Product Details

• Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith
• Directors: Chris Columbus
• Producers: Michael Barnathan, David Barron
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
• VHS Release Date: April 11, 2003
• Run Time: 161 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (793 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008DDXB
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #608 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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• This is item 2 in The Harry Potter Feature Films (English) Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

First sequels are the true test of an enduring movie franchise, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets passes with flying colors. Expanding upon the lavish sets, special effects, and grand adventure of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry involves a darker, more malevolent tale (parents with younger children beware), beginning with the petrified bodies of several Hogwarts students and magical clues leading Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) to a 50-year-old mystery in the monster-laden Chamber of Secrets. House elves, squealing mandrakes, giant spiders, and venomous serpents populate this loyal adaptation (by Sorcerer's Stone director Chris Columbus and screenwriter Steve Kloves), and Kenneth Branagh delightfully tops the supreme supporting cast as the vainglorious charlatan Gilderoy Lockhart (be sure to view past the credits for a visual punchline at Lockhart's expense). At 161 minutes, the film suffers from lack of depth and uneven pacing, and John Williams' score mostly reprises established themes. The young, fast-growing cast offers ample compensation, however, as does the late Richard Harris in his final screen appearance as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Brimming with cleverness, wonderment, and big-budget splendor, Chamber honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling's novels. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

The next installment in the Harry Potter series finds young wizard Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and his friends Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) and Hermione Granger (EMMA WATSON) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they try to uncover a dark force that is terrorizing the school.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Instant Classic Fantasy Movie, January 25, 2003

By	R. M. Fisher "Raye" (New Zealand = Middle Earth!) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

"The Chamber of Secrets" novel in the Harry Potter series is generally considered the weakest of J. K. Rowling's books - it does not have the joyful discovery of "Philosopher's Stone", the dark twists of "Prisioner of Azkaban" or the epic nature of "Goblet of Fire", but is simply a very good story. However, I predict its relative simplicity will make "Chamber of Secrets" the most successful book-to-movie translation in the series, as it is undoubtably better than the first movie, and it will be a daunting task for film-makers to tackle the intricate plot lines of book three and the collosal book four.

Like all the books, "Chamber" begins midway through the summer as Harry's twelfth birthday is nearing, and again he faces a rather dismal one in the company of his horrible uncle, aunt and cousin. Excitement is already on the move however, as when Harry enters his bedroom the house elf Dobby is waiting for him, who warns him that under no circumstances is he to return to Hogwarts, where a great danger is waiting for him.

But return he does, after being rescued from his family by the Weasley family and the now-famous flying blue Ford Angelia, and indeed finds what Dobby promised - something is stalking the halls of Hogwarts, putting all the students in great danger. Taking it upon himself to save his beloved home Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione seek out the clues, and find themselves facing a terrible evil. In a story filled with giant spiders, savage willow trees, magical swords, disembodied voices, mysterious diaries, glorious phoenixes, flying cars and Quidditch matches, the action and excitement doesn't let up until the ending credits.

Once again Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson return as the three main protagonists, and I'm glad to say that while their acting was a little awkward in the first movie (understandable for newcomers) they've mellowed out and are much more natural with their characters and each other. Under-rated actor Tom Felton is again wickedly good, and Maggie Smith (McGonagall), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Alan Rickman (Snape) roll out brilliant performances. Unfortunatly I can't say the same for Richard Harris - Dumbledore in my mind is an elderly yet lively and energetic man, yet here I was petrified he was going to kneel over any second.

The best part of any sequel in a series is the myraid of new characters to see, including the afore mentioned Dobby, the mysterious and sinister Tom Riddle, the narcissic Gilderoy Lockhart (played with great pizzazz by Kenneth Branaugh), and pompous Cornelius Fudge, and more of the Weasley family - more from Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, an introduction to Arthur Weasley, and from George, Fred and (especially) Ginny.

