Home :: DVD :: Horror  

Classic Horror & Monsters
Cult Classics
Frighteningly Funny
General
Series & Sequels
Slasher Flicks
Teen Terror
Television
Things That Go Bump
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent

The Prophecy 3: The Ascent

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: final chapter of The Prophecy movie only goes so far
Review: the final chapter in The Prophecy series has Christopher Walken as the ex-angel Gabriel on the streets, with a trumpet. He goes and hears a young boy speak about God and the kid gets shot by some homeless looking guy played by Brad Dourif. This event brings upon the angel Zophael played nicely by Vincent Spano and Zophael has come to burn the body of the kid, or named Danyael Rosales. Rosales' mother Valerie died many a year ago in a fire accident. Danyael is half angel, half human, a Nephilim, so he's sort of like for example Angel's son Connor in the Tv Show Angel, Sanyael has human and angel qualitites. Danyael's task is to defeat Pyriel and stop the war. It's another sequel but this is a two notches better then the second one. Walken has never been more funnier, Dourif is in another wasted role and Steve Hytner, who plays yet again the doctor Joseph is still the same. Also starring Jack McGee, Kayren Ann Butler and up and new comer Dave Buzzotta who plays Danyael. This movie goes so far but fails from predictability.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The Halfway Coffee shop scene most entertaining..
Review: The only thing that seemed to hold this release together was the diner scene Gabriel re-enters, having crossed paths with Madge, the waitress again, who recalls him and asks "Where's your friend?" (from the first Prophecy). It was interesting that Gabriel "gets his wings back" at the end, but the humor was seriously lacking, save Gabriel explaining to Vince Spano how he "dies everyday...when I have the cash" and how he finally learned how to drive. The coroner investigating was [terrible]. It would have been nice to see someone like Thomas(Elias Koteas?) taking this on instead. I don't recall if that sign over the coroner's coolers was still there, stating "These are for storing bodies, NOT beer". That subtle sarcasm in the first was nowhere to be found in this one. It makes me wonder if someone else wrote the script.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pretty funny horror movie!
Review: The Prophecy 3- The Ascent is not as good as part II. Walken, is not in this movie nearly enough and some of the other actors are tolerable at best. However, this is a good ending to the trilogy. I never found the ending to be phony or tacked on. In fact, most movies when they have come to part 3 are barely watch able.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: EPIC WAR of the ANGELS concludes: the Winner is?
Review: THE PROPHECY trilogy has to be among the most clever cinema series attempted. It is sometimes disturbing, usually exciting, and often archly satirical if not flat-out hilarious. Theologically/philosophically it is surprising for a piece of main-line movie fare. Now and again, it is peculiarly touching. Christopher Walken has served the series well as GABRIEL...angelic warrior; messenger; and ruthless minister of Divine justice...turned REBEL...virtually a second Lucifer, in a renewed Celestial Rebellion. The first installment of the series stands on its own and will probably achieve some kind of cult status. In my estimate, the second and third segments are manifestly weaker but contribute solidly and essentially to a unique series. The final segment: THE ASCENT does not quite have the "slam-bang" cosmic combat tone of Prophecy II. But, it does have a fine, ironic twist that leads the viewer to a serious statement about REDEMPTION and Divine Mercy. Rather heavy stuff for your basic midnight popcorn movie, yes? A viewer who really believed "The Omega Code" was a "revelation" might find all three films distasteful (the first two are very violent in several sequences; the song "You've got to have Heart...from DAMN YANKEES...is a warning: celestial humor may be dangerous to your health). Movies like "OC" and Arnold's "END of DAYS" are just too self-conscious to toss in a few good yuks. Whether PROPHECY III: THE ASCENT is a successful conclusion to the trilogy depends on WHO the viewer wants to win; and WHAT is the nature of victory in the epic war among the Angels. I think the winner is the viewer with a sense of humor who appreciates when serious movies (especially "theological thrillers" of whatever ilk) know when to put tongue firmly in-cheek. When Christopher Walken blows GABRIEL's TRUMPET...at strategic moments...it's a moment not of reckoning but of reminder that PROPHECY is classy entertainment that doesn't forget to laugh at itself......

