The Chamber of Secrets

The Chamber of Secrets is the second installment of the Harry Potter series and is also the second and last Harry Potter movie that director Chris Columbus ever did.

These two films are also, in my opinion, the closest any of the movies get to the novels. Chris Columbus knew what he was doing when he made these movies, and it shined through in both. He was dedicated to making the Chamber of Secrets as close to the book as he could get, and I think he really achieved it.

But enough about the movie for now, I must talk about the story itself.

The Chamber of Secrets takes place in Harry's second year at Hogwarts when he is 12 years of age. He's survived his first encounter with Voldemort since he was a baby, but he can't survive living at home with the Dursley's. The Dursley's are as cruel as ever and lock Harry up in his room after the house-elf Dobby shows up and dumps a cake on some very important Muggles after Harry refuses to stay away from Hogwarts.

The Weasley boys; Fred, George, and Ron come to save Harry from his bedroom in their enchanted flying Ford Anglia and take him to the Burrow where he stays with them until it's time to head off to Hogwarts. Before Harry can even get to Hogwarts though, he must ride the Hogwarts Express, which has been mysteriously barricaded from entrance. Not knowing what else to do, Harry and Ron fly the Ford Anglia to Hogwarts and crash it into the Whomping Willow, which then results in Ron's wand snapping.

More mysterious events unfold as Mrs Norris is petrified and found hanging from a torch underneath the words "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir beware."

The Chamber of Secrets has a similar formula to that of the Sorcerer's/Philospher's Stone. Something is amiss and it's up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione to find out. The only problem is, the whole school thinks that Harry is the one petrifying the students after he keeps showing up at the scene of the crime. It's a tough year for him at Hogwarts when everyone has turned against him, and it is only when Hermione is petrified that his classmates start to lighten up a bit.

This novel, while it may seem like not a whole lot is going on (other than a murder mystery without the murder), is actually very informative and has key components that help explain things later on in the series. We find out in Chamber of Secrets that Harry is a Parseltongue, something that only Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin can do, and that Tom Riddle was actually Voldemort's real name back when he looked like a normal person.

It turns out that Tom Riddle was going to school back when the Chamber of Secrets was first opened and that he was the one who opened it in the first place.

In order to go back again and finish what he started, Voldemort actually puts a bit of himself into a diary (which we all now know is a horcrux) and uses his Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy to set it all up so that the diary could fall into the hands of innocent Ginny Weasley and she could bring the diary back into the school.

Naturally, at the end of the story, Harry and Ron figure out what has been petrifying the students, cats, and ghosts of Hogwarts: a Basilisk, which is simply the giant serpent that when seen with the naked eye, can kill a person instantly. They find the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets in a girl's bathroom and set out on a rescue mission after Ginny has been taken. It is in the Chamber itself where Harry discovers Tom Marvolo Riddle has escaped the diary using Ginny's life source.

Up until this point, Harry has believed that Tom was a hero at Hogwarts, but the tide soon turns when Riddle admits that he opened the Chamber of Secrets before. He then baits Harry by asking him how he, a mere baby, could've defeated the greatest wizard of all time, and then reveals that TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE when switched around spells out I AM LORD VOLDEMORT (JK Rowling is so clever)

In the end, Harry destroys the diary by stabbing it with a the fang/venom from the Basilisk, after nearly being killed by the thing-thank goodness for phoenix's and their healing tears-and all is right in the world again.

Like I said before, the movie gets about as close to the book as you can get and retains that magical essence each installment contains. What's also so special about the film Chamber of Secrets is you get a glimpse at Daniel, Rupert, and Emma growing up. You can really tell the difference in Dan and Rupert's voices in this one, and I love seeing them in the "in-between" stage of puberty.

Well, there you have it! The Chamber of Secrets and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone are probably the only two Harry Potter books that really belong in the Children's Book genre. After this, the characters mature and the stories become a lot darker.

As for my opinion? I do not love or hate this book. It has parts I like to skip over and parts I think are so important on figuring out why Harry is the way he is and what happens in the rest of the novels.

-Buffyrules01

Deathly Hallows...a little too hallow?

When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out on July 15th, everyone I talked to about it were singing the films praises. They were unanimous in the love that they had for this last picture and were all planning on seeing it again.

