Reviews

So, after all this time, I finally saw The Purge. It's a great concept, with terrific production quality. But..... The number of glaring plot holes, unexplained events, and irrational character actions ruins it utterly.

The ones that particularly drove me nuts: why did the lights go out in the house? It's not clearly explained why the boyfriend draws a gun. How did their state-of-the-art security system break down so damned easily?

And worst of all - why the H*LL would the wife let the neighbors go at the end? They should've been slaughtered wholesale... because otherwise they'd be a massive danger during The Purge next year.

IMO - these are completely unacceptable errors in the story - and ones that *could* have been fixed with a few script tweaks.

I'm holding out some hope that the problem with this film is just a cultural difference, that just doesn't translate. But - honestly - I doubt it, and question why so many people have called this a spectacular creature feature.

The design of the creature was nicely done (though not scary, and definitely identifiable at all times as CG.) But the pacing and acting, and tone of the film? Well, let's just say that by the time I reached the halfway point, I found it more interesting to reset my IMDb password and write this review than to pay any attention to the screen. This may sound sarcastic, but right now I find myself remembering Attack of the Alien's Deadly Spawn with misty nostalgia!! :P

4/13 Revision. I actually put this back on today, primarily to show my husband how horrible it was. Actually, it does get a better with time. Do I consider it fantastic? No. But it grew on me. (Though I found myself mainly feeling sorry for the creature that just needed to eat, after all...) So I've upgraded my rating to five stars. A decent creature feature, though nothing shiningly special.

Having seen I Am Legend, I've become an instant Will Smith fan, and ran out to rent his older works.

Though Will does a commendable, classy acting job in the role, the film itself just did not work. On the most basic level, the pacing was off...halfway through the film it just started to drag (you begin to wish they'd just get on with it...we know he's going to get the job, let's at least see him at Dean Witter a little more, watch him go through the training and the frustrations there as well.) And as for the problems Will's character faces along the way: 1) They started to get a little ridiculous after awhile. The scanners are stolen twice, he gets hit by a car (and no, these particular crisis didn't happen in the real life story, from what I understand. So it's just Hollywood embellishment.) 2) I couldn't help thinking - along with some other readers - that some of the problems were his own fault. He *should* have given his son to his wife...a man with no income should *not* be trying to raise a son. And--as pointed out in another post--he had known for some time that the scanner business wasn't panning out...yet he persists, forcing his wife to work double shifts, letting both rent and taxes fall dangerously behind. Dude, that's when you get ANY job that pays the bills and put the sales work aside. It never should have gotten to that point at all.

That's my five cents. Loved Will Smith, thought the movie just didn't work. Thank God there's I Am Legend...

Impressions of V:

Those who have never read the book, nor know of its quality, will come away with the impression of a somewhat controversial film - touching on the political, thought provoking...with a few moments of true poignancy. Also, they'll remember a few good action sequences. For that, I'm glad. V the film has its good qualities, and will get some of the message of the book into the public eye, and discourse.

But any true review of this film is for those who know, and love, the graphic novel.

Honestly, I expected the Wachowski Brothers to make a bigger hash of the film than they did. They actually managed to retain some of the philosophy, and some of V's original integrity. And Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving both did right by the film...thanks to V for Vendetta, Portman shows that she can still act, despite the Star Wars movies. But Moore was right to insist that his name be removed from the film.

Liberties were taken with the story - sadly, none of them were necessary. Evey's age and her career are altered. The Voice of Fate ends differently, and whole characters are removed - damaging the depth of the story. Almond and Rose no longer exist, Evie's relationship with Gordon is changed completely...even the character of the leader is dramatically altered, making him more of a cartoon right wing villain. A subtle romantic thread is implied between V and Evey - removing completely Evie's hope that V might be her father. Sadly, each omission/change appears gratiutious - done for no particular reason, adding nothing to the story (and taking away levels of depth.)

Is it still a valuable film? I'm happy to say that the unchanged scenes are worth the viewing, especially Valeries story, which was told word for word. But while V for Vendetta is not the Hollywood nightmare that some fans might have feared, it could have been even better. The integrity could - and should - have been kept intact. > Fortunately, ideas are bulletproof. So if you see the film, and respond to the philosophy behind it, then do yourself a favor, and read the original. If this film brings people to read Moore's classic work, then it will have been worthwhile.