It: Chapter Two — A Review

20th October 2019.

I’m officially terrible.

No, really.

I had dinner with my family, earlier this evening.

I’m job hunting right now.

I get to see my relatives … and get a meal.

So stuff works out.



Until, of course, I got home … and realised I’d left my spectacles at my mothers.

Hmm …

Thankfully?   My sister Anna, happily dropped them off.

I’m grateful … 



And kicking myself!

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, with time on my hand … ?



With time on my hand, I wanted to catch a movie.

Given it’s been recently released on demand, and that I’d seen Chapter One, last year?

Given I’d seen the radically different Kidulthood, last night?

I fancied something familiar, yet different.

I fancied It: Chapter Two.

And, if you’ve seen the extremely brief video I’ve posted on YouTube?



I have my doubts … 

~≈†≈~

It: Chapter Two opens some twenty-seven years after the original: and opens at the Derry fair.



Which lovers Don and Adrian are chased from the carnival by a group of homophobic thugs.

Adrian … is tossed over a bridge, and into the river.

Whilst trying to rescue Adrian, that Don sees his boyfriend — barely alive — arrive at the other sure … and attacked by something … 

~≈†≈~



News of these events, along side others happening in town?

Are enough to convince town librarian, Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa) to phone the rest of the Losers Club: Bill (James McAvoy), Bev (Jessica Chastain), Richie (Bill Hader), Ben (Jay Ryan) and Eddie (James Ransone).



Their worst nightmare, Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) … is back in town.



The group, with all their problems?



Have to deal with it … or else …

~≈†≈~

Now … 

What did I make of It: Chapter Two?

Well …

I say, in that Youtube video, Chapter Two’s a good film.



It is, I think.



But must qualify that.



For a start?

For me, that use of flashbacks was something of a mixed blessing.

It added a few unneeded scenes to the film, but did at least connect the dots for me: reminding which child actor was which adult character.

At least one scene — where a decapitated head grows legs— is an almost word for word copy of a notorious scene in The Thing.

The main thing?

It: Chapter Two got a two hour and forty-nine minute run time: some thirty-five minutes longer than It.

Given I felt the first film was a touch too long?

You can imagine my feelings about this.

To be brutally honest?

To be brutally honest, It: Chapter Two is a fine film.

But it’s really too long, and too obvious in its scares, too cliched in handling its character arcs, to be completely satisfying … 

Frankly?

It: Chapter One was the better movie!

It: Chapter Two
★☆☆☆