I didn't get to see Harry Potter the day it came out, but I was able to see it the next day, and I have to honest with all of you. When I came out of the theater I wasn't in complete awe of what just happened, or bawling my eyes out like I thought I would. Instead...dare I say it...I was disappointed.

Now, this could've been due to the fact that I had just finished reading the Deathly Hallows two days prior and the book was still fresh in my mind. But after a week, I saw it again today and I still didn't get any overwhelming sensations.

It could be that my expectations were exceedingly high for this movie. I mean, after all, it was the last one of the series and they did separate it into two movies to get as much of the book into the films as possible. Or it could've also been that with everyone's talk of its greatness I was anticipating being blown away by the movies end.

This is where I must put up my spoil alert for those who haven't seen the movie. Although, for those of you who have read the books, there's really nothing to spoil. For those of you who have seen the movie, but haven't touched the books, I BEG of you to go do it as soon as possible. Honestly, Deathly Hallows Part 2 did not do the last part of the book the justice it deserves. I also must put up a spoiler for you lot as well, for I will be going over parts in the book as well.

The beginning of this movie started off well; right where we left off in the last movie. Harry, Ron, and Hermione talk to Griphook about their plan to break into Gringotts to get a horcrux, and they speak to Ollivander about Wand Lore. This is where the movie doesn't stray all that much from the book and I really enjoyed myself through this bit of footage as the gang make their way through the vaults, find the horcrux, and then escape the hoards of goblins coming for them with the help of a blind dragon.

Once they apparate to Hogsmeade though...it's like Steve Kloves just threw the book out the window and wrote his own version of the rest of the novel; the "What If?" version.

Honestly, I understand that when books are turned into movies, not everything can go in, that liberties must be taken. This has happened with every Harry Potter movie and I've been fine with it because the essence of the book still lived within each movie. But this?!

The movie starts off with them going to Gringotts and goes on from there, which is the last 205 pages of the book. That's it. 205 pages. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone was 309, that's about 100 page difference. And at 130 minutes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is actually the shortest HP film ever. The longest is Chamber of Secrets at 161, so why couldn't the filmmakers bother making this movie just a little bit longer in order to add a bit more of the book to the movie and give the HP films a proper send off? Why did they need to change/get rid of the best parts of the book and add in new stuff that wasn't needed?

Harry and Voldemort going off of a cliff and taking a joy ride through Hogwarts before crashing into the entrance to the Great Hall? Not needed

Harry, Ron, and Hermione weaving their way through the stairs while they try to kill Nagini with Basilisk fangs for a good few minutes? Not needed. In the book it was just a simple Neville-takes-sword-out-of-hat-and-slices-off-Nagini's-head. A little can go a long way.

And the biggest disappointment of all, the scene that I was looking forward to the most and seriously thought there couldn't be any way they could change it: the final battle between Harry and Voldemort. The movie completely destroyed this scene. What was supposed to be Harry's triumphant "Ah ha!" moment, where he completely psychs out Tom Riddle as they circle around each other in the Great Hall like vultures as everyone looks on, gone. People were fighting in the Great Hall all right, but Harry and Voldemort were just outside attacking each other with red and green streams of light until the moment they both realize the last horcrux is gone. Then, Harry just simply overpowers Tom's "Avada Kedavra" and Voldemort disintegrates into flesh confetti.

And the next scene? Harry just walks into the Great Hall and everyone acts like nothing happened.

...What?!

No!

Harry was supposed to explain to Voldemort why the Elder Wand wasn't working for him. It's probably one of the most intense scenes in the book. Just picture Harry and Voldemort circling each other-even if it's not in the Great Hall, but outside like in the movie-and Daniel Radcliffe says this:

"You still don't get it, Riddle, do you? Possessing the wand isn't enough! Holding it, using it, doesn't make it really yours. The wand chooses the wizard...The Elder Wand recognized a new master before Dumbledore died, someone who never even laid a hand on it. The new master removed the wand from Dumbledore against his will, never realizing exactly what he had done, or that the world's most dangerous wand had given him it's allegiance...The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy" (pg. 742)

The first time I ever read this in the novel, I had to stop and put it down for a second to take in this revelation. You realize before Voldemort does that Harry disarmed Draco, that he is the owner of the Elder Wand. Now, picture Daniel Radcliffe saying this to Lord Voldemort and tell me that you get chills down your spine reading this:

"So it all comes down to this, doesn't it? Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does...I am the true master of the Elder Wand" (pg 743).

