User reviews

I was first introduced to this and other 'Emmanuelle' films in the early days of Cinemax (or 'Skin-emax', as we used to call it) and other pay-cable channels that started featuring soft-core porn after midnight on the weekends. In the early 80s--when the government was cracking down on pornography and the market for direct-to-video softcore porn had yet to be plumbed--cable outlets like Cinemax had few options for 'dirty movies' that didn't cross the hardcore threshold other than the small brace of adult films passing themselves off as 'European art-house' cinema to American audiences during the mid-to-late 70s. Other examples include Lady Chatterley's Lover (also starring Kristel, in an adaptation that would surely have humiliated poor D. H. Lawrence), Felicity, and Melody in Love, but the Emmannuelle franchise opened the proverbial floodgates (the title character in 'Felicity'--another story about a young woman on an adventure of sexual self-discovery in the far east--is seen reading the novel on which 'Emmannuelle' is based while traveling by plane to Bangcok).

As has been amply examined, the 'Emmannuelle' films are burdened with ponderous, annoying pretentiousness, and the audience must sit through way too much boring down-time between sex scenes that tend to tease more than satisfy. In this sense, 'Emmanuelle 2' and its ilk aren't bad for 'getting in the mood,' but compared to even the soft-core porn of today, these films are quaint. But they are fascinating as period pieces, and they are very sensual and erotic when compared to the rather mechanical and listless banging together of surgically enhanced bodies that dominates the adult film market today. Sylvia Kristel is no actress (apparently, she was so bad that her dialogue was overdubbed by another actress in the first 'Emmannuelle' film), and she is not the most beautiful woman ever to get naked in front of a camera, but this is part of her appeal: she has the face and body of a real woman, and she seems genuinely turned on (in that vaguely-detached, dreamy European way) by what she's doing.

But what a nostalgia trip! Sylvia Kristel introduced so many horny young boys with pay cable to the joys of sex in foreign locales and strange places. The concept of two women making love to each other was completely unknown to me before I met Emmanuelle! I can't help but laugh thinking back to how much of my sexual education I owe to the Emmanuelle films and the other naughty Euro-trash skin-flicks Cinemax kept in heavy rotation throughout the 80s. Mom and Dad were way too uptight and repressed to fill me in--thank goodness cable television was there to explain everything.

"Emmanuelle 2" is an interesting relic of its era. That's not to say it's not explicit enough (it is, for a soft-core porn film), just that it has that decidedly pre-AIDS attitude about casual sexual encounters with multiple partners. The sex scenes deliver the goods, but the lack of a discernible plot may prove tiresome for some. This is a movie best enjoyed by using your fast-forward button to get to the scenes for which you rented the film in the first place (but you probably could have figured that out by yourself). (**1/2)

The rambling philosophical ruminations on erotica that made up such a large part of the first movie (and frankly made no sense whatsoever) are absent here in favor of much more familiar explorations of strange sensual experiences (other women, men, groups, unusual settings, even acupuncture and massage) typical of a 70s erotic novel. Just Jaekin, director of the first movie, dismissed this film (along with the rest of the series) as unnecessarily tacked on junk, but the formula of the first movie is faithfully followed here and the results are quite watchable if not to be taken too seriously. Steamy Thailand creates an effectively exotic hothouse setting for the languorous writhing that takes up much of the movie's running time and everything looks very colorful and lush thanks to an excellent cinematographic eye for tropical images. The result is somewhat less entertaining than it sounds. It's a soft-core travelogue with the beautiful but rather dull to watch Sylvia Kristel front and center for most of the film. I have never been convinced that the woman could act, and though she looks great, she seems rather overburdened to carry a whole film for 100 minutes. Something about her performance is never completely convincing or in the moment. Nevertheless, the movie looks good, and has moments of true erotic power - something many others in this genre fail to attain - making it far from the worst choice a viewer might make when looking for an erotic adventure film.

If you want to watch a decent erotic movie that your girlfriend will not slap you in the face for making her watch half way through, buy this.

It's a far better movie than the first, which was pretty dull in places. This one wallows in wild abandon, and carries a feminist message - whatever the men can do, Emmanuelle can do better, and far ruder. In one scene after a long build-up in which you think she is going to plead with a handsome bloke for sex, she waits for him to do the asking. Then tells him where to get off.

One of Alex Cox's favourite movies - Emmanuelle 2 has strong sex for a soft core happening, is genuinely erotic, has good acting and some surreal moments (the animated movie, the guy wandering around with bits of a plane, the man in the locker room with all the tattoos) ..yep - you name it and you'll probably find it here. Even the addictive, romantic piano-led music is better this time around.

