Spawn

Plot synopsis:
Al Simmons (Michael Jai White) is a Force Reconniassance Marine Colonel and Black Ops operative. Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen), the head of the covert government agency for which Simmons works, assigns him to infiltrate a biochemical weapons plant in North Korea. Unknown to Simmons, Wynn has ordered his top assassin Jessica Priest (Melinda Clarke) to murder him while he is on the mission. After Simmons dies, he is set on fire by Wynn and the flames cause the plant to explode. Simmons arrives in Hell, where one of the rulers of Hell - Malebolgia (Frank Welker) - offers him a Faustian deal: if Simmons becomes his eternal servant and leader of his army in Armageddon, he will be able to return to Earth to see his fiancée, Wanda Blake. Simmons accepts the offer and returns to Earth.
Upon his return, Simmons learns that five years have passed since his death. Wanda is now married to his best friend Terry Fitzgerald (D.B. Sweeney), who is living as the father to Al's daughter Cyan. Soon Simmons encounters a clown-like demon named Violator (John Leguizamo), sent by Malebolgia, who acts as Simmons's guide down the path to evil. He also meets a mysterious old man named Cogliostro (Nicol Williamson), a fellow Hellspawn, who has successfully freed his soul and now fights for Heaven. Simmons learns that Wynn, who is now a weapons dealer, has developed a biological weapon called Heat 16. During a reception, Spawn attacks Wynn, kills Jessica, and escapes with the help of his necroplasm armor.
Following the attack by Simmons, Violator convinces Wynn to have a device attached to his heart that will release Heat 16 worldwide if his vital signs flatline as a deterrent against assassination attempts. However, Malebolgia wants Simmons to kill Wynn and initiate the apocalypse. Spawn confronts Violator, who turns into his demonic form and beats Al down. Cogliostro rescues Al and teaches him how to use his necroplasm armor. Simmons learns that Violator and Wynn are going to kill Terry, Cyan, and Wanda.
Terry sends an email incriminating Wynn to a fellow newsman. Just as the email is sent, Cyan and Wynn enter the room. Wynn destroys Terry's computer and takes the family hostage. Spawn arrives and nearly kills Wynn, but Al extracts the device from Wynn's body instead and destroys it. With his plan foiled, Violator sends Spawn and Cogliostro to Hell, where they both battle the demon before subduing him. Spawn is then confronted by Malebolgia, who tells Spawn that he will never lead Hell's army. Spawn escapes with Cogliostro just before they are overwhelmed by Malebolgia's forces. Violator, having recovered, follows them. A final battle ensues, ending with Spawn decapitating the demon with his chains. Violator's head taunts the group and threatens his return before melting and returning to Hell. Wynn is arrested, and Spawn, realizing there is no place for him in Wanda's world anymore, dedicates himself to justice rather than succumbing to his lust for vengeance.

Tags: comedy, murder, paranormal, cult, violence, good versus evil, psychedelic, humor, revenge

Review:
This film is just like the comic that inspired it: Great visuals (I still really like McFarlane's superhero art style), but much like the majority of "Spawn" stories, it really doesn't go anywhere.
And yes, I know it's a Hell-based movie, but the metal soundtrack just got distracting and annoying, instead of enhancing the story like it should have.
The film largely concerns Spawn discovering and exploring his new identity, while working to uncover a nefarious plot and attain revenge.If you read my reviews frequently enough over time, you'll notice that my ratings often change on repeated viewings.
As it is, there have been no live action sequels to date (there have been animated versions of Spawn), but I think there may have been if the first film would have been handled differently.As the film stands, too much time has to be spent explaining the plot.
On the other hand, I personally like that kind of weird cheesiness, so I didn't subtract any points for that.And speaking of weird cheesiness, I'm sure a lot of people hate John Leguizamo's character in the film (Clown/Violator), but I love it.
That works well for me, but if you're not the kind of person who loves films like Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), you probably won't like this Killer Klown either.There is also a great campy quality to the material overall, including some of the dialogue (a scene where a father yells at a son in "Rat City" for spitting out a meal they retrieved from the garbage because it's "wasting good food" is a treasure).
Michael Jai White was far from terrible and John Leguizamo was pretty terrific if not a bit cartoony at times.The bad points really hit this film hard.
Everyone seems to agree that the original Spawn comic is excellent material for a pointless, violent, stupid and thoroughly amusing movie.
The special effects were kind of confusing - half of them were excellent and half of them looked like beautified Sesame Street animations (the demon "thing" of hell, for example, which had me crying with laughter).
Let's hope for the next Spawn movie they take a few chances and make a grittier downbeat tale with more in common with the original comic and not like the muppet show from hell..
Cogliostro was also an assassin from Hell but he saved his soul and battle for Heaven.It tries to be a darker and uglier type of comic book movie but it ends up more or less campy.
In the end, Spawn feels like nothing more or less than an exercise in CGI and make-up effects.It is pretty difficult to get involved with the story, in part because it makes no sense, but mostly because we simply do not care.
