Related: • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

John Hiscock (The Telegraph) says, "Wisely, scriptwriter Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus once again are faithful to the book, although Columbus, more confident this time, deftly takes advantage of Rowling's wildly imaginative story to add some visual touches and twists of his own. The dark and grimly topical tale … gives Columbus the chance to indulge himself with fascinatingly realistic special effects and riveting action sequences."

Lizzie Rusbridger (The Guardian) says, "Children and adults around the country, breathe easy—the magic of Harry Potter is as potent as ever in film. Secrets is darker, funnier and finer than its forerunner. Parents, be warned—this film is quite long, although probably not long enough for the absolute Harry Potter fanatic. It has only been shortened by the brief but sickeningly cheesy Hollywood ending; the only point where we wring our hands and ask why it had not remained a perfect book."

Based on the second book in the successful series, the movie finds Harry back at school with his charming cohorts and nefarious rivals, caught up in a troubling mystery. Students are being turned into stone one by one, and it's up to Potter and Co. to find out who's responsible and how to stop them.

Concerned parents and pastors are again raising their voices that the Potter books preach sorcery and paganism to children. Some Christian readers and moviegoers counter those criticisms by saying that the nay-sayers should look closer at the meaning of the Potter stories.

In the first religious media press review of the film, Gerri Pare (Catholic News) addresses some Christians' concerns over Harry Potter's "magic" and the quality of the film itself. "It is to be stressed, as with its predecessor, the film is only a fantasy—not a course in witchcraft—so it is not attempting to undermine Catholic beliefs. Harry is out to thwart evil and protect his fellow students even at the risk of his own safety. Children too young to understand the difference between fantasy and reality are not the appropriate audience."

On this film's craftsmanship, Pare writes, "Some of the magic is missing. The two hours and 40 minutes feels really long in sections where the exposition is plodding and the pace lags." Pare adds, "The grand finale where Harry must face down the gigantic serpent is probably too frightening."

Shelvia Dancy (Ethics Daily) hears from two writers on the subject. Connie Neal (author of The Gospel According to Harry Potter) says, "Some people will tell you they've found 64 specific places where Harry Potter illustrates witchcraft, but my approach was that I could do the same thing and find the gospel. I found more than 80 parallels. Once you start looking for it, you get an eye for it and you see it everywhere you look." The Rev. Francis Bridger, principal of Trinity Theological College in Bristol, England, calls the Potter stories "an enormous opportunity for speaking about Christian themes and truths and ideas. The books open the door for talking about things such as right and wrong, the nature of faith, loyalty, bravery and trust."

Amy Hollingsworth, contributing writer at Crosswalk, gives a mother's testimony about encountering the movie with her son: "When my son and I exited the theatre … he didn't once mention an oppressive desire to worship Satan or to turn people to stone or to fly on broomsticks. His first remark (one he returned to again and again) was concerning the scene, depicted rather benignly by a flash of light, where Harry's mother is killed trying to save him, then a baby. My son didn't take away a fascination for the occult, only the thing that touched him the most: a young boy losing his mother. He noted the loss; I noted the sacrifice. Powerful images, heartfelt lessons—not the kind likely to be spawned from the loins of Beelzebub."

Mainstream reviewers are debating whether this film is better than the last. Kirk Honeycutt (Hollywood Reporter) is disappointed for several reasons: "The sense of discovery … is missing. In its stead comes frantic activity. Characterization takes a back seat to action. Rather than shape [Rowling's] material for cinematic purposes, [screenwriter Steven] Kloves and Columbus retain the most tangential subplots and weakest characters. What plays like an intriguing side excursion on the printed page merely gums up the works in a film that at 161 minutes feels as bloated as an overfed child wobbling away from the Christmas table."

At the popular "film geek" site Ain't It Cool News, critic Harry Knowles offers it "a great deal of praise." But he adds a harsh criticism: "It is better than the first Harry Potter film, however it still has an excruciatingly awful ending that just never seems to end … 20 minutes of excruciatingly self-congratulatory pats on the backs and clappings and hugs and presentations, and huge entrances and laaaadeeedaaas."

When Harry makes a dramatic return to the campus at Hogwarts School for Wizards, he discovers that there is danger on the loose. A mysterious villain has opened a "chamber of secrets" and unleashed a powerful monster that is turning students into stone. Harry, once again smarter than his teachers, must investigate the mystery with his two loyal friends and break school rules along the way.

The new adventure is told with more confidence, better pacing, and more elaborate special effects. Columbus turns down the volume on sentimentality and the John Williams score, and makes Chamber of Secrets funnier and more exciting than Sorcerer's Stone. But it is also long and scarier than the first movie—much scarier. Parents should think twice before buying tickets for small children. The spiders and snakes preying on poor Harry are the stuff of serious nightmares.

But moviegoers will probably find this episode more compelling for several reasons. The idea of hidden villains is increasingly more real to us, as reports of terrorists and snipers dominate the news.