Sylvia Kristel gives a great performance - she is the star, easily and by a long way. Come on - this film is good, not smut. Though it has some smut if you want. Just watch with subtitles, not dubbed. PLEASE!

I remember seeing the Emmanuelle video tapes on store shelf back in the 90s when I was a teenager (perhaps very cautiously peeking at the back cover. ) So they have this cult movie reputation, but until now I had never seen an Emmanuelle film.

Part 2 was recently on tv and I watched it. Well, I must admit I wasn't entirely paying attention because it felt more interesting to do other things at the same time. Hey, don't get me wrong: with other things I mean reading the news or something like that. I also listened to some rock music. In some moments the film's best scenes did indeed make a cool rock video.

So, the movie was mostly just very mediocre drama and romance, but every now and then there was an erotic scene that got my attention. But overall the movie felt very boring. The plot and the characters just weren't interesting.

I also wondered to whom is this movie intended for? The main character seemed a little bit like a women's empowerment figure, showing that also women can be sexually active and bold. But the way it was performed was quite cheesy. She just stumbles upon a guy and says: let's have sex. That kind of style seemed more like men's daydream. The whole thing felt too much aimless and mishmash. Well, maybe in the 70s this was wild stuff but nowadays it doesn't compare well to whatever you wanna compare it to.

I read some other review that said this second part is supposedly weaker than some other ones in the series, so maybe (just maybe) I'll see the first part if happen to come across. But if you're a newcomer to Emmanuelle, all I can say is that at least this second movie probably isn't going to turn your world upside down.

Emannuel is back this time the scene is set in Hong Kong.

I'm not sure if Hong Kong has places like the ones shown in this movie. Many far out sexual fantasy places shows up in this movie. I think Hong Kong is more conservative than the one shown in this movie.

Directed, and written by the famous French director Francis Giacobetti, visually this Emannuel is better than the first, but the story isn't as interesting, or it's more that the "affairs" she and others has isn't as vivid as it was in the first installment.

It's a good sequel to the original, but isn't as good. When it first came out, it was plenty interesting, but after nearly 40 years, its flaws shows. Sylvia Krystel is even more beautiful in this movie. I just wish that the story matched the quality of the visuals, then this movie would have been fantastic.

Like "Emmanuelle, "Joys of a woman" wallows in pseudo-philosophy while displaying a lot of aroused women seeking satisfaction… The setting is Hong Kong, where Emmanuelle is taken through the high-life of the aristocrat…

In Jack Jaeckin's first film, Emmanuelle was sexually reserved, and came out as she discovered her hidden sexuality… In the sequel, she explores further into the erotic domain—especially other women—in trying to find the perfect lover…

The characters are not real, but ethereal, dream-like creatures floating through life… This quality actually works quite well as Sylvia Kristel encounters other women… The eroticism is soft and sensual… When she confronts a man, however, there is a feeling only of performance… It's much more sharply refreshing and keen… The male lovers never seem to be as compassionate or as feeling as the women, nor are their characters as developed…

The photography is quite rich and luxuriant, and has captured a postcard view of modern Hong Kong

As a soft core feature, Emmanuelle 2 stands out as one of the very best of it's kind. Artfully rendered, beautifully photographed love/sex scenes, that really pushed the limits on just how far a film could go. This is a sequel to one of the most successful erotic movies of all time. I can report, in all honesty that is is a rare instance where a sequel is better than the original. While the first "Emmanuelle", filmed by Just Jaeckin, is somehow dark, and murky, Emmanuelle 2 is bright, and filled with life, and with genuine eroticism. Obviously this feature had a much larger budget than it's predecessor, and it shows. The viewer was introduced to the infamous "Emmanuelle" character in 1974. She was a shy, quiet girl of 19, married to an older man, who had very different views of sex. In that film we witnessed the beginning of her sexual awakening. In this sequel we see Emmanuelle developed into an incredibly strong, liberated woman, who goes about her sexual conquests like a drunken sailor! Sylvia Kristel sets the screen on fire with her unique brand of sexuality, which i can't quite describe. The many erotic scenes feature the most sumptuously filmed situations imaginable, and always set in the most exotic of locales. And as explicit as it is, it never crosses the line between good taste and sleaze for a second. What constantly surprised me about Emmanuelle 2 is just how well made it is. Every second of it looks like a very polished, big budget film. It was not expected, because the first Emmanuelle simply did not possess this level of quality. Best of all, while Emmanuelle 1 seems horribly dated today, thanks mostly to the 1970's philosophizing of the Mario character, along with the tacky theme song, the second one has dated beautifully, thanks to the truly elegant and timeless fashion choices for Kristel and the rest of the cast, and also to the gorgeous soundtrack by celebrated composer Francis Lai. If you have an interest in erotic films, i recommend you hunt this one down. I have the DVD from the Netherlands, which I believe is the most uncut version available. I also recommend seeing the original first; it is not as good as this one, however it is still a very good, and important film, as that is the one that started it all. Plus it is nice to see a character of erotic films actually develop, and change throughout a series. I cannot however recommend most of the others in the series, (with the exception of the very rare "Yellow Emanuelle" and a couple Laura Gemser films) as they range from bad to ridiculous. This stuff is worlds better than much of the ugly, corporate crap that comes out of Hollywood these days.

