And I so wanted this to be good...

Rating: 7/10 (22 April 2006)

***ABSOLUTE SPOILERAGE HERE MAN!*** To get things started, I just want to say, I love the Silent Hill series to death. I first started getting excited about this movie about 2 years ago when I read someone had picked up the rights to it. For 2 years, I waited in painful anticipation for this movie, reading every possible bit of news about it, joining in the fan-frothed message boards, and even playing the games again, just for the hell of it.
Then I saw the trailer. I've never felt more disappointed.
Still, this isn't about the trailer. I saw the movie last night in a decently full theater, consisting of mostly college students. The movie started out cringingly and laughably awkward. The lines felt so...used before. The acting was embarrassing. Seeing a 7 year old scream "SILENT HILL" isn't scary, unnerving, or odd. I laughed.
I also laughed at several other moments in this movie, even though I tried so hard not to. The movie is filled with these kinds of moments.
Still, If I had to say anything good about this film (which I most definitely will), its that I absolutely loved the first half. If they had just taken the whole second half of the movie out (the burn the witch part), I would have been in heaven. Everything is done right. The transformation from fog to hell Silent Hill, the downright disturbing monsters (except the nurses. The nurses looked like "Bring it On" rejects), and the decision to use the game's score (none of the music, unfortunately, is new) all make the the movie a true sight to behold. And come on. Freaking pyramid head, man. He doesn't disappoint.
In all two scenes he's in...
*sigh* Still, the movie has its moments. And they absolutely rock. Sadly, though, there's just too much bad acting and laughably awkward lines to give the better half a fighting chance. When I get this on DVD, I'm going to break it in half so I can only see the first hour. The good hour.