My thoughts on The Chamber of Secrets

[doggyboyuk]

Well another year another Harry Potter film. Now i am giving my opinion from a non bias view. Well i sit down expecting the worst cause to be honest iwasn't that impressed by the first film. Well i sat through it and i did get bored in places and the end was a little too dragged out. There were some good parts to the film whch i did enjoy admittedly. I think some new ideas should be thought out here. Am i the only one who thinks this is like scooby doo its like "Hey Harry lets go solve another mystery" he has his friends with him and even Fang the dog tags along LOL. A different approach should be taken with the next film me thinks. Generally i felt disapointed with this film and the oriinal shadows it.

6/10

Short but to the point.

[vastlynne]

I concur.

I finally got to watch this yesterday with high hopes and expectations and unfortunately was immensely disappointed with the end result. It seemed like a barrage of the same old story that was explored in the first film and thus seemed recycled into this one. I just kept wishing it was anybody but Daniel Radcliff for the role of Harry Potter because I know he looks the part but he does not carry the film into what could have been one of the best films ever made. His two other friends didn't win me over either. I really wanted to like this film as much as other people have and have come to realize that I do not belong in the HP fandom. I didn't read the books so I didn't know half of what they were talking about (add the british accents and it's alien talk) though I got the gist of it all...I did not care for Potter as much as I should have. I was actually rooting for the baddies(the Malfoys, Tom Riddle, etc.) In fact, come to think of it..they were the best part of the film!

Rumor has it there will be another director for the third one and I will make sure and be cautious of expecting too much from it.

I will say this: The adults in the film were absolutely fantastic but it was the kiddies who ruined it for me. Considering it was Columbus who directed who gave us Home Alone should know a thing or two about directing kids. I've seen more talent in that little boy from The Shining then in the three kids put together.

Come on..there has to be more people who thought it didn't live up to its expectations.

Overall i'd give this 6.5/10

[dh1989]

I must disagree with vastlynne. I think that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and especially, Emma Watson are all hugely talented. Mark my words, within a few years, they will all be huge stars.

[BarkingSparrow]

Originally posted by vastlynne
I
Rumor has it there will be another director for the third one and I will make sure and be cautious of expecting too much from it.

I will say this: The adults in the film were absolutely fantastic but it was the kiddies who ruined it for me. Considering it was Columbus who directed who gave us Home Alone should know a thing or two about directing kids. I've seen more talent in that little boy from The Shining then in the three kids put together.

Come on..there has to be more people who thought it didn't live up to its expectations.

Overall i'd give this 6.5/10

I was somewhat disappointed myself. Maybe our expectations are too high? After all, these are essentially children's movies. You encounter all the hype in the media and on the Net and
when the movie finally gets here, all too often the hype simply cannot meet the expectations.

We got fairly much the best we can expect though, from Chris Columbus. I never did think much of his style; plodding and predictable, a bit too conventional, pandering to the Hollywood cliches. The source material demands more creativity, boldness, ability to take risks. That ain't Chris Columbus. I have higher hopes for the next film, provided that the powers-to-be give the director (Cuaron sp?) some room.

As for the kids, Radcliffe can't act, period. He'll disappear when his Harry Potter days are done and be relegated to movie triva board games. His range is so limited.

Emma Watson is by far the strongest of the kids and might have a career if she so chooses. I was disappointed in how they used her in the 2nd film, really did not get that much time.

Anyway, CoS did have a rushed feel to it. It's tough to try and make a 2nd film to be released only a year after the original, and everyone associated with the project has to be getting somewhat tired of it.

[dh1989]

People who say CoS feels rushed, blame the critics. Many of them said the first film was too slow and now people are saying its rushed. I believe Columbus did a brilliant job and CoS is my favourite film of all-time.

[DrLoomis]

I have to agree with doggy boy on this one. The COS was not the imense sequel it was meant to be and was greatly overshadowed by the philosophers (sp?) stone. The story seemed like it was done before in a saturday morning cartoon of the likes of Scooby Doo i.e hey Harry something strange is going on lets get to the bottom of this mystery. As said fang the dog even tagged along ! I agree with vastlynne the adult actors where good but the kids spoilt it. I too agree that after Harry Potter Radcliffe has no future in film. I came into the COS with an open mind and i admit some bits where good but small scenes cannot make up for a poor film overall. All in all a DISAPPOINTMENT.

