Throwback Thursday Review: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'

This week I'm continuing my series of Harry Potter reviews where I'm re-reading the books and re-watching and reviewing the films, drawing comparisons when possible. One interesting thing to note is that this review is being published on the day students always returned to Hogwarts, September 1st, making it even more timely. I'm writing these reviews every two weeks to allot time for me to read the books with my hectic schedule and space them out evenly till the release of the prequel/spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In the meantime look forward to a post detailing the 5 Hidden Gems & 5 Biggest Disasters of the summer movie season along with reviews of Don't Breathe, Sing Street, The Light Between Oceans, and a Throwback Thursday Review of Saving Private Ryan all within the next week. The following week I will follow up with my Throwback Thursday Review of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' Review

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the book-to-film adaptation of the second novel in the series, which finds Harry Potter beginning his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Potter learns of a mysterious threat that will jeopardize the safety of the students and must find a way to stop it for the sake of Hogwarts' future. 

Chris Columbus returns to helm the sequel and recaptures the aesthetic and tone from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, not a bad thing considering the two books share this problem and Columbus is adapting the source material, but it does feel like Columbus is merely playing in the same sandbox instead of traversing new ground. 

The Chamber of Secrets luckily doesn't share the burden of introducing the sprawling world of wizardry and is afforded the opportunity to jump straight into the mix of things. The film's screenplay penned by returning screenwriter Steve Kloves is a straight adaptation of the novel for the most part, only leaving out extraneous scenes and slight details, although there are an extended versions of both The Chamber of Secrets and The Sorcerer's Stone that may be more of a cut-and-paste transition from book-to-movie. 

The culmination of incredible production design, costume design, practical effects, and CGI bring all the aspects of the wizarding world to life ranging from a meek house elf to an enchanted flying car. The CGI is a significant improvement from that seen in The Sorcerer's Stone as the Quidditch matches look more real this time around since the characters never looked too animated whilst zooming around on brooms. John Williams returns once again creating illustrious compositions, regardless of the fact some main themes were carried over. 

The performances once again fill the wizarding world with heart and soul. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are quite the capable trio of young actors and perform excellently as the heroic Harry Potter, the kind-hearted Ron Weasley, and the snarky Hermoine Granger and their chemistry is electrifying. 

The wide ensemble of supporting Hogwarts peers and professors includes Maggie Smith as the harsh and compassionate Professor Minerva McGonagall, Robbie Coltrane as the fluffy well-intentioned Hagrid, Alan Rickman as the sketchy Potions Professor Severus Snape, Matthew Lewis as the clumsy Neville Longbottom, and Tom Felton as the despicable Draco Malfoy. Newcomers are Toby Jones' cute and obnoxious house elf Dobby, Kenneth Branagh's dimwitted Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Shirley Henderson's annoying Moaning Myrtle, and Jason Isaac's malicious Lucius Malfoy. Other important standout characters are the tremendous Weasley family consisting of Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Chris Rankin, and Bonnie Wright in addition to the rotten scoundrel Dursleys; Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, and Harry Melling. 

Sadly, The Chamber of Secrets was Richard Harris' last turn as the sagely headmaster Albus Dumbledore since Harris passed shortly afterwards and the role was passed on but he does quite well in his final performance. 

The Chamber of Secrets holds up remarkably well for a 14 year old film in regards to special effects and thanks to fantastic technical elements, a magical score, an exceptional cast, and a spellbinding story, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets proved to be just as enchanting as the first.

Film Assessment: B

Throwback Thursday Review: 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'

This week I'm finally starting up my series of Harry Potter reviews and to make these series of reviews a little more unique I will going back and re-reading each book to account for the differences in transitioning the source material to the big screen. Each Harry Potter review will have a two week gap in between them to provide me plenty time to reread each installment as well as distribute the reviews out more evenly leading up to the spin-off/prequel of sorts Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Next week I'll finish up my series of reviews on the Dark Knight Trilogy with a Throwback Thursday Review of The Dark Knight Rises followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the next week. In the meantime, expect reviews within the next week of War Dogs, Pete's Dragon (2016), Kubo and the Two Strings, and possibly Ben-Hur (2016). I apologize that my Pete's Dragon (2016) review has been so delayed but I haven't had time to go out and see it just yet but have plans to watch and review it soon and I saw an early screening of War Dogs last evening with a review ready to publish tomorrow. Another film I will likely review soon is Sing Street, a film with a lot of buzz, which I purchased fairly recently for streaming now that it's available on home media. 

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' Review

Nominated For: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the film adaptation of the first book in the longstanding Harry Potter franchise created by mystical author J.K. Rowling. The Sorcerer's Stone introduces us to Wizarding World of Harry Potter through the lenses of Harry Potter, an orphan whose entire life changes the day he receives a letter to attend the Hogwarts School of Wizardry.

In order to be a successful adaptation of the novel, The Sorcerer's Stone would require lavish production design and impressive special effects. Fortunately, the film has just that and even more fantastic technical elements to add to it's magical grandeur. Director Chris Columbus managed to effectively channel both his own perception of J.K. Rowling's mystical world while staying true to the descriptions evidenced in the novel with remarkable set design, costumes, and practical effects creating a seamless School of Wizardry.

The film's special effects held up for the most part, and are enhanced by the exceptional cinematography, as various creatures and incantations looked authentic with the exception of a few Quidditch sequences in which characters are flailing about on their brooms. In these small sequences, the early CG renderings just don't compare to the stellar CG seen in more modern blockbusters but I'm not knocking The Sorcerer's Stone for it's age. The film also bolsters a magnificent score from John Williams that evokes wonder and awe with a magical sensibility about it.

The screenplay penned by Steve Kloves translates Rowling's transcriptions expertly as dialogue is ripped straight from the book to great effect and where sequences are shaved off for a slicker running time, Kloves ensures to pepper in a line of exposition or two that fills the plot-holes left from the abrasion.

While all the aforementioned are quite important, the film wouldn't have worked without a terrific cast and the casting was spot-on as each actor feels to be a real-life version of the characters found in the book. Daniel Radcliffe breaks onto the scene as Harry Potter and had the right amount of courage, heart, and charm for the role.

Alongside Radcliffe, Rupert Grint made for an excellent clumsy and courageous sidekick Ron Weasley and Emma Watson expertly encapsulates the clever know-it-all persona of Hermione Granger. The three young child actors' chemistry onscreen is unlike no other as they seem like the perfect embodiment of close childhood friends.

Other mainstays of Hogwarts who encapsulated their character's personas include Richard Harris' wise old Albus Dumbledore, Maggie Smith's kind yet stern Minerva McGonagall, Robbie Coltrane's large but lovable Rubeus Hagrid, Alan Rickman's slippery Severus Snape, Matthew Lewis' dopey Neville Longbottom, and Tom Felton's venomous Draco Malfoy. Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, and Harry Melling don't have much screen-time, isolated to the first act but channel the wicked demeanor of the pesky Dursleys; Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Cousin Dudley respectively.

In summary, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a charming classic thanks to top-notch technical elements, a riveting story, an incredible cast, an illustrious score, and a nice touch of heart.

Film Assessment: B