I probably have seen the very first Emmanuelle movie when I was a teenager .. whatever the case though it has been way too long to remember, if this connects neatly to the first one. It seems to, considering where she comes from at the beginning, which would be the location of the first movie.

Having said all that, the movie seems quite freeing! In more than one sense and so I am not trying to use a pun here (well maybe a little bit). Talking about a little bit: while the movie itself is sexual overall, it is not like the movie ever goes pornographic. It stays sensual throughout of course! And it also sends a message, that men and women are sexual beings. That privileges are not based on gender. So if a "couple" feels like they should practice free love and fool around with other people ... who are you/me/we to judge them or tell them they are wrong? Do not shame anyone for how they feel or what they do.

So this can not only be arousing in one sense for some, but also hopefully opening some peoples minds. I was quite surprised to see such a wonderful message in a movie that I thought would just be some male erotic fantasy come true ... good for the movie and good for the viewers!

I fell in love and lust with Sylvia Kristel after seeing this and the other 'Emmanuelle' films. She isn't typically beautiful, she isn't even the prettiest actress in most of her erotic films! But she has an innocence about her and a sexual hunger that has driven a lot men wild over the course of her career.

But! This is an enjoyable erotic little piece of fluff but at times you wish it was a bit of a harder version of soft core porn. They don't spend nearly enough time on the love scenes and frequently cut away when things are just getting interesting. But I did like the mysterious Orient setting, the acupuncture scene and the bit of animation that Sylvia watches on one of those old fashioned movie machines. You will too. This is probably best viewed at home in bed with a young lady friend if you catch my drift and I think you do...

I'm not entirely sure about what the aim of the producers of the Emmanuelle movies was. If they were aiming to just make soft-core porn, or if they were aiming to make a proper, decent movie that just happened to be about erotica and sex.

I'd like to think it's the latter and that's also why I want to rate and criticize the movies from that perspective. Which is also why the first installment doesn't live up to it's expectations. This second movie does a lot better job overall though. The overall feel is just way less pretentious; the faux-artsy soft-focus is mostly gone and the movie altogether seems more bright and 'open' or inviting to the viewer.

Add to that, that there is at least somewhat of a story line this time, and you have a movie that, albeit not a masterpiece, is worth watching.

The second Emmanuelle movie is set in Hong Kong instead of Thailand, it is less provocative than the first and looks rather like a travel company's advertising clip. The story seems to be a random collection of impressions, it doesn't really have a beginning or a conclusive end. This may sound a bit negative so far, but despite the lack of dramatic action, it still is a movie I love to watch again and again. It's the only movie Francis Giacobetti ever directed, so maybe he didn't have much experience with actors, but he sure knew how to make pictures look great. Part 2 may well have the best musical score (by Francis Lai). One of the three masseuses in the steaming hot bath scene is the stunning Laura Gemser who'd become "Black Emanuelle" for a whole bunch of pictures. I voted 7/8/6/4/6/7 for the six cinema films of the series.

This may be the best softcore erotic movie ever made, and its a shame that more people didn't see it in America when initially released in 1975 at the height of the Sexual Revolution, before AIDS came along and took all the fun out of swinging. One reason why the film wasn't so popular is that just a few years earlier, the first Emmannuelle film, based on a supposedly true book by Ammanuelle Arson, was released with much hoopla - and seen by many people, most of whom did not particularly like it, myself included. There was a glossy look but a nasty edge to it all - the sex seemed joyless, owing to the awful approach of Just Jaecken. So people stayed away from the sequel, which is all about the joy of sex! And is absolutely sweet and seductive, lush and lovely - everything that the first Emmanuelle movie was supposed to be but wasn't. If this had been released first, everyone would have been delighted. This remains the most perfect film by which you can revisit (on screen) the truly joyous feel of sexual liberation in the mid-seventies, though steer away from its predecessor. Best sequence: Kristel's lovemaking, in an Asian brothel, with Laura Gemser, shortly to start a series of her own as . . . Black Emmanuelle!

