‘Fifty Shades’ turns darker hue of grey

The fifty shades of Christian Grey take a darker turn in the kinky sequel set to hit cinemas worldwide tomorrow.

And East London fans of the erotic book-turned-film series turned out in their numbers to watch a special screening of 50 Shades Darker on Tuesday night at Hemingways.

Northern Irishman Jamie Dornan and US actress Dakota Johnson deliver this second instalment to EL James’s best-selling trilogy in a fast-paced drama, featuring plenty of thrills and beautiful sets and costumes.

The story is the tale of young Anastasia Steele and her introduction to the world of BDSM (bondage, discipline and sado-masochism) by billionaire business mogul Christian Grey.

In the second movie, the two lovers reconcile after their dramatic breakup in the first film, treating viewers to even more “love scenes” than the first instalment.

Ana, who was a blushing college student when we first met her, has transformed into a confident young woman tackling the pressures of her first job.

In this second movie, viewers get to see a wider variety of the outrageous sex toys used between the pair, with Ana filmed wearing an assortment of lingerie guaranteed to make any woman green with envy.

This film introduces audiences to ghosts from Christian’s dark past, which adds a dash of suspense to the plot.

Not straying too far from the book, the new film includes most of the familiar faces seen in the first, with a few new ones thrown in, most notably Kim Basinger playing Mrs Robinson aka Elena, the woman who in James’s books introduced the young Christian to the world of BDSM.

Bella Heathcote, 34 years younger than Basinger, plays another ex, Leila, while Eric Johnson is Ana’s new boss, Jack Hyde.

British songstress Rita Ora returns as Christian’s younger sister Mia, and Marcia Gay Har-den returns as his mother, while Eloise Mumford continues to play Kate Kavanagh, Ana’s eccentric roommate.

Helicopter Charlie Tango returns too, and we are introduced to yet another of Christian’s expensive toys as the couple go sailing aboard The Grace.

Music lovers will be pleased to hear a duet by Taylor Swift and former One Direction member Zayn Malik.

In a story which appeared in the UK Daily Mail, Dornan said filming the sex scenes for the second movie was easier than the first. Dornan was speaking at the film’s Los Angeles premiere last week.

“I was only cast five weeks before we started filming the first movie, and that’s when I met Dakota for the first time,” the story reads.

“Now it’s been three years and Dakota and I are very close.

“We’ve got a great sort of love and respect for each other.

“We’re great friends and I think that makes it easier, you know? So it’s definitely more comfortable.”

Johnson told NBC’s Today show last week that she also felt more comfortable filming the sex scenes this time around.

“It’s never really easy, but this time it was definitely not completely uncharted waters. Jamie and I obviously having known each other for a long time now,” she said.

The final instalment of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed, is set to be released next year. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za

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