Priest

A film just in my style. It’s a future/alternate reality kind of apocalyptic action/horror movie. Fairly simple and straightforward plot where the good guys stays pretty much stays as the good guys throughout the move and the hero is really someone that kicks ass throughout the movie. No bloody fussing around with making the hero “human” or some crap like that. The special effects and the apocalyptic sceneries where well done. In general the film was a solid piece of work. The transfer to Blu-ray equally well done. Picture quality was as to be expected and the DTS Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack well balanced with just enough surround effects and LFE to make it very enjoyable. The film get a 5.7 rating at IMDB which in my mind is a bit on the low side but then, it’s not really a film for everyone. The so called “critics” at Rotten Tomatoes gave it 17% which is just pure bullshit but then I have given up on those idiots a long time ago. Most of those “critics” must come from the American bible belt or something 😦

Whatever did happen to Cam Gigandet? Perhaps a career in carpentry? Let’s face it, he was pretty wooden himself and he wasn’t the only one in this lively but predictable fantasy adventure. It’s really all about a highly-trained and lethal priest (Paul Bettany) who is convinced that the status quo between mankind and vampire that has existed for generations is about to be ruptured. He takes his concerns to his boss - the “Monsignor” (Christopher Plummer) who presides over the all-powerful church that protects humanity - but he doesn’t believe him and reminds him of his vow of obedience. Well we wouldn’t have had a film if he’d stuck to them, so off he heads into the desert in search of a kidnapped young girl. That’s where he encounters the enthusiastic but naïve young sheriff (Gigandet) who happens to be her boyfriend and an equally agile priest (Maggie Q). It doesn’t take them (or us) long to discover that they are chasing a special kind of creature who can make short work and an easy dinner from any of the people he meets. What’s their antagonist’s agenda though, and can this trio thwart him and rescue the girl before he carries out his dastardly plan? To be fair, there is loads of action here and though hardly stretched, Bettany is adequate in the title role keeping things moving along. The rest of the acting and the dialogue is all pretty mundane and we get an early indication of just how unremarkable an actor Karl Urban is too. I didn’t hate it, but it’s all a processional exercise that makes you appreciate Kate Beckinsale more.