The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter

Plot synopsis:
Bastian Bux is having troubles at home: his father Barney's busy workload is keeping him from consoling Bastian's fear of heights. As such, he then heads to an old bookstore where he again meets Mr. Koreander, who proceeds to help find a book on courage. While waiting, Bastian rediscovers the Neverending Story's book, and is shocked to see its words disappear off its pages. Deciding to take the book instead, Bastian returns home and finds himself able to claim AURYN right off the book's cover while hearing the Childlike Empress summon him to Fantasia.
Aware of his arrival, an evil sorceress named Xayide orders a creation from one of her servants to stop him. The servant creates a memory machine that will strip Bastian of a memory each time he uses AURYN, until he is unable to remember where he came from, or why he is in Fantasia. Xayide then sends a bird-like creature named Nimbly to persuade Bastian into making him wish. As the two arrive in a populated area of Fantasia called Silver City, the sorceress sends large monsters referred to as giants to attack. Despite Nimbly's attempts to make him wish them away, Bastian is able to escape from them without doing so. After falling into a secret passage, Bastian is contacted by the Childlike Empress, who tells him of a new threatening force to Fantasia, which is keeping her prisoner in her own castle as well as causing the stories of the ordinary world to disappear, and that he must identify and defeat it.
While trying to gather Silver City's inhabitants to help him out, Bastian is reunited with Atreyu, who has heard about what has happened. As the two try to figure out how to get there, Nimbly manages to persuade Bastian into making a wish, which he uses to create a vicious, fire breathing dragon. However, it goes out of control and flies off with Atreyu trying to pursue it with his horse, Artax. With help from Falkor, Bastian is able to chase the dragon to Xayide's castle, where it is destroyed by its defenses. After a brief reunion with Rock Biter, Bastian and Atreyu, who has caught up, make their way into the castle's entrance with the latter's "army": several wind up toys. Although Bastian gets through, Atreyu is captured. Once getting further into the castle by wishing for climbing steps, Bastian manages to free Atreyu from a giant and the two battle it with the use of a spray can, an item the former had wished for. After the giant falls over and cracks into pieces revealing a hollow shell, Bastian identifies the threat as "The Emptiness", the form of humanity's dying imagination. The two make their way to Xayide in her throne room who admits defeat, stating she had wanted to bring order to dreams and stories, which she consider as forms of chaos. The sorceress is then forced to bring them to the Childlike Empress' castle to free her after Atreyu threatens to kill her.
Having noticed his son's disappearance and the Neverending Story's book, Barney takes the latter to Mr. Koreander's bookstore to ask him of Bastian's whereabouts. The owner simply tells him that he'll find the answers inside the book, much to Barney's confusion. Returning later with a police officer, he is shocked to see the bookstore abandoned as a result of the Emptiness. Looking inside the book, Barney is surprised to see his son's exploits in Fantasia being written by the book itself and that he is mentioned within.
During the travel to the Childlike Empress' castle, Xayide tries to trick Bastian into believing that his friends will turn against him and manages to get him to wish for a series of ridiculous wishes. It also becomes obvious to Atreyu that they are being led aimlessly. Becoming worried, Atreyu and Falkor believe that the only way help Bastian is to remove AURYN from him as they have learned of the memory machine and its effects on him. Bastian overhears them, and through a confrontation with Atreyu believes that he has turned against him. The two then fight, with Atreyu being knocked over a cliff and falling to his death. Returning to Xayide, Bastian discovers the memory machine for himself and learns that he only has two memories - consisting of his mother and father - left. In an attempt to use Artax to follow Falkor, who has taken the fallen Atreyu away, he is nearly killed by an attack from Xayide. Now on foot, Bastian is encountered by Nimbly once more, who has had a change of heart after seeing one of his memories, and guides him to his friends' location before flying off.
