Young Saint Louis.com asked Eddie Szewczyk of Belleville, Ill., to review the new Harry Potter movie. You'll remember that last November he did an exclusive review for the first movie, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

By Eddie Szewczyk
(Special to Young Saint Louis.com)

Calling all Harry Potter fans! The youthful wizard's return to the silver screen in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is another "can't miss" cinematic experience.

Last year, you'll remember I said you'd absolutely love the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" movie.

The second movie is absolutely awesome.

Eddie Szewczyk

This newest installment in the Harry Potter series had a pretty tall order to follow after last year's film. But, the film adaptation of author J.K. Rowling's famous series doesn't disappoint Muggle fans.

In the new movie, Harry returns for his second year of training at that esteemed institute of higher learning, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.

After a dreary summer at the home of his muggle relatives, the Dursleys, Harry is looking forward to escaping to familiar school surroundings. But, he has plenty of trouble getting back to school.

The Dursleys are determined to keep Harry away from all magic and wizardry. They forbid him to even mention the word "magic." Also, they keep Harry's owl, Hedwig, in a cage all summer and put iron bars on Harry's bedroom window.

To make matters worse, the Dursleys aren't the only ones trying to keep Harry from Hogwarts.

Enter one house-elf named Dobby. He's an ugly but somehow cute little creature. And wild, mischievious antics are part of his nature.

Dobby actually thinks that keeping Harry from Hogwarts will protect the wizard-to-be. Dobby has overheard plots and threats of the most vile nature against Harry.

Of course, these challenges only make Harry more determined to get back to school.

But, the burning question for Harry is how to escape.

His buddy, Ron Weasley, comes to the rescue. Driving his Dad's flying automobile, Ron and his brothers break Harry out of his bedroom jail.

And, in short order, Harry is deep into his next adventure.

Surprises are in store down every hallowed Hogwartz hallway. Our young wizard has to face down new as well as old foes.

The plot gets serious when whispered rumors give way to petrified cats and wizards.

Harry realizes someone or something is doing its best to strike fear into the deepest chambers of Hogwarts.

The plot gets more sinister by the minute. And, Harry and Ron end up facing many of them alone. Their friends Hermoine, the half-giant Hagrid and Professor Dumbledore all are knocked out of action. Hermoine ends up petrified. (She gets unpetrified later with the help of a new magic potion.)

Harry and Ron get some help from a new faculty member.That's celebrity-in-waiting wizard, Gilderoy Lockhart. They find the entrance to the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

They are surprised to find a fellow student, Tom Marvolo Riddle, waiting deep in the chamber. That's when Riddle reveals his real identity. The letters of his Muggle name are rearranged in fire to read, "I am Lord Voldermort."

The evil Lord has reared his ugly head in yet another deviously attempt to kill Harry.

Voldermort releases the most horrifying secret of all. That's a giant serpent that is so evil and terrifying the mention of his name is forbidden in the deepest depths of the forbidden forest.

The chase begins. First, there are rivers of spiders that Harry and Ron escape with help of Ron's flying car. Then, the serpent chases Harry through the sewers of Hogwarts.

Harry gets help when Dumbledore's pet bird, the Phoenix, who blinds the serpent. Harry is able to finally kill the serpent with a magic sword.

There's one more showdown with Voldermort. With help of his wand, Harry's good magic wins. Voldermort vanishes in a blaze of light.

After his experiences, a more mature Harry Potter questions Professor Dumbledore. Harry asks about the meaning of his destiny and the paths he's chosen.

Dumbledore replies, "It's not our abilities that show who we are. It's our choices."

That marks the end of Harry's second year at Hogwarts. Then, it's back to the Muggle world until the next adventure. That's due to come in movie form in the fall of 2003.

Many of the same characters and actors from the "Sorcere's Stone" return for this movie.

But, in the third movie, there'll have to be a new Professor Dumbledore. Actor Richard Harris died his fall so he won't be around to play the enchanting headmaster of Hogwarts.

Lots of new creatures and fantastic beasts were introduced in this "Chamber of Secrets" movie.

But, some of our favorite scenes from the first movie return, including a Quidditch match. This match had even more spine tingling, hair-raising rides.

You'll love this movie as much as the first. Harry Potter again grabs our fascination as surely as he grabs the game-winning snitch in the game of Quidditch.

(Editor's note: Eddie Szewczyk (pronounced, Sev-chek) is now 14 years old. He's a freshman at Saint Louis University High in St. Louis. He is a paid reporter for the Radio Disney station in St. Louis. He's also starred in a movie that won first prize in a recent San Diego, Calif., movie festival.)