Amazon.com
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
I decided to finally get around to watching this series. I watched the 1st one several years ago. I'm not really a fan, but I liked it enough to enjoy watching it once with my kids. I was pleasantly surprised as it was a bit better than the 1st one, rare for a sequel.
I decided to finally get around to watching this series. I watched the 1st one several years ago. I'm not really a fan, but I liked it enough to enjoy watching it once with my kids. I was pleasantly surprised as it was a bit better than the 1st one, rare for a sequel.
Yeah... I thought the first two were complete snoozefests, but the third one was great and the next three were all at worst watchable and pretty good overall, then the last one (part 2) is flat out awesome... Actually, might have been better than Azkhaban.
Baloney. The first was the best, bar none. The second was awesome. The third was a decent movie, but crap really, because it screwed up the book too much. The rest of them were good, because although they changed a lot from the books, the books were ginormous by then. No excuse to screw up the third movie when the book was so short.
Yeah... I thought the first two were complete snoozefests, but the third one was great and the next three were all at worst watchable and pretty good overall, then the last one (part 2) is flat out awesome... Actually, might have been better than Azkhaban.
Again, Azkhaban was pretty weak, IMO. The first two completely put the books on the screen, in an awesome way. You could see the child actors develop right along with their characters, which is a phenomenon you don't often get to see in movies.
Yes, I know, you Hollywood insiders don't like it when they stay true to the books, but those of us who knew the stories going in liked it just fine Seriously though, everyone I know loved them the best, and didn't find them snooze fests at all.
Oh, and here's a neat little spoiler from the end of Chamber:
Lucius Malfoy attempts to cast the death curse at Harry before being stopped by Dobby. [spoiler/]
Baloney. The first was the best, bar none. The second was awesome. The third was a decent movie, but crap really, because it screwed up the book too much. The rest of them were good, because although they changed a lot from the books, the books were ginormous by then. No excuse to screw up the third movie when the book was so short.
Again, Azkhaban was pretty weak, IMO. The first two completely put the books on the screen, in an awesome way. You could see the child actors develop right along with their characters, which is a phenomenon you don't often get to see in movies.
Yes, I know, you Hollywood insiders don't like it when they stay true to the books, but those of us who knew the stories going in liked it just fine Seriously though, everyone I know loved them the best, and didn't find them snooze fests at all.
Oh, and here's a neat little spoiler from the end of Chamber:
Lucius Malfoy attempts to cast the death curse at Harry before being stopped by Dobby. [spoiler/]
Yeah... I thought the first two were complete snoozefests, but the third one was great and the next three were all at worst watchable and pretty good overall, then the last one (part 2) is flat out awesome... Actually, might have been better than Azkhaban.
Seriously though, everyone I know loved them the best, and didn't find them snooze fests at all.