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A FITTING FINALE?
Review: This is the last chapter in the saga of the second war in heaven. Being a huge fan of the first film, I was a little let down with #2 (there was a scene deleted with a flying winged angel) and #3 started to leave me cold, until the last half-hour or so. The plot should have been much, much better. It was great to cameos from "Madge" & "Mary". Not nearly enough Walken for me, but his performance is worth viewing this. Like #2, this would have been a bit more interesting with more visions of the angelic battle. As to purchasing it, well... maybe a completist would.

Now how about someone making a movie of "To Reign In Hell" by Steven Brust?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: fabulous fun and beautifully crafted
Review: This is the third in a wonderful trilogy. The director is a soon-to-be superstar who just did Dracula 2000 another fun movie. The marvelous collection of humor, educated dialogue and carefully crafted story makes for a great movie experience. The special efffects are also excellent

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Prophecy ends with a good movie...but not the End
Review: This movie was beutiful and had some truly great innovations to the Prophecy storyline-Gabriel and his "enlightment" after living the life of a human for so many years being the most fun of them. The cameos from the first film are delightful as well. The Star does an adequate job as a cerebral action hero but Zophiel was a Termintor 2 warrior and one I wish had got more airtime. Pyriel in his brief appearence was wonderful and truly chilling. However I never felt I got a good hand on the celestial mechanics involved in this story. Is God still hanging around, why did Danyael feel the way he did at the beggining, is the dang Second war in Heaven over yet? Basically we need a few more films here...hopefully one that will end the War in Heaven, explain Danyael, and maybe bring peace on earth. Ultimately this sense of unfufillment is waylaid by the usual good lines, philosophy, and special effects of the films.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: THE SECOND ONE WAS MUCH BETTER
Review: This movie was not that bad, but it failed to keep up with the first two. The battle between Pyriel and Danyael wasn't really much of an excitement. The movie did not develop Pyriel's character properly. Prophecy II however was very action-filled and you really get involved. That was the best!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Prophecy Closes Full Circle
Review: Unlike most films which carry the number 3 in it, The Prophecy III proves to be the most energetic and satisfying film in the trilogy. I can't say enough good things about it. The story while drawing from the previous films still brings the story to a close with it's own ideas and new directions for old characters. The best thing about Prophecy III is that it never does what you'd expect. Christopher Walken returns to the story once again as Gabriel the former angel of death now humble wandering human. The filmmakers have taken great care in recreating Gabriel while still having him be familiar too us. Still speaking in that menacing tone of his and piercing us with those eyes that see more than what is there. The movie somewhat mirrors T2. The villain is now the protector. Which I loved. The story revolves around The half angel half human neraphim of Prophecy II who is plagued by visions and compelled to stop the angel of genocide Pyriel. Enter Zophael, an assasin angel sent to Earth to destroy the neraphim Danyael. As before there are protectors. In this case it is the coroner from the previous two films who is tired of examining bodies with no eyes, the girlfriend who is taken hostage by Zophael as Gabriel had taken human slaves in the previous films, and finally Gabriel himself who does not have the lead role in this movie but shows up to deliver very compelling dialogue and give great foreshadowing for things to come. The story is in full drive for the whole movie. A surprising cameo in the end and a somewhat recreation of a scene from The Prophecy will have you rolling if you are a fan of the films. If the movie suffers from anything it is that all three films are well..the same. An angel chasing after a human to further the war in heaven. Human slaves are always taken by the angel in order to defeat the human who is always helped by another human. But despite that, Prophecy III has the same darkness of the original and a striking and subtle music score. This is not a film for first time Prophecy viewers. Go through the first two and if you like them then The Prophecy III will have you believing in The Word and that not all sequels to sequels bite.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Interesting end...
Review: While not coming to nearly the heights of the first Prophesy, it does advance the story in an interesting fashion. We join the adult child of Jennifer Beil's character from the second film Danyael as he is about 18. He is being hunted by one angel and followed by the human Gabriel. Gabriel has seemed to softened on his stance towards the human race, now opposing the angels with which he once stood. His time on earth has seemed to allow him to recognize his place with God and man. Walken has made his [resence more humorous in this third installment and less menacing. But it's still a solid Walken performance. The film seems bring everything to a close, revealing the mastermind behind the war in heaven. And it is Danyael's job to confront him. Brad Dourif is briefly in the film as one of his off kilter characters. Over all, it's an interesting end to the storyline and it brings closure to the various characters we have been introduced to. Not as high quality as the first, but a decent closer.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates