Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Tom Felton, Robbie Coltrane, Bonnie Wright, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs, Toby Jones.
This second chapter of the Harry Potter saga sees Harry return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A mysterious elf, named Dobby, warns Harry to expect trouble during his second year at Hogwarts, but nothing can prepare Harry for a hostile Whomping Willow, flying cars, spiders that reveal dangerous secrets, and deadly warnings written in blood on the walls of the school. But Harry’s greatest test of courage and loyalty comes when he must confront his old nemesis, Lord Voldemort, after the Dark Lord returns to Hogwarts to kill Harry once more.
Loyalty is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is it illustrated more uniquely, than in the character of Harry Potter, and the devotion that he shows for Hogwarts, Gryffindor House, and his friends.
When Harry encounters a House Elf named Dobby in his bedroom, Dobby warns Harry that he must not go back to Hogwarts this year, because history is about to repeat itself, and Harry would be in grave danger if he went back to school. Although he listens to Dobby’s warning, Harry doesn’t heed it…instead choosing to show loyalty for Hogwarts, by calling the castle his home and returning to the castle, despite Dobby’s obstacles. Harry’s loyalty for Gryffindor is illustrated by his show of courage and loyalty when he is facing Voldemort. As the story unfolds, many believe that Harry, himself, is actually Slytherin’s heir, because he speaks Parsel-tongue and he was present when at least 3 victims (Mrs. Norris, Justin and Sir Nicholas) were Petrified…and the Sorting Hat even reiterates his original choice to Harry, when Harry asks which House he should have been sorted into…that Harry would have done well in Slytherin. What makes Harry unique from Voldemort, is that Harry chose to be in Gryffindor. As Dumbledore tells Harry when Harry and Ron emerge from the Chamber, “It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities." Dumbledore illustrates this point by showing Harry the ruby-encrusted sword that he used to defeat the memory of Voldemort. When Harry calls out for help, it is the Sword of Gryffindor that comes to aid Harry in defeating Lord Voldemort…and as Dumbledore reminded Harry, “It takes a true Gryffindor to be able to pull the sword out of the hat.
Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) also shows great loyalty to his friend, when he chooses to journey in the dark of night, with his brothers, to rescue Harry from being imprisoned by his cruel family. Ron’s loyal heart is shown again, when he valiantly defends Hermione after Malfoy insults her by calling her a Mud blood. Although his curse backfires, Ron’s loyalty to Hermione shines through clearly as he defends her…and it is bolstered by Hagrid who comforts Hermione after she shares Malfoy’s cruel insult and tells her that while she may not have “pure-blood” like the Malfoys, she is still worthy of being called the brightest witch in her class and that is something to be proud of. Although Dobby’s expression of loyalty is not as chivalrous as Harry’s, Dobby does show a deep and unbreakable loyalty to Harry from the start. He warns Harry not to return to school, so his life won’t be in danger, and even goes as far as to intercept Harry’s mail, block the gateway to the Hogwarts platform and even set a rogue Bludger on Harry, to compel Harry to return to his aunt and uncle’s house. In the end, Dobby protects Harry from Lucius Malfoy’s curse and saves his life, one last time. Harry returns Dobby’s loyalty by tricking Lucius Malfoy into presenting Dobby with a sock, so that Dobby would be set free from his miserable existence at the Malfoy home.
Memories are a powerful and symbolic theme that illustrate the loyalty that is shown between Harry, Ron, and Hermione to Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and to Professor Dumbledore. When Harry finds Tom Riddle’s diary, he asks the diary if it has any knowledge about the Chamber of Secrets and the essence of Lord Voldemort's soul that was hidden within the diary’s pages, shows Harry a memory from 50 years in the past; a distorted memory that alleges that Hagrid was responsible for the attacks that occurred 50 years ago at Hogwarts. Harry’s loyalty to Hagrid is shown when he and Ron venture into the Forbidden Forest to learn the truth about the monster who is ravaging the Muggle born students in the school. In the end, when Harry comes face to face with his nemesis once again, this time in the form of Lord Voldemort, as a memory hidden within a diary, Harry again expresses his loyalty, both to Hagrid and to Dumbledore when he defends them.
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is an enchanting and emotionally riveting film that weaves together a stellar cast, a well-told story, and stunning visual artistry to bring J.K. Rowling’s vision to life onscreen. This film is only the first chapter in a series that is highly recommended to anyone who loves Harry Potter.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Tom Felton, Robbie Coltrane, Bonnie Wright, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs, Toby Jones.
