This week, the newest installment of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie series, Fifty Shades Darker, premiered in movie theaters around the world just in time for Valentine's Day. If you're like me, and read all the books multiple times and have highly anticipated the arrival of the second book turned movie (and luckily also have a friend who works at the movie theater to get you free tickets), then you also hustled to see it in the opening weekend.
While many people bashed the first Fifty Shades movie, I thought that it was really good, even if it didn't follow too closely to the storyline in the book. However, Fifty Shades Darker was thoroughly more impressive. Not only do I think the movie stuck more to the actual book written by the fabulous E.L. James, but I felt that there was more chemistry between the characters of Ana and Christian. If you're an actual fan, like me, you understand that these books were not all about the sex (like many people I know who haven't read the books claim that it's just porn), but also about the love story between the two main characters as well as the background story of Christian's childhood, and the many problems that come with that. This movie went more in depth to these two things, which brought more life to both characters.
If you've read the book, you also know the plot twist that is Leila and Jack Hyde (SPOILER AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK). While Fifty Shades was focused mostly on Ana and Christian figuring each other out and falling for each other, Fifty Shades Darker turns from romance to slight thriller with Christian's ex-sub Leila stalking Ana. The scene where she is waiting for Ana in her apartment with a gun had my heart pounding, and I even know from the book that nothing bad happens, and Christian subdues Leila. And the scene with Jack Hyde's attempt at attacking Ana was another moment where I found myself on the edge of my seat, instead of swooning over Christian which really broke up the love scenes well, and made the plot so much juicier.
If you're a super fan, you may have also downloaded the soundtrack to the first movie. Listening to music is a big part of my life, so I always enjoy hearing what music gets put into movies. I was obsessed with the music in Fifty Shades of Grey, and still even listen to some of the music now, almost two years later. Fifty Shades Darker did not disappoint, with another soundtrack of music from a wide range of artists, from Taylor Swift to Nicki Minaj to Anderson East. (I'm currently even jamming to it as I write).
All in all, I would say that Fifty Shades Darker was a great movie, especially if you're already a fan of the series. I know I already have plans to see it again before it leaves theaters!
