Rating: Summary: Great Arnie movie Review: After making movies like "Twins", "Jingle all the Way", and "Kindergarten Cop" you have to admit this is a great Arnie movie. It has a good story, better than decent acting, and it doesn't end in some sappy, bull [stuff] way. Not his best movie, DEFINITELY not his worst!!
Rating: Summary: Wasted potential Review: Take Arnold Schwarzenegger, mix with a plot involving a showdown with Satan, add some campy acting and bad lapses in logic, and you'll get End of Days, a movie that begs to be better than what it is, and could and should have succeeded where other movies like this fail. Schwarzenegger plays a burned out bodyguard who has lost his faith in Gid and mourning the deaths of his wife and child, and then finds himself protecting a young woman (Robin Tunney) from Satan (Gabriel Byrne). What results is your typical, predictable cat & mouse movie with the odds pinned up so much against Arnie & crew, but naturally he finds a way to win, even if its against the devil. The plot is just so conventional, you can even tell whats going to happen before it happens. There are some good qualities though, the ending was different, making the film not as horrible as it could have been, and the cast; including Kevin Pollak, Cch Pounder, and Rod Steiger; is a nice touch. All in all, End of Days was a big disappointment for me, and unless your a die hard Schwarzenegger fan, you probably won't dig it.
Rating: Summary: Obscene 'End of Days' Review: The revolting plotline to this baneful motion picture starring the ever-lasting genius, Arnold Schwarzenegger, pits the immortal against the most evil force of human nature. The devil has chosen a woman to bare his child to prepare for the end of days. Humanity will suffer as we know it unless somebody protects the innocent woman. Only one man can save her, Jericho Cane! Schwarzenegger portrays the suicidal man and regains his religious faith to fight the evil force. Lots of action takes place and this film easily becomes an Arnold classic. He's in top shape and considering this was his first movie since "Batman and Robin", Schwarzenegger still looks fit and has the funniest accent out of any action star. Gabriel Byrne portrays the devil and does some vile things. Wretched! The special effects are decent and the train sequence was shocking, but the ultimate fight at the end, is one to remember forever. Ugliness!
Rating: Summary: Surprisingly entertaining! Review: While not the perfect, End of Days is certainly a well-crafted thriller with plenty to offer. The year is 1999, and it's days before New Years in New York City, where Satan (Gabriel Byrne) has come to Earth to find the woman who will bear his child, bringing about the "end of days". This woman (Robin Tunney) was born in 1979 during a phenomenon that marked her as the mother of Satan's child. Sound complicated and odd? Not to worry, the film does an excellent job of setting everything up to get to the action scenes. When Satan takes the body of an investment banker, it is Jherico Caine (Schwarzenegger) who is unknowingly protecting him. When he foils an assassination attempt, he and his partner (Kevin Pollak) uncover a frightening web of conspiracy that leads them all over the city, with Satan hot on their tails. Director Peter Hyams (The Relic) keeps the mood appropriately dark and creepy. The special effects are extremely well-done, especially in the film's thrilling climax. Arnie plays the same character he always does: the guy who has to save the world. Though it's his stereotypical character, Schwarzenegger pulls it off well here. However, Gabriel Byrne is the real star here, playing Satan in haunting fashion. Tunney (The Craft) does a decent job as the chosen bride of Satan. Kevin Pollak, CCH Pounder, and Udo Kier are all top-notch in their supporting roles. The DVD of this film is excellent, to say the least. Commentarys, specail effects spots, music videos, and trailers are all among the array of extras. The picture and sound are top quality. Universal Studios always does a great job with it's DVD releases, and End of Days is no exception. End of Days is, overall, a very good film that will appeal to fans of several different genres. Whether your thing is horror, suspense, drama, or just Arnie, End of Days certainly won't disappoint.
