Final Destination 2 (2003)

Memorable, crazy movie

Better Late Then Never

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

When Kimberly has a violent premonition of a highway pileup she blocks the freeway, keeping a few others meant to die, safe or are they? The survivors mysteriously start dying and it's up to Kimberly to stop it before she's next. With most horror sequels being pretty awful 'Final Destination 2' keeps the edgy and creepy atmosphere of the original and it was definitely great seeing Ali Larter returning (although i was kind of disappointed how she went off) plus even tho the ending was kind of over the top the sequel still keeps a straight face. (7.5/10)

I loved the first film, had a definite originality to it, if I'm honest the second instalment was always my favourite in the series. It is somehow more cohesive, more gripping and generally more thrilling then the first.Kimberley's preminition is terrifying, imagine being in your car, about to pull out into a motorway/freeway and seeing that. It made me get the bus for the next few days!The writing is tight and imaginative, the production values are slick and well done, it's well acted, particularly Michael Landes, who is always great in whatever he does, I actually preferred Ali Larter's Clear in this then the first.The best in the series. 8/10

Another premonition about a freak accident leads to a different group of 'death cheating' survivors fearing for their lives in this surprisingly decent sequel. While the crash/collision scenes are magnificently intense and very realistic, 'Final Destination 2' does not get off to the strongest start and the first half of the movie feels like more of a remake or rehash of the original, except with even more inventive and elaborate deaths. As the film progresses though, there are some chilling "outward ripple" connections made to the characters from the first movie, which makes the overall project more interesting as an extrapolation on the events of Part One. And yet, even if one does walk away feeling that this is more of a rehash than a sequel, there are several improvements here. The death scenes, for instance, always leaving one guessing as to just what will deliver the fatal blow, the characters are more varied and have more personality than in the first film, plus there is quite a bit of comic relief that actually works. The sequel does not, however, have the visual panache that James Wong brought to the first film and nothing compares to Devon Sawa's hyper-awareness scenes in Part One. The basic idea is also not quite so fresh while delivering the same unanswered questions. As alluded to though, this is still a more worthwhile film overall than one might expect.

Taken on its Own Terms, these types of Movies have to be Compared to its Peers and not High Art. This is either a Guilty Pleasure or not.The Final Destination Sequel doesn't have the Luxury of being Groundbreaking or Clever. This is Number 2 and it is Spinning Off those accolades and delivering a Cash-In and seems like it was done Only for just That.It means that this is More of the Same. It might be that the Third Entry can go for Deeper Insights and Suspense, but it was not to be for the Follow-Up. The opening "Highway to Hell" pile up is one of the most Visceral and Smashing Car Crashes ever put on Film. It is Stunning.The rest of the reveals are no where Near as Engaging and are Nothing more than Semi-Clever ways to Countdown those that have Cheated Death.The Formula shows signs of boring Repetitiveness in the Dialog about Death and its Plan. It Has become more Airy-Fairy in its explanations that were there in the Original but then it was all New Stuff.Now its just seems Blah, Blah, Blah...Death's Design...Blah, Blah, Blah, Who's Next?, and so forth. The Gore is Great and the "Fun" is there if You Turn Off Your Analysis and sink Into Your bucket of Popcorn. But if the Third Final Destination doesn't Get Smarter it too will Sink under the Sameness. But even if it doesn't, well, at Least it will be another Guilty Pleasure for Fans of the Type, Like This One.