Monday, February 16, 2009

Friday the 13th Was Great!

It was not a smart movie, but only dolts go to a Friday the 13th movie looking for deep characters and plot. The movie is about what they have always been about: teens go into the woods to smoke pot and have sex and instead find Jason, the ultimate mother's boy this side of Norman Bates. You go to laugh at the stupidity of the victims and to gaze in awe at the originality of the kills.

A Friday the 13th movie is basically just one set piece to the next and, if you like one, you will like them all. This one takes you back to the first three movies, when Jason was a retarded half-drowned hillbilly instead of the super-human zombie most people know and love. This Jason runs, feels pain, reacts, and shows emotion...yes, homicidal rage is an emotion.

There is an attempt by the new writers and director to add a new twist to the story involving brother searching for his lost sister who is being held by Jason because she looks like mommy, but that is really a minor point and thankfully does not come up very often until the ponderous and never-ending end. This movie should have ended 10 minutes sooner, but then we would have missed out on the :SPOILER WARNING: final jump scare that ends every Friday the 13th movie.

It has been a long time since I have seen a Friday the 13th that is worthy of the title, and as much as I hate remakes and reboots, this was one of the rare few that was great for both new fans and long time fans. We even get a "death by sleeping bag" which any fan can tell you is among the all time classic Jason kills.

Leave your brain at the door and go have a great time which is not only what Friday the 13th is really about, but is exactly what we need in this day and age.

2 comments:

Ed & Jeanne said...

"Leave your brain at the door"? That is an awesome description for my blog, can I steal it? I thought this version might have been good. Thanks for the review.

Unknown said...

Of course you can use it and I would be honored to have penned the slogan for your blog.