Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) returns to Hogwarts for his next year of studies in wizardry, but even before he leaves home it is clear that this year will be as eventful as the last. First, he finds a house elf called Dobby bouncing on his bed, who wants to prevent him returning to school because he will be at great risk. Then he fails to catch the train to Hogwarts because the barrier to the platform mysteriously refuses to let him through, so he and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) 'borrow' the Weasley family's magical flying car to get to school a trip that is more than a little eventful.
Even on arrival, things are far from normal. The school caretaker's cat is found to be petrified, with a mysterious message written on the wall nearby referring to a Chamber of Secrets. Then it is the students who begin to turn up in a petrified state. Harry and his friends must solve the mystery to protect the other students and prevent Hogwarts being taken from the control of popular headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris).
This is a fine family adventure, with plenty of visuals to enjoy plus an accomplished cast making the most of their great fantasy roles. The three leads do a good job as the young wizards in training, and the Hogwarts staff are as appealing as ever. Hogwarts life remains the ultimate in schooldays wish-fulfilment, with its fast and dangerous Quiddich games and fascinating classes. The magical world having been introduced in the first film, this one is able to embark on the action from the first without wasting much time on background information.