The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1991)

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

As with the first film I have watched this as a child and an adult and there are clear differences to the level of enjoyment I get from it. As a child I thought it was cool and creepy but ultimately fun. As a grown-up I have issues with different parts of it. Bastian is still trying to come to terms with the loss of his mother, thrown in with that he's at an age of uncertainty when he could do with a dose of courage. He gets tempted back into Fantasia - again stealing the book from the old bookseller, and goes on an epic adventure to help save the day. Instead of a nothingness that he faced in the first film (a representation of people forgetting literature in favour of modern entertainment) he faces the unnamed (I guess a representation of people not caring about literature again and forgetting the fun times). Along the way Bastian meets old friends, makes new ones, and learns lots of lessons along the way. My literature purist girlfriend assures me that some of the events in this film pick up what the first film left out when it took inspiration from the source material. She also wisely informs me that the producers could probably put the two films back to back and there would still be about 50% of the good stuff missing from the film. With the more recognizable star names in it (Jonathan Brandis and John Wesley Shipp), a bigger budget, better effects and more investment in general, I actually think this is marginally better than the first film - not by much before you start sending hate mail - and I have reasons too so hang fire with abuse. A younger me would probably disagree because he loved the first film, it was soo much cooler! The gown-up film graduate in me says that this is a more complete film and adheres to a certain list of ingredients that is required to make a decent family film. (Despite the theft of the book) It has better lessons for youngsters, it has a theme that adults can relate to as well, and it has more of a mysterious tone, whereas the first film was like a chase/adventure movie show and tell that didn't stand in anyone place long enough to fully enjoy it. This one just feels more complete and gives you time to appreciate it between dialogue or action. I'm going to give this one 6 out of 10. While I think it maybe a little better than the first film it certainly isn't as iconic and darkly themed as first film.

Bastian has a fear of diving and goes back to the bookstore to ask Koreander for help. When he sees 'The Neverending Story', the Childlike Empress asks him for help and he takes the book again. This time he goes right into Fantasia to rescue the Childlike Empress. The evil sorceress Xayide has a plan to steal a memory from Bastian for every wish he makes until his mind is empty of all memories. Atreyu and Falkor return to help Bastian in his quest.It's six years after the production of the first movie. So most of the actors are different as well as the director. Jonathan Brandis is a lovely boy actor. He's capable but he's a very effeminate boy. I'm not sure what I dislike about him. I think mostly it's the annoying stupidity of the character, the dialog, and his speaking style.The story is one straight quest. There isn't any originality anymore. It's relying on the goodwill of the original. The action isn't exciting. The acting is weak. The dialog is clunky. The production got bigger but not better.

I recently bought this movie along with the original Neverending Story on a one disc "Double Feature", so naturally I watched both movies back to back. I remember liking both movies when I was a kid, and I especially recall liking this movie when it came out. Jonathan Brandis was a popular child actor back in the early '90's (although not nearly as popular as Macaulay Culkin or Elijah Wood), and John Wesley Shipp was most famous for playing The Flash. I remember liking this movie because I liked these two leads. As I watch it again in my adulthood though, I can see it hasn't aged well with time.The first NeverEnding Story, on the other hand, has aged surprisingly well. Despite having no-name actors in it, it was a very intriguing movie with an original villain (Nothingness). Its sequel appeared to be more formulaic, and the dialogue spoken by most of the human actors was too wooden and unconvincing.I had to laugh also at the main villain in this movie, Xayide (played by Clarissa Burt). I thought it was clever how her and her army of giants were empty inside, which was a clever homage to the original Nothingness that took over Fantasia. However, Xayide seemed more like a jaded runway fashion model from Milan than an actual convincing villain. I'm assuming the character of Bastian was supposed to be ten or eleven, because if he was any older than twelve, he could have used his wishes to have his way with her (i.e. "I wish your clothes would disappear"; "I wish for a camera"). It just didn't seem that the Xayide character created enough conflict, at least not to me.The movie probably would have been better if at least some of the original main actors (not to mention the director, Wolfgang Peterson) were brought back, and the film was made no later than three years after the original movie. It also probably would have eliminated the plot holes better if it has stuck to the original story. For example, Bastian never actually met Atreyu in the original movie, so how did Atreyu know who Bastian was? Also, if every wish Bastian made erased his memories, how did he still know who Atreyu was? Plus, it was never fully explained how the Empty Villains got rid of all the books in the world, or how human in the real world forgot books ever existed. Not to mention that the latter conflict was never resolved in the end.The "Next Chapter" of the NeverEnding Story could have been better in a lot of ways, but was enjoyable in a lot of other ways. I thought the reappearance of Falcor and the Rockeater (and son) was worth watching the movie for alone.

THE NEVERENDING STORY II: THE NEXT CHAPTER was the sequel to the first NEVERENDING STORY movie made in 1984. It was an okay sequel to the first movie. It wasn't as wonderful and magical as the first though. It had some pros and cons. I guess I should name the hates and loves.HATES: Xayide is the worst character in the movie. She shouldn't even be there. She made the movie almost seem like a cheap Disney production with an evil woman with black lipstick and a clumsy servant. Although in the end, the servant doesn't seem so clumsy and stupid. Also, this movie has less effects than the first movie. Also, I read what the Washington Post said about this movie and I agree that the new characters seem like they are from a Late-Night comedy sketches.. and that's not good.Loved that in the end, Atreyu is alive and the bird thing changes sides and becomes good. It's heartwarming to know that everything works out in the end. It's also good that Bastian was actually in the story and his father knew except the typical, "Where were you son?" "Somewhere.. wink wink". Lying and hiding is never the answer and it annoys me so.I recommend this movie if you have seen the first NeverEnding story movie or if you have read the books. Or both.