New grownup cast members Kenneth Branagh, Rosemary Harris, Miriam Margolyes, and The Patriot's Jason Isaacs bring so much humor and enthusiasm to the proceedings, they'll make George Lucas's straitjacketed Star Wars actors want to switch franchises.

Moreover, Chamber provides many moral lessons. Harry is again tempted to use his talents for evil, but he learns that a hero is defined not by abilities, but by choices. Viewers will find that the story also has other things on its mind: the challenges of adolescence and the problems of prejudice. My exploration of this Potter episode is posted at Looking Closer.

Most mainstream reviewers herald Potter's return as reason to celebrate. Roger Ebert calls it "a glorious movie. What's developing here, it's clear, is one of the most important franchises in movie history. J.K. Rowling … has created a mythological world as grand as Star Wars, but filled with more wit and humanity."

But Peter T. Chattaway (Vancouver Courier) says, "Instead of making great cinema or great drama out of Rowling's book, [the filmmakers] faithfully cram as many of the book's plot twists as possible into their two-and-a-half-hour running time. In doing so, they unintentionally sacrifice much of the story's personality and charm."

Stephanie Zacharek (Salon.com) agrees: "Columbus doesn't understand the difference between adaptation and painstaking translation: He moves along from plot point to plot point as if he were filling in a giant sheet of graph paper."

Religious press critics widely disagreed about the film. (An early review was included in last week's edition.)

Michael Medved claims the film is vastly better than the first installment in the series.

But Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) says, "What the first story had that this sequel necessarily lacks—and has nothing to make up for—is the thrill of discovery, the sense of wonder. Without the advantage of novelty it feels 20 or 30 minutes too long." Marie Asner (The Phantom Tollbooth) and John Evans (Preview) agree that the film's running time is "a bit trying."

Mike Hertenstein (Cornerstone) describes it as "suspense dipped in dread, and swirled throughout with fresh teenage angst. Harry's identification with classical images of Christ figures shows the moral center of this series is dead-on. He continues to learn … that the evil power which must first be defeated is not in the Other, but within oneself." Referring to the appearance of a phoenix, Hertenstein says, "It's impossible not to think of the phoenix legend as a Christian symbol, which it has been since the early church fathers recognized this ancient pagan myth of death and resurrection as an image of Christ. Likewise, the not-so-ancient myth of Harry Potter reminds us that innocence is preserved only by self-sacrifice and rebirth."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) praises Columbus and the cast, and he explains, "We can see that Rowling's fantasy imagination has its roots in the real world and involves issues which man has continually faced throughout history." The film's themes are further highlighted at DickStaub.com; questions for after-viewing discussion are offered there as well.

Beliefnet offers an article on parallels between Harry Potter and Christ, and features a debate on the subject that includes writers John Killinger (God, The Devil, and Harry Potter), Richard Abanes (Fantasy and Your Family), Patrick Madrid, (editor of the Catholic magazine Envoy), and professors Thomas L. Martin (Florida Atlantic University), and Andrew Blake (King Alfred's College, Winchester, U.K.)

Families seeking to help their children glean good lessons from Harry Potter should check out Christian author Connie Neal (www.connieneal.com), who provides a variety of resources emphasizing the use of metaphor and myth in Harry Potter and how these are wonderful tools for reinforcing readers' understanding of the Gospel.

Paul Chinn (Relevant Magazine) addresses criticism that Harry Potter re-packages Satanism for a new generation. "I am not arguing that witchcraft and the occult are not dangerous. They are. But that isn't what Harry Potter is about." Chinn reminds us that popular Christian writer and commentator Charles Colson calls the wizardry "purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic. That is, Harry and his friends cast spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals – but they don't make contact with a supernatural world. … [It's not] the kind of real-life witchcraft the Bible condemns." Colson also praises Harry and his friends for their "courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another – even at the risk of their lives."

Holly McClure (Crosswalk) writes, "Parents, think back to when you were a kid. Remember how much fun it was to see movies filled with fantasy and magic? Did you survive? Did it change your faith or lifestyle after you saw that movie?" She says to parents, "It is important that you be the gatekeeper for your children."

Lindy Beam (Focus on the Family) avoids taking sides on the magic issue. "What will be easy for both sides to agree on is that the violence and fear factors in this movie are quite inappropriate for the younger portion of Harry's intended audience."

Douglas Downs (Christian Spotlight) claims the film "glorifies the occult in a glamorous way. My strong recommendation (as with the first film) is to skip it. I find all of the content, as a Christian parent, very offensive."

Yahoo News and Ananova News report that the Rev. Douglas Taylor, leader of the Jesus Party in Lewiston, Maine, led a group in cutting up Harry Potter books on the film's opening night. (The city would not give him a burning permit, so he was left to scissors.) Taylor represents a vocal group of Christians who believe the books promote witchcraft and paganism.

