Hey folks, Harry here... as a 80's horror geek there are few films that I've wanted to see more than FREDDY VS JASON... I mean this is a film that has been in the works for a million years it seems. So many scripts, permutation after permutation.... False start after false start.... Finally it is made. I had heard of rumors of an earlier screening that did awful, but this time they screened the movie after recruiting the target audience and it sounds like it went the way a dream screening of FREDDY VS JASON is supposed to go. I really want this movie to be the all time coolest Halloween release. Theaters filled with super 80's horror freaks! Wouldn't that be something?
Hey Harry,
I checked out a screening of FREDDY VS. JASON tonight in Redondo Beach, CA. This is a movie I've had in my sights for quite some time (anyone who has read my talkback posts on the subject of this project will know just how eager I was to see this thing). I'll be the first to admit that the idea of Freddy and Jason battling each other on the big screen is something I used to dream of seeing as a child. I also thought it was something that could never be done without coming off as cheesy or uninspired, basically what the last few films of each franchise have turned into (though I do have a soft spot for the silly thrills of JASON X). What happened to the scares? Would we ever see those characters as evil as they used to be?
The answer is YES.
First, if you're not a fan of these films then you really have no business seeing this movie. It's not high art, there are no sentimental moments in it that should be taken seriously and nobody is out to win any Oscars. Having said that,... I dug the hell out it. I thought it turned out much better than I would have imagined (still a little silly at times, mostly with Freddy). Ronny Yu has made my dreams come true with this flick and it's something that fans of these characters will be talking about forever. Freddy ruled in this movie, very dark and much more evil than his previous incarnations. I believe Robert Englund was born to play this character and he slips into the role with such ease that I'd almost forgotten he hasn't played Freddy in nearly a decade. Sure, the jokes and quips are still there... but hey, it's still a darker Freddy (his opening lines gave me chills). As for Jason, well, I want to make it clear that I have all the respect in the world for Kane Hodder, I was pissed that he wasn't cast in this movie, but this new guy is a total... fucking... BADASS!! The man swings a machete with such animalistic fury that I almost ducked under my seat a few times.
Okay, here's the basic set-up (I won't spoil anything major because there are some fun surprises in it). Freddy Krueger still exists, people are still living on Elm Street and because a new generation of children don't dream (there is a reason for this) Freddy is dying. Freddy exist very much the way Candyman did in the early films, through fear. Krueger devises a plan to resurrect Jason Voorhees from the grave so that he can manipulate him into doing his dirty work and bring the fear back to Elm Street. Things start to get a little complicated when Jason realizes he's being used... and gets really pissed. That's it in a nutshell.
The acting was pretty decent, Kelly Rowland did surprisingly well (she had one really stupid scene during her first nightmare but that had more to do with a lame Freddy wisecrack than her performance). The only real problem was with the female lead who had a case of the 'weepy eyes' through the entire movie, didn't seem nearly as strong as Nancy or Alice from the previous Nightmare films. Fans are really going to get a kick out of this... especially when Freddy and Jason start throwing down (the most brutal battle to end all battles in the history of both franchises). The crowd was eating it up, cheering for the characters before the movie even started, and I swear to God I saw Bob Shaye after the screening with a great big grin on his face. New Line's got a winner with this one and I hope they do the right thing and market the hell out of this puppy.
- Psyclops
And then we have this look from DJ Scrum Diddly Umptious!
Hey Moriarty (and Harry if you read this),
I'm a huge fan of the site and its a kick to give you my first review. I've got some hearty Freddy vs. Jason scoop for you. Saw the test screening (which I am pretty sure was the first) on Thursday at the Galleria in scenic Redondo Beach, CA. There are spoilers so be warned. And please call me DJ Scrum Diddly Umptious.
So how was the long awaited F v J? Well, it doesn't suck. In fact, I quite enjoyed it - surprisingly so. The crowd was pumped and my friends and I had a great time (as did, seemingly, the rest of the crowd). Here's some of the big notes (with spoilers):
The opening is pretty cool. They mix the Freddy and Jason themes together which was fun to hear. There's a montage and Freddy VO that sets up his history (with unburned Freddy footage) and why he needs Jason (he's basically using him to try and get the power to come back). There are some cool clips of the classic Freddy movies (including marionette guy from pt 3, my favorite). Jason's mom (and her severed head) make a guest appearance as well, sending Jason on his mission to Elm Street.
The teens are, well, the teens. You know the routine and it's still a lot of fun to play out.There were no credits, but I recognized the main girl from Dawson's, the Destiny's Child girl and the girl from Ginger Snaps (which I recommend highly). They're joined by a geek, a stoner, a cop (Lochlyn Munroe) and a really funny fat dude (kidding, he's only in it for a minute but he's really funny). Basically, lots of bloody meat for the grinder - Jason getting a chance to shine in several outings. I thought it was the best Jason I'd seen in ages (I wasn't really a Kane guy) as he is totally Freddy's equal in the flick and gets some moments to shine. He gets a sequence in a rave that I thought kicked ass and had the crowd going. We do get to go into Jason's nightmare which is probably the coolest visual of the movie.
The final battle is great, with each guy getting a turn to kick ass. Lots of hyper realistic over the top stuff but it totally works. Highlights include: Freddy firing propane tanks like small missiles at Jason, multiple severed limbs, LOTS of blood (which was great, cause I miss gore!), each guy using the others weapon against them, impalement and a really inventive method for remodeling your wall. Freddy also talks some serious smack and has some great lines (including one on Destiny's Child girl that took me totally by surprise and was hilarious). The deaths are pretty damn good with the first killing, the stoner and Destiny's Child girl my favorites (although the rave has a few really good kills too). I do have one major message for New Line: Please don't cut the gore. Keep it as R rated as it is.
Anyway, to sum it all up, it was a genuinely fun time at the movies. More fun than scary, but you'll enjoy the ride nonetheless. It made me recall my youth, watching these movies on video for the first time. Totally worth your seven bucks this summer.
DJ Scrum Diddly Umptious out.
PS - The girl that played Laurie is a terrible actress but she has incredible teets. Call Maxim now.
