Anatomy 2

... last semester? Or last movie ... although to be fair we get a new group of people with at least one surviving character returning, to make an impact ... a little impact at least. And depending on what character I mean ... and what part of the movie I'm talking about. But back to basics - they really thought of things, medicine wise, something that is even more apparent in the first movie or at least feels like that.

We get another bunch of teenagers (or is tweens? Probably the latter, but I never bothered to check their age) who try to learn about Anatomy. And some have quite the freaky methods to do so. Now the motives of the villain(s?) of this movie are sinister but also they have good intentions ... when has that ever been a good excuse? I know - still it is quite intriguing and something that somewhat saves this movie from total obscurity.

Like the first one, this has a bonus scene right after the credits start rolling ... in this case it may be even more important ... well if there ever had been an Anatomy 3 that is ... because it seems like quite the set up for it ... but what do I know, right?

"Anatomie 2" is a typical sequel which attempts to capitalize on the inertia of the popular first edition while not delivering the star power, creative juice, atmospherics or substance. This flick tells of a young medical prodigy (Metschurat) who falls in with a secret society of doctors who experiment with human bionics. Eminently predictable, less than horrific, with a meager human story, a mechanical and rote execution, and only a token appearance by rising star Potente, "Anatomie 2" pales next to it's predecessor. See "Anatomie" first and don't expect much out of the sequel. (C+)

ANATOMY 2 (Anatomie 2)

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Sound formats: Dolby Digital / SDDS

An intern (Barnaby Metschurat) at one of Berlin's top hospitals is targeted by a charismatic doctor (Herbert Knaup) who's been conducting illegal experiments on some of his students, involving the replacement of various muscle groups with powerful synthetic substitutes. But the drugs needed to curb the various side effects are highly addictive, and lead to madness and murder...

This unnecessary sequel - only tenuously linked to the original ANATOMY (2000) - foregoes genuine horror for a slow build-up of tension as Metschurat is first seduced by his newfound friends and then rejects their dreams of a Nazi-style 'master race'. The Gothic setting of the first film is replaced by the faceless corridors of an ultra-modern hospital, and - aside from a horrific opening sequence - there are few memorable set-pieces to distinguish the movie from its run-of-the-mill US counterparts. Bombastic music score, fine performances, but the film is pretty unsatisfying as a whole. Franka Potente (THE BOURNE IDENTITY) makes a brief cameo appearance, purely for marquee value.

(German dialogue)

The doctor and soccer player in the leisure time Jo Hauser (Barnaby Metschurat) decides to move to Berlin and be an intern in a famous clinic, expecting to increase his knowledge and expertize, and help his handicap brother Willi Hauser (Hanno Koffer). He joins a secret fraternity of doctors, under the leadership of Prof. Müller-LaRousse (Herbert Knaup), who is researching the use of bionic muscles in human beings without any ethics or respect to the laws. The team is also volunteer to the experiences, and is under investigation of Paula Henning (Franka Potente). When Jo gets close to a Filipino nurse, and becomes addicted in the drugs used in experience, he realizes the truth hidden in the methods used by the secret society in the development of science. "Anatomy 2" is a deceptive and forgettable story with total lack of credibility. The participation of Franka Potente is ridiculous, only to give her name to the credits and to attract her fans. The implausible story is very imbecile, but anyway if the viewer shutdown the brain, the film entertains. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Anatomia 2" ("Anatomy 2")

the first one was great (a common sequel-problem...?)... this time it's a different approach to tell the story: more action, which results in fast cuts and steady-cam... but also in a lack of time to explain all reused elements from the first one (good!) and to introduce them (very bad!). The main characters are too stereotyped and don't show enough plausible development... at least it isn't boring for a second but it could have been done much better...