Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
**½
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, John Cleese, Jason Isaacs
In his second year, Harry returns to Hogwarts only to discover that someone has reopened the chamber of secrets and unleashed a series of sinister events. Like Philosopher's Stone, the second feature is entertaining but it sticks too close to J.K. Rowling's book. By now, we know the main players and the main aspects of the wizarding world, but the movie keeps adding supporting characters, magical creatures, and wizarding mythology until the whole thing turns into an insanely long and shapeless blob. Followed by The Prisoner of Azkaban.
