A couple weeks back I admitted, to my chagrin and shame, that I didn’t think Avatar was all that. Hey, I think it was pretty brave on my part seeing as how the entire world seems to love it and that it’s now made a bajillion dollars (or at least it’s closing in on it). But I braved the scorn and scoffing and said my piece.
But what I’m about to declare may be even more shocking than my previous admission. Some will question my sanity. Some will wonder what I’ve been drinking. Others will suggest the Queen commit me for further observation. But that won’t stop me from saying the following:
I liked the 3D effects in The Final Destination In 3D more than I enjoyed the sfx in Avatar. And I watched it on DVD!
I know this is controversial to say the least. I imagine I’ll get some grief from just about everybody I know. But having watched FD3D over the weekend, I really got a kick out of it. More than I did watching two and a half hours of Avatar. Maybe it’s because FD3D is a brisk 88 minutes with almost the same level of script. This was my first Final Destination but, if I’ve read correctly, all the movies are pretty much exactly the same. Main characters cheat death. Death comes to collect. Insert various methods of death. Death wins. Rinse, repeat.
I didn’t have high expectations for the movie, and there definitely a few moments where I was looking at my watch. But ultimately, I actually got a kick out of it. I felt like it was a real throwback to the 3D films of my youth (Jaws in 3D) or the television shows that would have some sort of 3D component (the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour special, which features a few choice selections popping out at you). Sure, the acting in the Final Destination is hackneyed and poor. Sure the film is utterly predictable – line up the characters and watch them get picked off one by one, with the devices of death shooting out in front of your eyes. But it was also really fun watching it. There were even a few momonts of “ouch” and “oh” on my part. And I liked the cheesiness of it all. Unlike Avatar, Final Destination in 3D wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel or take itself too seriously. It didn’t try to immerse you in a new world – it just tried to entertain you.
I do realize that I may be the only person out there drawing a comparison between the most successful film of all time and the fourth in a low budget, critically lambasted film franchise, but what can I tell you. I like what I like. And while The Final Destination In 3D is no classic, I had fun watching it. Which is more than I can say about my trip to Pandora.
I can't even get to reading the end of your column before stating that you are easily seduced by gimmicks.
You are absolutely right about one thing. The Queen should have you committed!
Ok. I read the rest.
Argh.
Need a stiff drink now.
I'll STILL visit you at the funny farm.