Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Director Chris Columbus bows out of the Harry Potter franchise with a competent, workmanlike effort that retells JK Rowling’s plot but fails to capture the novel’s spirit or essence. The second film in the cinematic cash cow sees Hogwarts students Harry, Ron, and Hermione try to uncover the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets.

As a series of students become petrified – turned to stone, that is, although very young audience members might find themselves equally scared by some intense set-pieces – everyone wants to know who’s leaving mysterious messages about the imminent arrival of the heir of Slytherin. As panic starts to spread, the wand of suspicion points directly in Harry’s direction… —BBC.co.uk