AllNewSux Let's start with the second part of that summary first. Considering that 95% of the cast and crew have been replaced, it's hard to look at this as a proper sequel. In some cases, the new actors and actresses are better, but in most cases the acting is inferior to the original. The actor who played Carl Conrad Coreander is back, yet for some reason they spell his name with a K in this one so when Bastian first looks into the book shop, you think it's a Korean restaurant or something until the camera pans over the 'der'. The father seems to play a larger role in this second part, but somehow he has become much younger. Waiting 6 years to do a sequel is usually a mistake especially if the storyline is only supposed to take place a short while after the original. All of your child actors have aged drastically in that time, so they simply couldn't use them which makes the whole film feel like a disjointed story not truly connected to the original. Now for the good parts. Jonathan Brandis was always a very talented actor and always brought a lot of emotion to his roles. Because he's in the realm of Fantasia for almost the whole movie, it does feel a bit more action oriented than the first film. Also, contrary to what many say, the special effects are really well done. Of course it's difficult for anyone to top the creations and sets of the original film, but that doesn't mean this film looks bad. The giants that Xayide controls look especially terrific and quite creepy at times and while some of the sets do feel like 1980's Flash Gordon, they do look appropriate for this fantasy world. Granted the special effects are more like you'd find in a lower budget Cannon film instead of an overblown Warner Brothers flick, but I really enjoy effects like that. If you're a fan of the book, this is also a decent representation of the second part of Ende's novel. While EVERY SINGLE aspect is not perfect, I want a filmmaker to take a little liberty with the property the movie is based on or otherwise why should I see a film that is a word for word, plot for plot copy? Overall, if the original Neverending Story is your favorite film ever, you probably won't like this one. However if you're like most of us who simply are fans of fantasy cinema, then I think you'll really enjoy this one even if it sux as a sequel.

SnoopyStyle 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.

TheLittleSongbird The original is one of my all time favourite movies, beautifully designed, well acted and had the sense of wonder that enthralled me when I was a child. I saw Neverending Story 3 recently, and thought it was absolute garbage with next to no redeeming qualities. NeverEnding Story 2: The Next Chapter wasn't terrible, but I will admit I was disappointed.The film does look spectacular, with lovely costumes and sets- the image of the silver boats on the river was a beautiful image. The music by Robert Folk was gorgeous, very lyrical and atmospheric. And I did think Xayide was a pretty good villainess and Clarissa Burt was superb playing her, and that Ken Morrison did a worthy job replacing Noah Hathaway as Atreyu. I do admit Hathaway was better, he was born to play the part. Falcor wasn't too bad either, if not as wise as he was in the original movie.There are flaws however. The plot is disjointed, and there are a lot of unfocused moments in the screenplay. Also that big bird was really irritating. Not to mention some contradictions in comparison to the original, then again NeverEnding Story 3 had a lot more contradictions, and did do an even worse job than this film. Barrett Oliver as Bastian was great in the original, and I do appreciate that they made him older and wiser here, but I did think as the hero Jonathan Brandis was rather feeble, but he did try his best with superficial material.Overall, disappointing, but it wasn't that bad. If anything I think it is average, so I will give it a 5/10. Bethany Cox

Atreyu_II Just take a look at my summary and you'll get a great idea about what I think of this movie. I wasn't originally planning to watch this, but I decided to because it was in a day I had not much to do and so I did, if only to see how weak this would be. I wasn't really expecting much from it, but it turned out to be even weaker than I imagined.But let's go by parts. "The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter" is a sequel to the original and much beloved 1984 film. Unlike the original, this wasn't directed by Wolfgang Petersen, but by George T. Miller. About the cast, with the exception of Thomas Hill as Mr. Koreander, the whole cast is completely different. This already says a lot. The original one has a cast you just gotta appreciate, but I can't say the same about this one.Bastian is now played by Jonathan Brandis, Atreyu by Kenny Morrison and the Childlike Empress by Alexandra Johnes. Jonathan Brandis had a tragic ending in real life. In the role of Bastian, he wasn't all that bad, but we cannot compare him to Barret Oliver, the one and only Bastian. Kenny Morrison is good as a Atreyu, but naturally not as much as "the real Atreyu" - Noah Hathaway. Nevertheless, Kenny Morrison looks a bit like Noah Hathaway, but with a stronger Indian-like appearance. Alexandra Johnes really doesn't fit at all as the Childlike Empress, unlike Tami Stronach.The characters from the first movie we all love so much are not as appealing here. Bastian has nothing to do with the loving Bastian from the original and here he proves not to be very smart - including whenever Atreyu warns him to be careful about what he's doing. Atreyu is cool here, but not as much as the Atreyu from the earlier film. As for the Childlike Empress, they really managed to ruin her image. Here, she's just an ordinary-looking girl with freezy hair - she has nothing to do with the angelical and innocent-looking Childlike Empress of the original.Falkor is not the same here. He looks quite artificial and ugly here, while in the first movie he looks so real and perfect. Besides, is it just me or did he become smaller in this film? Another equally bad thing is his voice here. Golly, his voice here sounds awful! It's as if he was talking with his mouth full all the time. And the same can be said about the Rockbiter's voice here. Speaking of Rockbiter, now he has a son? That Junior is a little annoying, isn't he? Mr. Koreander is nowhere near as amusing here as he is in the first movie, despite being portrayed by the same actor. Bastian's father is now younger? And how come Bastian has a mother now, considering she's not alive in the original film?As for the visuals, only a few are still good, but aside that Fantasia is simply not the same Fantasia I love so much from the 1st movie. The gorgeous and fantastic landscapes seem to be gone. The magic and special effects that give the 1st movie a feeling of something out-of-this-world are missing. Besides, Fantasia is now a silver city, which just doesn't please me.The soundtrack is nothing special. Nothing to do with the wonderful and inspiring soundtrack of the original movie.Very little in this movie resembles "The Neverending Story". In fact, this seems more like a mix of "The Lord of the Rings", "Star Wars" and a Power Rangers episode, with its extreme darkness and mostly because of all those horrible mechanical giants. I hate creatures like those. I also hate the new villain, the sorceress Xayide. And that ridiculous big bird...As for the humor, nothing worthy to mention. Aside one or two very small things, there's nothing to laugh in this movie. The original has classic and funny humor.So many things just don't fit in this sequel. Conclusion: this is a shadow of the original and a mockery on the original. It is an easily forgettable movie. Maybe kids will enjoy this, so I'd only recommend this for them.Just to finish, did anyone else notice that some scenes with Atreyu riding Artax during the quest were literally taken from the first film? I noticed that.