Are you getting chills? I do every time I read this bit, it's absolutely brilliant and they didn't put it in the movie!

Other scenes that they completely took out or changed: No Ravenclaw Common Room and Harry's lack of Invisibility Cloak usage.

Again, these were parts in the novel I was most excited to see! When Harry and Luna sneak into the Ravenclaw Common Room using his Invisibility Cloak in order for him to get a proper look at what the lost diadem looks like. One Carrow is attacked, another tries to break in, and Harry reveals to everyone that he is back when one of the Carrows spits in Professor McGonagall's face and Harry knocks him out with a spell.

Simple, would've only taken a few minutes, they could've easily shortened Harry's scene with Helena Ravenclaw in the movies. Having Harry chase Helena around trying to get her to tell him where the diadem is hidden? Waste of perfectly good minutes.

The other scene again involves the final battle scene, but this one is just prior to Harry and Voldemort dueling. It's when Harry is pronounced dead and Riddle is mocking everyone.

In the aftermath of Neville killing Nagini, Harry (in the book) covers himself with his Invisibility Cloak and protects his fellow classmates unbeknownst to Voldemort. It is after Molly Weasley kills Bellatrix Lestrange, and Voldemort tries to kill her that Harry puts up a shield between him and once again reveals to everyone that he is back.

Then the circling of vultures begins...why couldn't the filmmakers include this? Why did Molly's duel with Bellatrix have to be some random short scene? While it was enjoyable and I will always applaud Molly Weasley for saying those memorable words (which I won't put here in case of younger children, but you all know what she said), that scene could've been above and beyond amazing.

Phew, I think my rant is over. Any of you still with me?

Do not worry folks, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. While I will always be disappointed that those scenes weren't put in, there are some very important, heart-wrenching scenes that were left in the movie. Scenes that I am grateful for and are probably what saved this movie for me (besides the amazing acting, special effects, and score of course. Those are a given in every Harry Potter film).

The Prince's Tale was both sad and moving (although it didn't bring me to tears, it was still sad). I think Severus Snape is one of the most complex characters in this series (he's up there with Dumbledore). JK Rowling really knows how to take you for a ride and I seriously believed in my heart that Snape was a bad guy and irredeemable for killing my beloved Professor. To find out that he was in love with Lily Potter, and always had been...blew me away. I was not expecting that at all in the book and I really liked how the movie added in it's own piece to the tale: Snape visiting Godric's Hallow after the incident and holding Lily as he and Harry both cry in the room (see I like some of the liberties they take!).

The other, like the final battle scene in the book, gave me chills, but for a very different reason. The Resurrection Stone scene. I get emotional every time I read that passage, and in the movie that was the only scene where I had to keep myself together and hold back the tears. Harry asking Sirius if it hurts to die and that LINE!!! The line that even now I cannot write because it makes me so emotional and I won't do it justice. Every.Single.Time. I read the book, I have to stop at this. These lines are so endearing and so sweet, I could see a five year old Harry saying something like this. I can't even-it's just-you know?

If they didn't put this into the movie, I would've left the theater right there in then with the rest of the people heading for the door. There's no way anyone could leave this out, and I am so thankful that they kept this in. This scene in the Forbidden Forest was perfectly done, word for word from the text.

I am almost done (some of you are probably rejoicing, I know this is very long and I apologize), but I have to say, that if you have not read the book-again I BEG YOU-PLEAD WITH YOU-do it! I know it may seem daunting, but you will thank me when you finish. You'll find out more about Dumbledore and get the epic battle scene you missed. And-for those who have seen the movie-you'll find out how Fred met his end and you'll be introduced to Teddy Lupin who sadly was only mentioned for a second on the screen.

Thank you all for staying with me. I hope this all makes sense when I post. Please feel free to discuss and argue with me in the comments. I look forward to it! :)

-Buffyrules01

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Review

The last time, I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was when I was in seventh grade which was about nine years ago. The first time I read it was when I was in the fourth grade. I’ve watched movie countless times but it is really, truly, magical to reread the first book that introduced me to my friends from Hogwarts. For those of you that have not read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or even watched the movie, the next little part will have a bit of a spoiler. But, if you have read the book and seen the movie - I hope I give the book the justice it deserves.


