Watch Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival For Free

Good movie but grossly overrated

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

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 will admit, I wasn't sure where this one was going to go, but the creators delivered! The film has a longer running time, but still paces like the first, which helps diminish the 3 year gap between the two films. I was excitedly tapping (or stomping) my feet to the songs as the musical numbers came up. Like the first, I loved the characters and loved the story. If you are a fan of any of the performers and crew involved, or you loved musicals, this movie is for you, ESPECIALLY if you loved the first episode. Can't wait to see it again and again! Correction, can't wait to EXPERIENCE it again and again! Reviewing the movie here almost seems unfair. TDC was created to be experienced and consumed, not just watched!

I loved the first movie and initially had very high hopes for the second installment. But... I started to feel disappointment in what I perceived as too much too late, trying too hard and failing, based on the clips and info being released up until the premiere (last evening). I had already planned to fly out to see the movie, and remained loyal to that commitment....The film blew my mind. All my doubts, questions... all of them were answered. The music, visuals and acting was perfect. My biggest worry was if they could bridge the gap from the first film, and still bring something new. What I watched was beyond even my wildest expectations and I'm so glad that I went ahead with it! There were a lot of new (to the films) faces and while that could have been disastrous, it was exactly the opposite.