Compare Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man vs Practical Magic 2

The cinematography is the clearest consensus strength, praised for striking light, shadow, mud, rubble, wintry landscapes, and a genuinely cinematic sense of scale.

The cinematography draws sharp criticism for an antiseptic, colorless look that loses much of the original film’s warmth.

Period immersion is weakened for some by modern-looking styling, oversized stakes, and questionable wartime plausibility. The film’s stylized mythmaking of Tommy also draws skepticism.

The strongest realism praise goes to Bullock and Kidman’s sisterly dynamic, which one review says feels like real sisters clashing and reconnecting.

The eerie, supernatural-leaning material is praised as some of the eeriest material the franchise has attempted.

The shift toward a more genuinely spooky or creepy tone does not work for at least one reviewer, who says it clashes with the franchise’s lighter whimsy.

The film’s grief-heavy, introspective drama gives Tommy’s final chapter weight for many viewers, though its persistent misery and brooding occasionally overwhelm the entertainment.

One review says the sluggish writing and pacing drain the life-or-death material of stakes, leaving the movie ineffective as drama.

Some newcomers report following the story surprisingly easily without heavy recaps, but other reviews point to shaky logic or exposition that does too much work.

The plot is one of the most criticized elements, repeatedly described as convoluted, thin, improbable, contrived, or mechanically assembled.

An apparent CGI hat is called distractingly bad, standing out as a conspicuous weakness in the effects work.

Effects opinion is split: one review praises the de-aging work, while another mocks the broader effects as distinctly unspecial.

Tom Harper is frequently praised for confident staging, visual control, suspense, and explosive set pieces. A few reviews fault specific tonal or narrative choices even while admiring the filmmaking.

Susanne Bier’s direction divides reviewers. A few appreciate moments of warmth and looseness, but others criticize the pacing, flat staging, and lack of the original’s fairy-tale charm.

The sombre, gothic, highly stylized mood works for some as a fitting final chapter, but others find the film tonally off, overly miserable, campy, or caught awkwardly between old and new Peaky Blinders.

Tone is a persistent weakness, with reviews describing the sequel as a tonal mess or unable to settle between comedy, drama, whimsy, and darker supernatural material.

Dark comedy—especially the Garrison grenade sequence and father-son mud fight—provides welcome relief from the gloom. A few detractors find some of the comic touches cheesy rather than sharp.

Comedy is inconsistent: Bullock’s timing and some physical comedy earn praise, but several reviews say the recurring jokes and comic beats simply do not land.

Tommy’s reckoning with grief and Duke’s struggle with his father’s legacy work for many reviewers, but the compressed format leaves several supporting characters—and, for some, Duke himself—feeling thin or underdeveloped.

Character growth is one of the clearest weaknesses. Reviews repeatedly say returning characters regress or stagnate, while Antonia and other supporting figures are given too little development.

The romantic material fares poorly, with Tommy’s sex scene described as cheesy rather than convincing.

Romance is uneven. Joey King and Xolo Maridueña’s pairing earns warm praise in one review, while Sally and Ian’s subplot is frequently called forced or lacking chemistry.

The script earns credit for themes, twists, and some strong dialogue, but criticism is substantial: exposition, clichés, rushed character work, and compressed plotting repeatedly surface.

The screenplay is the most repeated major complaint, criticized as weak, overstuffed, repetitive, contrived, and unable to support the ensemble or emotional stakes.

Dialogue receives mixed marks: some reviewers praise sharp lines and economical exposition, while others call it simplistic, clunky, corny, or overly explanatory.

Dialogue is a recurring complaint, described as woeful, repetitive, flatly informational, and at times painfully unfunny.

Legacy, grief, trauma, memory, family inheritance, and self-definition give the film substantial thematic weight. Critics who resist the movie argue these ideas are compressed, overplayed, or left insufficiently explored.

The family, grief, and sisterhood themes resonate strongly for some reviewers, while others find the transgenerational-trauma ideas overwritten or shallow.

Several set pieces generate strong tension and claustrophobia, especially the pub and tunnel material. Negative reviews say predictability weakens the climax and removes the sharper twists associated with the series.

One positive reaction says Lee Pace’s mysterious character kept the reviewer guessing about his intentions until the end.

Hazy reverie-style editorial cuts are criticized as visually cheesy and as interruptions to the otherwise painterly presentation.