Rating: Summary: He's seen better days Review: This film has a number of flaws and you have probably heard all of them by now. The biggest flaw is just that the script is not that strong. I think most devil movies just have problems not seeming corny and this film is no exception. If this was not an action film than it would have really flopped. There are a number of good action scenes and some sharp special effects. Schwarzenegger is strong at times as he plays a more beat-up character than usual. Gabriel Byrne does well, but seems bored at times. The bottom line is that the film is entertaining even if though it has a number of gaps. The DVD looks very sharp and has a number of extras. There is a behind the scenes segment, commentary and videos, but the coolest extra has to be the special effects section. This takes the viewer throught the process of how a number of the more spectular effects were done and it really helps one to appreciate what went into this film. Not a great film, but worth seeing.
Rating: Summary: 1000 years have ended.... Review: This is the most disturbing movie I ever saw...And I loved it!
Rating: Summary: Arnold's worst performance Review: Every movie Arnold has made has been good.....except this one. I watched this DVD with a girl who wasn't very pretty to look at...so I was looking forward to keeping my eyes on the screen. That didn't happen either!
Rating: Summary: Ah-nuld fights valiantly in FX driven sci-fi nightmare Review: End of Days is one of those action thrillers that one day will wind up on a wonderful list known as Bad Movies We All Love. But it takes a few years to achieve such cult status, and, so, I am left to deal with today. I don't intentionally have it in for this type of picture, but the genre today has a lot in common with pop music, because they both have such specific target markets. In the case of action thrillers, it is fourteen to twenty-five year old males. There's nothing at all wrong with having a particular audience in mind. The problem is that, by limiting the appeal, you tend to crystallize the subject matter. You fall into a pattern of rehashing the same material, because, as one group outgrows your genre, there's a fresh one to take it's place. I suppose that End of Days would have been more interesting ten years ago. That was when CGI and other digital effects were new and fresh to the eye. Today, it's just another costly FX driven movie. Compare it to another Arnold Schwarzenegger picture, the much better Total Recall [1991], and you'll see what I mean. ... Then there are the special effects. They are spectacular, but predictable. Some are a bit weird. In several scenes, such as a restaurant's blowing up, the street traffic just keeps moving. Even New Yorkers are not quite that jaded. In another, The Man falls twenty stories and lands on a SUV. Its alarm goes off, the vehicle is totaled, but no crowd gathers. The movie is especially prone to defying the laws of physics. There is a chase scene aboard a runaway subway train. Jericho manages to uncouple the car he and the girl are in. The rest of the train jumps the tracks and wrecks. Moments later, their car plows into the wreck. Do they jump out of the car? No, they just run to the rear and grab hold of a support pole. Not only are they not hurt, they remain standing. Give us a break!
Rating: Summary: Amusing and entertaining, to say the least. Review: It's Arnold vs. the Devil! That's all you need to know plot-wise in this big and dumb action/thriller that pits Schwarzennegger against the "ultimate" villain. Yes, this one's as stupid as you'd expect, but there's a certain acknowledgement of its own inanity, the action's fast-paced and exciting, and there are plenty of good, intentional laughs (The one-liners and an unforgettable fight between Ah-nuld and an old lady!). Not necessarily better than what the critics say (at least in terms of the script), but it sure is entertaining (for mostly the right reasons, I assume).
Rating: Summary: Lovely, But Sadly Lacking Review: This was a wonderful movie, but I have to agree with most everyone. It sadly lacks a few things, mostly in the crucial plot catagory. There are definitely some things left to be desired. While the story is a full one, it seems to be missing something. Like, why does Satan totally rewrite the minds of everyone but Jericho? Or if Satan is so powerful, why doesn't he just take Christine, round up his followers, and do the dirty deed while the ceremony is being said? It makes no sense. The characters are pretty good. The Albino, as few seem to notice, is terribly creepy. The priest and Christine are good, but seem to lack the substance I expected from charcters like that. The best, of course, is Gabriel Byrne's Satan. That's the only reason why this movie diserves all 5 stars. Gabriel's Satan is one of a kind. His voice is soft and melodius, with just the right touch of accent. Satan comes across as a soft-spoken, smooth-talker that always gets the point across. And he shows you that it's not safe to screw with this smug, Irish-born Satan. Even Mandy Patinkin's Satan (which lacked Gabriel's style) from "Touched By An Angel" can't compare.
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