We first meet Harry when he is dropped off at number 4 Privet Drive to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. These are his only living relatives. We learn that his parents were killed when the most powerful, and most feared, wizard - Lord Voldemort - came to their house in Godric’s Hollow. We don’t learn, until later books, the reasoning behind the decision to kill Harry and his parents. After killing parents, first his father then his mother, Voldemort turned to kill Harry. The curse failed. We later learn that the reason the curse failed to kill Harry has something to do with the fact that his mother died protecting him. Her love for her son, somehow, protected him. Time passes, as it always does, and we meet up with Harry again ten years later. He’s the black sheep of the family. His aunt and uncle use him as a servant basically and get very upset when things happen that are not normal. Eventually, Harry receives his letter to Hogwarts when Hagrid delivers it to him in person. Hagrid and Harry then go to Diagon Alley where Harry gets his books and supplies for school. The real fun starts once Harry arrives at school. During Halloween a troll gets into the school, Harry and Ron run-off to inform Hermione, who had been in the girl’s bathroom, that there is a troll in the school. They come across the troll and lock-it into a room. When they hear a scream Harry and Ron realize they locked it into the girl’s bathroom and they rush to save Hermione and, through teamwork, they come out unscathed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are officially friends. During Christmas, Harry receives his father’s invisibility cloak. Around the same time, Hagrid comes into possession of a dragon’s egg and Malfoy finds out about it. Thankfully, Harry and Hermione are able to help Hagrid send the dragon, named Norbert, off to Ron’s brother Charlie in Romanian. However, the trio gets caught by Filch and they lose 150 points for Gryffindor - Neville also gets caught. Along with the lost points they are given detention that is served in the Forbidden Forest. Fast forward to the end of the term, once they have finished their exams, and they realize that Professor Snape is going to be going down the trapdoor that is guarding the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry, Ron, and Hermione head off to try and keep Snape from getting the stone. Ron is injured in a game of wizard chess. Hermione helps Harry get through Snape’s protection detail on the stone before going back to help Ron and send word to Dumbledore. And, Harry goes on to find the stone without his friends. The shocker, at least for Harry, is that it isn’t Professor Snape that went after the stone. It is Professor Quirrell. We also learn that Lord Voldemort is alive, but just barely. He only has form when he shares another’s body and he is strengthened by unicorn’s blood. Harry ends up defeating Professor Quirrell and Lord Voldemort leaves Professor Quirrell to die. Dumbledore saves Harry. And, Harry comes to in the hospital/infirmary at Hogwarts. He is able to heal fully enough to attend the End of Term Feast where Slytherin is celebrating their House Cup victory. Dumbledore, however, gives some last minute points and Gryffindor wins the House Cup. Harry, Ron, and Hermione then go home and promise to keep in touch over the summer while Harry plans ways to tease/torment Dudley, his cousin, who doesn’t know he is not allowed to use magic outside of school.

The movie version, which came to theaters in November 2001, follows along with the basic plot. The acting is very good and I enjoy watching it to this day. My only complaint about the movie though is the fact that Daniel Radcliffe was cast as Harry Potter. Before you all jump to conclusions it should be mentioned that I love the acting done by all the actors and actresses. Why then do I wish Daniel Radcliffe hadn’t been cast as Harry Potter? Well, from sixth grade to eighth grade I had the unfortunate nickname of Harry Potter. Apparently, there was a very close resemblance between me and Daniel Radcliffe in our facial structure and voice. I could even pull off a British accent and quote the movie, at least Harry’s lines, word-for-word. It was great! Among friends and family. Then I entered high school and my peers grew up… somewhat. Now, you might be wondering why I’m telling you this… honestly, it makes me laugh now but when I was a middle-schooler it was hard to deal with especially considering the fact that I was, and still am, a girl. But, now… it’s just funny. Especially when you consider the fact that now Daniel Radcliffe and one of my brother’s could be twins, or at least siblings. Actually, scratch that… it’s just weird.

Because of the fact that our very own buffyrules01 did a 7 books in 7 days, I am going to include the time it took me to read this book - 3 hours 28 min. - as well as the other books in the series.

