2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is based on the widely popular middle grade novel from J.K. Rowling and the second story of the series. An ominous warning from a mysterious house-elf sets the tone for this perilous adventure and our three amiable heroes are reunited once again . Let’s consider the pros and cons of the second film…

Pros: While it’s true that Chamber of Secrets is a sequel, it doesn’t rely too heavily on the first movie. It’s a unique mystery that stands on it’s own, all while consisting of the same characters and iconic score. This movie does build upon the first however, with intriguing new spells, bizarre but useful abilities and a sneak peek into Voldemort’s dark past.

Cons: There are several instances of plot convenience and unnecessary subplots in this movie. For instance, Harry Potter is continuously caught at the scene of the crimes happening around Hogwarts although he is of course innocent. This dampens the mystery of these events as we see him and his friends stumble into situations that are integral to the story, but not exactly earned by the characters. Speaking of characters, Gilderoy Lockhart is introduced as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but his defining quality is that he is incredibly vain. Perhaps Dumbledore gets too much credit, if these are kinds of teachers he’s hiring.

I give Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets a B. It’s not quite as cinematically magical as the first movie, but it’s still a fun mystery and an enchanting look into this vast wizarding world. Happy Watching!

“Hello Harry Potter, my name is Tom Riddle”