Hi, my name is Jonathan Denard McNeair and I grew up in Lexington, North Carolina, also known as Pig City...Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha...The town is mostly known for its barbeque where they often throw barbeque festivals every October. In my chosen career, I am a self-published author of fiction.
Since it's Christmas, I decided to take a little break from my Nightmare On Friday the 13th reviews and instead, tell you about one of my favorite Christmas fairy tales of all time, The Nutcracker.
I don't know what's so intriguing about it because of how simple the story is but it's filled with such magic, romance, and adventure that I couldn't resist loving it. And as a kid I was a sucker for those types of stories.
There have been many adaptions from what I remember. Hmm.....there was a animated film in 1990.
Which surprisingly starred Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer) as the voice of titled character. It wasn't particularly well-known until I seen it on the Disney channel a long time ago. I pretty much enjoyed this, it definitely had much more adventure than the source material and I guess the reason for it's obscurity because some people seemed to think this as a commercialized Disney knock-off, but I think it should've have deserved a bit of a cult classic status.
There was also a 1993 ballet production having Macaulay Culkin as the starring role, which was later made into a film. Even though it's not the most highly remembered or highly regarded by most, This was the I definitely remembered when I was about wee five years old. I was a big Macaulay Culkin fan and so my Dad got me most of his movies. Somehow he looked upon George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, along with the movie storybook. I was....Entranced. The sets were so beautiful and elaborate, the contrast between stage and film blended so perfectly, the ballet were so flawlessly choreographed. It was like watching a live-action fairy tale. Again, it's not the most well-known of the Nutcracker but I think it was a magical experience to watch as a kid.
Then it was introduced as Barbie's first movie and since it was, of course, Barbie's first movie, I gave it a watch.
Most notably, The Rat King was voiced by Tim Curry, whom was a childhood favorite of mine (even though, he scared the hell out of me in the movie IT).
It's probably not one of the best adaptions but a pretty enjoyable watch. It still has the same feel as the original story, including a ballet dance between Barbie and Ken.
But unfortunately, this will lead me to the universally hated The Nutcracker in 3D. Well, I haven't exactly seen this version though from what I heard it has nothing to do with the source material. So my thoughts on seeing this movie will and forever be scrapped.
But the most memorable of all of the adaptions is and will always be the ballet productions. And shall I present you my most favorite songs and scenes:
So there are my fond childhood Christmas memoires of The Nutcracker. From way back when and even til this day, I think it's a holiday classic that will forever be treasured.
Now to be perfectly honest with you....I don't think this movie is half-bad. it does have it's corny moments, like Jesse's dance, which I will discuss further down the line, and break certain rules from the first film, but I enjoyed this one. Hell, back then I didn't even know there was any nightmare sequels. The only ones I know, when I was eight or nine or so, was part 3 and 4. I didn't really know about part 2 and 5 that much because they were really obscure and the weakest of the series. Though in my opinion, I don't think this was all that terrible. It may have lacked the dark and grittiness of the first and it maybe out of bounds most of the time, but I think it stands out than most slasher films of the 80's.
Here's the story: quiet, sensitive Jesse Walsh and his family has just move to 1428 Elm Street, the house that Nancy Thompson once lived. Suddenly, strange things occur. Jesse keeps having these terrible dreams, that becomes so real, it almost takes over him. Moment by moment, this creature from his dreams, the one they call Freddy Krueger wants his body and soul. And he must tap into Jesse's bloodlust to empower him. as his family and friends grow more concern of him, Jesse must fight back to keep his life in order and destroy Freddy Krueger before mayhem strikes again on Elm street.
The acting was pretty solid. Again, the characters are pretty genuine and you can feel a special connection between the cast. The chemistry works well and the actors seem to make the characters real (well, some of them. ie: Kerry).
Oh there is so much to say about Jesse Walsh. It is an indication that he is a closeted homosexual but the subtext in the movie is so heavy-handed that it's not an indication anymore. It's right there in your face. Actor Mark Patton was gay in real life, so it was easier for him to convey his emotions through the role. Dealing with homosexuality and coming out of the closet was a real challenge for teenagers back in the 80's and the movie is treated as a major theme of this.