Arriving back in Silver City, now in a heavily ruined state, Bastian finds Falkor with Atreyu's lifeless body, and uses his penultimate memory of his mother to wish the latter back to life. Shortly afterwards, Xayide arrives with her giants and tries to force Bastian to use his last wish to return home. Rather than do so, Bastian uses his wish for the sorceress "to have a heart". Overcome with compassion, Xayide explodes in a blast of light, destroying her giants and restoring Fantasia. Having been freed, the Childlike Empress thanks Bastian for his help and shows him the way home: a cliff overlooking a waterfall to help Bastian overcome his fear of heights. Encouraged by Barney and Atreyu, Bastian jumps off and returns home safely. As he reunites with his father, AURYN reappears on the front cover of the Neverending Story's book.

Tags: good versus evil, psychedelic, fantasy, romantic

Review:
Michael Ende's lovely book is in two parts; Petersen's 1984 film is really just the story of Part I.
We open with one of the cheesiest sequence of allegedly humorous pratfalls I think I've ever seen; in a matter of MINUTES, I lost faith in the film, as had everyone I was watching it with.And so much of the original talent is missing as to make the whole exercise pointless.
The Never Ending Story 2 did not seem to be as good as its predecessor, however this movie wasn't all that bad.
However one downfall was this film seemed a bit distant to the original making it seem like they are two totally different stories when in fact they are one.
But all in all this was a pretty good movie and it wouldn't hurt to get an idea of what the second half of the story is all about.
Not as an adaptation.Many have complained that the personality of the characters from the original movie were contradicted and the film had little continuity.
This movie did not live up to my expectations at all (when I saw it again recently)The movie covers part of the book's story, with Bastian meeting Xayide.
Although part of it is followed closely, Nimbly did NOT work for Xayide, there was no Memory ball thing (AURYN made Bastian lose his memories on its own) and the end was a cheesy replacement for the Fountain of Life.In the original story, there was much more substance.And the thing that annoys me most: If Bastian met the Childlike Empress in the last movie, why did she appear to him in this one?
The 1st "Neverending Story" was one of my favorite movies as a child so naturally, I couldn't wait for the sequel.
"The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter" is a sequel to the original and much beloved 1984 film.
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.
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 NEVERENDING STORY II is a wonderful and breathtaking familiar film with adventures and imagination but inferior to excellent original.
A lonely and grieving little boy named Bastian(the sadly deceased Jonathan Brandis substituting to Barret Oliver) is only living with his father( John Wesley Shipp in similar role to Gerard McRaney)but his mother has deceased.He seeks refugee in the library where meets a bookkeeper and is taken a fantastic book .Thus, again he enters the storybook world of Fantasia through the ¨Neverending story¨ tale .
They'll have to fight a magical army of giant bugs on two legs that threaten our friends.The story is an enjoyable fairy tale with great charm from the original novel by Michael Ende,trying to incorporate too much dreamland with fantastic beings like a giant bird named Nimbly, the large flying pink poodle dragon named Falcor ,among others weird and bizarre creatures .They have been made by big puppets and no by means of computer generator effects but at the time had not been invented.
The visual beauty of the impressive scenarios give the movie a real sense of wonder.The production design and sets are visually rousing and appealing.The film contains an agreeable moral message about reading books.It's followed by a new sequel, the third part titled: ¨Escape from fantasia¨(directed by Peter McDonald)with Jason James Ritcher.
I have to admit I was actually looking forward to seeing this film, especially since I had seen the first Neverending Story when I was a little kid.
It was undoubtedly one of my favorites; it was filled with fantastic characters and a storyline that didn't talk down to me.Then I saw this movie.I have never been a big fan of sequels in the first place, especially if the first story didn't have an ending.
Bastian and Atreyu look completely different (I know the original actors had aged), Pyorncrachzark (Rock Biter) had a child, and shots from the original film were used for horse-riding sequences.
For me though I watched this movie with the realization that this sequel looks a lot worse than the original.
The story is basically the same except this time the kid gets sucked into the fantasyland and his father is reading the book.
This does not help the story, nor does the fact that a children's movie sequel should not come six years or so after the first, because you are unable to use any of the original cast.
Although a lot of things have changed in the sequel (actors, settings, characters, etc.) it's not as bad as everyone says.
I don't think it was as good as the original, it is definitely worth watching and if you can find it along with part one for ten dollars you should definitely get the movies.
