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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The MPAA rated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
PG for scary moments, some creature violence and mild language.
Despite warnings from Dobby (voice of Toby Jones), a self-abusive
servant known as a house elf, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe)
decides to return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
for his second year. But his departure is plagued with disaster
--everything from a missed train, and an uncontrollable flying
car, to a tree that packs a punch.
Narrowly escaping being expelled before classes even begin, the
bespectacled apprentice soon discovers there was just cause for
the elf’s words of caution. Paralyzed classmates, threats
written in blood, and rumors of a mysterious chamber housing a
monster have the entire academic establishment running scared.
Suspicions about who may have unleashed the deadly unknown demon
quickly turn to Harry, thanks to his innate ability for being
in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the unveiling of an
unusual talent the lad didn't know he possessed.
Joined by Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma
Watson), the friends set out to find the real culprit. The perilous
path to the truth leads them to the Forbidden Forrest, the sewers
of the great castle, and requires a certain disregard for school
rules.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is not for the fainthearted.
Fans familiar with the book will remember the inclusion of several
fearful creatures including snakes and spiders. (Any one with
phobias will likely relate to Ron's reactions to the situations.)
While the movie script follows J.K. Rowling’s novel fairly
faithfully, seeing these sometimes-sinister encounters depicted
will be more frightening for many viewers than just reading about
them.
Yet, what keeps the film from succumbing to monster movie status
is the powerful theme that emerges. It appears the late Lord Voldemort
had a certain aversion to wizards without pureblood pedigrees,
and the infamous villain’s sympathizers are still trying
to establish an upper class. Harry, whose unique heritage has
made him a celebrity, chooses to befriend those who are of questionable
lineage, poor and in servitude. It is humility and loyalty that
make this boy a worthy hero, and accounts for some of the magic
of the Harry Potter franchise.
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