| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
|
| Story: |
B |
|
|
| Acting: |
A |
|
|
| Direction: |
B- |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A+ |
|
|
I saw the local sneak preview tonight (Thursday)..
by Stephen G (movies profile)
Dec 4, 2007
358
of
428 people found this review helpful
...in Memphis, TN, with my girlfriend and several friends from our local goth club. You may take from that what you will as far as pre-conceptions go. I enjoyed the first movie, and expected to enjoy this one--I was not disappointed.
The story picks up moments after the end of the first movie, and the pace is almost frantic as events unfold. It needs to be. I marked off for the screenplay raising more questions than it answers, with the extrapolatable timeline being very tight, and full of loopholes/pitfalls. The introduction of the archivist allowed for some important backstory to be filled in, as do the many flashbacks throughout the movie. Oh, if you are like me, and despise the character of Kraven, then you will be pleased--'nuff said...:-)
If you enjoyed the acting in the first movie, you will enjoy it in this one--similar performances all-around. Contrari-wise, if you hated it, but still feel compelled to see this installment, I doubt you will have your opinion changed.
I marked off for a basically gratuitous sex-scene between Michael and Selene, as I felt it could have been handled much better. One aspect I liked from the first movie is that the female protagonist (Kate Beckinsale) was clothed throughout it--something of a rare bird in today's Hollywood.
The visuals are top-notch--period. Solid CGI, good action (even if a few moments are expanded a bit for some "take that you fiend" dialog, which doesn't add much, but at least doesn't detract), and the costumes what you come expecting to see (or not see, as the case may be ;-). The weakest part I could see is the armor worn in the 1202 A.D. combat-scene, and so very few movies bother with historical accuracy in this area that I feel it appropriate to suspend disbelief in light of the effort shown in this movie--not perfect, but passable with some smoke and mirrors.
It ends with an almost gauranteed third movie hinted at, and given the questions left open in this one I hope they make it soon--I'll be there. |
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