Editing is criticized for letting scenes drag or trail off and for odd cutaway choices that make the movie feel less polished.

At roughly feature length, the movie often feels too compressed for the number of character turns and plot developments it attempts. Several reviewers explicitly wish the story had been a season or miniseries instead.

The roughly 130-minute runtime is one of the strongest points of agreement, repeatedly described as overlong, criminally long, or far longer than the story can justify.

The ending is intensely divisive: many call it fitting, powerful, or even perfect closure for Tommy, while others believe it needlessly overturns the stronger symbolism of Season 6.

The ending sharply divides opinion. One reviewer calls the extended wrap-up useless and deadly, while another finds it fun, uplifting, and emotionally satisfying.

As a gangster-period-drama send-off, the movie retains much of the show’s identity and pulp energy. Several critics still feel it plays more like an extended television episode than a fully realized feature.

Genre response is divided between viewers who enjoy the witchy romance-and-sisterhood blend and critics who see a weak legacy sequel with diminished magic.

Tommy’s spiritual and gypsy side is praised as one of the most worthwhile expansions of his character in the film.

One review sees real progress in keeping women in their late 50s and early 60s at the center of a studio sequel rather than pushing them aside.

The score is repeatedly praised for building dread, atmosphere, and intensity, especially as Tommy’s return pushes the film toward its climax.

The musical score is praised alongside the soundtrack for helping carry the story between lighter and darker material.

For supporters, the film delivers grief, regret, family conflict, and a powerful farewell with real force. Detractors found key deaths rushed, contrived, or too hollow to land.

Emotional response is highly split: some reviewers cried repeatedly and found the family losses deeply moving, while others thought the climax had not earned its emotional weight.

The film restores the show’s swagger, music, visual language, and callbacks, satisfying many longtime fans. Others see missing characters and major legacy decisions as betrayals of the series’ established arcs.

One positive review likes that the film draws heavily from the source novel without feeling so beholden to it that casual viewers are shut out.

The central comeback structure, Nazi scheme, and legacy conflict are often described as familiar or clichéd, with several critics saying the film rarely finds a genuinely new plot shape.

Many reviews say the sequel repeats old beats and legacy-sequel formulas, though a minority feels it finds a fresh enough continuation without simply recycling the first film.

Many reviewers see the movie as a familiar one-last-job epilogue or a reworking of old Peaky Blinders beats. A smaller group praises its bolder choices and fresh generational angle.

Most reviews see too much nostalgia and repetition, calling the sequel a retread or IP exercise. A few positive voices argue it honors familiar elements without merely copying them.

Pacing is the most consistent weakness: the first half is repeatedly described as slow or drawn out, while the later material can feel rushed as too much story is compressed into feature length.

Pacing is consistently weak, with complaints about plodding stretches, grinding mystery mechanics, and a story that takes too long to reach an obvious destination.

Murphy and Keoghan’s father-son dynamic is often described as raw, magnetic, and powerful. A smaller group felt the pair never generated the expected sparks or emotional bond.

Bullock and Kidman’s sisterly chemistry is the most consistent strength, repeatedly described as effortless, joyful, and essential. Romantic chemistry is much more uneven, especially around Sally and Ian.

The core legacy-and-war story is compelling and emotionally satisfying for many reviewers, but others call the movie unnecessary, thin, half-baked, or unable to justify rewriting the series’ prior ending.

Story reactions range from heartfelt and satisfying to threadbare and bloated, reflecting the wider split between emotional fans and critics frustrated by the plotting.

The strongest readings focus on legacy, self-definition, family, and the cost of valuing power over people. One severe critic felt the film squandered the larger sense of purpose built around Tommy.

The sisterhood and female-solidarity message lands strongly for many reviewers, though one critique argues the sequel undercuts that theme by centering heterosexual romance too heavily.

An apparent CGI hat is called conspicuously poor, creating a distracting visual blemish in the effects work.

One harsh take calls the CGI climax poor, adding to complaints that the larger-scale magic looks less convincing than it should.

The visual presentation is consistently celebrated: smoky interiors, chiaroscuro lighting, slow-motion swagger, period grime, and large-scale wartime imagery make the movie look distinctly cinematic.

The look is divisive. Some praise jewel tones and polished imagery, but many miss the original’s warmer texture and criticize the sequel as flat, glossy, or antiseptic.

The return of Tommy’s tailored Peaky Blinders look remains a major visual pleasure, with covetable coats and sharp suiting earning praise. One review found Duke’s modern-looking styling immersion-breaking.

