Well...what exactly did you expect from a remake of an 80s horror flick? Even when it was made, the original was less than fresh. Don't get me wrong, the original (and it's sequels) were some of my favorite movies to rent as a kid. But let's not pretend the original movie was some mind-blowing feat of originality. So since everyone is apparently out of ideas for stuff and remakes/reboots are all the rage, why not remake a movie that, while loved by many, wasn't exactly setting box offices on fire?
This isn't exactly a true remake, nor is it a reboot. It falls somewhere in between. It doesn't exactly follow the original story...it varies on some key elements. The parts that got changed don't really effect the overall story, though. The film does take a bit long to get going for my tastes. It tries to focus a bit too much on being sexy in the first half rather than being a horror movie. But once it gets going, it's fun and the practical effects are actually quite well done. The CGI effects, while sparse, are actually pretty bad. Then the casting. I'm not sure who thought it'd be a good idea to use Edward "remember, I was John Connor. No, seriously" Furlong, but I would question their motives. He's fine in his role, but he just seems like he's there for the paycheck. And Shannon Elizabeth as Angela? Again, she does fine with the role, but I don't see her potential as a villain in a horror flick. She's always going to be that hot girl who got naked in American Pie. But whatever...it is what it is. All in all it's a fun popcorn movie. If you're a die-hard fan of the original you'll probably find a lot to nitpick over. Otherwise, just open a six pack and enjoy it for what it is...a fun, fairly gory horror movie that doesn't take itself too seriously.
