Loved it from beginning to end. The actors' performances were incredible, especially Bale's. The portrayal of lifestyle in an urban, struggling, working community was dead on - no phoney glitz here. I was upset, however, at the abrupt ending - expected to go on to the Gatti bouts, but didn't. Fight scenes were nail-biters. Worth your time to see it.
I didn't read the book, but I feel the movie conveyed the lack of closure that both the children, and parents of missing children, experience. The actors did a great job; the creepiness of the villain, the anguish of the family and the lost hopes of a young girl were clearly expressed. I expected the sappy in-between world to take up most of the movie, but it didn't, and what there was of it, was not over-done and played well into the rest of the story. They also captured the 70's right down to the father's "wallabees." I really don't understand the bad reviews. I would see it again.
The first movie dragged and seemed boring to me, but they put much more into this one. New Moon kept my interest, the story seemed to flow better, and I was always waiting to see what was next. Definitely worth it. The whole audience gasped at the cliffhanger. Great job!