Film Filter: Off It's pretty much safe to say that you HAVE to see this film in 3-D. It definitely was not as terrible as its predecessor, and it has a very interesting ending.
Pros- For starters, the acting was much better in this film than in the one prior. The characters have a lot more interaction with each other, other than dying, than in most of the films.
Moving on to the 3-D aspect: if you're going to watch a movie in 3-D for entertainment value, this one is not a bad choice. Good 3-D movies either subtly enhance the film by working in the background, or overtly enhance the film by over-using the effect. This film is clearly the latter, but it works. The introduction was probably the coolest part in terms of 3-D effects, but the movie does a good job of inserting them without fail into most death scenes.
I liked that this film took a slightly different approach to the equation of cheating death. Instead of just switching the order, apparently you can take someone else's life and it will substitute the one you were supposed to give. I think this is a pretty clever concept, although not unique. White Noise: 2 also jumped on this bandwagon idea, but I have to say that it makes the plot more interesting due to the moral dilemmas that ensue.
The ending was by far the biggest redeeming quality of this film. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say my prior complaint of having "Final Destination 5" follow "THE Final Destination" is now null and void.
Cons- Despite the fact that I liked the twist regarding killing someone else to save yourself, there were some surrounding issues that plagued this concept. First off, the way it was brought up was pretty abrupt. The coroner from the first film just up and tells them that that's how they can cheat death. Wow, way to make them work for it. He didn't even give them a few guesses or anything, just blurted it right out. Not that any of them would have been intelligent enough to have figured it out on their own, but still. Secondly, once the characters catch wind of this, one of them goes bananas and tries to start killing one of his friends. I just find that a tad unrealistic. I mean, if you're going to kill someone find a bad guy, or a random person, but don't murder your friend!
Okay, I can't keep it in any longer, so ***SPOILER ALERT*** The coroner up and announces to the remaining victims that they can kill someone to get out of the arrangement. Lo and behold, we find out at the end of the film that this movie is actually a prequel to the original Final Destination, which begs the question: Why didn't anyone in the other 4 films figure it out?! Especially if creepy coroner-man blurted it out to the first group...why couldn't he just tell Devon Sawa too?
Wrap up- Not a bad movie, if you see it in 3-D. Sorry I ruined the ending for you, but it still might be worth...eh, probably not.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Film Filter: Off- The Last Exorcism
Film Filter: Off- Having seen several films regarding exorcisms (as they happen to fit into my favorite, self generated genre of theological thrillers) I have to say this film went in a COMPLETELY different direction than I had expected it to.
Pros- It's a little tougher to dissect this film because of the nature of how it was meant to be perceived. As a documentary style film, the plot was slightly covered up by the necessity to remain true to a live filming. That being said, I have to commend the entire cast on making the film truly feel like a documentary. Whoever cast the film did a nice job of selecting actors that were lesser known to assist in the genuine feel of the film.
I found it refreshing that the film took a very different angle on the idea of exorcisms. Instead of a devout priest, or even an uncertain one, struggling to rid demons from a body for the greater good of the possessed's soul, this minister had a different approach. Instead, a minister struggling internally with his beliefs and faith seeks to prove that exorcisms are a mental disorder and can simply be cured with a "mind over matter" approach. The film then goes through the motions of his hoaxes and showmanship during the fake exorcism, the events that ensue, and his beliefs and opinions ultimately being questioned.
Throughout the process the viewer will find a very tongue-in-cheek sense of humor from the minister, as he is convinced that exorcisms are fake and ultimately mocks them. It ends up frequently having a bit more comedic and realistic feel than it does a spiritual one, which is refreshing for a film that is rooted in a concept that is very spiritual.
Cons- Coming with the territory of a documentary style filming is the inability to answer some questions. This was particularly frustrating towards the end of the film. As the film is attempting to be in real time, with one of the characters of the film portraying the camera person, we can only view what is going on from their perspective. Once action picks up and characters are running and/or dying, it becomes difficult to decipher the plot in the midst of the chaos.
I also thought it was a little ignorant of the priest to assume that the possessed girl, Nell, was relieved of the demons just based off of what she was saying. I thought it was painfully obvious that she was still under possession, mainly because she was referring to herself in the third person perspective. A-duh?
Wrap up- This movie can be summed up in one word: unexpected. It's really quite interesting, but I would really recommend it to those who have seen several exorcism oriented films, as it will probably make more sense.
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