crom-dubh
Joined Oct 2012
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crom-dubh's rating
Reviews66
crom-dubh's rating
I have no idea how this is rated so low on here, nor can I rationally explain the poor reviews. Did we even watch the same film? For my money this is better than even the first film in the series. The acting, direction, fight choreography are all so much better than anything else in the franchise so far.
The only way I can think to explain why people hate this so much is that Van Damme doesn't really play a major role in the film until the final act. I personally like this decision. His character is set up to be struggling with who he is, what he was made to be, and then eventually he's unleashed. The heightened anticipation this creates is really well done, and even with somewhat limited screen time Van Damme proves that he's capable of being a good dramatic actor in addition to a great action star.
I really appreciate the direction that John Hyams has taken the series, with it's darker tone and more brutal combat. The stories and darker themes are a breath of fresh air. I wish more people seemed to "get it", but I guess this and the sequel, Day of Reckoning, will remain under-appreciated gems of the action genre.
The only way I can think to explain why people hate this so much is that Van Damme doesn't really play a major role in the film until the final act. I personally like this decision. His character is set up to be struggling with who he is, what he was made to be, and then eventually he's unleashed. The heightened anticipation this creates is really well done, and even with somewhat limited screen time Van Damme proves that he's capable of being a good dramatic actor in addition to a great action star.
I really appreciate the direction that John Hyams has taken the series, with it's darker tone and more brutal combat. The stories and darker themes are a breath of fresh air. I wish more people seemed to "get it", but I guess this and the sequel, Day of Reckoning, will remain under-appreciated gems of the action genre.
It's hard to believe this is now 13 years old. I would have thought that it would enjoy a stronger cult status at this point, but its current 6.1 rating here is such a sorry underappraisal of this film.
The common criticism I see is that it's too excessive, too much like a Troma film. It's hard to argue the first point, at least it's full of over-the-top violence. Whether it's excessive or not is subjective, and of course I disagree. The world portrayed here is an ugly one, but it's also obvious that they were trying to walk that line of violence that's so over-the-top it becomes simultaneously horrific and funny, and in that I think they succeeded.
I definitely disagree that this is in the same league as most Troma films though. That is to say, it's not a fair comparison because this is far better. Despite the fact that superficially it resembles the kind of schlock that Troma has become famous for, this is actually a very really well-crafted film. If you actually pay attention, the calibre of filmmaking here is on another level. It's honestly a little disappointing to me that more people seem to have missed that, and can seriously lump this in with your average exploitation film in terms of quality.
Not only are the direction and writing really great here, but Hauer gives what I'll unironically call one of the best of his career. In fact, credit should go to all of the cast for doing an outstanding job. Gregory Smith and Nick Bateman deserve props for their memorable portrayal of the sadistic duo Slick and Ivan. The music is fantastic, at times reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and at times evoking more of a John Carpenter vibe. There is never a dull moment here - the film comes out of the gate strong and doesn't let up until the end.
If you are into wild rides, this movie will have you doing a "chef's kiss." It's funny, hilariously violent, and even at times poignant. I can honestly say I haven't seen anything quite like it before or since.
The common criticism I see is that it's too excessive, too much like a Troma film. It's hard to argue the first point, at least it's full of over-the-top violence. Whether it's excessive or not is subjective, and of course I disagree. The world portrayed here is an ugly one, but it's also obvious that they were trying to walk that line of violence that's so over-the-top it becomes simultaneously horrific and funny, and in that I think they succeeded.
I definitely disagree that this is in the same league as most Troma films though. That is to say, it's not a fair comparison because this is far better. Despite the fact that superficially it resembles the kind of schlock that Troma has become famous for, this is actually a very really well-crafted film. If you actually pay attention, the calibre of filmmaking here is on another level. It's honestly a little disappointing to me that more people seem to have missed that, and can seriously lump this in with your average exploitation film in terms of quality.
Not only are the direction and writing really great here, but Hauer gives what I'll unironically call one of the best of his career. In fact, credit should go to all of the cast for doing an outstanding job. Gregory Smith and Nick Bateman deserve props for their memorable portrayal of the sadistic duo Slick and Ivan. The music is fantastic, at times reminiscent of Ennio Morricone and at times evoking more of a John Carpenter vibe. There is never a dull moment here - the film comes out of the gate strong and doesn't let up until the end.
If you are into wild rides, this movie will have you doing a "chef's kiss." It's funny, hilariously violent, and even at times poignant. I can honestly say I haven't seen anything quite like it before or since.
I'd like to rate this higher. I am old enough that I can say that I used to watch it on television, and it definitely left an impression. I've re-watched it several times since then, and always come to essentially the same conclusion: it has a lot of elements that make it memorable but some big weaknesses that keep me from really calling it any kind of masterpiece.
The visual flair is the most obvious thing to praise about the series. The fusion of Japanese anime filtered through the aesthetic of Egon Schiele is inspired, even if it's hampered by some occasional sloppiness. You get the sense a lot of this was a rush job. But the composition and design of the action sequences and the more fantastical dream-like sequences are really interesting, and a lot of that imagery will probably stick with you long afterward.
Unfortunately, on subsequent viewings I've found the writing to be rather obnoxious. A lot of the episodes have multiple writing credits, and this isn't surprising: there is this overwhelming impression that there was no unified idea of what any of this was supposed to be about. The dialog is usually really cringe-inducing. Imagine the worst parts of the Matrix sequels turned into an awkward soap opera and you'll have some idea of what the dramatic parts of the series sound like. The first and second seasons, which consists of disconnected shorts, have no dialog, and might be better for it. The third season actually has a discernible narrative but most of the dialog is fairly terrible. It's a regrettable trade-off.
Despite its shortcomings, the series really does feel like an important piece of history. The dystopian vision and inventive science fiction concepts that it plays with are compelling. When it's at its best, we are given little information and left to try to piece together what's happening and why. It's a shame that the dialog feels so annoyingly expository and at the same time unintentionally nonsensical, ultimately undermining that. I would still recommend it, but I think most people giving this anything higher than 8/10 must be too strongly influenced by their nostalgia.
The visual flair is the most obvious thing to praise about the series. The fusion of Japanese anime filtered through the aesthetic of Egon Schiele is inspired, even if it's hampered by some occasional sloppiness. You get the sense a lot of this was a rush job. But the composition and design of the action sequences and the more fantastical dream-like sequences are really interesting, and a lot of that imagery will probably stick with you long afterward.
Unfortunately, on subsequent viewings I've found the writing to be rather obnoxious. A lot of the episodes have multiple writing credits, and this isn't surprising: there is this overwhelming impression that there was no unified idea of what any of this was supposed to be about. The dialog is usually really cringe-inducing. Imagine the worst parts of the Matrix sequels turned into an awkward soap opera and you'll have some idea of what the dramatic parts of the series sound like. The first and second seasons, which consists of disconnected shorts, have no dialog, and might be better for it. The third season actually has a discernible narrative but most of the dialog is fairly terrible. It's a regrettable trade-off.
Despite its shortcomings, the series really does feel like an important piece of history. The dystopian vision and inventive science fiction concepts that it plays with are compelling. When it's at its best, we are given little information and left to try to piece together what's happening and why. It's a shame that the dialog feels so annoyingly expository and at the same time unintentionally nonsensical, ultimately undermining that. I would still recommend it, but I think most people giving this anything higher than 8/10 must be too strongly influenced by their nostalgia.