The Stevie Nicks-inspired witchy costuming is singled out as a joyful part of the sequel’s aesthetic.

For supporters, Birmingham and the Peaky underworld feel convincingly restored and expanded into wartime. Critics miss the old ensemble and argue the newer, thinner supporting world makes the film feel smaller than the series.

The sequel earns credit for expanding the Owens mythology and magical world, though some reviewers think the added lore contributes to an overstuffed story.

Blitz-era Birmingham, grime, rubble, docks, pubs, and warehouses are generally rendered with impressive tactile detail and scale. One negative review thought parts of the production looked like a soundstage.

Production design is a strong visual asset, with praise for jewel-toned spaces, fairy-tale architecture, cozy details, and attractive locations.

Aggregated critical reaction is broadly favorable but not uniform, with enthusiasm for craft and performances tempered by repeated complaints about pacing, script compression, and sequel necessity.

Critical response is plainly weak, with the supplied coverage repeatedly noting low review-aggregation scores and broadly negative notices.

Longtime Peaky Blinders fans are the clearest audience, especially for the callbacks and emotional closure. Reviewers disagree on newcomers: some found the film easy to follow, while others strongly recommend watching the series first.

Fan-oriented reactions are considerably warmer than the critical consensus, with multiple reviews saying longtime viewers are the group most likely to enjoy the return.

The cast is one of the film’s safest bets: even many negative reviews praise the performances, with the central actors repeatedly credited for elevating uneven material.

The cast is a major point of disagreement: several reviews call the performances charming or excellent, while others find the acting corny, awkward, or badly matched to the material.

Cillian Murphy’s return as Tommy is overwhelmingly praised for its weary stillness, menace, grief, and emotional control; even harsh critics routinely identify him as a major strength.

Bullock and Kidman remain the movie’s most dependable attraction, with many reviews praising their ease, charisma, and return to Sally and Gillian. A smaller but forceful group criticizes the performances as mannered or undercut by weak material.

The supporting ensemble is generally considered strong, particularly Keoghan, Roth, Rundle, Graham, and Ferguson. The bigger complaint is often that the movie underuses them or gives their characters too little depth.

Supporting performances are generally liked, especially Joey King, Lee Pace, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing. Maisie Williams is repeatedly described as underused or squandered.

Modern-rock needle drops remain a signature strength and are widely praised for driving emotion and atmosphere. A few reviewers find the choices dated, overly loud, or less appealing outside the iconic theme reprise.

The soundtrack remains a clear strength, with praise for its music choices and the way it helps bridge the sequel’s lighter and darker moments.

The big-screen outing is framed as earned and worth paying for, with the theatrical presentation treated as part of the appeal.

Value depends heavily on fandom: one reviewer recommends waiting for streaming, while another felt the theatrical polish justified spending money on a ticket.

Rewatch interest is sharply polarized: one enthusiastic reviewer immediately wanted another viewing, while several detractors say they would not revisit it and even feel it harms the series’ rewatchability.

Rewatch potential is polarized: one enthusiastic review calls it easy to revisit beside the original, while another says it will not be returning next Halloween.

Reactions range from gripping, highly enjoyable fan service to dull, hollow, or unnecessary viewing. A common middle ground is that the movie becomes much more entertaining after its slow first half.

Entertainment value is mixed. Warm reviews find the reunion funny, heartfelt, and easy to enjoy, while negative reviews call it tedious, boring, or barely watchable.

The action lands best once Tommy returns to Birmingham, with the pub confrontation, shootouts, explosions, and finale frequently singled out. Critics who wanted more momentum found the action too delayed or the climax predictable.

One favorable review specifically welcomes the use of practical effects instead of leaning entirely on CGI.

The sexual material draws a negative reaction because Tommy’s sex scene is viewed as cheesy and out of place.

The film’s cold-blooded, stylized violence generally fits the franchise’s appeal and is often balanced with swagger or dark humor, though it can edge into grim excess for some viewers.

Reviewers appreciate the use of World War II events and the counterfeit-currency plot as historical grounding. Others question specific period details, plausibility, or the sentimental elevation of Tommy within wartime history.

The soundscape can feel forceful and theatrical, with one review highlighting Dolby Atmos impact and another calling the sound design incredible. A major dissent criticizes an aggressive music-to-dialogue mix.