Children of all ages, and some college students too, went out in droves this weekend to see a young British wizard named Harry Potter battle evil forces in his second visit to the big screen.
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” the second installment of the movie version of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling books, premiered at No.1 this weekend at the box office. The movie, a Warner Bros. production, grossed $88.4 million in its opening weekend.
Expecting tickets for the movie to be in high demand, United Artists Citiplace 11 sold tickets weeks in advance of the opening night. The movie sold out multiple showings Friday and Saturday night.
The movie, and the novels, is based around the adventures of a British adolescent who attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter. Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, became famous in the world of wizards by defeating the evil Lord Voldemort as an infant. Potter’s friend Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, and Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint, also play key roles in the adventures.
“Harry Potter is the antichrist. He uses the evil power of magic. I cannot believe that parents allow their children to read such blasphemous material,” said Jennifer Bailey, a mass communication senior. “Not since Bryan Adams has there been such a contrived concoction of evil, but other than that he is an entertaining phenomenon that delights children and others alike.”
The three young actors have matured physically since the last movie and are more comfortable in their roles. The three work well together and this time do not have such childlike attitudes as they did in the first.
Fans of the series are sure to be pleased with the movie since it focuses more on the book plot than the previous movie. The first movie spent a good deal of time explaining the background to the story; the second one does not.
Overall, the movie takes on a much darker side of the series. It contains more violence and scarier effects than the first installment.
“I haven’t read the books, but I saw the first movie and it was quite fun,” said Juden Plaus, a biochemistry and business junior. “The second movie looks to cater more to older audiences than the first one. A little darker and a little bit more violent.”
Both Kenneth Branagh and Jason Isaacs play their roles wonderfully as new-comers to the series. Unfortunately, fans will not see Richard Harris, who played Professor Albus Dumbledore, after this movie. Harris died in October after suffering from Hodgkin’s disease.
Fans of the book series anxiously have been awaiting the fifth book, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” from Rowling. However they may not have to wait much longer. According to Christopher Little, Rowling’s literary agent in London the fifth book “is being written and may be delivered later this year.”
The movie is equally or more entertaining than the first and is a fun movie for adults and children. Even without reading the books, fans can enjoy this new, magical story. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a while for the next movie, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” which will come out in 2004.