An ancient prophecy seems to be coming true when a mysterious presence begins stalking the corridors of a school of magic and leaving its victims paralyzed.
Forced to spend his summer holidays with his muggle relations, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) gets a real shock when he gets a surprise visitor: Dobby (Toby Jones) the house-elf, who warns Harry against returning to Hogwarts, for terrible things are going to happen. Harry decides to ignore Dobby's warning and continues with his pre-arranged schedule. But at Hogwarts, strange and terrible things are indeed happening. Harry is suddenly hearing mysterious voices from inside the walls, muggle-born students are being attacked, and a message scrawled on the wall in blood puts everyone on his or her guard, "The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies Of The Heir, Beware".Written by
Soumitra
(at around 12 mins) When Harry first arrives at the Weasleys' house, and Ginny first sees him, she's "star struck" at seeing him. However, she had already met him in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone before he left for his first year. Of course, she didn't know who he was then, nor did the whole Weasley family, as Ron was also star-struck when he first met Harry on the train. Ginny wasn't at Hogwarts that year (so she couldn't have overheard it on the train or at the school), so she probably didn't know what Harry Potter looked like and she thought he was just another student at the station. See more »
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.
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Crazy Credits
The character "Mr. Borgin" (a Knockturn shop owner) is listed in the end credits although his scenes were deleted. Two can be seen on the DVD. See more »
Alternate Versions
There is an extended cut of the film running approx. 174 minutes (vs. the theatrical's 161 minutes). It edits back in most of the scenes included as deleted scenes on the previous DVD release. This version was also shown on TV (e.g. Disney Channel). The deleted scenes are as such:
a scene where Colin Creevey introduces himself to Harry by taking his picture is extended by Colin explaining his family history.
a scene that shows Lucius Malfoy and son coming to Burgins & Burke to sell magical items of 'questionable' nature, which introduces Lucius to the story (and perhaps more importantly, how he treats his son when _not_ in a crowd) earlier than in the theatrical version
a scene in the library after Justin had been petrified, which has been extended. Instead of Harry just overhearing some whispers, he hears a whole conversation between three students debating whether he is the Heir of Slytherin.
during the Dueling Club scene, Justin Finch-Fletchley introduces himself to Harry and tells him that he's a Muggle-born.
a scene with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the hospital wing after her Polyjuice Potion incident but before her release thereof.
after the camera pans away from the students applauding Hagrid's return in the Great Hall, the scene which was at the very end of the credits in the theatrical version is shown. In a shot of the front of a wizarding bookstore, a book called "Who Am I?" by Professor Gilderoy Lockhart is on display. The author's picture on the cover is of Lockhart struggling confusedly in a straitjacket, and humming the movie's theme music.
a scene where Crabbe and Goyle, just awakening from the mickeyed muffins, run into Harry and Ron as they're running from the Slytherin dorms. Harry and Ron are halfway through transforming back into themselves, and actually look like two completely unknown students.
Having three daughters I have a choice when a great book comes out: buy three of them (EXPENSIVE!!), force someone to wait until the other is done before they can read the book (sure, I enjoy breaking up fights!), or read it to them. I chose to read it to them so we could ALL enjoy it...and we did! Naturally, the kids were excited when the movie came out. However, when I saw the first Harry Potter, I was terrified it was going to be "butchered" like most "books to movies" are; but was pleasantly surprised by the relatively "stick to the book" script it displayed. Sure, some things were left out undoubtedly due to time constraints, but overall, it conveyed the story well.
Chamber of Secrets did this even better.
As an avid reader, I am quite hesitant to see my beloved books displayed on screen only to have the directors do them no justice. However, with both Harry Potter movies, the visuals were spectacular, the acting well done, and the characters almost perfectly matched. The set design for Diagon Alley and the Weasley house was fabulous! How wonderful to see these places come to life outside of our imaginations! This stays true for nearly every aspect of Hogwarts...from the greenhouse, to the moving staircases, the dorms and Dumbledore's office.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson do superb jobs of playing Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The movie undoubtedly draws you in and makes you forget that this isn't real...quite an acheivement!
Of course, not all moviegoers will enjoy this one. It is not for the die-hard action fan, the horror-only fans, or those that dislike a bit of magic, imagination, and fantasy. But for the rest of us, Chamber of Secrets accurately depicts what until now, only our imaginations could see. Children will love this for the wizardry and magic, the struggle between Harry and his foes, the friendships that abound, and the simple fun of it all; while adults will love it for bringing them back to a time when magic was, indeed, real.
All in all, I give this a 5 out of 5...fantastically done. Of course, I would have liked to see a bit more scenes from the book added, but I understand time restrictions. Great film and a definite must see!
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Having three daughters I have a choice when a great book comes out: buy three of them (EXPENSIVE!!), force someone to wait until the other is done before they can read the book (sure, I enjoy breaking up fights!), or read it to them. I chose to read it to them so we could ALL enjoy it...and we did! Naturally, the kids were excited when the movie came out. However, when I saw the first Harry Potter, I was terrified it was going to be "butchered" like most "books to movies" are; but was pleasantly surprised by the relatively "stick to the book" script it displayed. Sure, some things were left out undoubtedly due to time constraints, but overall, it conveyed the story well.
Chamber of Secrets did this even better.
As an avid reader, I am quite hesitant to see my beloved books displayed on screen only to have the directors do them no justice. However, with both Harry Potter movies, the visuals were spectacular, the acting well done, and the characters almost perfectly matched. The set design for Diagon Alley and the Weasley house was fabulous! How wonderful to see these places come to life outside of our imaginations! This stays true for nearly every aspect of Hogwarts...from the greenhouse, to the moving staircases, the dorms and Dumbledore's office.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson do superb jobs of playing Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The movie undoubtedly draws you in and makes you forget that this isn't real...quite an acheivement!
Of course, not all moviegoers will enjoy this one. It is not for the die-hard action fan, the horror-only fans, or those that dislike a bit of magic, imagination, and fantasy. But for the rest of us, Chamber of Secrets accurately depicts what until now, only our imaginations could see. Children will love this for the wizardry and magic, the struggle between Harry and his foes, the friendships that abound, and the simple fun of it all; while adults will love it for bringing them back to a time when magic was, indeed, real.
All in all, I give this a 5 out of 5...fantastically done. Of course, I would have liked to see a bit more scenes from the book added, but I understand time restrictions. Great film and a definite must see!