jrfranklin01

I saw the trailers, like everybody else, that were run up and down the block. The big thing was the curving bullets and the assassin son right-of-passage bit. I gathered it was a new-kind of Matrix-style- effects film. I guess, somewhat in that sense, the film delivered. But the first five minutes had me surprised at the cheap-trick hype of vulgarity usage. Another half hour in and I thought okay, this is like "Shoot 'Em Up" except no Clive Owen. Another fifteen minutes later, as the plot unravels, Angelina Jolie isn't good-looking enough to overcome disinterest in the film. And lastly, I'm thinking, "Wow, at least "Shoot 'Em Up" came off as an action farce. All you had to do was just sit back, laugh, and watch the bullets fly." "Wanted" attempts to delve into a complex plot amid action and drama. But the drama fails to deliver and things only get corny toward the end. After seeing Morgan Freeman last week in "Bucket List" and respecting his reputation as an actor, I was surprised he signed on. James McAvoy's performance in "Last King of Scotland" only makes this film look like he decided to go on acting vacation. And Angelina Jolie......well, expect more Tomb Raider, without the accent. It seems like too many actors with potential are getting role happy these days. What film will Jason Statham show up in next?

What do you do when you have an incredible body (with face to match) and want to get into doing predominately horror-type movies? You become Kari Wuhrer. From "Thinner" and "Eight-Legged Freaks" to "Anaconda" and now this (Hellraiser VII), Kari has quickly made an image for herself as the hottie horror actress. I don't mean to imply she hasn't diversified her career, but recently horror seems her genre. Did anybody see "Hitchhiker II"? Anyway, skins flicks and scary movies seem to go well together in a teenager-ish sort of way. Far be it from me to tell Kari to put some clothes on. And speaking of which, "Hellraiser VII" surprisingly gives you a peek at Kari's peaks (pun intended) as does "King of the Ants".

Okay, so I'm getting off track. The guys reading this will understand. As to the movie's story, it is far less entertaining than what I have written thus far. It has all the no-brainers - the box, Pinhead, and grisly pain and suffering in a hellish existence. But none of this was portrayed with the craft and cleverness of Hellraiser V, which was a mirror image of the video game series, Silent Hill. Hellraiser VII's story is all about a reporter, Amy Klein (Wuhrer), who begins investigating a cult in Europe called the Deaders. The members of this group commit suicide and then are brought back from the dead by an enigmatic ring leader. Amy's ambition and intrigue to uncover the truth soon lead her to a story, the makings of which she would rather not have known. This plot runs parallel to the in-hell-ignorant theme of some of the other sequels but adds a prophecy to it about a chosen one who can open the box. Unfortunately, this doesn't add anything useful to the story and leaves the ending full of pins, I mean holes. 3/10