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.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY/FANTASY UPC: 085391173649 Manufacturer No: 1000026107

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #867 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2007-12-11
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 161 minutes

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

From The New Yorker
Two down, presumably five to go, and already the franchise is entering dangerous territory: if you aren't one of the many who know their Harry Potter chapter and verse, prepare for a nap. Like its predecessor, the movie is overlong and devoutly faithful to the book: the director Chris Columbus does everything but film J. K. Rowling's semicolons. Most of the original cast returns-a good thing-but so do many of the limp visual ideas. Kenneth Branagh, in a hammy role, makes for a welcome addition to the Hogwarts faculty, and it would have been fun to see him mix it up more with Alan Rickman. But all of the what-ifs matter little, as Columbus's film won't disappoint an eager audience that often calls out Harry's next move before it happens. -Michael Agger
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

The pivotal second novel springs to life on screen.
I loved the book, and I loved the movie.
Nothing major from the book is left out which is amazing considering how long the book was.
Hollyweird does right by Potter fans AGAIN!
Another must see, must own.

excellent
Better then looking at this movie on blu-ray then on regular dvd. Very, very clear and excellent sound.

Impressive Followup To Part 1
I'm not sure this movie really deserves 5 stars. But seeing that it follows the 1st phenomena ("The Sorcerer's Stone") as well as could be expected, I'll be generous. It is now a few months after the end of Part 1, and Harry is spending his last few summer days with the Dursleys before he leaves for school. The Dursleys have not really changed since part 1. They are still abusive to him. Harry is wondering why he has not heard from his friends at school over the summer. To make a long story short, Harry gets an unexpected guest (Dobby) who accidentally reveals that he doesn't want Harry to return to school, because it could be dangerous. Naturally, Harry gets angry and in their conflict, Harry ends up making the Dursleys angry. Harry and Ron are unable to get through 'Platform 9 3/4' which makes them realize something is up. But in an under the table way, they make it to school, but end up making the cold but virtuous Professor Snape angry. (His anger is understandable to some extent.) Moving on, Harry meets Ron's sister Ginny who takes a liking to Harry. We also meet Kenneth Brannagh's character. (A writer who seems friendly enough, and is skilled in the study of Defense Against the Dark Arts.) He seems friendly enough, but we see that he is not exactly an expert. In a memorable conflict, Professor Snape knocks him out. That is not to say that Brannagh doesn't mean well at times. At times, it really seems he wants to help. (such as when Harry breaks his arm) But he doesn't really know what he is doing. (Rather than fixing Harry's arm, he makes the broken bones go away.) The major suspense in this movie has to do with the Chamber of Secrets. Throughout the film, certain parties become paralyzed (including Hermonie), and we see mysterious and creepy writing on the walls. Harry eventually gets hold of the diary of Tom Riddle, and learns that the kind hearted Hagrad has a questionable past. (Perhaps he housed a killer monster.) To make matters worse, Hagrad is arrested and Dumbledore is suspended. Harry and Ron go to Hagrad's old monster friend for information. But while he tells them some useful information, we see that his gratefulness to Hagrad (for saving his life) does not extend to Hagrad's friends. Tesions rise when Ron's sister Ginny disappears. This leads to a climactic showdown between Harry and a dark wizard we know quite well. To be sure, this movie deletes some things from the book. (Ginny's Funny Valentine's Day Card to Harry, Nearly Headless Nicholas's celebration of his death party, and some others.) But the only thing I really missed was when Dumbledore gets suspended, Malfoy expresses his hopes that Professor Snape will be made headmaster, to which the slightly flattered, but still virtuous Professor Snape insists that Dumbledore will be back. If you liked Part 1, don't miss this great sequel.