The little wizard casts his spell

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2003)

Few book-to-film adaptations retain the original gusto of the novel, but this is one of the rare exceptions that proves it can be done. The Chamber of Secrets manages to hit all the high points that made the novel a bestseller. Die-hard fans will delight in the fact that their favorite book passages are almost all accounted for, from the Polyjuice Potion to the famous Wizard's Duel (a personal favorite scene of mine).
The storyline is fairly easy to follow, and the visual dynamics much improved over "The Sorcerer's Stone." It's an excellent adaptation and an exciting adventure that pits good against evil in a powerful showdown. All of our favorite characters are back again for a second term at Hogwarts. Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton have beautifully conformed to their roles as Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. It's fantastic to see how these kids have grown, both physically and talent-wise. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are both memorable as Ron and Hermione. Grint in particular has some of the best lines in the film. Some of the best delights, however, come from the adult cast. Alan Rickman, while seriously underused, is deliciously sinister as the infamous Professor Snape, Kenneth Branagh makes a believable and over-the-top Professor Lockhart, and Jason Isaacs is ideal for the villainous Lucius Malfoy.
There's also a delightfully creepy house-elf named Dobby, a few befuddled owls, and a tree with a bad temper. It's a wonderful, swift-moving, imaginative film with a lot of wonderful lessons for children to take heed of -- including prejudice, and choosing between right and wrong. If you have a Potter fan in the household, you'll enjoy the movie for its faithfulness to the book. "The Chamber of Secrets" has indeed been opened...