Until next time.

-scarc91989

7 Books in 7 Days

Yes, I have done it my friends. Just a few hours ago I finished reading the last few pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. And I feel in one word: relieved.

For the past 7 days I have immersed myself in the world that I grew up in as a child. Now that I'm adult, the feelings and love I have for this series still have not changed.

When I first opened Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone on July 7th, warm memories of the past flooded back to me. It was like being reacquainted with old friends I hadn't seen or heard from in years; and less face it, I was.

JK Rowling has created something truly spectacular in this series, and I know that it is not something that will fade away with time. Even now, as I write out these very words, people of all ages are getting ready for the end of this franchise. I know some across the pond have already seen it and are singing the last movies praises, but for the rest of us tonight will be the final curtain.

I've heard people say that after tonight, it's the end of their childhood. I'd have to say I agree with them. I remember the first time I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; when it was over I just felt empty, hallow. I didn't want it to end, and so I just kept telling myself over and over "there's still the movies, there's still the movies," so that in some way I could convince myself that Harry Potter hadn't truly ended; there was still time.

Tonight will change everything.

8 movies that have spanned over the course of a decade, and it all ends in just a few hours.

Are you excited? Nervous? Dumbfounded? I'd say I'm all three.

Going back to the books themselves, I don't think I've ever actually read the entire series in it's entirety (shocking, I know). I've gone through and read my favorites every now and then, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've read all 7 in order, and it's certainly the first time I've ever read them in such a short amount of time and timed myself.

Now, I will admit that I could've finished the series two days ago, for it was two days ago that I actually finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but I wanted to take my time with last one and really enjoy it for what it was: a great novel.

That being said, my experience with reading all of the books and timing myself was, to say the least, very interesting and eye opening. I've never known how long it would take me to get through certain books before, and knowing that I had a time limit made things exciting (not that I'm saying the Harry Potter books are boring of course, they are FAR from boring). It made me want to keep pushing along as I turned each page, my family members looking at me like I was crazy in the process.

I loved doing this, but I must confess that there was a downside to reading all 7 HP books in 7 days: lack of enjoyment. I honestly would not recommend blazing through each book, one after the other, in just a few hours. It really does put a bit of a damper on the enjoyment of reading the series when you're trying to get through it as fast as possible. Although I did love being reunited with old friends and reading my favorite bits and passages and did (like I said before) enjoy this, I will say that the only time I would do this again would be to see if my reading speed had gotten any faster. Other than that, I think I'll just stick to taking breaks between chapters and reading at a leisurely pace so that it takes a couple days to get through the books rather than a few hours.

And I'm sure some of you are curious and wondering what my times were. Here they are:

Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone: 2:25:43

Chamber of Secrets: 2:51:38.9

Prisoner of Azkaban: 3:13:45.8

Goblet of Fire: 5:44:57.2

Order of the Phoenix: 6:19:57.3

Half-Blood Prince: 4:46:40.3

Deathly Hallows: 7:17:49.4

Some of these were a bit surprising to me, the main one being that I somehow managed to read Half-Blood Prince faster than Goblet of Fire. The only answer I have for that, is Goblet of Fire happens to be one of my favorites and Half-Blood Prince one of my least favorites, so I took more time with Goblet to enjoy it and blasted through Half-Blood to get through it.

So, what do you think? Tell us your favorite novels! Or maybe even time yourself while you read and let us know your times!

And of course, our next posts will be our reviews on the final movie, so keep an eye out for that!

-Buffyrules01

Announcement from the Slayer

Hello all!

As you can see from the slight changes to our blog, we are going to take a short break from our Twilight escapades and give you something far superior.

That's right, we're giving you Harry Potter! FOR THE WHOLE MONTH! In celebration (or in my case, mourning) of the last movie and Harry and JK Rowling's birthday at the end of this month.

During this time we will go over the books, characters, and movies; countdown the days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out-AND-starting on July 7th I will be venturing into what will be known as "7 books in 7 days" where I will be reading all seven Harry Potter books in a week before Harry Potter 7.2 comes out. I'll have until July 14th at 11:59pm to do it, and I will be marking my progress and timing myself the entire time.

We are so very excited for this month and hope that you will join us! Feel free to send in Harry Potter doodles if you'd like!

-Buffyrules01