Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Dobby the House Elf lets us know right away that the second film installment of J.K. Rowling’s monstrously popular book series is not going to pussyfoot around the dark side of magic. “Terrible things are about to happen,” warns the tiny, self-flagellating creature. And they do. This adventure continues to push the fright quotient of PG-rated fantasy. It also nearly overwhelms its own inherent magical wonders and characters with an emphasis on action and thrills as the boy wizard of the title (played by an improved Daniel Radcliffe) and his cronies battle a dark force lurking within the halls of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Director Chris Columbus (Bicentennial Man) and screenwriter Steven Kloves (The Wonder Boys and Racing With the Moon) remain fastidiously faithful to their Potter source as the 160-minute run time occasionally tests audience stamina.