Film Discussion: Chamber of Secrets

[tjs_whatnot]

And on to our second film in the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. If you haven't had a chance yet to go and share your thoughts on Sorcerer's Stone, it's never too late.

Comments

[tjs_whatnot]

Do you remember what your first thoughts about the film and its adaptation were that very first time?

[philstar22]

My first thought was that I liked it more than the PS movie. And that on a completely shallow note Tom Riddle and Lucius Malfoy were gorgeous.

[sparkysparky]

I thought it was a bit better than PoS, and that they had perfectly cast young!Tom.

[shocolate]

Emma's best performance, because she was petrified for half the film!

[tjs_whatnot]

How well do you think the movie represented the contents of the book? Is there anything you wish they hadn't left out? Were there additions or changes that you liked/disliked?

[author_by_night]

Overall I actually like it better than the book, which is possibly the only time you will witness me saying that about any work of literature. The pacing was better, for one, and... honestly, I can't explain it much better than that. The only thing I didn't like was that it was the beginning of doofy Ron and Hermione stealing everyone's lines. :P

[philstar22]

I thought it did a good job of pulling out the important bits. I actually think that it was better than the book whereas PS was better than the movie version.

[sparkysparky]

Other than Hermione getting all of Ron's lines (and others--beginning of the end there), I thought it did okay. Was a bit sad they didn't have Ron and Harry planning the "follow the spiders" plan, like they did in the books.

[tjs_whatnot]

Did you think the casting, especially of the newly introduced characters, worked? Were there any actor's portrayals that changed how you saw the character in your head or in your future readings?

[author_by_night]

Lockhart was absolutely perfect, imho! I also liked Jason Isaacs as Lucius.

[philstar22]

Yes. The castings for Lucius, Riddle, and Lockheart were all perfect. But then again, I can't think of a Potter casting I didn't like. But those three in particular really captured the book character such that now I picture them when reading.

[sparkysparky]

Kenneth Brannagh as Gilderoy Lockhart was utterly perfect, as was Jason Isaacs as Lucius. 100% spot-on casting.

[tjs_whatnot]

What was your favorite scene? Share a gif of it if you like!

[philstar22]

Chamber scene. And if I can include the whole ending, then totally that because Chamber scene plus the Lucius and Dobby scene were my favorites.

[sparkysparky]

Arthur and Lucius fighting in Flourish and Blotts. Also the Chamber scene.

[bonsaibetz]

And after that scene was watched in movie theaters, there was a dramatic spike in Weasley/Malfoy slash fan fiction being posted.

[tjs_whatnot]

How often do you go back and revisit this film? Have any of your opinions/likes/dislikes about it changed over the years?

[sparkysparky]

I haven't watched it in full in a few years, but if it's on ABC Family I'll watch a bit of it here and there.

[shocolate]

You couldn’t pay me enough not to turn the telly off after the Ron/Hermione handshake. WTF was with that Hagrid scene?

[author_by_night]

When my Dad and I rewatched it a few years ago on Halloween (it's an oddly perfect Halloween movie), we both just sort of scared at the scene, each other, and the scene again. I like Hagrid and I still don't get it.