"I feel like I'm in a cutting mood tonight," said Taylor. "It's no secret that I enjoy what I'm doing right now." Referring to Rowling's series, he declared, "You get involved in this, it's gonna make you dirty." Outside the "party," which was held at a hotel, about 25 Potter fans protested. Taylor explained, "'I am a soldier of Christ. ' A pagan is not a soldier of Christ. That makes the pagan my enemy tonight."

Ted Baehr (Movieguide) acknowledges that the film is "slightly better constructed and more emotionally involving than the first movie." He also points out that it is dangerous to make heroes out of kids who break school rules. But on the subject of magic, he says the book is possessed of "a strong occult worldview with a nominalistic philosophy" and it "has the power to destroy."

Christian film critic Phil Boatwright (Movie Reporter) shares similar sentiments: "If God is instructing us to avoid occult practices, how can we justify using it to entertain ourselves? When an author makes a billion dollars on four books that have sorcery as their main theme, and … critics hail it as incredible filmmaking without examining its occultic roots, I question what's really behind this phenom. Satan is most alluring with a glossed-over package."

Mike Parnell (Ethics Daily), pastor of Burgaw Baptist Church in Burgaw, North Carolina, offers his review of the film. "The movie helps us see the growing role of Harry Potter as deliverer and savior of his people. Harry knows it is not important what people think of him. What matters is doing what he was sent to do, which is delivering the people. And in the end, those relationships aid him in his hour of need."

Roger Thomas (Ethics Daily) writes, "Is this film worth all the praise and attention? Most definitely. The effects … are better. The acting, especially among the young actors, has more depth. The sets and costumes are a wonder to behold. Visually, this is a stunning piece of filmmaking."

Both pastors address the widespread condemnation of the Potter saga within the church.

Parnell adds, "I am amazed at the negativity that Harry Potter gets from Christians. For many Christians, the use of magic signals Satanic overtones. Yet watching the movie and allowing the metaphor to speak, one can see classic Christian symbols. The idea of salvation is evident here. There are scenes of peril that could upset younger children, so it is best not to allow those under eight to see this movie. But for older children still moved by metaphor and its magic, this is a wonderful movie. It shines in its story and its portrayal. It can help parents talk to their children about the nature of fame (which has become a national obsession) and its consequences. There is also the opportunity to speak to the idea of being who you are in spite of others' opinions."

Thomas says, "In a day when Christians should be screaming for investigations of corporate scandal and decrying religious leaders who spout hate speech and intolerance, much can be discerned about those who choose to focus their time and energy on the protest of one of the most imaginative and creative fantasies of this generation. As for those who see the Harry Potter series for what it truly is—great entertainment, first and foremost, filled with lessons about friendship, courage, loyalty and love—there is only one choice. See Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as soon as possible."

Wayman and Conklin's review explains, "A final lesson of this chapter of Rowling's saga is the emphasis on the Phoenix, dying and rising to new life and helping those who have the courage and loyalty needed to defeat evil. Its red wings bring just what is needed to Harry, just as the experience of God's providential provision and healing has empowered humanity for centuries."

Chattaway writes, "Harry is beginning to find his place within an established tradition, and this can speak very powerfully in this day and age to people who feel rootless and long to be connected to a community with a past. If anything, Christian parents should be able to embrace this longing, and to encourage their children to find its fulfillment in our own faith, which has a colorful history and tradition of its own."

Pastor Younger replies to a Potter-bashing correspondent, saying "You are, of course, right that there are real enemies of God's grace out there, but Harry isn't one of them."

But it can't hurt that this week the Vatican came forward with an official opinion on whether the boy wizard is an evil influence on youngsters. The representative for the Catholic Church did not specify whether the Pope had advance-ordered Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the next installment in J.K. Rowling's phenomenally successful series of novels. Meanwhile, Movieguide's Ted Baehr continues to argue that the Goblet of Fire will lead kids straight to the eternal goblet of fire with its "selfish, occult, New Age worldview." He calls it "visual terrorism."

Movieguide concludes the article with (count them) four exclamation points: "This news disproves the lie that the pagan witchcraft in Harry Potter has no effect on children, teenagers, or adults. It does!!!!"

Does a witch spokesperson's boast about paganism, and the opinion of a history professor, add up to proof that these beloved fairy tales are corrupting the youth that read them?

For a remarkably different testimony about the power of J. K. Rowling's myth, click here. This testimony—at last, a personal testimony—illustrates how Harry Potter changed one child's heart and mind—in a way that has nothing to do with witchcraft.

And for an in-depth look at what many Christians are missing in their rush to judge the series, read this study provided by Jerram Barrs, Resident Scholar at the Francis Schaeffer Institute. "It is a tragedy in that there are many people who have failed to read the books with an open mind," Barrs writes. "The Word of God challenges us to be prepared to celebrate anything that is good and true, wherever it is found. Sadly, I think there are many people who are unable to see the good qualities that are there, either in the Harry Potter books or in much else in popular culture. Many of those who have criticized the books to me personally have not even read them."

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