The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1991)

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.

This movie came out in the early 90s, and, just like the first Never Ending Story, and is still super cheesy! There was an improvement with with some of the costumes, especially Nimbly. He seemed less stiff and more believable as a real character.Like the first Never Ending Story, this movie was extremely creative. The rock biter, Atreyu the Indian Brave, and Falkor the Luck Dragon go beyond Westernized themes into something more creative and more unique. The costumes were very unique too, and it was fun to imagine with again. Even though I was too little to remember when this came out, I'm very sure kids were excited to see the characters again in a new movie when it came out.This sequel was more menacing than the first. Especially the prevalent theme of Bastian loosing his memories, even forgetting his dead mother. Still, if you read the book (like I had to in high school) this happens in the book, so this is very true to the original story. Because of this theme, I do not think this movie is appropriate for little children.I liked the message behind both Never Ending Story movies. Instead of nothing there should be beauty, instead of emptiness there should be love.This movie is a must for adolescents and fantasy fans.

There are so many parts and scenes that are not in the book. Plus there isn't much of the book in this movie. The First one captured the book perfectly and the sequel destroyed the second half of the book. If I were to guess the second movie put in maybe 5% of the book in the movie and about 95% of the book in the first movie. Now there was no 2 or 3rd book so why make a 3rd movie. Finally I think they should remake the second movie. The neverending story is my all time favorite book it destroyed me when they distroyed it. So I propose a redo. Also bad acting and very bad role choices. I think they should have kept the same actors and same directors. I know I am not the only one who feels this way. It seems the director of the second movie skimmed the book and the director of the first movie read the book was able to capture the book in every detail. So they should try again with the second one and capture every detail who cares how long it takes or how long takes to find the right cast to do the movie just do it right.

I am such a fan of the first Neverending Story film, it's a film that I grew up with and have always loved, it was one of my first fairy tale films that had cool effects and a wonderful story. Even today, there is still something special about the film, when I saw the double feature of Neverending Story and Neverending Story 2: The Next Chapter, it was was ten dollars, so I figured to go ahead and get the DVD. One guaranteed good movie with a possibility of another good one, even if the title is a little contradicting, lol. So I watched the film finally today and I have to say that while this isn't certainly the worst film, it isn't the best and was pretty insulting to the first film, the story? Nice cover up on how if you read it twice, the story is a different one.Bastian's life really doesn't seem all that different since he finished the Neverendng Story, his life is still lonely with his busy work-aholic father and he has been rejected from the swim team, things are not looking up for him. He goes back to the antique book store and gets Neverending Story again. He finds out that the empress is in trouble and he needs to restore Fantasia once again and with the help of Atreyu, Falkor, and his rock buddy(who somehow has a kid, how do rocks have kids?), he hopes to pull it off. But that'll be difficult when the emptiness is taking over and all Bastain's wishes are causing him to loose his memory of his father and late mother.The Neverending Story Part 2 isn't a bad family film, but it's really cheesy. I was hoping they would've given them more money, because these costumes were really horrible, the bird? God, could it have been any more cheesy? Not to mention the effects, the fact they changed ALL the actors from the first film, it was just a little over the top and wasn't anything special. I would recommend just staying with the first Neverending Story movie, but this is worth a look as a family film, but I'm just too in love with the first film.4/10