countchocula
10-17-2002, 10:11 PM
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303204163.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
MINOR SPOILERS
The Phantasm series is remarkably inconsistent. Not only does the quality vary from one entry to the next; the mood, style, tone, and even the subgenre is a variable. Audiences were introduced to The Tall Man through a bleak, surreal film. The original is a love/hate flick and is severely inaccessible, which pushes it into the “acquired taste” category (I’m surprised it did so well at the box office). Personally, it doesn’t do much for me. I dig the atmosphere and of course, I dig the villains, but the mediocre acting turns me off. Also, the pace is a tad too leisurely for my liking. Thankfully, Phantasm II quickened the proceedings and cranked up the sleaze dial. We’re treated to gratuitous nudity and violence that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The tone was slightly different this time around as well. Camp is intertwined with the Phantasm saga, but it’s not overdone. Read that last sentence carefully. I stated that Phantasm II worked because the camp WAS NOT overdone. I wonder what it would have been like if Coscarelli had thrown too much cheese into his sequel. Oh, wait! I know exactly what it would have been like. It would have been something like Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead! Unfortunately, dumb slapstick infects this tale. I detest it when horror collides with slapstick. The results are never as funny as they’re intended to be, in my opinion (Army of Darkness is a prime example of this).
The first 10-15 minutes are stunningly solid. We get a cool title sequence, a well-crafted car explosion, mutant dwarf fu (Joe Bob Briggs is my mentor), The Tall Man spitting out some cool dialogue, and a rabid, maniacal nurse. Thus far, things are looking good, but from there on, the eminence subsides. This film alone is as inconsistent as the series is! I guess I’ll start with the acting. Reggie Bannister can play Reggie in his sleep. Most of the time, he handles his role naturally and doesn’t exaggerate his demeanor or facial expressions. To me, that’s impressive because in a film of this nature, it would be far too easy to go way over the top. Reggie doesn’t fall victim to melodramatic acting and shows restraint where it’s needed. Am I the only who prefers James LeGros (Phantasm II) as Mike? Michael Baldwin does OK here, but his performance never seems focused. I don’t know. Maybe that’s just me. However, he was credible in the original, especially for a child actor. Speaking of child actors, Kevin Connors is tolerable as Tim, the orphan who has a knack for setting up Home Alone-style booby traps in his desolate house. He wasn’t as grating as I had pinned him down to be. Gloria Lynne Henry is agitating as Rocky, the tough-as-nails dyke who serves no purpose whatsoever to the storyline. Eeesh, Reggie was really showing his desperation in this flick. His “everlasting erection” shtick was really getting old at this point. It made way for appalling jokes, and interrupted the pace for no good reason. Case in point, his ridiculous dream sequence. He has a conversation with Jody while having anal sex with Rocky. ??!???!!!!? There are certain things that just feel out of place in a Phantasm opus, and that is one of them.
Many other sequences felt out of place. In particular, I couldn’t stand the “bumbling thieves” subplot. Dear God, did this entry really need goofy zombie action? I wouldn’t mind seeing that in something akin to Dead Alive, but it was horribly executed here. Yeah, it provided for some senseless entertainment, but as soon as that sequence was over, we would shift back to ethereal horror. The transitions from one extreme to the next weren’t exactly genuine. As frowned upon as it is, I relished Phantasm: OblIVion for the simple fact that it brought the series back to its serious roots. Plus, it gave us a look into The Tall Man’s cryptic, enigmatic past. But I can’t complain too much. I did have fun with Phantasm III. The action level was high, the acting was solid from most of the players involved, and there’s a whole big bunch of the flying spheres! Even at its worst, this series is still entertaining…BOOOOOOOOOY!!!!!!!
My rating-2.5/5
MINOR SPOILERS
The Phantasm series is remarkably inconsistent. Not only does the quality vary from one entry to the next; the mood, style, tone, and even the subgenre is a variable. Audiences were introduced to The Tall Man through a bleak, surreal film. The original is a love/hate flick and is severely inaccessible, which pushes it into the “acquired taste” category (I’m surprised it did so well at the box office). Personally, it doesn’t do much for me. I dig the atmosphere and of course, I dig the villains, but the mediocre acting turns me off. Also, the pace is a tad too leisurely for my liking. Thankfully, Phantasm II quickened the proceedings and cranked up the sleaze dial. We’re treated to gratuitous nudity and violence that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The tone was slightly different this time around as well. Camp is intertwined with the Phantasm saga, but it’s not overdone. Read that last sentence carefully. I stated that Phantasm II worked because the camp WAS NOT overdone. I wonder what it would have been like if Coscarelli had thrown too much cheese into his sequel. Oh, wait! I know exactly what it would have been like. It would have been something like Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead! Unfortunately, dumb slapstick infects this tale. I detest it when horror collides with slapstick. The results are never as funny as they’re intended to be, in my opinion (Army of Darkness is a prime example of this).
The first 10-15 minutes are stunningly solid. We get a cool title sequence, a well-crafted car explosion, mutant dwarf fu (Joe Bob Briggs is my mentor), The Tall Man spitting out some cool dialogue, and a rabid, maniacal nurse. Thus far, things are looking good, but from there on, the eminence subsides. This film alone is as inconsistent as the series is! I guess I’ll start with the acting. Reggie Bannister can play Reggie in his sleep. Most of the time, he handles his role naturally and doesn’t exaggerate his demeanor or facial expressions. To me, that’s impressive because in a film of this nature, it would be far too easy to go way over the top. Reggie doesn’t fall victim to melodramatic acting and shows restraint where it’s needed. Am I the only who prefers James LeGros (Phantasm II) as Mike? Michael Baldwin does OK here, but his performance never seems focused. I don’t know. Maybe that’s just me. However, he was credible in the original, especially for a child actor. Speaking of child actors, Kevin Connors is tolerable as Tim, the orphan who has a knack for setting up Home Alone-style booby traps in his desolate house. He wasn’t as grating as I had pinned him down to be. Gloria Lynne Henry is agitating as Rocky, the tough-as-nails dyke who serves no purpose whatsoever to the storyline. Eeesh, Reggie was really showing his desperation in this flick. His “everlasting erection” shtick was really getting old at this point. It made way for appalling jokes, and interrupted the pace for no good reason. Case in point, his ridiculous dream sequence. He has a conversation with Jody while having anal sex with Rocky. ??!???!!!!? There are certain things that just feel out of place in a Phantasm opus, and that is one of them.
Many other sequences felt out of place. In particular, I couldn’t stand the “bumbling thieves” subplot. Dear God, did this entry really need goofy zombie action? I wouldn’t mind seeing that in something akin to Dead Alive, but it was horribly executed here. Yeah, it provided for some senseless entertainment, but as soon as that sequence was over, we would shift back to ethereal horror. The transitions from one extreme to the next weren’t exactly genuine. As frowned upon as it is, I relished Phantasm: OblIVion for the simple fact that it brought the series back to its serious roots. Plus, it gave us a look into The Tall Man’s cryptic, enigmatic past. But I can’t complain too much. I did have fun with Phantasm III. The action level was high, the acting was solid from most of the players involved, and there’s a whole big bunch of the flying spheres! Even at its worst, this series is still entertaining…BOOOOOOOOOY!!!!!!!
My rating-2.5/5