Unfortunately, that's all it has to offer, which is a real shame, because this had the potential to be one hell (pun intended) of a movie.As a reader of "Spawn" comics and collector of "Spawn" merchandise (and affiliated McFarlane Toys products), I saw at an early age how "Spawn" revolutionized the comics industry with its mystical premise, graphic visuals, Heaven vs.
Hell battle theme and gratuitous sex and violence, and while such gusto has been embraced by fans, this 1997 film adaptation of Todd McFarlane's popular underground comic, directed by Mark A.Z. Dippe', is rated "PG-13" (subsequent home video versions were of the "R"-rated director's cut, which contained additional footage), the watered-down violence more cartoonish than graphic.
In short, in the comic book world, Spawn is not like anything else out there.The story is that the demon Malebolgia needs fresh souls for his ever-growing army of undead soldiers to lead an eventual conquest of Earth, and then, Heaven, in what will eventually bring about Armageddon.
All Malebolgia needs is a general for his army, and, Holy Lazarus, recently deceased CIA operative Al Simmons (newcomer Michael Jai White) has just the extra-crispy corpse for the job.See, Simmons was set up by his insane former employer Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen) after making a bargain with Malebolgia's go-to guy and Earthbound lieutenant, the pudgy, disgusting Clown (John Leguizamo, completely unrecognizable in his get-up), to kill Simmons so that he would be sent to Hell.
While in Hell (which looks like a CGI version of a Marilyn Manson concert on steroids), Simmons makes a deal with Malebolgia to lead his army, in exchange for one last chance to see his wife Wanda Blake (Theresa Randle), who is now married to his best friend Terry Fitzgerald (D.B. Sweeney) and together the two now have a young daughter named Cyan (Sydni Beaudoin).Back on Earth and unaware that five years have passed, Simmons has a burnt-to-a-crisp visage that doesn't sit well with people not accustomed to undead soldiers from Hell.
When Simmons's body comes out of its larval stage and transforms him into a "Hellspawn," a being with an endoplasmic and invincible suit of armor, he sees his chance to use these new powers to exact vengeance on Wynn, his lethal vixen Jessica Priest (Melinda Clarke), reunite with Wanda, and seek a way to break out of his agreement with Hell.As stated earlier, "Spawn" is one hell of a special effects spectacle, and it looks great, but a lot goes wrong in too many places.
Personal Note: I don't know how many time I have watched this movie and each time i see it i love it more and more.The movie might be old but it's still really well made I think it's even better then some of the recent movies that came out.Spawn is my favorite super hero of all time full action packed plus it has a love touch in it well the movie is basically based on a romance.A man, Practically selling is soul to the devil Malbolgia.
Michael Jai White Does a good performance in this.Well down to business great:A killer named Al Simmons " Michael Jai White"Want's to retire is job but is boss Jason win"Martin Sheen"send's him one last job as a set up and kill's him by burning him in a facility.He goes to hell and The devil Malbolgia tell's if he lead's his army of hell spawn's he'll let him see His wife Wanda "Theresa Randle" and the story goes on..
I can almost see a bunch of guys sitting around a table, discussing a live action version of "Spawn", and then someone says "But let's make it a lot more like 'Lassie Come Home' so people can take their kids to see it." Stick with the animated version, don't waste your time and money on this saccharine yawn-fest..
I could not even enjoy the comic book anymore after having watched this mess of a movie.This film's plot, story line, script and choppy/sloppy editing creates a visual, incoherent mess for the viewer.
Really blows.Now, I own a few Spawn related comics and this sweet natured PC version of the dark demonic anti-hero we know as Spawn makes for bad viewing, even if you've never read the comic book (like me then) it's a movie that leaves you wondering, what the hell did I just watch!?
I have just bought the movie on DVD so i think that it is enjoyable, but i think that this could have been a real blockbuster, but it looks as though there will be no follow up which is ashame because we have gotten to know the characters and who spawn is and what he is about so this opens up a director to go all out for a spawn 2, if there was better direction and it was true to the comic and the cartoon then spawn 2 would be a smash for sure!.
I have to say that this film was brilliant..it was a perfect starter for anyone who hasn't seen this film..or in that fact read the comics of spawn..i promise anyone who has seen this film has been dying for a second film to come out..Micheal jai white and john liguizimo played there characters brillaintly..this film shows that even in the most tortured soul,, evil can prevail only so much in a man..personally tho..having such a kick ass body suit..i could think of a few more fun things to do with all those powers..if you stick to the comics of spawn..you were dying to see much more from the first one..I'm preying that todd will a second one....and include all a lot of the characters from the comics.
big fans of spawn comics might be a bit disappointed but otherwise this movie was all around awesome.
The movie seems to work the same way, "Give me cool special effects and we'll write a story around them" seems like what the director said.
boy,what a letdown this movie was.compared to the animated series,this doesn't even rate.it's all of the place,in terms of tone and story.the acting is pretty bad from all concerned.i felt embarrassed for everybody involved.i found the story lacking in any real excitement.plus,for this character,there should have been a much more compelling characterization.i know it's an origin story,but i think they could have done a lot more with it.it doesn't make much sense,and i couldn't give a lick about any of the characters.the whole thing is really just nonsense.it's 94 minutes i'll never get back.for me,Spawn is a a dismal 1/10.
