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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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MPAA Rating: PG
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Entertainment: +4
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Content: -3
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Warner Brothers Pictures continues the Harry Potter movie series with this sequel to the enormously popular original film released in 2001, which went on to become the second highest grossing film of all time. Taken from the book series by J.K. Rowling, this sequel finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to his beloved Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry where he happily rejoins his best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). Harry finds that Hogwarts is in grave danger from a dark, evil force contained in the schools chamber of secrets. So he and his friends heroically set out to find and destroy this evil force. They encounter many frightening opponents including giant spiders and grotesque creatures but are befriended by Hogwarts headmaster, Professor Dumbledore (Richard Harris, who recently died), and the schools ground keeper, Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). Teens and preteens will likely be entranced with the spectacular visual effects and action in this sequel, but adults may find its 161-minute running time and underlying darkness a bit trying.
Director Chris Columbus has purposely made this sequel darker and edgier, which means more frightening and violent. And the lighting scheme is dark with daylight hardly ever shown. Harry and his wizardly friends have powerful magical powers including levitation and healing powers, as well as the ability to hurl powerful energy bolts at their opponents. And witchcraft and wizardry at Hogwarts are portrayed favorably without any reference to the evil nature of these dark powers. Intended to be a fantasy, the Harry Potter movies and books have generated an intensified interest in witchcraft by young people, and witchcraft associations in the United States and England are delighted. Largely for this reason, Preview sees the Harry Potter films as potentially harmful and antibiblical. The sequel, especially the final standoff between Harry and the giant serpent, is far too violent and frightening for children under about eight years old. And the film is not recommended for children too young to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522
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Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.
Crude Language: Few times (3) Mild (bloody hell)
Obscene Language: None.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Many times Mostly moderate, some severe (elf hits head on wall, giant tree heads attack boys, children knocked down and some found petrified, boys play violent flying battle game with minor injuries, giant spiders and enormous snake attack children, boy stabs snake in mouth, bloody wounds shown, battles with powerful energy bolts)
Sex: None.
Nudity: None.
Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None.
Drugs: None.
Other: Frightening scenes featuring grotesque creatures, dead cat hanging by tail, threatening cobra snake, ghost of girl talks to children, witches and wizards portrayed in favorable manner with no reference to their evil nature
Running Time: 161 minutes
Intended Audience: Ages 8 and older
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