5/10 = nothing special just another Harry Potter romp.

[Madeline]

I have to disagree with all of you and say that Radcliffe is the best actor of the three though he sucks immensely. Emma Watson is of that species who thinks over enunciating everything will make up for the lack of acting talent and the one who played Ron was adequate but I think only lacking because of the stupid director. Alan Rickman, Harris, Smith, all were terrific and carried the movie. I guess COS is a good movie for little kids but if you look back on all the children's classics (Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, etc.) you can't excuse Harry Potter's bad acting and plot mistakes. The adults carried the entire movie. :o (Esp. Harris!)

[Satchmo]

Originally posted by Madeline
I have to disagree with all of you and say that Radcliffe is the best actor of the three though he sucks immensely. Emma Watson is of that species who thinks over enunciating everything will make up for the lack of acting talent and the one who played Ron was adequate but I think only lacking because of the stupid director. Alan Rickman, Harris, Smith, all were terrific and carried the movie. I guess COS is a good movie for little kids but if you look back on all the children's classics (Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden, etc.) you can't excuse Harry Potter's bad acting and plot mistakes. The adults carried the entire movie. :o (Esp. Harris!)

I don't think that Radcliffe is a very good actor , in fact he's said that playing Harry was like playing himself , and if he can't act as himself very well then I don't see a big future for him. Emma Watson on the other hand is beautiful and a very talented actress , and plays Hermione wonderfully , in case you hadn't noticed Hermione does speak very proper and tends to over enunciate at times. Another great child actor in the movie was Tom Felton (Draco) and I can't believe no ones metioned him yet.
COS isn't just a movie for kids even my 80 year old grandmother loved it.

[vastlynne]

Originally posted by Satchmo
Another great child actor in the movie was Tom Felton (Draco) and I can't believe no ones metioned him yet.
COS isn't just a movie for kids even my 80 year old grandmother loved it.

Yes! Felton was brilliant! It's a shame he won't be acting anymore after Chamber of Secrets...something about singing and going off to college(good for him, I guess).
I also found that he was in Anna and the King...he played Anna's son.
Him and his father Lucious Malfoy was the best thing in CoS. Too bad there won't be any of that in the future Potter films.

[Satchmo]

Originally posted by vastlynne
Yes! Felton was brilliant! It's a shame he won't be acting anymore after Chamber of Secrets...something about singing and going off to college(good for him, I guess).
I also found that he was in Anna and the King...he played Anna's son.
Him and his father Lucious Malfoy was the best thing in CoS. Too bad there won't be any of that in the future Potter films.
As far as I know he'll be in PoA , I wonder what they'll do about GoF , I really hope he agrees to do it , I can't imagine anyone else being Draco. I heard he wants to go off and be a fisherman or something along those lines. If I had the choice between being a famous actor and a fisherman I know what I'd chose. But each to his own I guess.

[vastlynne]

Originally posted by Satchmo
As far as I know he'll be in PoA , I wonder what they'll do about GoF , I really hope he agrees to do it , I can't imagine anyone else being Draco. I heard he wants to go off and be a fisherman or something along those lines. If I had the choice between being a famous actor and a fisherman I know what I'd chose. But each to his own I guess.

Maybe my sources have been wrong. I do wish he would be back.

A fisherman? No kidding! Such a pretty lil' boy getting his hands dirty. What gives? :(

[dh1989]

Felton said he wanted to learn about fisheries, that does not mean he wants to buy a boat and go out every morning to catch salmon. He wants to learn about the science and the raising of fish.

[Satchmo]

Originally posted by dh1989
Felton said he wanted to learn about fisheries, that does not mean he wants to buy a boat and go out every morning to catch salmon. He wants to learn about the science and the raising of fish.
Okay no offense to Tom , I think the guy rocks , but that sounds kinda boring and not like something you'd get paid much for. Oh well that just MHO.