Tag: Tony Todd

Film Review: Final Destination Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

For a quarter of a century now the Final Destination franchise has given modern horror films the same type of mindless (yet often clever), gory fun that fans have come to expect from the likes of Freddy or Jason, but without an actual face to go along with it like the aforementioned other hard-hitters (the film does give off some major Halloween 2018 vibes at the onset though).

This latest installment (first since 2011 and sixth overall) sticks close to the usual formula, but adds a slight twist to the proceedings. This time around, college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) feels the need to get in touch with her estranged grandmother (Gabrielle Rose) after experiencing a recurring nightmare involving her at a younger age (played by Brec Bassinger).

Come to find out, Granny actually saved a lot of lives back in the day, but it came with a hefty price. Death not only come back to claim all of those who did not perish that night so long ago in the ’60s, but their entire lineage as well.

One by one, Stefani’s family get claimed by the Grim Reaper as they scramble to avoid their respective gruesome fates. Most of the deaths are over the top in their own cartoon-y ways, actually making it somewhat more tolerable than more realistic horror films these days (which I’ve admittedly lost much interest in).

But despite all of its chaos, there is a bittersweet side to it here, now being the final film role/appearance of the late Tony Todd (the film is dedicated to his memory at the end credits).

It’s not a perfect movie by any means, but if you’re looking for escapist entertainment without having to put much thought into the plot, this will do.

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Series Review: Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Netflix)

By: Jesse Striewski

The latest Kevin Smith-created Masters of the Universe incarnation, Revelation, picks up right after the Filmation cartoon series ended in the mid-’80s. Yet many fans have already been critical of its strong use of secondary characters – mainly female – largely taking the place of He-Man/Prince Adam (voiced by Chris Wood) and Skeletor (Mark Hamill), who are seemingly killed off here in the very first episode, much like Optimus Prime had been in Transformers: The Movie back in 1986.

As someone who hasn’t personally kept up much on the franchise since I was indeed a kid in the ’80s (and not concerned by all things “canon”), I actually found Smith’s vision exciting and fresh. With so many endless attempts by Hollywood in recent memory to bring back beloved shows and movies based purely on nostalgia, the results are usually varying, and far too often disappointing. Yet I was fully invested in the first episode of Revelation, struggling not to keep watching the entire five-episode series in just one sitting when I had other things to get to.

Although the story lines are a bit easy to get lost in at times, the animation is nearly flawless, and the stellar voice cast – which also includes Liam Cunningham, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Henry Rollins, Stephen Root, Alicia Silverstone, Tony Todd, Justin Long, Lena Headey, Diedrich Bader, and long-time Smith collaborator Jason Mewes (among many more) – is top notch. Seeing characters like Beast Man, Trap Jaw, Stinkor, Tri-Klops, and Mer-Man battling on the small screen again brought back a rush of memories and emotions for me.

Overall, Revelation is a more mature version to the original series, more dramatic and violent, and with much less Scooby-Doo-like qualities, but still with the occasional silly moment thrown in for good measure. In short, Revelation is almost everything I’ve waited for for far too long now; a guilty pleasure from my childhood brought back, but with very little actual guilt attached.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars