Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a 2002 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, and Kenneth Branagh. It is based on the J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name and is the second installment in the Harry Potter film series. The story follows Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts as the Heir of Salazar Sytherin opens the Chamber of Secrets, unleashing a monster that petrifies the school’s denizens.

The story follows Harry Potter’s second year in Hogwarts in which Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are trying to discover what’s responsible for petrifying students and who the Heir of Slytherin is. It’s a great story that takes some pretty interesting turns concerning Harry himself. There’s this interesting side story concerning the character of Gilderoy Lockhart. Really thought the plot was pretty solid and a bit more interesting than the previous film. Liked the slow reveal of what’s happening and who’s behind it all. So far, the mysterious Voldemort is hinted at but never truly revealed and seeing a bit of his backstory helps to strengthen his character. The story arc of the main three is actually really compelling and it makes for some great character dynamics. The film builds to a great climax that’s entertaining with Harry facing off against a Basilisk. (3 out of 5)

I liked the characters in the first film, and really liked them in this one. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine are just awesome together and it’s great seeing how their relationship has evolved from the first film. Their dynamic is pretty well-rounded and they do compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The supporting characters are just awesome and I like their contributions to the story. One of the most important additions is Draco Malfoy’s father Lucius. He was a really interesting and intimidating character. He’s obviously a bad guy and he’s not afraid to use his bloodline, status and power to make moves. It’s easy to see where Draco gets his attitude and bullying from. Having said that, there are a few characters who’re introduced but not really fleshed out enough. (3 out of 5)

Thumbs up to the talented cast and their great performances. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson take the lead and are great. It’s great seeing these three grow their talents. In the first film the kid performances were okay but it seems to flow more smoothly this time around. Really enjoyed Jason Isaacs’ performance, he’s such a great actor. He doesn’t get much screentime but what he has carries weight. The other performances include Kenneth Branagh, John Cleese, Julie Walters, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffilths, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Richard Harris, Bonnie Wright, and Christian Coulson. (3 out of 5)

Much of what made the aesthetic of the first great is captured beautifully since again in the sequel. Everything from the costume designs to the creature effects to overall set pieces is handled with care making the film look like art. Not one scene looks dull but instead captures the youthful energy of imagination. The camera work is good and captures the talented craftsmanship. Shots of the interior feel big in scope and Hogwarts looks magical. There’s a good focuse on the characters making their scenes more dynamic. And although I do praise the film for the wonderful special effects, there are some that don’t quite stand the test of time. Some of the CGI concerning the different creatures is a little dated. (4 out of 5)

John Williams helms the soundtrack for the sequel and he doesn’t disappoint. The music is beautiful and honestly the upbeat soundtrack kind of reminds me of Christmas music. The sound design is high quality and gives the movie a lot of depth. (5 out of 5)

Chris Columbus returns to direct this sequel and he does a fantastic job with the direction. The screenplay is actually really good and again shows how a novel adaptation can actually be a good movie despite the differences and changes. Now, I haven’t read the book so I can’t go into those changes but as a movie he still delivered. The film goes at a pretty good pace and does a great job of maintaining that same magical quality of the first film through its visual appeal, strong narrative, and engaging characters. Columbus does a great job of relaying his vision to the cast who in turn give us compelling performances. I’m a dialogue man so I like seeing characters interacting and even though I liked most of the dialogue some does come off as a bit pretentious. Also, there are some pacing issues that often affects the storytelling. Even with the characters some feel as flat as cardboard with little to no depth. Still, the writing and directing is pretty good. (3 out of 5)

In the end, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a good follow to the first film. A lot of what made the first film good is still here; the great characters, good performances, developed world, and interesting story makes this film a good movie. Although there a few pacing issues and some of the writing could’ve been a bit more fine tuned. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets gets 3 out of 5.