Five stars

THIS long-awaited sequel to The Philosopher's Stone does not disappoint.

It is a rich offering of the best of British talent, with the usual suspects of Richard Harris, Dame Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane being joined by Kenneth Branagh and Jason Isaacs.

And we are treated to a feast of special effects as we follow Harry, Hermione and Ron through their second year at Hogwarts, complete with mandrakes, a house elf called Dobby and spiders only seen in nightmares.

But this year, students are being attacked and petrified by an unknown force, leading to only one conclusion - that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened.

And it's up to Harry and co to solve the mystery before someone is killed.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Chambers are growing up fast before our eyes and put in star performances as their acting skills become more assured.

Staying faithful to JK Rowling's book, this is darker than its predecessor and sets the scene nicely for the third episode in the instalment.

The DVD package is also an improvement. The second disc has been packed with great extras and designed to appeal more to adults, as well as having enough treats for younger viewers.

Deleted scenes, cast interviews and a look behind the magic of movie-making are all included, but the real treat is an interview with the author and screenwriter.

This is a delight not to miss, whether you are a fan of the books or not.

SC