The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990)

A young boy with a distant father enters a world of make-believe and magic through a portal within an antique book.

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

Karin Howard (screenplay), Michael Ende (based on the novel "The Neverending Story" by)

Stars:

Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison, Clarissa Burt

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonathan Brandis	...	Bastian
Kenny Morrison	...	Atreyu
Clarissa Burt	...	Xayide
John Wesley Shipp	...	Barney
Martin Umbach	...	Nimbly
Alexandra Johnes	...	Childlike Empress
Thomas Hill	...	Coreander
Helena Michell	...	Bastian's Mother
Christopher Burton	...	Tri Face (as Chris Burton)
Patricia Fugger	...	Instrument Spinster
Birge Schade	...	Windbride
Claudio Maniscalco	...	Lavaman
Andreas Borcherding	...	Mudwart
Ralf Weikinger	...	Mudwart
Colin Gilder	...	Rockbiter Junior

Storyline

Once again, Bastian is transported to the world of Fantasia which he recently managed to save from destruction. However, the land is now being destroyed by an evil sorceress, Xayide, so he must join up with Atreyu and face the Emptiness once more.

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Plot Keywords:

book | reading | tower | empress | sorceress | 

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Taglines:

Begin an all new adventure as a young boy returns to a world of wonder on the wings of his imagination.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

La historia sin fin II

Filming Locations:

Argentina

Box Office

Budget:

$36,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,912,124, 10 February 1991

Gross USA:

$17,373,527

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Bavaria Film, Cinevox Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In contrast to the first film's effects relying on blue screen and scale model creatures, this film features more life-sized model work and matte paintings.

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Goofs

Junior is noticeably smaller when the Rockbiter is holding him in his arms than when he was first introduced.

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Quotes

Koreander: [spotting Bastian with the book] Put it back!
[Bastian jumps and ends up slamming the book shut]
Koreander: That book has too much on you.
Bastian Bux: But it's "The NeverEnding Story." I've already read it.
Koreander: Ahh, but have you ever read a book twice? Books change each time you read them.

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Crazy Credits

Bavarian State Opera is misspelled as 'Barvarian State Opera' for the Orchestra's credit.

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Connections

Follows The NeverEnding Story (1984)

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Soundtracks

Charge!
(uncredited)

User Reviews

Bastian , this time incarnated by Jonathan Brandis, returns to travel throughout the marvelous world of Fantasy

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 . This time Batian is really in the flick the complete time instead of outside of the pages but happens that with each wish he lost records. There, he goes to Silver City and he meets the young valiant warrior named Atreyu( Kenny Morrison replacing Noah Hathaway)as he must save the magic world of Fantasia threatened for the destruction by the advance of Nothing that will eventually wipe out all the things and rescue the imprisoned childlike Empress . She is detained by evil sorceress Xayide (Clarissa) supported by his large mechanical beetles. Xayide has a dark scheme for Fantasy world and the Childlike Empress. 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. Besides followed by a Television cartoon movies. The movie contains spectacular musical score by Robert Folk and colorful cinematography by David Connell. The motion picture filled with imaginative moments is professionally directed by George Miller though with no originality because takes too many elements from previous film. Miller is an Australian director usually working for television (Tidal wave, Journey to the center of the earth,Attack of the Sabretooth) and occasionally for cinema ( The man from Snowy river Zeus and Roxanne,Robinson Crusoe ). Rating : Passable, acceptable, 5,5.