Three performances stick out though: Lucius Malfoy was great - cold, calm and elegant, this guy just *oozed* sinister charm, Moaning Myrtle, with her high-pitched sobs and shrieks was an unexpected surprise and Colin Creevy, the forerunner to Book Four's reporter Rita Skeeter and J. K. Rowling's dig at the media was a small, but essential gem, and I love that split-second scene of horror on his face as the runaway Buldger hurtles towards him!

Finally the sets, costumes and props are lovely, but the special effects are only so-so. The Quidditch game (again more visually exciting than any written account) is very good, as is the 'monster in the chamber', but the phoenix, spiders and Dobby could have used some tweaking.
All in all, a fun, interesting, colourful, sometimes-scary, and faithful adaptation to a beloved book, that (along with the Two Towers) brought 2002 to a fantasy-filled climax in the movie industry.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing, February 26, 2003

By	Susan Emert (Tamarac, Fl United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a senior citizen who loves Harry Potter. I have read the first 3 books and will purchase "The Goblet of Fire" on books on tape.
I won't go into the plot. Suffice it to say it follows the book. The acting was wonderful by our 3 main stars. There is not enough of Alan Rickman, a truly wonderful actor. Kenneth Branagh was so-so and I don't know the man who played Lucious Malfoy but he was perfect. I hated him in "The Patriot" and hated him even more here. Richard Harris will be sorely missed. What a fine performance for his last film.
I never realized that the film was 2 3/4 hours. The time flew. The special effects are outstanding.
I liked the further character development. You see what a wonderful and loving family Ron Weesley comes from. You find out why Hagrid is the way he is. You also get to realzie why Draco Malfoy is the way he is when you get to see the father.
There was so much to see. So much to enjoy.
For the first movie, I saw the movie first and then read the book. For this story, I read the book first and then saw the movie. Either way, I was thrilled with both movies.
I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward the the third movie.
If you haven't had the opportunity to see "The Chamber of Secrets", please go and see it. It's a treat for the eyes, mind and soul.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful acting, and a decent adaptation, too!, November 18, 2002

By	Leanna "moondance34" (South Deerfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the second installment from director Chris Columbus, continues right where the first left off. Harry finds himself spending a miserable summer with his horrible Muggle relatives who alienate and neglect him. Only when his best friend, Ron, comes and rescues him from his cell of a room do things start to improve. But Harry has received a mysterious warning from a house-elf named Dobby: he will be in grave danger if he returns to Hogwarts. With the help of Ron and Hermione, will Harry be able to save Hogwarts from a deadly evil?

Overall, "Chamber of Secrets" was very enjoyable. The acting couldn't have been better. Daniel Radcliffe nearly outdid himself this time around. He is everything Harry should be and seems to pull it off effortlessly, quietly endearing the audience to him. Rupert Grint is fabulous as well. His facial expressions and voice inflections always find a way to make me smile. Kenneth Branagh (who I haven't been fond of in other roles) is obnoxiously appealing as the flamboyant Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) shine in their roles as perfectly as they did in "Sorcerer's Stone." The late Richard Harris gives a memorable and touching performance as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

The special effects were stunning. From the Whomping Willow to the quidditch match to Aragog's spidery lair to the final confrontation in the Chamber of Secrets, everything (particularly the quidditch match) looked thoroughly real and was all I could have hoped for it to have been.

It was a lot of fun seeing some of my favorite scenes brought to life. I absolutely loved the polyjuice potion part (it was so funny!), Harry's stay at the Burrow (although I wish that part could have been longer), and Ron, Fred, and George's flying car rescue of Harry.

However, there were some aspects of the movie that I found less appealing. Be forewarned, there are more differences from the book in this movie than the first. Most of them don't really get in the way of the story, but a few I found to be personally annoying (and won't mention them here for fear of spoilage).

"Chamber of Secrets," like every movie based on a book, loses something in the translation from page to reel, but Chris Columbus has succeeded once again in creating a spectacular representation of the magical world that we Muggles have come to love.

Bottom Line: Not as good as the first movie but still a must-see for HP fans. The brilliant acting makes up for most plot changes.