Delicious acting, and big action scenes.

Rating: Null/10 (11 November 2002)

Warning: From programme start to end credits, this is 3 hours long, check last train times before going to the Sunday night performance.
That said, you don't notice how long the film actually is. It buzzes along at a cracking pace. There is a lot of book to fit in, and time is very compressed and apart from 5 seconds of snow and a Christmas cake, there is no appreciation of the passage of a year. There is also little character development, we had that last time, but a lot more action.
The big action scenes, which have been beefed up for the film, are, naturally, the flying car, the Quidditch match, the Dark Forest, and the Chamber of Secrets itself. Steven Kloves, the screen writer, has managed to keep very well to the book, and where he has changed dialogue, it has not been as much of a caricature as in the first film.
The production designer is another credit to be mentioned. The attention to detail is phenomenal, from dozens of moving mandrakes (watch out for the one that bites Draco) to hundreds of books, each with their own dust jackets and in a number of cases content as well. Hagrid's hut and the Weasleys' home are both stuffed full of details: the self-washing up, the kitchen clock (remember it?) and all the other paraphernalia of an untidy home.
For the next instalment we get a new director (as well as a new Dumbledore), this may be a good thing. I noticed that in one or two places, Dan Radcliffe's timing was a bit off. He is the least accomplished of the three main actors and a new director may bring out a better performance.
Acting honours amongst the children once again goes to Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), it's a pity he only has one good scene. The polyjuice section in the Slytherin common room also gives an opportunity for the actors playing Crabbe and Goyle to do some acting rather than menacing. Tom, however, completely outclasses all the other kids. He's older and more experienced than the others and it shows. He has, played Jodi Foster's son in 'Anna and the King' (1999), and Peagreen Clock in 'Borrowers' (1997), which also features Mark Williams (Mr Weasley) in a reversal of good guy-bad guy roles.
Amongst the adults, acting credit goes to Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart) and Jason Isaacs (Mr Malfoy) the two new boys. At first it is something of a shock to see Branagh, he is not at all how I imagined Lockhart to look like, but this is soon forgotten through a consummate acting performance. He has got a smile (Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile) that makes women swoon, and men's fists itch. Every twinkle, every gesture, every cringe is Lockhart to a twitch. Watch the duelling scene closely - Branagh and Rickman facing off against each other. These two brilliant performers can act even with their backs, without saying a word, they are Lockhart and Snape.
Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy (I must admit a certain prejudice here) is delicious. He plays the role very cool and calm - here a pleasant word, there a fleeting smile - but watch out for that cane of his. Despite this affected air of civilization, beneath it simmers pure evil. It is amazing how much malevolence he can put into: 'Now, now, Draco, play nicely'. At the end he says to Dumbledore: 'Let us hope Mr Potter will always be around to save the day', but though the words may be conciliatory, every one of them drips hatred. Watch out too for the interaction between Isaacs and Felton, they work well together and their screen time is unfortunately limited (the Borgin and Burkes scene has been dropped, pity). Pay close attention to the Quidditch match where Draco falls off his broom, there is a fleeting, glimpse of Mr Malfoy (an addition to the book but worth it). Watch Malfoy's expression, it goes a long way to explaining why Draco is such an obnoxious git.
One final comment. There has been much talk about Dobby, the CG elf. Is he another Jar Jar Binks? No. Dobby is not trying to be a major character, he is played strictly for laughs and apart from anything else, the quality of the animation is much, much better, facial expressions and gestures create a believable character, rather than a plastic puppet.
Watch the film if you've read the book a long time ago, then re-read the book to remind yourself of the bits they left out. Don't watch the film if you have neither seen the first film, nor read any of the books.