This is a nice little movie. My only issues are with the lack of actual Zambian culture. My reference: I'm married to a Zambian. There are a couple locations I know for sure are in Zambia, the original hotel and the elephant orphanage are real locations in Zambia. The "local" characters are mostly not played by Zambian actors, there is no Zambian music, and almost none of the Zambian languages. There is more Swahili and Zulu in the film than any of the 140+ languages that exist in Zambia. Also, Christmas isn't really celebrated in Zambia, at least not how it's portrayed in the film. It's a shame really, it's a beautiful country with a rich culture and they didn't access really any of it.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Love Never Dies
(II) (2012)
I loved it. I cry every time and I sing my heart out when I hear the music.
17 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I'd like to start by saying, I have literally never written a review before but after reading all these pathetic negative reviews I felt I need to say something. I LOVE this sequel.
First: The characters belong to Andrew Lloyd Webber, and he knows what to do with them. Yes, they changed. But it's been 10 years and LOTS of things have happened to each of them.
Second: Stop comparing it to the 2004 film. Just stop it. That film had inconsistencies with the original story too but it was still amazing. This is obviously not meant to be a sequel to that specific production. Get over it.
Third: the music is amazing. And yes, that is still compairing it to Phantom of the Opera. The songs are beautiful and if people weren't so determined to hate this movie, they'd see it.
Fourth: the characters are fine. Their story arcs are not that unbelievable. Only that madame Giry doesn't like Christine as much as she should, but that could be explained by years of living with Meg and the Phantoms pain if she felt it was Christines fault. Christine is not a flat character. She's just different. And also has the new dynamic of being a mum and has been trapped in an abusive marriage for years.
To sum up, this movie is beautiful. The songs are amazing, the acting is stellar, the characters are lovely, the set and costumes are perfection, the camera work is fine. If so many people want to be haters then so be it. But if you expect something to be terrible, it will be. Open your mind, look with your heart, and enjoy the beauty of the Phantom again.
First: The characters belong to Andrew Lloyd Webber, and he knows what to do with them. Yes, they changed. But it's been 10 years and LOTS of things have happened to each of them.
Second: Stop comparing it to the 2004 film. Just stop it. That film had inconsistencies with the original story too but it was still amazing. This is obviously not meant to be a sequel to that specific production. Get over it.
Third: the music is amazing. And yes, that is still compairing it to Phantom of the Opera. The songs are beautiful and if people weren't so determined to hate this movie, they'd see it.
Fourth: the characters are fine. Their story arcs are not that unbelievable. Only that madame Giry doesn't like Christine as much as she should, but that could be explained by years of living with Meg and the Phantoms pain if she felt it was Christines fault. Christine is not a flat character. She's just different. And also has the new dynamic of being a mum and has been trapped in an abusive marriage for years.
To sum up, this movie is beautiful. The songs are amazing, the acting is stellar, the characters are lovely, the set and costumes are perfection, the camera work is fine. If so many people want to be haters then so be it. But if you expect something to be terrible, it will be. Open your mind, look with your heart, and enjoy the beauty of the Phantom again.
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