The sequel for the groundbreaking Emmanuelle welcomes back the gorgeous Sylvia Kristel (complete with a Kimberly Ryan hairstyle) in her second sexer. This time Emmanuelle and her husband (played by Umberto Orsini, a man I wish that I could look like) visit more of the Orient and Indonesia. Again, Emmanuelle (who's more confident about herself and her sexuality) has the time to have "philisophical discussions" wherever she goes, whether it would be in the bathtub, watching a microfilm movie short, in a locker room, a brothel, or getting acupuncture! Once again, we'll get to see the rituals and customs of the countries of the Far East, the same song being played during the "philisophical discussions", and a PYT thing who wants to learn from her (instead of the PYT teaching her). Once again I've seen the French and dubbed versions, and this time Kristel is dubbed by a more confident sounding woman, the voice of Emmanuelle from the first one seems to have been given to PYT Anna-Maria (Catherin Rivet).

All in all, almost as good as the first. BTW, one of the masseuses in the parlour Emmanuelle, Jean, and Anna-Maria visits is played by the gorgeous Laura Gemser, an Indonesian actress who would later play Emmanuelle in the series after Kristel decided to try her luck in more mainstream films in America.

A wonderful sensual film with a most outstanding soundtrack. Sylvia Kristel brings to life another episode of the insatiable Emmanuel. Ms. Kristel not only brings decorum to the role, but also class and a beautiful sensuality that only this beautiful woman can exude. The artistry, cinematography and detail for art direction makes this film a beautiful cinematic crescent of colors to watch. The erotic scenes were so beautifully stages, shot and endured, that you cannot help but to want to be with the actors playing the scenes out with them as well. I recommend this film cause it will not only transport you back to a time where erotic films had a definite story structure and cinematic beauty, but they were also artful and decadent. The nostalgia is palpitable. I cannot comment enough on the soundtrack of this film. The orchestration are guttwrenching and emotional and adds light to every scenes where it is placed. France should be most proud to have had in existence, back then, such a beautiful, talent, classing and sexually charged actress as Sylvia Kristel.

A must for Sylvia Kristel fans although not as hot as the original one she starred in. Also a chance to see Laura Gemser as the masseuse bearing a striking resemblance to Barbara Carrera, before Laura went on to do the Emmanuelle series herself.

Of the six movies that I've seen from this series, this is the movie to tell friends about. The locations are beautiful, the background (extras that appear) are not too glamorous and not too plain. The Thai bathhouse scenes are what I attempt to "sell" as the highly erotic shots. These are so hot, in fact, I'd rather watch EMMANUELLE movies than most X-rated films. I learned much later that director Roger Corman had directed some films. And now, in 2006, I find the webpage, and it contains more EMMANUELLE movies than I previously thought. This is a great film. Sylvia moves with grace,exudes sexuality but never showing her motives until the timing is there.

Unimpressive return to the erotic and sensual world of Emmanuelle, as performed once again by Kristel. This time she's in the Orient, exploring the many facets of passion and sensuality. Admirably acted by Kristel, she is the strength and weakness of the film. Her devotion to the character is worthy of mention and also her natural features are more lifelike and realistic than in recent movies of the kind, but she is also a horrible actress. Her own voice is not even used for the film, so that detracts from the performance greatly. A weak story and poor editing make this the beginning of the downfall for the character of Emmaneulle.

Like with the first Emmanuelle movie, I feel ambiguous about L'anti-vierge. It indubitably has its strong points: Sylvia Kristel is finally given her due platform -- and is absolutely ravishing; and there are several epochal sex scenes to behold. I mean, that sextuple interracial soapy full-body massage -- wow. Sure looks good!

But part two of the series also adopts many of the flaws of the first instalment. First of, this entire free love, everyone with everyone, you don't know a person if you haven't shagged them, nothing is bad if it feels good, if you don't want your partner shagging every second person he or she meets then you're a possessionist reactionary etc. -ideology puts me off. Not only is it not my bag, I also think it's as dated as dated as the Pope's stand on dildos.

Then the airbrained pseudo-philosophical talk scenes that go with it -- they make me feel like I'm stuck in a seminar on Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by an asthmatic tutor with a speech disorder on a sweltering hot Saturday afternoon in Siberia, when I really just wanted to see some red-hot porn. Next, the softcore restrictions are rather awkward, and really fly in the face of the series' freewheeling premise, because when, after a lot of heady talk, the swingers finally have a go at plunging to new depths of depravity, the camera coyly pans to a substitute shot of someone fluttering they eyelids or biting their lips. And several scenes just felt abortive.

So overall, Emmanuelle II -- definitely a few outstanding scenes, but sadly not a good movie overall. And, on balance, not any better than part one either.