Review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) by Simon R — 22 Dec 2016

WHAT I LIKED: 'The Chamber of Secrets' steps things up a notch after the first film because the script and overall story make for a more mysterious adventure as the stakes are actually a meaningful part of the plot. This means false tension no longer has to be forced through the acting chops of a trio of kids - though having said that it is rewarding to see them begin to grow in ability. In the end though, the strength of this movie is mostly down to that script, as whilst some of the discussions are slightly too on the nose, it does make room for more characterisation and real-world significance than it's predecessor.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: What really is the point of all the tangents we're taken on? Sure some have payoffs, but most really do not. This feels especially annoying in the lengthly set-up where we're constantly shown things with no relevence at all, and it honestly means they could have cut half an hour from the film without damaging it at all. I get they do this in the books, but here we have the added benefit of SEEING what a great world this is, without being given hours to simply explore it.

VERDICT: This is a great story, but sadly it gets distracted by cats, spiders, plants and magic dust just a few too many times. Lose that, and I'll be engaged from start to finish.