Jesse Isn't your typical macho horror movie hero. Just like Nancy in the first film, He's just a normal teenager who somehow is put In a fantastical situation and he reacts to things realistically. Mark Patton really got into the emotional state of that character and he brought on a stellar performance. It's really a shame he didn't went to go on new horizons on the acting biz because although this was his first big role, it would've been good to see him in more projects.
Then we have Lisa Webber played by Kim Myers. I know I was a little harsh on her on my last review, But I thought Kim Myers did a good job. Not only does she look like Meryl Streep (personally, one of my favorite actresses), she also has this natural girl-next-door quality that makes her likeable and welcoming.
But just to get this out of my chest, I really didn't see the chemistry between her and Jesse. I just think their romance was a bit forced. And I think the only reason the filmmakers wanted to make her a love interest was because she was a girl, when she could've just been only an ally helping a friend. And that's how they come off as...really good friends.
And here is the delightful Ron Grady played by the very handsome Robert Rusler. Ron Grady or Grady as they call him is probably the most memorable character in the movie. Not only is he smoldering sexy, he is funny, likeable, and charming.
And quite frankly, He and Jesse had better chemistry. It starts off as a love-hate relationship but then in the end, we see that he generally cares about Jesse and wants to help him. So it was sort of sad and a bit sudden when he got slashed, since we were really seeing a relationship developing but cut short by an instant.
Kerry, on the other hand, played by Sydney Walsh, is the least developed of the cast. She is just the caricature of a typical one-dimensional 80's teen with big hair and outrageous fashion sense. She was there to serve as Lisa's sex-crazed friend. But I have to say her outfits are ridiculously awesome (what's with that candy-striped bow? lol).
Freddy is still dark and mysterious but a lot more talkative than in the first film, establishing early stages of what he'll become in the next film.
They also made his face more demonic-looking, which really creeped me out when I first watched this. The look, for me, set the tone of the film, making Freddy this ferocious being who's more angrier and more blood-thirsty.
The effects are spectacular. Not only do they have elements of possession, the filmmakers also seem to focus on the house, having this haunted house feel similar to the movie Poltergeist.
The special effects really come into play in the scene where Jesse turns into Freddy. It's totally state of the art and groundbreaking and would later catapult towards the later sequels. It's really cool and imaginative.
The other scene I like was the pool party scene but now I get a mixed vibe from it. It totally derides what was so great about the first movie. The scenes where Freddy is in the dream world is much more scarier because that's when his victims are more vulnerable. Seeing him killing a bunch of teenagers at a pool party just make him look like a Jason knock-off. But I get that he is fully possessive of Jesse's body and he isn't a ghostly, shadowy figure anymore.
Now for some behind the scenes facts. There were other actors that were originally auditioned for the role of Jesse, which included:
John Stamos
Brad Pitt
And Christian Slater. Since Jesse runs around shirtless throughout the movie, that would've been quite interesting to watch....if you know what I mean.
At first they hired a stuntman to play Freddy in one of the scenes but since the stuntman was doing a poor, stiff job, they decided to bring back Robert Englund seeing that it's more than just a guy in a rubber mask, it's the actor that brings out the character. Freddy only had 13 minutes of screen time out of the 87 minute running time of the movie, which in my opinion, makes him more scarier and threatening and has just amount of good build up, very much like the first film.
The S and M bartender is played by Robert Shaye, in one of his first cameo roles in the Nightmare sequels. The effect....is a truly frightening sight. lol.
Oh just to add this little fact, Clu Glanger, who plays Jesse's father, also starred in Return Of The Living Dead, alongside Miguel Nunez Jr., Mark Venturini, and Thom Matthews who also starred in Friday The 13th: A New Beginning and Friday The 13th: Jason Lives. So there's one of your Freddy and Jason connections.
(You see this picture. It's looks like they are totally going to have a threesome later on. Lol).
Now let's get to the topic at hand. Let's talk about the homoerotic subtext that is the most talked about in this movie. And this kind of subtext bothered certain horror fans (whether those horror fans are homophobic, let me just say this here, don't watch the movie and don't say anything negative about the movie if that really bothers you so much. that's all) but personally, I think that's where the film works. Most film critics view slasher films as misogynistic, generally marketing violence towards women. They see it as an interlude of sex and violence where in those movies the subtext are mainly heterosexual. So I think a homosexual angle is interesting and fresh and most of the victims in this are mostly male.
