Great continuing sequel

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2007)

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" picks up brilliantly where it's predecessor left off. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has spent his summer cut off from his friends and living with his abusive uncle and aunt. Fortunately Ron Weaselly (Rupert Grint) arrives to whisk him away in a flying car to begin some new adventures at Hogwarts Academy...
All the regulars return, including Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, Michael Gambon as Dumbledore and Maggie Smith as Mrs McGonigall. Also back is Emma Watson as the boys' friend Hermione. Some terrific set-pieces abound as Ron's car has a tense encounter with Hogwart's Express train, an icky encounter with a forest full of spiders and Harry's duel with a giant snake...
I liked Kenneth Branagh's turn as a cowardly braggart of a teacher, and the appearance of "Tom Riddle" near the end. Aided by some fine music and colourful special effects this is a worthy cinematic continuation of the "Harry Potter" story.