Review of Priest (2011) by Hoops2448 — 07 Oct 2011

I think the most shocking thing about this film is that I didn't hate it. I actually quite enjoyed it despite the fact its obviously lacking in the same power as other graphic novel adaptations (Sin City).

Priest doesn't try to push itself beyond the boundaries of its source material and that is why it works. It stays true to the world created in the novel while adding its own qualities, such as some of the beautiful landscapes.

The film embraces western conventions such as costumes, locations and mannerisms giving this action film more to it than just a run, slice and kill experience. However the fact it has to embrace multiple genres also holds the film back with equal time being spent indulging in Blade Runner-esque dystopia which seems to overpower the film.

If only there were subtle references to the futuristic aspect of the world but the film unfortunately spends a decent chunk of the beginning in the dark and dreary cityscapes instead of where the film belongs.

The film is overburdened by the multiple genres but still manages to entertain. It even provides a new take on the vampire which I found very welcome, not because of Twilight or True Bloods over sexualized take on them but because it showed them as monsters, not redeemable creatures, not things that possess emotion but feral beasts, ready to rip you apart.

I won't spend much time critiquing acting because this is not the kind of film where stellar work is required. The actors get the story from A to B just fine and Maggie Q even manages to tap into a well of emotion in comparison to Bettany's sullen portrayal of Priest (sometimes not giving a character a name is clever but in this case it just seems lazy).

A fun little film packed with great landscapes and some terrifying monsters (No Karl Urban, you do not count) that entertains if only because it doesn't try to be fine art.