There is one particular scene where I said, in my last review of this, that was completely out of a falcon 80's gay porno, and the scene in question is where Jesse has an encounter with Coach Schneider. Now thinking of it, there's nothing sexual or arousing about it. There's something creepy and foreboding behind it that's akin to the movie Cruising. It seems that the coach is going to do really bad things to Jesse, that would be more pain than pleasure if you see it that way.
So eventually, Coach Schneider got what he deserved....
I don't know whether the filmmakers identified Jesse as gay. When I first read the script, I think he was viewed as a typical heterosexual teenager but since Mark Patton was gay and there was a whole of gay subtext in the script, it pretty much summed up what the movie was going to become. Some of the filmmakers were caught between whether the whole gayness of the movie was intentional or just to say "hey let's just put in there, nobody would NOTICE." but it's pretty noticeable and out there.
Especially the scene were Jesse dances to an 80's pop song. Originally, it was supposed to be a rock song, similar to the scene in Risky Business but I guess this was the one song they could afford. I don't know....it's so wrong but it's so right at the same time. You gotta see it to be believe it:
This song is catchy, too. It was later remade in 1991 and is a much more popular cover song by Cathy Dennis.
The reason why the chemistry between Mark Patton and Robert Rusler was so good because according to a rumor they hooked up on the set. But who knows they were probably really good friends. Though, it still up for debate.....
I just think it's good. It's nowhere near as great as the first one but it still has the same atmosphere, the same feel, and it's definitely a solid sequel.
With a strong performance by Mark Patton, likeable characters, a still scary villain, and cool visuals, Freddy's revenge Is a great addition to the nightmare franchise.
P.S. Check out Jesse's Lost Journal written by Mark Patton, it's very insightful and very interesting once you read it. Here's the Link: http://staticmass.net/jesses-lost-journals-preface/
Now Just to let you know that there are going to be some major spoilers in this review, so I advise you to watch the movie before you read this. Even though the final chapter was slated to be the last Friday film, it still made millions at the box office. So why not make another sequel, right? To explain things furthermore, it was supposed to be the final chapter for Jason and A New Beginning for Roy Burns. I don't why they would have a new killer, besides the fact they had Jason in three movies already. But on top of that, this wasn't the issue I had with the film. It was the overall sleaze factor that made me uncomfortable. The unlikeable characters, the unnecessary nudity, and it's also got this weird campy vibe. It wouldn't feel out of place in any exploitation movie. I just feel that that's not the what the Friday the 13th movies are. Yeah, some may see it as pointless slashers but it's the kind of horror movie that's a staple of pop culture and it's way far remembered than any of the imitators that tried to pull it off but came exploitative instead. Which is sadly what this movie felt like. I'm not saying it's bad but it's not great either. Though it does have some shining moments, which makes it stand out more.
Here's the story: Years (I don't know how many) after the events of Final Chapter, Tommy Jarvis, now an emotionally-damaged young man, is sent to a troubled youth center. He is constantly plagued by terrifying visions of Jason, while keeping his sanity intact. Meanwhile, a string of murders are happening around the campsite. Could it be that Jason has risen from the dead again?
Some of the acting was okay. Some were good, some were sort of bad. It's kind of a 50/50. It was hard for me to catch up with some of the characters since there were so many. So I'm only along for the ones who I think are the most memorable.
First, let's start with John Shepherd as Tommy, who was clearly the strongest actor in the movie. He plays a young man that is clearly tortured by his memories of Jason.
Throughout the film, he seems to be slowly losing his sanity and his grip on his reality. And once he able to face his fears it's too much for him, but suddenly he gains the strength to fight off the monster and get his life back together.
Though again, the haunting memories of Jason is too much and he falls deeper into a darker path.....
John Shepherd was the best part of the movie. It's a shame that it tends to lose focus on him as he was the most interesting, well-developed. Instead we focus on the obnoxious, repulsive characters who meet their end by a would-be killer (which will be discussed later). John Shepherd captured the emotional torture Tommy was going through and brought on a very intense nature to the role. Not to mention, he is quite handsome and an impressive body, too.