The original Bastian wasn't really a god actor and this one definitely did a good job.
Anybody who thought that the sequel to the 1984 smash hit 'The NeverEnding Story' would surpass it's original in box-office draw and fan count would be 100% wrong!There is no way ANY prequel, sequel or gatwequel would manage that feat - especially considering the first film is one of the best kids/adult films ever made!Although the parts of Bastian and Barney Bux are more recognizable faces nowadays then their original counterparts (Jonathan Brandis was a Sequest DSV regular while John Wesley Shipp resides at Dawson's Creek), they didn't seem to have as much 'panash' as the originals.Granted, they're great actors and play their parts fine, but it just seemed that they didn't appeal to me as much as the previous ones.Anyway, on with the actual story.
When Bastian happens to stumble across Mr. Koreander and TNES book again, he returns to Fantasia to fight 'The Emptiness'.Auryn gives Bastian the power to wish for anything he wants, however, villainess Xayide (mediocre Clarissa Burt) has hatched an evil plan - for every wish he makes, a memory he has from earth is taken away.Atreyu is back too, (this time played by Kenny Morrison) and also returning are Rockbiter (now with Junior), Falcore and The Childlike Empress (who's cut, died and curled her hair).The story is good, but just not as good as the first NeverEnding Story's one was.
The special effects are improved a fair bit, and a welcome addition to the colourful cast of characters is Nimbly (played suavly by Martin Umbach).As I said, not as good as the first, but then, they could've done worse - they could've made the third edition the second one!.
Better than the first movie, Bastian takes us through a new adventure when he must save Fantasia from being swallowed up by "The Nothing." With our familiar friends Atreyu and Nimbly, they must team up to save The Childlike Empress and all creatures of Fantasia.
The NeverEnding Story 2 still has the imagination of the original and some wonderful visuals that make up for it's lack of good writing or acting.
this movie is great family entertainment: it has a good story, good special effects and imaginative characters.
True, it's not quite as good as the original, but i've always liked this movie because of its great look and great special effects.
I mean, at least the filmmakers tried to make a decent sequel to the film (however, they had source material to go off of, as the first movie was only based on the first half of the book, which probably explains everything).
I'll be brief: you are in for a real stinker when you've noticed the sequel has recycled stock footage from the first film because the original imagination and production value was so high (think Atreyu riding on his white horse, which has magically came back to life in part II).
I, like many others, watched The Never Ending Story as a child and of course loved it, I remembered the characters, the basis of the plot and the lesson.
My Take: Fine special effects can't save the weak points in this weak sequel.I've read some rather sad reviews about this sequel to Wolfgang Petersen's classic fantasy "The Neverending Story", based on the book by Michael Ende, mainly because it's hardly based on part two.
Still, however, I couldn't quite recommend it other than a second look."The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter" is made back then, where movies don't have CGI to do the special-effects as realistic as today.
There he grabs the NeverEnding Story again, and is swept into the world of Fantastica to save it from the evil sorceress Xeida, and her armored red mechanic slimy giants, who's faces look like pirahnas, and Xeida steals one of Bastians Memories each time he makes a wish with Auryn.
Like the first NeverEnding Story Taught that reading is good this one teaches an inspiring message about courage (overcoming fears), remembering who we are, and learning to live mor happy, and appreciating what is seen.
The same bastian/atreyu/child-like empress in a two part film would have made far more sense then the huge gap between I and II that made the actors too old too come back.
But even with that, they age Bastian up, aged his father down, and, I believe, age the child-like Empress who shouldn't have aged at all.The best thing that can be said about NeS II is it was loads better than NeS III, though forced to re-cast it still tried to hold onto the spirit of the original characters.
I wish the makers of the first film had thought ahead and invisioned a two part work the way the makers of LotR envisioned thier trilogy.The good things about NeS II: It was actually somewhat derived from the second half of the book.
The Bad thing: The time gap with NeS I made some parts of Bastian's character development repetative and parts of the 'new versions' of the old characters story conflicted with the previous film.
not as strong as the first.Bastin, this time, can go into the book as well as help Atreyu fight off evil empress that has a wish machine that everytime he makes a wish a piece of his memory is gone.Ok I guess, but not like the first.
