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.
Jonathan Brandis
Bastian Bux
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
Patricia Fugger
Instrument Spinster
Birge Schade
Windbride
Claudio Maniscalco
Lavaman
Andreas Borcherding
Mudwart
Ralf Weikinger
Mudwart
Colin Gilder
Rockbiter Junior
Rob Morton
Police Officer
Frank Lenart
Trainer
Holger Dudla
Giant
Adolf Kraus
Giant
Karl Krebs
Giant
Andrea Kobusch
Giant
Radu Mendrea
Giant
Jan Berghout
Giant
Axel Münderlein
Giant
Robert Naegele
Giant
Christian Reuter
Giant
Jochen Reuter
Giant
Oliver Ritzinger
Giant
Peter Rossmeisel
Giant
Markus Rupprecht
Giant
Peter Sassmann
Giant
Stefan Schwankner
Giant
Heinz Siegel
Giant
Donald Arthur
Falkor (voice) (uncredited)
Andreas Beckett
City Dweller (uncredited)
Joe Milner
The Balladeer (voice) (uncredited)
Director
George T. Miller
Novel
Michael Ende
Screenplay
Karin Howard
Script Consultant
Linda Seger
August 3, 2024
6
A forgettable follow-up.
Given that <em>'The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter'</em> released six years after the original, has no cast carryovers aside from Thomas Hill and is missing prior director Wolfgang Petersen, it isn't exactly a surprise to see it fall far adrift of the great 1984 movie.
The effects for the likes of Falkor aren't that different to before, though with voice actor Alan Oppenheimer missing the character doesn't stand out at all really - I did mention in my review of the first film that I felt Oppenheimer was a major reason for its success, his absence here only proves that. Donald Arthur doesn't quite do as well.
For those onscreen, Jonathan Brandis' performance is actually solid enough - but what lets things down is his dialogue, a lot of which feels unnatural. Kenny Morrison, as Atreyu, is probably the only performer that puts in a showing that is on similar level to their counterpart from the preceding feature.
With all that the case, I can't quite class this as good. I will say that I wasn't begging for the credits to come at any point, I just wasn't all that invested either. A standard 6/10 flick, for me.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$32,000,000.00
Revenue:
$16,283,667.00