Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002)

Firestarter 2 (2002) *** (out of 4) Charlie (Marguerite Moreau) is now all grown up and in hiding when an agent (Danny Nucci) finally tracks her down. The agents quickly connects with the troubled girl and gets her to agree to go back to the lab with him but Dr. (Malcolm McDowell) is still evil and wanting to use her for her power. I was rather nervous walking into this nearly three hour sequel especially since I didn't care too much for the first film but I was pleasantly surprised at how much this kept me caught up in the story. However, let's get it straight that this here is in no way, shape or form a sequel. Events from the first movie are shown here but they're being done by different actors and even different things happen here. Many major plot points from the first film are changed and altered here so this is basically just a remake but with much more detail. I thought the story itself was very well done here and it's certainly explained much better than in the first film. The thoughts behind the experiment are better detailed and I thought the film also did a very good job at showing the bad side of being Charlie and on the run her entire life. I really thought the personal drama between the characters were believable and it certainly helped keep you invested in such a long movie. The performances were also extremely good with Moreau doing a nice job in the main role. She was very believable in the part and certainly made you care about what happened to her. McDowell plays crazy without a problem and makes for a great villain and we've also got Dennis Hopper playing a psychic and we all know that he always adds some good entertainment value. Nucci was also good and managed to have some nice chemistry with Moreau. The film still has some pretty big flaws including the horrid CGI effects and especially all of the stuff dealing with fire. The ending is also rather weak and should have been done in a much better way. With that said, for the most part this is a good little film and certainly much better than the original. Just don't go into it expecting a sequel.

I think this movie was so, so. I'm into sci-fi movies so I gave it a 5. But I like it because I'm into movies that have people with psychic powers, in fact, I've discovered that I have 2 as well. So with that, my interest it still sparked. Although the first Firestarter was way better than this one, and this one should have picked up from where the other stopped, or been a remake of the old 1984 one. But possessing Claircognizance & the psychological form of echokinesis too, I'm well aware that psi powers are real. Plus, I love the powers each boy had, so this movie will get a half rating, a 5 like I mentioned. Nice, but could have been much better.

it's been a little while since i've seen this sequel to the 1984 original.however,i do remember that i really liked the girl who played the grown up version of Charlie.i thought she did well in the role.there's a lot more excitement in this one,i believe.it's much higher energy.again,the acting is serviceable,though the plot seems sillier than it did in the first movie.also,clocking in at nearly 3 hours running time is a real negative here.i think the story could have been told in much less time than that.they certainly could have shaved off an hour.but as sequels go(other than the long running time)this movie is not half bad.for me,Fire Starter 2:Rekindled is a 5.5/10

I was totally disappointed when I watched this film. This sequel in my opinion does not do the first movie nor the book any justice. If the film industry read the book and also took references from the first film properly and did a decent story, and had Drew Barrymore in it, the film may have been spectacular. In my view, this film just insulted the book, the first film and the fans of them. Rainbird was killed in the book and in the first movie. He should not of been brought back to life. As for the relationship between him and Charlie in this film in my opinion is stupid as he killed her father in the 1st movie and in the book. I felt I was let down and betrayed after watching this film. Oh yes, and they should of stuck to Drew Barrymore playing Charlie McGee. Is it really a wonder why she didn't???????