Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival

Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival

Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival

One has to wonder with all these 10 star reviews wether this could be a hidden gem. However it's something you'd prefer to stay hidden. The acting is soso, the props are decent, the script is abysmal. You will want to stab yourself in the eyes while watching it to lessen the pain. My advice is to skip it. If you still want to watch it, put in earplugs and blindfold yourself, it's the only way to "enjoy" this "movie".

I've been looking forward to this ever since I saw the first movie. It was definitely good, I thoroughly enjoyed the story (which was actually more of a prequel) and it was nicely done with sets, costumes, lighting, special effects, etc. I think it wasn't made quite as clear as it should have that most of the movie was a flashback, I got the impression that the flashback parts were just a parallel story line until near the end when it became obvious what the backstory was, although I won't go into more detail on that because it would be a spoiler. My main issue with this movie was that the music just didn't get to me. The first movie had some really catchy tunes ("Grief", "Beautiful Stranger", "Grace for Sale", etc.), as did Repo! by the same creators, but the songs in this one felt a little too... Staggered, for a lack of better words. They just didn't stand out. The only one that really appealed to me was "Hoof and Lap". Aside from that, this was interesting and I do hope they make a third one, because this really leaves you wanting more!

I went to the first Devil's Carnival Roadshow and have been anticipating this sequel for the last three and a half years. It did not disappoint. From the beginning it laid out a movie that started as a slow smolder and built itself into a raging inferno of delight to the senses and emotions. The story that had rendered such a visceral Hell now flips the coin and shows you what balances the other side of the scales. I was delighted with the cast and have to say Tech N9ne, Jimmy Urine and Chantal Claret stuck out as gleaming gems in their roles, but then... there was no cast member that disappointed. The end crescendo left me bouncing in my chair and wanting to see the third and fourth... and more! Always more! Always alleluia!

Where do I even start? The movie looks fabulous. Costumes, sets, every detail contributes beautifully to the whole. The makeup, which was great in the first movie, somehow looks even better this time around. The music appeals to a wide variety of tastes--no wonder, with such an eclectic group of musicians in the cast--and if you don't find yourself dancing along to the Ark, you should have your ears checked. The casting is spot on. When I read elsewhere that Emilie had never done any acting, I confess that I was nervous, but her portrayal of June is lovely. It was clear that she did a lot of work developing the character. Chantal Claret and Jimmy Urine steal the show in the best way possible. I hope to see more of Lyndon Smith in the future (and that she'll get a whole song in the next installment, because her voice is angelic.) I have nothing but praise for the actors. Without any spoilers, let me say that the story is the best I've seen or read in years. Terrance Zdunich has taken Milton's sympathetic Lucifer and elevated him; unlike Milton, he hasn't chickened out and turned the Morning Star into a villain to satisfy popular opinion. At the same time, he doesn't completely polarize the characters. There is a lot of gray area in both Heaven and Hell (although we're clearly supposed to root for the latter). The movie is thick with references to history and musicals, building its own fully realized world, and rich with parallels to other works. Although the first will always be one of my favorite movies, "Alleluia" has claimed the top spot in my heart. (Sorry, "Return of the King.") Bousman and Zdunich's collaborations are always exciting. This time they've created something truly sublime.

I found the movie to not be that great. Would it come close to winning an Oscar or even have a trailer on TV? Most likely not. It's really one of those movies where either you like the culture or you don't. I also am not a very big fan of Bousman. I've tried to be but I found the SAW movies that he did directed were the weaker movies of the series. Also his type of movies are not for those who are believers in God. Specifically in this movie he at times mocks God and religion in general. I also personally found it to really be a mess of a movie. The plot was hard to understand and I was left thinking if there even was a plot to it all. In fact the movie reminded me of the book series "Cirque du Freak" which was pathetically made into a movie called "The Vampire's Assistant." That's the culture this movie is for, those who like reading the Cirque du Freak series. Maybe this movie would be better as a live show?

I was so glad I got to see this in NYC! Incredible movie with a wonderfully imaginative cast of characters. A captivating story taking place in a thoroughly interesting universe. And the soundtrack! This soundtrack, along with the soundtrack from the first movie, and the soundtrack from Repo! The genetic Opera are CD's 4, 5, and 6 in my cars CD changer respectively =o) I cannot WAIT until the next one. The story has me thoroughly hooked. The characters are so alive, and you can't help but care what happens to them. The relationships between characters make it difficult to fixate on any one side, as both sides of the conflict have very interesting story arcs..

most sequels are a copy/paste of the original idea. obviously, if part 1 worked so well, it makes sense to use the same formulas for part 2 right? BOH-RING!! *YAWN* *SNOOZE* thank all carnies that the creators of the original devil's carnival aren't dull. alleluia shares the same dark, quirky tone as part 1 but definitely carries its own brand of absurdity. a majority of the movie is set in a heaven swathed in 1930s glamour -- replete with impeccable dress, impeccable manners, and impeccable style. overshadowing all is god (i mean paul sorvino), a dictator who forces every denizen of heaven to operate as cogs within a highly regimented business. like the carnival of hell, there are rules, lots of rules, and one must abide by the rules at all times. alleluia is a true musical -- story is established through song and, because it's the devil's carnival, the songbook runs the gamut between jazzy notes, Asian instruments, stage show tunes, and heavy minor chords. the crazy mix more than anchors the fantasy and brings to life each bizarre personality (yes, that IS David hasslehoff as the designer). the cast is fantastic. not all of them are singers but they nonetheless flavor each song with unique interpretations. we see mainly through the eyes of june (emilie autumn) and her journey becomes the origin story of the painted doll. in essence, it's the familiar battle between the little guy against the big bully. and here's the thing...movies are first and foremost meant to be entertainment. but the best art transcends mere entertainment and leaves the audience with thoughts to chew on. alleluia does not miss the opportunity to pose questions that universally affect everyone...when do rules harm more than help? why do we punish curiosity? is obedience blind or is love blind? maybe i'm projecting and imagining those extra levels of meaning. but that, i think, is what make alleluia more than just pretty visuals and music. it has successfully stuck its claws in my brain and making my gray matter work overtime. that is a most welcome intrusion.

Like many others I have been waiting less that patiently for this movie since the release of the original. In the end after a first viewing I've come out with mixed feelings tat leave me both excited and less than pleased. When it comes to the production Alleluia blows its predecessors out of the water. The visuals are amazing an it's clear that there was a much used budget for effects this time around. The easiest example I can cite is the opening sequence on the train and the 'sky' over Hell when we return below. In that same spirit the cast is amazing. David Hasselhoff as an over the top designer was hilarious and Barry Bostwick could convey more with one bulging eye than some actors can in a whole movie. Adam Pascal's Agent I found to be oddly sympathetic for being such a theoretically unlikable character. For Terrance Zdunich and Paul Sorvino I need only give a HAIL! and ALLELUIA! My complaint is with the execution of the story. In this installment we really only got one Fable and to me it started to feel like (no pun intended) they were beating a dead horse. What's more is we really didn't progress in the overall plot for having a nearly doubled run time. Yes we needed to set up Heaven but it would have been nice to see it in a series of back stories as with Hell than one single Fable for one single character that leads to nothing more than the first shot of the war at best. *SPOILER* If you are not an Emilie Autumn/Painted Doll fan... you might be better off just skipping this one.