★ 8 / 10
A film just in my style. It’s a
Per Gunnar Jonsson
A film just in my style. It’s a future/alternate reality kind of apocalyptic action/horror movie. Fairly simple and straightforward plot where the good guys…
A film just in my style. It’s a future/alternate reality kind of apocalyptic action/horror movie. Fairly simple and straightforward plot where the good guys stays pretty much stays as the good guys throughout the move and the hero is really someone that kicks ass throughout the movie. No bloody fussing around with making the hero “human” or some crap like that.
The special effects and the apocalyptic sceneries where well done. In general the film was a solid piece of work. The transfer to Blu-ray equally well done. Picture quality was as to be expected and the DTS Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack well balanced with just enough surround effects and LFE to make it very enjoyable.
The film get a 5.7 rating at IMDB which in my mind is a bit on the low side but then, it’s not really a film for everyone. The so called “critics” at Rotten Tomatoes gave it 17% which is just pure bullshit but then I have given up on those idiots a long time ago. Most of those “critics” must come from the American bible belt or something ?
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★ 6 / 10
Whatever did happen to Cam Gigandet? Perhaps a
CinemaSerf
Whatever did happen to Cam Gigandet? Perhaps a career in carpentry? Let’s face it, he was pretty wooden himself and he wasn’t the only one in this lively but…
Whatever did happen to Cam Gigandet? Perhaps a career in carpentry? Let’s face it, he was pretty wooden himself and he wasn’t the only one in this lively but predictable fantasy adventure. It’s really all about a highly-trained and lethal priest (Paul Bettany) who is convinced that the status quo between mankind and vampire that has existed for generations is about to be ruptured. He takes his concerns to his boss - the “Monsignor” (Christopher Plummer) who presides over the all-powerful church that protects humanity - but he doesn’t believe him and reminds him of his vow of obedience. Well we wouldn’t have had a film if he’d stuck to them, so off he heads into the desert in search of a kidnapped young girl. That’s where he encounters the enthusiastic but naïve young sheriff (Gigandet) who happens to be her boyfriend and an equally agile priest (Maggie Q). It doesn’t take them (or us) long to discover that they are chasing a special kind of creature who can make short work and an easy dinner from any of the people he meets. What’s their antagonist’s agenda though, and can this trio thwart him and rescue the girl before he carries out his dastardly plan? To be fair, there is loads of action here and though hardly stretched, Bettany is adequate in the title role keeping things moving along. The rest of the acting and the dialogue is all pretty mundane and we get an early indication of just how unremarkable an actor Karl Urban is too. I didn’t hate it, but it’s all a processional exercise that makes you appreciate Kate Beckinsale more.
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★ 7 / 10
Stakes on a Train
fewald139
Priest was recommended to me by my late brother, whose love of vampires was only second to his love of gothic fashion. Inspired by a graphic novel series of…
Priest was recommended to me by my late brother, whose love of vampires was only second to his love of gothic fashion. Inspired by a graphic novel series of the same name which was itself inspired by the fantastic video game Blood (1997), Priest is a glorious mix of fantasy/sci-fi/western themes and environments with just enough corniness to make the average graphic novel fan or gamer settle in with popcorn and have a good time.Paul Bettany plays Priest, utilizing a wonderful Western-esque American accent and looking fine as Mr. Tall, Blonde, and Broody. He lives in a religiously-themed authoritarian city reminiscent of the walled cities in Attack on Titan, where the only thing darker and stinkier than the gritty streets is the Order he has dedicated his life to, led by the always-talented Christopher Plummer. When word gets to him that a family member is in peril after a vampire attack, he rebels against his Order's wishes and goes on a mission to save her, picking up two companions along the way.Priest starts out a little slow at first before we get insight into Bettany's character, but once he flees the city the film is a feast for the eyes if you love dark, gritty environments. There are also a few bright, post-apocalyptic vistas here, with giant deserts and canyons, fallen city husks, and giant, worn religious monuments. The action scenes stretch the boundaries of realism at times, but always in a fun "Wait, he did WHAT?" kind of way rather than a distraction. Priest has a variety of weapons, gadgets, and moves at his disposal, though Priestess (played by Maggie Q) has the honor of executing the best kill of the movie in its climax. How they must have cleaned up the scene to keep the movie PG-13!Speaking of the rating: though low on gore, Priest never felt particularly tame or stunted due to its low rating. The more gore and giblets the merrier, but its absence wasn't missed here, aided in part by the film's overall dark tone. Other reviews lament Priest's lack of gripping story; I never had a problem with its straightforward nature, though I liked the movie enough to wish for further films in the franchise (at this point, unlikely).Some high points of Priest for me: Karl Urban, who intrigues me in everything he does, brings out his inner sass to play the wonderfully intimidating Black Hat. The vampires (save for Black Hat) are creatures, not sensual humans with funny accents, which is my favorite rendition of the myth that is rarely done in modern media. Brad Dourif (Chucky from Child's Play) has a fun bit role as a sleazy salesman. And lastly...vampires are cool, but what's even better? Trains. That's right, folks, the climax features one determined steampunk-esque locomotive, and that just lit a spark in my little girl heart.I understand why many don't consider Priest one of their favorite movies, but its low score baffles me. There are things Priest could have done better, sure. There are deeper stories to be told in this unique and interesting universe. But Priest was never offensively bad or even mediocre, and as a fan of both video games and graphic novels, it provided something special for me. To my brother: I'm sorry I didn't watch this before you passed, but you were right about Priest. I really liked it.
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16%
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5.7/10
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