement which makes it somewhat mild. For a kid I think that the movie is good; however, for an adult (many of my mid 20 friends are fans of Harry Potter) it could be not-so-interesting. The only part that of the movies that I liked lies in a idea about determination to do whatever we want: when Harry Potter and Professor Dubledore discuss that Harry should have been in another school instead of Gryffindorf, but that his determination rewarded what he really wanted.
Great adventure film., July 25, 2003
Reviewer: Paul Taylor from UK
This is pretty much the first time i decided to watch anything remotley to do with Harry Potter (apart from half of the 1st film) as i assumed i was too old for that sort of thing (despite the fact i own LOTR which is another classic) and i really dont think there is anything wrong with watching these films i mean personally JK Rowlings books are well written and create some good story lines, although i have not read a Harry Potter book you can tell from the films. As with chamber of secrets there are alot of speacial effects and it's the sort of film that appeals to your inner child if you have one you'll love it and to be perfectly honest it does appeal to adults aswell, depending on what type of adult you are as in whether you like fantasy or anything like sci-fi etc, the acting's improved in this installment aswell although it was ok on the philosophers stone, the child actors do seem more confident in there rolls aswell which improves the film, the prospect of another film is looming and it should be good.
harry potter and the chamber of secrets, July 25, 2003
Reviewer: An 11-year old viewer
i think that"harry potter and the chamber of secrets" anit as good as the philosopher's stone 'cause in this movie its just very scary and that hermione anit here to boss around anit that good.there anit no sad things there that might make people cry...so,i dont think its quite good.
Adults will like Harry Potter movies, too., July 24, 2003
Reviewer: A viewer from Allen, TX United States
When I watched this Harry Potter movie for the first time, I was hesitant as a 47 yr old, because I thought it would turn out to be a kiddie show, but I could not have been more wrong. This is a movie for any age group over the age of 7 who enjoy magic and fantasy movies... even for the sci-fi fans but it is too complex for the young ones under 7 with short attention spans and they would get restless and disruptive. It is clean and wholesome. There is nothing about this movie that would be inappropriate. It has that same innocence we loved on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. There is nothing boring about this movie. It will keep you entertained throughout and you will become an instant fan of the Harry Potter series.
Excellent movie, excellent script, the actors were natural and believable with a wonderful mixture of magic and engrossing adventure. In fact, the movie is much better than the book, but leaves out some of the details, so if you want all of the "behind the movie scenes" and Harry Potter stories not included in the movie, then you will want to watch the movies and read the books. The movie brings the book to life and gives the story and characters class and believability. Watching the movie may also give your children the incentive to start reading the books and anything that gets children to read is highly beneficial.
I would highly recommend this movie for adults, children and definitely a family movie, but you will want to watch it when you can devote 100% of your attention and are not distracted by noises, interruptions or other tasks, otherwise, you will miss the subtle details and twists and lose the feel and flavor of the movie which will cause you to find yourself lost and out of touch with the plot.
The deleted scenes, tours and challenge adventures included on the DVD's are also a lot of fun to try. Both Harry Potter movies are excellent.
GREAT AWESOME MOVIE!!!, July 24, 2003
Reviewer: A 12-year old viewer
This is the ultimate sequel. Alot Of sequels suck but this one was great! I loved the humour action, drama, and even horror. This is the main idea. Harrys back and better than ever in this great sequel. seriously see it, show it to your friends, save it for years, and passd it on to future genarations. The effects were awesome and the games were not bad either. So the best thing to do would be buy as soon as possible.