Summary
Movie adaptations of novels afford new versions of the story opportunities that simply aren’t possible in the source material. As such,Harry Potter’s change in medium allowed certain aspects of the story to be approached in new ways. The introduction of a visual element is never one that should be underestimated, as proven by the fact that one shot inThe Chamber of Secretssneakily resolves the 2002 movie’s biggest enigmaless than halfway through.
10 Scenes In Chamber Of Secrets That Become Important Later In Harry Potter
The Harry Potter universe is very well-drawn, and the second installment, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, foreshadows many important scenes.
Dumbledore’s Conformation Of The Chamber Being Opened Is Immediately Followed By A Shot Of Its Entrance
The Hogwarts Headmaster accidentally tells the audience how the Chamber can be accessed
When Harry is in Hogwarts' hospital wing and recovering from his bone-vanishing Quidditch injury, he overhears a conversation between Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. The exchange focuses on the Chamber of Secrets unfortunately having opened.Nothing any of the characters say in the scene gives away the location of the Chamber’s entrance, as none of them yet know how it’s accessed. However, after Dumbledore tells his colleague, “It is as we feared, Minerva. The Chamber of Secretshas indeed been opened again,” the movie artfully transitions from Harry’s shocked expression to the bank of sinks that conceal the Chamber’s entrance.
By having Dumbledore unknowingly introduce the movie’s next shot, his ignorance regarding how to access the Chamber of Secrets is highlighted.
The moment is something of a very subtle fourth wall break. It makes perfect sense for the movie to head to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom at that moment, but the way it’s achieved is a massive wink to the story’s near future. By having Dumbledore unknowingly introduce the movie’s next shot, his ignorance regarding how to access the Chamber of Secrets is highlighted.The shot also gently teases the coming danger to Harry, Ron, and Hermione by having them work so close to the foreboding sinks.
The Popularity Of The Harry Potter Books Probably Saved This From Being A Spoiler
The Chamber of Secrets hint is only easy to spot in certain conditions
It was the immense success of theHarry Potterbooks that brought about the movie adaptations. So, most of the second movie’s original viewers would likely have been aware ofThe Chamber of Secrets' endingand its other key events. Therefore, such a loaded shot of the sinks so early in the movie would just have been an exciting Easter Egg rather than a spoiler. Inversely, for those who went into watchingHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secretswithout reading the book, the meta moment is just subtle enough to avoid revealing the twist ahead of time.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Cast
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second installment in the Harry Potter film series, directed by Chris Columbus. Released in 2002, it follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they face new challenges at Hogwarts, including ominous threats linked to the legendary Chamber of Secrets.
