My Weekend Viewings: Exorcist Beginning, Battle Royale 2, Children Of The Corn

Had a fairly busy weekend when it came to movies. Here's what I thought of some of the flicks I checked out.

Exorcist: The Beginning - My wife dragged me to this flick Sunday night. I had wanted to stay away from it, and I feel that would have been the best decision. The flick follows a young father Merrin as he enconters evil and demons in Africa in the 40s. I just wasn't with this film from the beginning.

Renny Harlin is a hack. He is to me what some consider Paul Anderson to be.

This film did not need quick cuts. It did not need new stylish shots, and it CERTAINLY did not need AWFUL CG! I'm starting to get used to CG being used in film, but come on! The CG animals were awful as were the flies and the breath, not to mention the possesion at the end.

I liked some of the ideas throughout the film, but I felt that it would have been better if it had been better directed. I can't wait to see Paul Schrader's version of this film.

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Battle Royale 2 - Finally got around to seeing this film. For anyone not familiar with this series, I warn you not to read this as it will have slight *SPOILERS*.

Battle Royale 2 amazed me at how deeply tied it is to the original film. This time, it is about a class that is taken for the BR act as a make-shift milita. They are given body armor and weapons and sent to take down Nanahara Shuya, the surviving protagonist from the original BR. He is now a terrorist, and will do anything to stop the government and the BR act. This time though, the rules have changed. If you die, your partner dies. If you don't do exactly what is ordered of you, BOOM, your necklace explodes.

Pretty entertaining film, definently had a Dirty Dozen feel to it. Worth watching or even adding to your collection. Great film.

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Children Of The Corn - One of my earliest childhood memories of film is the opening scene of this flick with all of the adults being massacred in the diner. I was only about three at the time, and it scared the hell out of me.

Finally got around to renting this flick over the weekend and I was slightly disappointed. The film was pretty slow, but stayed decently entertaining throughout. Not the all out scare fest that I always imagined it to be, but well worth the rental price.