Then there's Pam. There's not much to say about Pam, because there's not much focus on her. Yeah, she serves as the film's Final Girl, but she's pretty much in the background for most of the time. There is some development to her character as she has a motherly presence beyond the group of kids. Melanie Kinnaman did a great job, especially the scenes involving her and the killer.
Pam may not be as memorable as the previous final girls, but she still is badass. The scene where she fights the killer with the chainsaw has got to be the most remembered.
Then there's Reggie The Reckless (I don't know his last name) played by Shavar Ross from Different Strokes. Reggie is sort of a love it or hate it character. Although I did find him annoying at times, he is probably one of the most memorable characters, believe or not.
But one of my favorite characters in this is Violet, the new wave punk girl. It would've been interesting if she survived the movie. She doesn't get much screen time but once she's on screen, she steals the show.
Probably one of the most talked about and most popular scene of the movie, my personal favorite, is Violet's dance. You just have to see it for yourself:
The song is quite catchy, too
And let's not forget the hillbilly mother and son....
A total hoot!
The body count is a whooping 22. Though it's a shame Jason wasn't the one riling them up. The kills are quite creative, but it's quite impossible for a human man to have massive strength like that. Yes, I said human.
Which we'll explain about Roy Burns. It's pretty obvious he is the killer of the movie. Even his introduction is a massive spoiler but since this is a Friday the 13th film and previous films featured Jason, you would never think that.
The start of Roy's rampage, begins when one of the patients, Joey, is murdered by another patient named Vic Morrow. Now when I first saw this, it really put me out of my comfort zone. To have one of the teenagers kill one of their peers, besides Jason, it's pretty jarring yet interesting. And this is what starts the plot...Roy Burns just so happens to be one of the paramedics to pick up his son's (Joey) dead body. Once a Jerkass paramedic makes a harsh comment, that's when Roy's rage takes over.....
Fans weren't exactly thrilled with this twist but I think this was something fresh and new. It threw me off at first, though afterward, I was perfectly okay with it.
Now for some behind the scenes facts. In the original script, the opening dream was different. It opens up as a continuation from the ending of final chapter as the young Tommy Jarvis is taken to the same hospital with Jason and winds up killing the whole staff, trying to get to the body. He finally finds Jason where he rises from the operating table before the teenaged Tommy wakes up on his way to Pinehurst. Honestly, that would've been a stellar opening.
Corey Feldman was originally to have been the star of the movie but due to scheduling conflicts, including his involvement in The Goonies movie, he only did a cameo.
Gina Gershon was one of the actress to play the part of Tina but I guess her agent wasn't all hyped about the nudity for the role, so she turned it down.
Hottie!
Then there's Darcy DeMoss, who would later star in part 6, was given the role since she was actor John Robert Dixon's girlfriend at the time. After many setbacks, the filmmakers put her on delay because she wasn't "endowed" enough (real classy, you guys). So eventually Debbie Sue Voorhees, who was a playboy model, got the part. Having all this trouble to find an actress with a role that involves nudity is pretty ridiculous but since Danny Steinmann was a softcore porn director back in the 70's, I guess it was important to him.
Mark Venturini and Miguel Nunez Jr. would later star in The Return Of The Living Dead. Thom Matthews, who also starred in the movie, would later play Tommy Jarvis in Part 6. Mark Venturi was once considered the role of Tommy Jarvis but decided Vic was more of the role for him.
The film was submitted to the MPAA NINE time before it had a proper release, because of the graphic death scenes and the one sex scene involving Tina and Eddie, which Danny Stienmann wanted to keep but the producers cut it down. I guess the sleaziness of it made them a tad bit uncomfortable.
I really don't think this is the worst of the series. It's actually quite watchable. It's not the best but at least I give it points for doing something different. Although, Jason doesn't appear in the film, it's still is your usual Friday The 13th but what puts me off is the sleaziness of it and some of the characters tend to be rather irritating. And furthermore, I wished they would've focused on Tommy's arc more since he was the most interesting and much more well-developed than in part 6.
Even though, this is the weakest of the series, it's still is entertaining.
My Last Word: Mediocre, but still watchable.
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