End of Days

December 11, 2004

Rated: R Runtime: 123 min Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

DVD QuickTake

I agree with Alex that this wasn’t a fantastic movie, but it is a fantastic DVD. The behind the scenes stuff on the special effects was quite interesting and I enjoyed two music videos. The “Spotlight on Location” thing was standard Hollywood fluff, but was still interesting.

The soundtrack totally rocks though, and that’s what really does it for me and this DVD. Sit back, turn up the volume and turn down your IQ… you’re gonna have a good time.

Movies For Guys’ Original Review of the Theatrical Release

I have the distinct feeling that most guys will like this movie better than I did. It is for this reason that I give this movie 3 stars instead of the 2 that I really wanted to give it.

I have two big gripes about the movie - 1] they took too many liberties with the story (I’ve had the benefit(!) of some education when it comes to the Christian version of the Apocalypse) and 2] Arnie spends too much time trying to kill Satan with a Glock 9mm.

Now, I know most people just don’t care about how accurately a story is told. Even I don’t really care in most cases. But not this time. In this movie, the production people must have been wanting to “freshen up” the concept and, in my opinion, they just made it hokey.

As for Arnie…well, bless his heart, he just can’t fight anything unless he first pumps a few pounds of lead into it. The problem here is that any moron could probably guess that you can’t really defeat Satan with bullets. Even he finally figures this out and, unfortunately, the movie got even more absurd. I even found myself wishing he’d start blowing stuff up again.

The special effects are quite elaborate and well done - I have no complaints there. I’m glad this was a topnotch theater as well since the sound was absolutely thunderous in places. The acting is…well…it’s Arnie. ‘nuf said. The deadpan sarcasm of Mr. Pollak was welcome and quite funny in places.

Maybe I was expecting too much, but as I was walking to my car, I couldn’t escape the feeling that I’d just watched one of those straight-to-video, “B” grade action movies you see gathering dust in your local video rental place. One with a huge budget for sfx, of course.

I was hoping for (and even expecting) to see at least one good “End of the World” flick here before we actually went into the new millennium. Looks like I’m gonna have to hope the ones at the end of the next 1000 years are better.

Posted by Alex | Filed Under 3 Stars, Action, Arnold Schwarzenegger, DVD, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Pollak, R