Beautiful, but sadly disappointing adaptation...

Rating: 6/10 (27 April 2006)

Fans of the video game, as am I, are sure to enjoy this big screen adaptation of the creepy, spooky survival thriller. The effects are great and truly beautiful in parts. The grimy, dank otherworldly atmosphere looks gorgeous on screen in all it's bleached out watercolor glory.
The cast gets some serious props too for making the best of what they're given, especially young Jodelle Ferland who impressed in a difficult, creepy role. It's also good to see that Laurie Holden has life (and work) after "The X-Files."
The big problem with "Silent Hill" however, especially for those that haven't played the game, is sadly the script, which seems to go out of its way to make its characters do stupid, implausible things, with a complete lack of motivation, especially in the first 15 minutes of the film. A lot of people walked out of the theater during my viewing, and many more were laughing at the ridiculousness of the plot and dialogue. I think the closest comp of "Silent Hill" is "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," another video game movie that looks fabulous on screen but was barely watchable due to the insipid plot.
Bottom line: Wait for the video. Should be out right around Halloween.