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HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (PG)

Plot Summary: A young wizard is back for year two at Hogwarts school of sorcery, and finds himself haunted by a strange and threatening voice.

Reason for the Rating: Intense scary moments, violence, and mild language.

Where can you find flying cars, plants that come alive and emit deadly shrieks, pixies, ghosts, and gigantic spiders? In the fantasy world of Harry Potter, of course.

HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS follows the high-flying (literally) adventures of Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. Ignoring the warnings of Dobby the house elf that it’s unsafe to return to the school for wizards, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) breaks free from his doltish Muggle relatives, and flies back to Hogwarts with the help of his best friend, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and an enchanted car. There they join Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and their other friends for another year of magic--and danger.

Harry begins hearing a voice that seems to come from the walls, and is troubled when no one else is able to hear or understand the voice. Then he begins corresponding with a boy named Tom Riddle through the pages of a diary—as Harry writes the ink is absorbed into the diary and Tom’s responses magically appear on the page. These lead Harry to another life-threatening adventure, mixed with plenty of humor, wonderful special effects, and a few lessons learned about friendship and life choices.

Chris Columbus returns as director of this second Potter movie, and retains the same dark overtones and faithfulness to the books as written by J. K. Rowling. He’s reassembled the cast from the first movie, including excellent actors such as Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane. Rupert Grint is once again delightful as Ron Weasley, and the cast is improved with the addition of Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Richard Harris, who embodied kindly headmaster Albus Dumbledore, passed away before the release of Chamber of Secrets, and will be difficult to replace in future films.

Those who objected to the Harry Potter books and the first movie will no doubt object to CHAMBER OF SECRETS--and we at FamilyFans.com certainly respect their opinions. But this movie does have redeeming points which provide a wonderful starting point for discussions of faith and moral choices among people from a variety of religious (or non-religious) backgrounds. For instance, Harry learns he naturally speaks a language that links him to a less-than-reputable character, and he must figure out if this link will determine his destiny or if his own heart and actions will set his course in life. He also deepens the bonds of friendship with several characters, and considers the consequences of small kindnesses to others.

In all, this is an entertaining fantasy that many older children--and adults--will enjoy. If you and your family members do choose to see this movie, however, be sure to discuss the difference between the fantasy magic in Harry Potter and the dangers of real-life Wiccan beliefs and practices.

Oh, and if you are among those who disapprove of Harry Potter in general, we understand and support your decision for your family. But please don't send us any more hate mail about it---we've received enough venomous letters from otherwise "loving Christians" (who have condemned us, CS Lewis, and others straight to hell!) over this issue already. Thanks! :-)

FamilyFans.com Recommends: If you liked the first Potter movie, don’t miss this one! If you objected to the first one, stay home and read a good book instead.

After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:

---Harry learns he’s linked to someone with an evil reputation and wonders if he’ll follow in this man’s footsteps. How do our family members shape our choices and actions? How can you be a positive influence on those in your home?

---When Harry makes a bad choice, such as helping Ron steal a car, it’s a funny adventure that turns out to be a near-deadly experience. How are choices like these likely to turn out in real life? How can you make good choices, even if your friends don’t?

---The fantasy magic in CHAMBER OF SECRETS ranges from silly to scary. How do you think that compares to real-life witchcraft and the Wiccan religion? 

Mike Nappa