Chances are, there has never been a series of kid’s books that has ensnared adult imaginations quite like those of Harry Potter. JK Rowling’s character became a household commodity (and that’s without debate about gender roles, mass-marketing and authorship) while his debut feature was one of last years most anticipated cinema events. The bell is ringing for a second term at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and anticipation is once more running high.

Skipping plot details (which tend to be a variant on Potter and pals defending themselves from the arch-nemesis Voldemort), the real question is - is this one any good? The most disappointing aspect of Harry I (The Philosopher's Stone) was the film's strict adherence to Rowling's book. Normally such loyalty is a plus given the gross liberties often taken with source material and the virtually unrecognisable results. In that case, the imaging was so faithful to be without, well, magic: mechancial accuracy standing in for inspiration.

With likely guidance from Albus Dumbledore, filmmaking lessons hav been learnt and it's a pleasure to note that Harry 2 has the heart and wonder its predecessor lacked. Chamber of Secrets is both funnier and scarier and the results are, ahem, enchanting. While it is overlong and Radcliffe's interpretation remains too serious for some, hundreds of eight-year old girls who shared the cinema didn't seem to mind: entranced they were for not a peep was heard. Branagh's wonderfully conceited support injected the righ measure of humour into a heady potion whose charms will prove very hard to resist indeed.

// COLIN FRASER