The Relic
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Movie Reviews of The Relic
Movie Review: Good ole schlock
Summary: 4 Stars
Some people just don't get it. Do you expect this flick to be some kind of masterpiece?! I believe one of the reviewers called this movie "pathetic." I guess that's what you get in a critically democratic forum like Amazon (throws up hands).
This is an enjoyable Monster Movie, professionally made, that takes itself seriously (a good thing for a movie-a bad thing for a movie-goer). It ain't Orson Welles. Oh, and it isn't pornographically violent like the horror/thriller flicks currently filling movie theaters with vomit and teenagers.
If you "take your horror seriously," you shouldn't bother with this one (oh, and you should get out more). Otherwise, enjoy some mindless schlock.
Movie Review: SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
Summary: 3 Stars
THE RELIC is based on the novel by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and while the book is excellent, this movie version is merely adequate. The movie does maintain the flavor of the book, but director Peter Hyams film is so dimly lit, it's difficult at times to ascertain what is going on, and the script's condensation of the book's plot doesn't fully give the viewer an unfettered resolution to the origins of the beast.
At a special gallery in the Chicago National History museum, a horrifying creature is making mincemeat of several unfortunate victims, culminating in a bloodbath on the exhibit's grand opening party. Penelope Ann Miller plays Dr. Margo Green, an evolutionary biologist, who stumbles upon a strange plant which has been shipped to the museum; Tom Sizemore plays detective Anthony D'Agosta, who is investigating the horrible murders of the crew that housed this exhibit; Linda Hunt is the museum curator; the late James Whitmore is the wheelchair bound director. If Hyams had "lightened up" the film, it may have been more involving, but we never really see the monster well enough to be scared and this hampers the film immensely. Nice try, but it should have been much better.
Movie Review: Not a definite favorite
Summary: 1 Stars
I don't like the fact that somebody can take a horror movie and turn it into a joke!I couldn't even get through this movie once.I just don't like films that express monsters as four-legged dog creatures.The Relic is a story about a ritual gone wrong when some foolish explorer actually drinks this weird concoction from a tribe of Indians.Mysteriously enough,the liquid turns him into a beastly creature that lives in the sewers under a mansion.Don't get this movie!Movie Review: An Enjoyably Skewed Cliffnotes Edition of the Better Novels
Summary: 4 Stars
The Relic in movie form is a suspenseful and entertaining romp through one of the most interesting locations for a pseudo-techno-thriller. On the first viewing, there are many good elements of a gritty cop homicide investigation meets intelligent yet homicidal creature flick. The archetype of evil being a universal constant in all cultures no matter how primitive coupled with an innate look at superstition and legend in all cultures was the perfect mixture of plot setting to make this an enjoyable movie.
I say "the first viewing", because quite a bit of the movie is devoted to figuring out "what" is going on and "why". Once you learn the reason, the movie shifts to a more standard horror survival role until the end where it reverts back to trying to explain itself. There are several entirely enjoyable sequences of plain old scariness and tension if you are able to successfully suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride. In fact, several of these scenes are enojoyable enough on their own to cause me to watch them over and over from time to time.
However, as a disclaimer to fans of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs (like myself) this is NOT the exact same plot, ending, character development (or even all of the major characters) the novel(s) the movie was based on. The movie suffers from a rushed pace and several "by-the-book" horror movie cliches. However, if you are not planning on reading the books and are looking for a one-time enjoyable thriller, or do enjoy reading and want to compare notes, I would highly recommend this one as it is just enough different to be unique.
Movie Review: Not remotely as good as the book!
Summary: 2 Stars
I might have enjoyed this movie more if they hadn't gutted the book, which was a pretty good read. The best character in the book, FBI Special Agent Pendergast, isn't even in the movie, and New York City police Lt. D'Agosta is just a comic caricature of the book's character.
Another criticism of the movie is that almost every scene is so dark you can hardly see anything. If the purpose was to create a moody, scary atmosphere, they went way too far.
See if you must, but don't expect too much.