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Daniel Radcliffe, new heartthrob
Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets expected to open big Nov 15
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Arthur J Pais
With many reviewers in England hailing the new Harry Potter movie as an improvement on the first film, and others saying it is at least as interesting as its predecessor, it was no surprise the movie grossed $12 million in three days.
But whether Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets has the potential of minting as much of money as its predecessor which lured nearly $960 million worldwide would not be known for another three or four weeks. The movie is expected to open big in America, grossing about $100 million in three days. Whether it will have strong legs in the coming weeks wont be known immediately.
The new film which, like the first one, is directed by Chris Columbus, opens in America and Canada Friday. It resumes its run in England on the same day, too.
'Children and adults around the country breathe easy --- the magic of Harry Potter is as potent as ever in film,' wrote Lizzie Rusbridger in the British publication The Guardian. 'Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets is darker, funnier and finer than its forerunner Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone. Although one wonders whether, unlike the books, the spell will remain so strong over a possible further five films.'
The new film shows the young wizard Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his buddies Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) facing new challenges during their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The kids are now forced to uncover a dark force that is menacing their school. Harry is seeking a quiet new school year, trying to put behind his recent heroic exploits, but is thrust into action thanks mainly to the zeal of professor Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) to fight the dark forces and become famous. When Harry cannot immediately start fighting the new terror, some of his friends begin to doubt him. But not Ron, Hermione, and his new fan, Ginny (Bonnie Wright), the little sister of Ron.
The movie features many thespians from the previous film, including John Cleese, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith and the late Richard Harris who plays Hogwarts's headmaster who made the first film a wonderful experience. The inclusion of Kenneth Branagh as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor called Gilderoy Lockhart, has added significant charm to the film. It has also created an Oscar buzz for the actor best known for his Shakespearean movies.
The Guardian reviewer praised Radcliffe, saying he has matured since the previous film and is more comfortable as Harry now. 'Soon he might match up to the standard of Kenneth Branagh, who steals the show as hilariously smarmy Gilderoy Lockhart,' the reviewer continued.
The review was not all praise, though. 'Parents, be warned --- this film is quite long, although probably not long enough for the absolute Harry Potter fanatic,' it said. 'It has only been shortened by the brief but sickeningly cheesy Hollywood ending; the only point where we wring our hands and ask why it had not remained a perfect book.'
Hannah McGill, writing for The Herald shared her enthusiasm with her Scottish readers, saying, 'where Philosopher's Stone was rough, clumsy and charmless, its follow-up is an infinitely sleeker and more confident proposition.'
Though Columbus has said he was aware right from the start that the Chamber Of Secrets novel was not as popular as the first book in the series, McGill thought the second book is better. 'Chamber Of Secrets is a more forceful and complex novel than its predecessor,' she explained. 'Where Philosopher's Stone, as the first in the series, was crowded with generalised introductions and fanciful asides, Chamber Of Secrets sets up a persuasive mystery and follows it through to its conclusion.'
Many critics have accused Columbus for slavishly following the novels. But the Herald critic did not find anything wrong in it. 'The film barely deviates from the sacred [author] JK Rowling blueprint,' she argued. 'Aware that he is treading on the dreams of countless children, Columbus has played it utterly safe, transferring images straight from page to screen rather than transforming them into new and surprising cinematic forms.'
Writing in The Independent, John Walsh announced: 'Everything about this film, which opens November 15, is couched on a bigger scale than the prototype.'
'It's still watchable,' he admitted 'because Chris Columbus's high-energy direction keeps the camera endlessly moving --- tracking along walls that reveal horrible messages or nasty surprises, swooping through the sky around the Gothic towers of the wizardry school, zooming in on vivid faces full of threat and conspiracy.'
John Hiscock of The Telegraph, who beat an embargo on the reviews till November 8 and ran his piece October 24 after seeing the film at an industry gathering in Chicago, found its special effects and action sequences far superior than in the first film. 'Some readers have dismissed Chamber Of Secrets as their least favourite book in the series because the plot is more straightforward than the others,' he wrote. 'But the dark and grimly topical tale gives Columbus the chance to indulge himself with fascinatingly realistic special effects and riveting action sequences.'
The new movie with more special effects scenes than the first one includes a flying car and a bad-tempered tree, giant spiders and snakes and a servile elf. Among the movie's darker elements is a hybrid plant/animal named Mandrake with lettuce like leaves but unusual roots that create a shrieks that can kill.
Among the scariest creatures in the new movie is Aragog, an ancient spider the size of a small elephant. The scenes involving the spider, Columbus says are 'incredibly frightening and some of the scariest of the film.' Even Radcliffe was scared of the creature during the first few days of the shooting, he admits.
Columbus says he is not afraid that the darker side of the movie will put off some kids. The children who will be seeing the movie are familiar with Rowling's works, he says. 'It's the kids who read the book who want to see the movie,' he told a British publication, 'and they know exactly what's coming.'
Echoing Columbus's thoughts, the young star who plays the title role, says the movie is a masterful blend of fun and serious elements. 'If you take away the darkness, you haven't done the book justice,' Daniel Radcliffe says. 'If they've read the book, I don't think they'll be scared at all. For me it was great to show Harry's dark side.'
A good part of the first film was spent setting up the world of Harry Potter, producer David Heyman says. 'There was so much to introduce in terms of the magic, the settings and the characters,' he adds. 'With Chamber of Secrets, we jump directly into the narrative and into the adventure.'
What were some of the challenges in the second Harry Potter film? Radcliffe says his role is "more proactive" in the new movie. The actor says he felt increasingly during the shoot that he has been influenced personally by Harry Potter.
'Harry has developed so much as a character,' Radcliffe says in the press notes, 'I had to develop myself too and now I have two instincts --- Harry's and my own. So when were filming each scene, I asked myself, How would Harry react to this?, and I tried to get that feeling across the screen.'
Adding to Radcliffe's observations, Columbus says the first film was essentially about Harry realising that he is actually a wizard. 'In contrast to the colorful and larger-than-life characters that surround him, Harry was somewhat passive,' he says, 'and didn't come into his own until the third act of the film. Here, he exudes a lot more confidence and strength right from the start.'
'Daniel took on an enormous responsibility when he was cast to play the lead,' he continues. The actor, who is 13, rose to the challenge and matured as an actor swiftly, Columbus adds. 'He has become a real leading man in the truest sense of the word, as well as becoming a real hero and probably a bit of a heartthrob.'