This second chapter of the Harry Potter saga sees Harry return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A mysterious elf, named Dobby, warns Harry to expect trouble during his second year at Hogwarts, but nothing can prepare Harry for a hostile Whomping Willow, flying cars, spiders that reveal dangerous secrets, and deadly warnings written in blood on the walls of the school. But Harry’s greatest test of courage and loyalty comes when he must confront his old nemesis, Lord Voldemort, after the Dark Lord returns to Hogwarts to kill Harry once more.
Loyalty is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is it illustrated more uniquely, than in the character of Harry Potter, and the devotion that he shows for Hogwarts, Gryffindor House, and his friends.
When Harry encounters a House Elf named Dobby in his bedroom, Dobby warns Harry that he must not go back to Hogwarts this year, because history is about to repeat itself, and Harry would be in grave danger if he went back to school. Although he listens to Dobby’s warning, Harry doesn’t heed it…instead choosing to show loyalty for Hogwarts, by calling the castle his home and returning to the castle, despite Dobby’s obstacles. Harry’s loyalty for Gryffindor is illustrated by his show of courage and loyalty when he is facing Voldemort. As the story unfolds, many believe that Harry, himself, is actually Slytherin’s heir, because he speaks Parsel-tongue and he was present when at least 3 victims (Mrs. Norris, Justin and Sir Nicholas) were Petrified…and the Sorting Hat even reiterates his original choice to Harry, when Harry asks which House he should have been sorted into…that Harry would have done well in Slytherin. What makes Harry unique from Voldemort, is that Harry chose to be in Gryffindor. As Dumbledore tells Harry when Harry and Ron emerge from the Chamber, “It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities." Dumbledore illustrates this point by showing Harry the ruby-encrusted sword that he used to defeat the memory of Voldemort. When Harry calls out for help, it is the Sword of Gryffindor that comes to aid Harry in defeating Lord Voldemort…and as Dumbledore reminded Harry, “It takes a true Gryffindor to be able to pull the sword out of the hat.
Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) also shows great loyalty to his friend, when he chooses to journey in the dark of night, with his brothers, to rescue Harry from being imprisoned by his cruel family. Ron’s loyal heart is shown again, when he valiantly defends Hermione after Malfoy insults her by calling her a Mud blood. Although his curse backfires, Ron’s loyalty to Hermione shines through clearly as he defends her…and it is bolstered by Hagrid who comforts Hermione after she shares Malfoy’s cruel insult and tells her that while she may not have “pure-blood” like the Malfoys, she is still worthy of being called the brightest witch in her class and that is something to be proud of. Although Dobby’s expression of loyalty is not as chivalrous as Harry’s, Dobby does show a deep and unbreakable loyalty to Harry from the start. He warns Harry not to return to school, so his life won’t be in danger, and even goes as far as to intercept Harry’s mail, block the gateway to the Hogwarts platform and even set a rogue Bludger on Harry, to compel Harry to return to his aunt and uncle’s house. In the end, Dobby protects Harry from Lucius Malfoy’s curse and saves his life, one last time. Harry returns Dobby’s loyalty by tricking Lucius Malfoy into presenting Dobby with a sock, so that Dobby would be set free from his miserable existence at the Malfoy home.
Memories are a powerful and symbolic theme that illustrate the loyalty that is shown between Harry, Ron, and Hermione to Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) and to Professor Dumbledore. When Harry finds Tom Riddle’s diary, he asks the diary if it has any knowledge about the Chamber of Secrets and the essence of Lord Voldemort's soul that was hidden within the diary’s pages, shows Harry a memory from 50 years in the past; a distorted memory that alleges that Hagrid was responsible for the attacks that occurred 50 years ago at Hogwarts. Harry’s loyalty to Hagrid is shown when he and Ron venture into the Forbidden Forest to learn the truth about the monster who is ravaging the Muggle born students in the school. In the end, when Harry comes face to face with his nemesis once again, this time in the form of Lord Voldemort, as a memory hidden within a diary, Harry again expresses his loyalty, both to Hagrid and to Dumbledore when he defends them.
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is an enchanting and emotionally riveting film that weaves together a stellar cast, a well-told story, and stunning visual artistry to bring J.K. Rowling’s vision to life onscreen. This film is only the first chapter in a series that is highly recommended to anyone who loves Harry Potter.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.