Final Destination 3

Once you've seen Final Destination there's not much more of the story to tell, or twist, or reveal. All three films could actually be compiled together to make one long film, in other words, the story is told and the scene is set in part one, the two that follow just get more creative with how messy, bloody, and bazaar each person is slaughtered. And thats why I love these films.

Final Destination 3 is really no different than the two before it, except the creepy bald morgue guy who seemed to have a fetish for death does not make an appearance in this one. There's not much to say, if I told you how each person were sliced, diced, smashed, crushed, impaled...you get the point, then I would be revealing the only reason any of us purchased a ticket. There is no denying those who seen this one in theaters were there just to see how bad death could be dealt. Let me tell ya, "There's some really sick and twisted ways these people die." Anyway, for those who enjoy gross and disturbing this one is worth checking out. Enjoy!

While it was not a great or perfect film (particularly in the dialogue, ending and some of the acting), the first 'Final Destination' was entertaining and effective (especially with its terrific opening plane sequence and the creative deaths) with a fascinating idea done well.

The bigger and bolder 'Final Destination 2' had its flaws but was just as good and perhaps the best of the four sequels. 'Final Destination 3' is just as big and bold, as well as gorier, and is also as good. Second sequels or third instalments of a franchise don't always fare well, especially in horror and comedy, 'Final Destination 3' is one of the better examples in a genre where sequels have a patchy history. The novelty has not yet worn off and in a way is more refined.

Sure, the story is more of the same and formulaic. Meanwhile, there is too much dull downtime between deaths where dialogue and exposition can be clumsy at times.

The special effects are not always brilliant and the characters are as shallow as ever.

However, 'Final Destination 3' is as atmospheric and stylish as its previous two films. The music has a haunting eeriness and James Wong does a more than competent job in the director's chair, showing a genuine understanding of the concept and the horror genre, breathing atmosphere, fun and freshness into a tried and tested formula and not losing what made his direction work in the first film.

Like the second, although there is a little too much of an over-reliance on gore, not all of it necessary, the death scenes are bolder, more elaborate and more creative (faring even better in this regard actually). The tanning bed and nail gun deaths were particularly good and two of the best and most imaginative of the series. The script has some wonderful humour that is black and ironic and has just as much tension and a sense of dread. The amusement park/roller-coaster scene is not as good as the opening scenes in the previous films, especially visually, but it's still very scary. The photo record is surprising and there is an intricacy in places.

'Final Destination 3' has the best ending perhaps of the series, to me it's the least contrived and more logical than the one in particularly the second film. In the acting stakes, it fares favourably too. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is very good.

Overall, a good deadly ride that's worth getting on board for, as long as one knows what to expect. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I recently had a PM conversation on the topic of horror films with someone who doesn't like horror films . They mentioned my review of FINAL DESTINATION 2 and thought the film might have been better if the film had set out to horrify or repulse the audience rather than amuse or entertain them . I felt this was unfair since the FD movies work in a similar manner to the classic episodes of CASUALTY where the audience are trying to second guess the script as to what happens next . We see a lingering shot of a chip pan thinking it'll suddenly burst in to flame only to have our expectations quashed as a plane crashes out of the sky fatally injuring the occupant of the house . CASUALTY started losing a lot of acclaim when it started to metamorphoses in to yet another soap opera . Having said that after you've seen FINAL DESTINATION 3 you start to realise how much the franchise did become a wasted opportunity

FD 3 is directed by James Wong who also co-wrote and co-produced the film along with Glen Morgan . Both men worked alongside Chris Carter in making THE X FILES a massive television success on both sides of the Atlantic . They have a heritage in making the fantastical credible , they're not idiots but with hindsight the FINAL DESTINATION series isn't as good as it could have been . To be fair the first movie does inject a slightly different take on the horror genre with teenagers not being killed by a monster but being killed by destiny itself . The second movie was a definite improvement in that the protagonists were drawn from a larger demographic of society including a mother and child . With the third film we're back to teenagers again . FD 2 had no input from Wong and Morgan and is considered the best in the series . Can you see who may be to blame that the series didn't reach its full potential ?

The emphasis on teen characters panders to the demographics of a teen audience . Perhaps in the first film we had adult characters instead of adolescent ones the series may have taken off as an intelligent horror series with wider appeal and acclaim ? As it stands FD 3 is populated by very unsympathetic high school students . The muscle bound jock , two bitchy self centered bimbos who need to top up on their tan before attending a memorial service etc . One can't help thinking this would have been a much more memorable horror series if Wong and Morgan envisaged the films as being geared towards intelligent adults who want horror films that don't talk down to them . As it stands FINAL DESTINATION 3 isn't bad but isn't great either and shows how limited and formulaic a franchise can become

With no villain and impossible yet plausible deaths, final destination has a high octane creep factor that will keep you on edge for weeks after. The third installment is no exception. Wild deaths, decent acting, and no storyline necessary. This movie screams the 2000s, a girl with her flip phone and highlights.

Now, it's Wendy's (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) turn to have a dream of horror, this time on a roller coaster. So her and a few others get off of the coaster but of course, a few die. Well, of course there has to be a neat little twist and this one is: Clues of her friend's deaths are in pictures taken on the night of the accident.

6.5/10 In my opinion, each film just keeps getting better... by .5 points. The first, IMO, was a 5.5, the 2nd was a 6, now this one is a good 6.5.

Why do I like this one the best? It tries hard not to sag as much as the others. While the first one left us in utter confusion, and the 2nd one tried hard to be tricky, this one really gives us a fun task: Trying to guess HOW the person will die based on the picture.

The opener is the 2nd best one in the series (Nothing beats the original's opener), and the Quantity of the deaths are better (3 good death scenes) but the Quality of them is best in the first (2 GREAT deaths)