stephenjamesb-1

I always like to look at a film years later to see if my original thoughts on the film still stand, in this case 2022 compared to 2006.

Seeing that Returns is more a sequel to the second film they kind of forgot the finer points of what came before it. For example in the first film the conversation between Superman and Lois in the original interview "Can you read my mind" sequence Clark refers to Peter Pan, in the same sequence Superman says "Peter Pan flew with children Lois". In the new film Superman asks who Clark was in another CYRMM type of sequence.

It was like the story tellers picked and chose elements from the original 2 films, incorporated them into the new script without realizing that the accompanying elements when told didn't connect with the original plot points. Too many continuity issues.

There are things that the story lacked and that's what made the film a little bit more mediocre for me. The action sequences were very well done and you could see that they put money in the film.

My only other complaint about the film and I remembered this when I saw the film in 2006 was that at times Brandon Routh was trying to be Christopher Reeve rather than make the role his own. He even cracks a joke in DC's Legends of Tomorrow when referring to Supergirl "She looks like my cousin" while not even playing the part of Superman anymore.

Although I didn't think this film re-invented the wheel it was also better than I expected...

The only film I remember was the first since it was the best and most memorable, I've completely forgotten the 2nd and thankfully the 3rd.. But the most memorable thing about the 4th film was the one of the very last lines spoken by Neve.. "1st rule about remaking a original movie... You don't .... with the original.." This may be a line in the film but it tells a lot about the the film industry today and especially when it comes to the needless remakes of older horror movies... If you look at all these remakes, there's very very few films that actually are better than what their original counterparts were..

The line also has a side meaning as well, not directed at the horror film industry as a whole.. But directly to Warner Bros and New Line Cinema in general.. After the abomination of the REMAKE of a Wes Craven's masterpiece A Nightmare on Elm Street in 2010, it was in my view pure garbage and a slap in the face to the true fans of the film.. The film had so much promise but was a massive let down and I think was an insult to Wes Craven himself.. SO when that line was spoken I just smiled and I couldn't agree more..

Scream 4 might not be memorable, but that line and that meaning.. WAS

I have been a long time Friday the 13th fan, and when I heard that they were doing a "remake" of the original film, I had to wonder if this was going to be actually GOOD.. Despite some flaws in the film, overall I was very happy with the outcome of the film..

Knowing that this is the first Friday THE 13TH film in over 20 years it was nice to see the links to the roots of the series.. It's nice to finally see them doing justice to the series and not make it some watered down excuse for a horror film that seems to be the norm in Hollywood these days.. If they had done this then we would have gotten some PG-13 teen friendly crap that people in their 20's and 30's would have despised.. Friday the 13th has always been a slasher film and this is exactly what we were blessed with..

They didn't go away from its roots, change it to Saw and Hostel and make this torture porn, it would have been a massive mistake and would have not been true to the spirit of the series..

The only difference between the new film and the old is how Jason was handled, we get a smarter, more sadistic Jason..

A worthy addition to the Friday universe..