Runningup2theEdge

Let's be honest, the pilot episode probably won't win anyone over right away.

I am a complete newcomer to the character Swamp Thing, but this won me over completely. Despite the first episode being repulsive with a meaninglessly vile ending, "Swamp Thing: The Series" is Definitive Swamp Thing for me. After the valiant effort that was the Wes Craven movie followed by the intentionally hokey "Return of Swamp Thing," this was the product that made Swamp Thing as he was meant to be, lovely, dark, and deep.

Dick Durock IS Swamp Thing for me, even under pounds of makeup, he has this presence and can emote with only his eyes and stance. His voice is perfect, the exact guttural and unearthly voice you would imagine reading in the green word bubles the comics present his voice in.

Mark Lindsay Chapman as Anton Arcane is PERFECT as his foil. Despite starting out as an irredeemable psychopath, he eventually evolves into a baddie who you cannot help to enjoy watching. Though villainous and slimy, Chapman plays the character with gravitas and finesse, almost making him an almost secondary protagonist of the series later on.

Another good additionis that of Janet Julian, who plays as Swamp Thing's love interest and link to humanity in a professional and heartfelt way. Despite being mean-spirited at times and with many horror elements, this series is ultimately a tale of good versus evil. The first few episodes are mean-spirited and the best episodes of the series for me are found in later seasons (examples include "Night of the Dying," "Better Angels," "Love Lost," "Sonata," and "A Nightmare on Jackson Street" to name a few),

The series is many things; dark but not brooding, sad but not depressing, adult but still family-friendly. It tackles such mature topics as Voodoo, self-harm, murder, grief, and redemption, areas most subjects of this premise wouldn't dare trod. In conclusion this is a highly underrated and forgotten mature series not of a superhero, but a man who has transcended with pain into an (almost) all powerful embodiment of nature with a deep hold upon humanity. And at 20 minutes per episode, it does not waste your time.

Though largely forgotten this show is definitely worth a look, even a passing one.

This show is a perfect balance of silly and serious, coming from a time when "Hercules" and "Xena" permeated the air, and embellishes in that same camp, schlock, and occasinal edge. Matt Mccolm is more than believable as a superhero with a muscular physique, noble voice and genuine presence- it's a shame his career as a lead didn't get bigger than this.

There are some jaw-dropping cameos across the episodes which are not forced and instead genuinely funny including the likes of Donald Trump, Little Richard, Jerry Springer, and Taylor Dayne among others Then-unknowns Kim Coates and Shane Brolly are convincing as supervillains, and the genuine feel and presentation of this show is a genuine superhero delight, despite its cheap budget and obvious blue screens at times. A simple cheesy schlockfest, and I'm here for it.

This is a beautiful film about fatherhood and a story much needed for our current times. The always impressive Jared Harris portrays a good natured teacher who takes Nathan, a troubled teenager under his wing, trying desperately to help him through kindness, empathy, and genuine good humor. All of this is confusing to Nathan who is not used to such concern, and is heavily burdened by his own self-hatred. Harris plays a less serious role than I've seen him play previously and he exudes a confident, fun-loving nature which keeps the viewer invested every time he is on screen. Nicholas Hamilton's performance cannot be overlooked either, and his tortured and engaging demeanor provides an electrifying contrast.

The film definitely delivers on its title, more than earning it's strong PG-13 rating, but does not dwell upon the horrors of trauma to such a degree that it taints the message of redemption. That being said, the resolution does feel a bit too quick, having a hopeful tail-end timejump when I felt some more healing could be shown after such a jarring reveal. Nevertheless, the message and direction overcome the film's shortcomings making this a great story for adults.