The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter

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The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990) is a sequel to the fantasy film The NeverEnding Story. It was directed by George Miller and starred Jonathan Brandis as Bastian Bux, Kenny Morrison as Atreyu, and Alexandra Johnes as The Childlike Empress.

This film used plot elements from Michael Ende's original novel The NeverEnding Story, but introduced a new storyline.

Contents 1 Storyline 2 Criticism 3 Trivia 4 External links

[edit] Storyline

Bastian Bux is having troubles at home; his father cannot relate to him and Bastian's fear of high places is hurting him on the swim team. Bastian flees from his problems to an old bookstore, when after picking up the NeverEnding Story book, he hears the Childlike Empress tell him that he is needed to save Fantasia.

Upon landing in Fantasia, he reunites with Atreyu and meets a new character, a blue talking big-bird named "Nimbly". Characters from the previous film, such as Falkor and Rock Biter, have minor roles in this film. Bastian now faces "the Emptiness", and he is soon manipulated by the evil sorceress, Xayida and her magical army of mechanical giants. The sorceress has some sinister plan for Fantastia and the Childlike Empress, but much of the film involves her persuading Bastian to forget about his mission and instead make a series of silly wishes. Each wish that Bastian makes causes him to lose a memory and when he loses all memoires he will not remember Fantasia and the Emptyness will take over.

Meanwhile, Bastian's father is out looking for his son, finding little help from the police or the book store owner. He finds the NeverEnding Story book and is surprised to see his son's exploits unfolded on the page. Finally, Atreyu is able to persuade Bastian that the sorceress is evil, and to face a final battle in the Childlike Empress' castle where Bastian is left with one wish left. He defeats Xayide, by wishing for her to have a heart, and with the verbal encouragement of his father, is able to face his fear of heights by jumping off a high cliff.

[edit] Criticism

Richard Harrington's review for the Washington Post was typical of the largely negative reaction to the film, "Unlike its predecessor, there are few effects in "II" worthy of being called special, and events unfold with uniform flatness. Silver City feels like Diet Oz, the sorceress's castle is more hinted at than realized and several new creatures are right out of late-night comedy sketches" [1].

Chris Hicks, writing for the Deseret Morning News, was more kind in his review, noting that it would be enjoyable to children, whereas the first film was enjoyable to the entire family [2].

[edit] Trivia

• Box Office Bunny is a 4 minute length clip that precedes the film and was the first new Bugs Bunny film to be released in over twenty years. It was release with in theaters and on VHS.
• The Giants that work for Xayide are remarkably similar to the Garthim of The Dark Crystal.
• The Auryn which Bastian carries around as a pendant is a representation of the ourobouros.
• The point where Bastian is about to jump off of the high dive looks exactly like both the point where Bastian is rushing towards a waterfall and the point where Bastian must jump down the same waterfall to return home.
• This sequel had a new theme song, sung by Joe Milner, called "Dreams We Dream".
• Scenes with Atreyu riding Artex to chase Smerg the Dragon were lifted from the first film.

[edit] External links

• The NeverEnding Story Online
• The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter at the Internet Movie Database
• The Neverending Story Web Page
• The Neverending Story fansite

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende and its adaptations v • d • e
Book:	The Neverending Story
Films:	The NeverEnding Story | The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter | The NeverEnding Story III
Television:	Animated series | Tales from the Neverending Story
Characters:	Atreyu | Bastian Balthazar Bux | Carl Conrad Coreander | Childlike Empress | Gmork | Luckdragon | Southern Oracle | Ygramul
Other:	Auryn | Fantastica