Last year's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was overwhelmingly popular with both child and adult audiences, which more or less explains why it made the most money. This year, fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books can rejoin the captivating wizards of Hogwarts for "Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets" - a darker, gloomier look at the continuing adventures of Rowling's hero.
With the second term approaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) receives warning from the house-elf named Dobby (voice of Toby Jones): "Harry Potter must not return to Hogwarts," because danger awaits him there. Ignoring the warning, Harry happily returns to Hogwarts, along with his two best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).
However, strange things begin to happen - an evil voice whispers from the walls, Mudbloods (a derogatory term for someone with human and magical blood) are attacked and "petrified," and the Chamber of Secrets mysteriously opens after 50 years. The culprit behind these bizarre occurrences must be caught, or Hogwarts will be forced to close.
The performances of Radcliffe, Grint and Watson have greatly improved from "The Sorcerer's Stone." With the maturation of the child actors, their acting reveals more talent, especially in the film's dialogue.
Moreover, Grint's performance as Ron in "The Chamber of Secrets" exceeds the talents of his companions. Grint's role as Ron is very entertaining and as the youngest boy of six (plus his youngest sister, Ginny, played by Bonnie Wright), deals with personal dilemmas, including his reactions to the continuous belching of large slugs after one of his spells backfires. He instigates much of the humor with his weary knowledge of spells, uncontrolled experiences with his broken wand and his tendency to panic extensively.
Returning performers, such as the recently deceased Richard Harris and Alan Rickman, continue to add charm as Professors Dumbledore and Snape, respectively. Harris plays the perfect soft-spoken, yet keen Headmaster.
Rickman's portrayal of Snape, utilizing both a sinister appearance and sketchy mannerisms, bring out the best qualities of both character and actor, as Rickman resurrects yet another vengeful antagonist. Though he's also done work as a hero in "Galaxy Quest" and "Sense & Sensibility," Rickman's Snape is reminiscent of his best villains, such as the venal Sheriff of Nottingham in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and the diabolical Hans Gruber in "Die Hard."
Newcomers Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) and Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) complement each other and the film with their diverse personalities. Lockhart's charming and foolish character correspond to the humorous aspect of the movie, especially when a peculiar spell erases his memory. Isaacs' villainous role as Draco Malfoy's (Tom Felton) father is compatible with the grisly features of the film. His vicious glares and snake-headed cane bring heightened intensity to his scenes.
The plot of director Christopher Columbus' film, "The Chamber of Secrets," loosely follows Rowling's book. Obviously, some events are absent for the sake of time; but Valentine's Day with the singing dwarf may have been worth adding to the movie. Including this part of the story emphasizes the heroic trait in Harry as seen in the eyes of his admirer, Ginny.
Columbus illustrates a darker, funnier and more magical picture in "The Chamber of Secrets." Not only is the setting gloomier than the first film, overall eerie sounds and morbid discussions, as well as grisly images, keep an individual on edge.
The Chamber itself is the villan for much of the story, chilling viewers with its haunted whispers: "I smell blood ... let me kill you!"
Even Harry's voice seems possessed when he speaks Parseltongue, or snake- language. The floating image of Moaning Myrtle ("Bridget Jones's Diary" actress Shirley Henderson) is often disturbing to watch as she wafts around "thinking about death."
However, Myrtle's high-pitched voice soon grates on the audience as well as on Hogwarts' students. Along with the screeching of Cornish pixies and cries of baby Mandrake plants, parts of "The Chamber of Secrets" are an out-and-out aural assault. The hanging Mrs. Norris (Argus, the school caretaker's cat), gushing blood from the Diary and the multiple crawling spiders keeps one cringing throughout the scenes.
Despite the dark events, laughter and the side of good ultimately prevail. The film incorporates humor throughout the script, in the form of computer graphic house-elf Dobby and the "Howler." Dobby's helpless sobs and constant reference to himself in the third person are both pathetic and amusing, whereas the "Howler," given to Ron by his angry, scolding mother, is hysterical.
Not only will die-hard Harry Potter fans enjoy the movie, first-time visitors to this magical world will find the fantasyland created by Rowling and envisioned by Columbus both inviting and entertaining. But it's not for the faint of heart.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
