harry potter chamber of secrets full movie

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Full Movie: The Best Film in the Series?

Perhaps precisely because it's the second in a long series of films, we often overlook Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as one of the best films in the series. We're here to argue that not only is it good, but that the Chamber of Secrets is actually the best film in the series. However, a lot of people turn their noses up at it.

The second instalment was a success in its day, breaking the curse that hangs over all second parts of a true blockbuster. Verdict: good, but they could have done better. Richard Harris, who sadly passed away a few weeks before the movie's premiere, is particularly memorable as Dumbledore.

On the other hand, Dobby, a CG creature voiced by Toby Jones, is interesting at first but rapidly becomes annoying, his masochistic antics being repetitive and a little dull. Branagh is very, very funny as the ego-fueled Lockhart (a role originally intended for Hugh Grant), but Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy is an intriguingly sinister wizard who is as racist and arrogant as his son, Harry's arch-nemesis Draco.

The film repeats the Philosopher's Stone's mistake of being slightly too faithful to the literary source, but Columbus manages to compensate this flaw with better visuals, some really creepy set-ups, and improved acting from the younger cast members (Emma Watson in particular). All this seems to be connected to the Chamber of Secrets, but that isn't of much help, especially considering the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, famous writer Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), is a complete idiot.

Or are there? A mysterious house elf named Dobby seems to think so, as he repeatedly tries to prevent Harry from returning to school and keeps asking him to leave when students start being attacked by a supernatural, unknown foe. So, what about the plot? Well, it's Harry's second year at Hogwarts, and everything should be fine, given he defeated Voldemort in the previous film and there are no other threats lurking in the magical world.

And the second film actually improves on its predecessor, getting a little edgier and less children-friendly (two factors that raise exponentially with each new installment), even though it does repeat an old mistake in certain places. Having done a good job with the first Harry Potter flick, one shouldn't be surprised Chris Columbus was asked to direct the sequel as well.

Harry potter chamber of secrets full movie