Honestly, the only things that tie it to the original is the movie title itself, character names, the book store owner is played by the same Actor, and, LUCKILY, they still have the original Luck Dragon and Rockbitter props.It is not a horrible movie, per say, but all of these changes make it a mere shadow of the glories of the original film.
Although the kids do an admirable job in this movie, by not casting all of the original actors, it causes a disconnect, because we are looking at people we do not recognize as, say, Bastian, who is now a blue eyed blond.
From what I heard, this movie was actually an adaptation of the second half of the book the original film was based on.
Most of the actors from the original film are gone and they can't represent the story nearly as well.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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 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.
"The Neverending Story" is thought by many to be a classic fantasy movie for both kids and adults alike.
None of the principle actors return from the first film, and the replacements look and sound nothing like the characters in the first.
Another sequel we didn't need or want as Jonathan Brandis takes the role originated by Barrett Oliver in the original and goes back to the fantasy world in the title via reading an impossibly large book.
Life is not neverending; and this film is not a story, it just never ends.
I better not mention the plastic operations that Bastians father had after the first part?Is there anything good in this movie, beside pathetic acting?
'The Neverending Story 2' is the sequel to the first film.
Meanwhile, back in the real world Bastian's father is looking for his missing son.The original film was never anything that special but I must admit I quite enjoyed the adventure and the dark tone it took at times.
The sequel tries to basically ape the first film, with a similar story but with Bastian inside the world full time.
It work anywhere near as well as the reasonably good original and instead it feels like it is just trying too hard for the majority of the time.
Instead it only got worst, because this movie kept destroying every good idea of the original story.
Why was it kept so simple ?!!I bet, because in some Hollywood executives head, as usual, Fantasy is just for children and children are too stupid to care about changes in books.If there is a diference between the original NEVERENDING STORY, and this sequel , is that we clearly see that the first one was made as a children's movie but for adults to enjoy, specially the adults who read fantasy.
The new BASTIAN, is good, and it could have been in the original movie, but the new ATREIÙ, is simply unbelievable AWFUL !
He´s too city american to play a character like that !This kid seems to think he´s in America all the time, not in a fantasy world !
This movie would be the worst adaptation of a book ever, but unfortunately we have NEVERENDING STORY III for that.
And i thought things couldn´t get worst.But if we forget about the book for a moment, is this movie any good ?
It has atmosphere, better story than the usual for an american fantasy movie, an excellent soundtrack and it´s entertaining to watch.
So i can´t totally hate it as a fantasy movie.As NEVERENDING STORY, it´s very bad, and a total waste of an amazing story.SO, everybody,if you have to see this, READ THE BOOK first, because you´ll never forget it.
And you will appreciate better what was NOT done with this movie.But in the end ,there are worst things you could watch, so it isn´t that bad.
Part II was full of okay actors and the story just wasn't as good as the first movie.
It seems the late Michael Ende was unhappy with the first movie; I shudder to imagine what he thought of this one.And no, I haven't seen the third film, although I hear it makes this second chapter look so much better by comparison.
I remember watching the trailer as a kid and going "Nope!" - possibly the first time in my life I chose to avoid the sequel of a franchise I liked because it looked terrible.Maybe one day someone will make a worthy sequel to the first film and a good adaptation of the second part of Ende's novel.
Though new actors play Bastian Bux and Atreyu, they are quite good for the most part.
Upon watching the original The Neverending Story, I was delighted & so pleased with how entertaining it is, even for a twenty-one year old such as myself.
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.
Overall, if the original Neverending Story is your favorite film ever, you probably won't like this one.
Half of the movie is The NeverEnding Story.
It's not entirely bad, but it's just not what the original story was about.Half of the movie is Ende's stuff.
This movie came out in the early 90s, and, just like the first Never Ending Story, and is still super cheesy!
He seemed less stiff and more believable as a real character.Like the first Never Ending Story, this movie was extremely creative.
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.
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.