Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers (WGA):

J.K. Rowling (novel)
Steve Kloves (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 November 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

"Dobby Has Come To Warn You Sir."

Plot:

Harry ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him.

Plot Keywords:

Mandrake | Sword And Sorcery | Boarding School | Good Versus Evil | Cult Favorite

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 9 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Rupert Grint	...	Ron Weasley
Emma Watson	...	Hermione Granger
Richard Griffiths	...	Uncle Vernon Dursley
Fiona Shaw	...	Aunt Petunia Dursley
Harry Melling	...	Dudley Dursley
Toby Jones	...	Dobby the House Elf (voice)
Jim Norton	...	Mr. Mason
Veronica Clifford	...	Mrs. Mason
James Phelps	...	Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps	...	George Weasley
Julie Walters	...	Molly Weasley
Bonnie Wright	...	Ginny Weasley
Mark Williams	...	Arthur Weasley
Chris Rankin	...	Percy Weasley

Also Known As:

Harry Potter und die Kammer des Schreckens (Germany)
Incident on 57th Street (UK) (fake working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language.

Runtime:

161 min

Country:

UK | USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Hungary:14 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | USA:PG | India:U | Iceland:L | Japan:U | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:PG | USA:TV-G (Disney Channel) | USA:TV-PG (ABC Family) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Austria:10 | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:6 (cut) | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:6 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #39363) | Greece:K | Netherlands:MG6

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

1492 Pictures

Trivia:

When Hagrid charges into Dumbledore's office to defend Harry, he is carrying a dead rooster in his hands. This is in reference to a scene in the book (cut from the movie) where Hagrid finds all the roosters dead. The sound of a cock-crow is fatal to a basilisk.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the Quidditch match, the wire that attaches the broom to Harry is visible for several seconds.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Hedwig wants to be let out of her cage]
Harry: I can't let you out, Hedwig! I'm not allowed to use magic outside of school. Besides, if Uncle Vernon...
Uncle Vernon: [yells] Harry Potter!
Harry: Now you've done it.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

The Chamber of Secrets has been opened at long last!!!!

Lessons learned since the 1st film! Clearly this film was edited at script stage rather than the cutting room floor stage!! This story reads as film narrative, rather than a book illustration, which was the big mistake of the 1st film. Anyone can watch this film and follow it without knowing the book. The 1st hour is pure laugh out loud fun (the adults in my Cinema audience were shouting with laughter!). The last hour is scary, wand dropping tension.

The problem is: how do we convince muggles put-off by the 1st film to go see this one? Why should they give this one a chance? Answer: If you know someone who likes Fun, make them see this film! This film is not about 'Oscars' & Acting, despite the fabulous performances by all the adults, it is about enjoying the overall effect of the film, this being to give the viewer a long lasting buzz. Brilliant! The staging is very theatrical in it's minimalism, yet extravagantly arty in visual specifics. In the not to distant future I see fans going to a regular weekend slot at their local cinema for Audience Participation fun. Wands, swords, sorting hat, spiders, mandrakes & crucial ear muffs as standard props! Lots of gaps for us to shout out funny quips. A Rocky Horror Show Audience Participation Show for kids! Long overdue.

My Rating: 8/10. Not a masterpiece of cinematic potential, but such jolly good fun that no one should be denied the joy of a "Bloody Marvelous" frolic. A film for the child within us adults. Go see it with a predominantly adult audience if you want to experience the real buzz of unfettered emotion. Only three children were present at the Preview I witnessed and they were silently spellbound whereas the adults evoked emotion noisily throughout and then stood up, cheered and applauded at the end! I shall never forget this truly magical experience.

Richard Harris you can not be replaced, you will always be Dumbledore, and hence Omnipresent. Thank you for the fantastic finale to a wonderful life that you gave us. Thank you. And Thank you JK & Chris. You did it, the Chamber is well & truly open now!