Also, looking forward to seeing the final chapter!

As is often the case with sequels (or parts 2, 3 and on) the initial impact of Part One (a fairly substantial examination of the dominant/submissive relationship complete with toys and lots of nudity and intercourse) overshadows the subsequent stories. So it happens with FIFTY SHADES DARKER (or DULLER). New screenwriter this time round (Niall Leonard) adapting EL James infamous Chick Lit and a male director this time - James Foley. Not as strong a team as Round One. But then there are may little things that dim the lights on this outing - less sincere chemistry between the lead couple, too much meandering in wealthy parties, an unshaven Christian Grey (just to keep up with the styles) and the addition of some unsavory characters who attempt to add tension but without enough back story to make it work.The plot - Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Ana (Dakota Johnson) decide to rekindle their relationship, except this time there are no more rules or punishments. As they begin to get used to their newfound relationship, Christian's past (fifteen prior women, childhood abuse, a nasty sordid affair (Bella Heathcote) and the threat of a strange woman (Kim Basinger) begins to haunt Ana as Christian struggles with his innermost thoughts. There is competition for Ana from her new boss (Eric Johnson) that provides a cliffhanger at the end of this far too long film. Gone is the novelty of the Red Room and sadism and life seems to be settling into ho-hum. Maybe things will pick up in the third installment...Grady Harp, March 18

By that, I mean you want the lights off so you can't see their face. So turn your lights off, and while you're up just turn the TV off as well because there is no point watching this. Granted, this is ever so slightly better than it's predecessor. But that's like saying cat litter tastes nicer than dog poo, they're both excrements. I mean where to begin with the story? Christian Grey yearns for Anastasia and becomes a creepy stalker. Will they? Won't they? Again, I don't care. Oh, and random people from his past keep popping up like an unwanted STD. Speaking of, we were graced with Mr Grey ripping off a condom in the first film, just to encourage safe sex. In this? None of that. Spreading disease at a rate of Oprah Winfrey audience members getting presents. "You get a disease! You get a disease! Everybody gets a disease!!". We have our usual accompaniment of pop songs to the raunchy sex scenes. Bending over a pool table, bed or even the floor...that's about as raunchy as it gets. I actually miss the whips...what have I become!? The sex now just seems forced as it's no longer a plot device, but isn't that the point of this franchise? The acting and chemistry between our two leads is much better and far more watchable, with less cringeworthy lines of dialogue. It's still damn atrocious, just more tolerable. The pace is horrendously sluggish! Two hours! Felt like four. So many unexplored sub-plots that amount to nothing. Rita Ora though...perfection. She genuinely seems excited to be there. No one else does, just give them their wages and be done with this series. Will I be watching this again? Nope. This is just the kind of thing I put myself through for friendship. Foolish me.

Everyone likes to dump on this movie. Many of the references are from the first. I think people forget the dynamic. The movie is supposed to be about somebody very damaged and somebody not so damaged falling in love. Not a difficult concept. Yes, its kinda weird. Yes, I do wish that the script was 1000 times better. All in all, I've seen Adam Sandler movies that were much worse than this movie. I think the script for The Last Airbender was worse than this. I thought that this movie was actually a little refreshing after the last. Though, the last movie seemed to have a better script.