Visual effects are no bad as I considered for the first time (well, some of them are, like the horrible CGI master demon); the way Spawn's black costume appears and connects to his body is nice.
The blue clown demon Violator seemed to be awful when I saw images of him before watching the movie; after watching it for the first time I thought it not good, but still the best thing in the film; now I consider him a very funny and interesting character..
It was a visual effects mess that hurt my eyes and the story was not interesting.Black Ops soldier and assassin Al Simmons (Michael Jai White, Exit Wounds) is double-crossed while on a mission and murdered by his evil boss Jason Wynn (Martin Sheen, The Departed) and another fellow assassin Jessica Priest (Melinda Clarke, The O.C.).
Instead, Michael Jai White finds himself as an actor with a cult following with middling direct to DVD movies.Martin Sheen made a decent villain but this is one movie I certainly won't remember him for.John Leguizamo as The Clown was one of the worst characters I have had the misfortune to endure.
One thing that is done in the Spawn film is it's just like the comic books in some sequences...almost too much - The characters do not interact quite they're supposed to, and the dialogue and action that make sense in a comic book do not work in a movie, if done in the way of this film (watch a clip or two, you will see what I mean).I know Violator is supposed to be crude and funny, but he is hard to put up with throughout the film.
Spawn is a film that had a HUGE potential to be a good movie, yet, to many it really wasn't that great.
I think this movie could have been better to fans and others if it was longer, had a greater story, and stayed true to the characters and comic..
I personally liked it more than not, but only because I have always been fascinated with comic book super heroes, but that's it, Other than that, and some occasionally very well done special effects, this movie pretty much sucked.
Spawn is one of the best comic-books released on film, and any McFarlane fan NEEDS to see it.If you don't even know who McFarlane is....
But I still think that it would have been so much better to have her in the movie more than just a few seconds long cameo.While we are on cameos; it was also a nice cameo by Todd McFarlane when he showed up and came face to face with his own creation - literally.John Leguizamo was a good choice to play The Violator, because his rugged voice, wits and charms really transcended well into the character.
And the special effects team really brought a lot of life to the characters and the environment."Spawn" didn't really do justice to the comic book, but it still was an entertaining movie for what it turned out to be.
Just take it as a separate entity away from the comic book and you'll be fine.This is also the type of movie that you can watch every now and again, and I think I had now seen it four or five times since it was released back in 1997, although years pass in between every viewing..
It is a visual film; Yeah, it's corny, and not dark enough for true Spawn fans, but it is fun and some of the effects are great (although it looks like they ran out of time and got some kid with a Vic-20 to program that last hell scene).
I'm probably the only person here that was inspired by the potential I saw in the Spawn movie character to start reading the comic.
What I will tell you is that I love movies and after reading the above (or below) review, it made me scratch my head...Seeing how any one with a memory can recall what Todd McFarlane did for comics with not only his excellent work done on Spiderman but also the inception of Image Comics, you'd think that this brilliant artist and story-writer would have stuck to what he knows best and adapt the anime version of his comic to fit the big screen.
So,I visit my aunt in Calgary and I noticed they owned the movie Spawn.My cousin and both my uncles said it was a fantastic movie.So,we turn on the movie and once the corny voice(some guy pretending to talk in a deep voice to try to make it sound dramatic)started to talk about the war between Heaven and Hell I knew it was not going to be a good as it was said to be.The plot is dumb,the clown is unfunny and EXTREMELY annoying,the special effects are terrible,(there is some strange creature that looks like a cartoon!)and there are some things that just don't make sense.For example,when Spawn goes to Hell he can freely visit Earth whenever he feels like it!(So does the clown)If it was true that when someone goes to Hell they can visit Earth freely when ever they wish,than Hell wouldn't be much of a punishment would it?Also,when Spawn visits Earth he kills his dog so he could be with Spawn in Hell.What could a dog do wrong to go to Hell?(especially this dog who is very friendly)Spawn is without question the worst movie ever.
If you want a good comic book movie, rent Batman or Blade, and keep away from this one..
This is a fascinating universe , hell , evil beings , resentful heroes , beautiful women , handled murderers , the threat of the end of the world , funny villains ; the battle between good and evil is centuries old , the mighty men take control of weapons of mass destruction , and a covenant of vengeance of hell is what we displayed this entertaining film.The Demon Clown is a fun character , its mission is to serve the supreme evil, this villain lies and cheats to cause a genocide; This villain is a fan of the death and destruction, Jason Wynn is a corrupt military ambition makes a deal with the clown ; Jason puts a trap soldier Al Simmons, this soldier is focused on revenge and try to recover some humanity , just a legendary warrior named Cogliostro can guide Simmons.sexy Jessica is the only ally of Jason , All the villains are concentrated in the destruction of the innocent , sold his soul to the devil, Simmons is a new kind of hero, dragged from hell, not only to fight against evil but also for his soul.Memorable performances from the entire cast , great aesthetics, excellent makeup effects, effective special effects, good cinematography , Mark AZ Dippé managed to hold an extraordinary fantasy action film , all I saw it I liked..
The only thing that this movie really has going for it is its really good soundtrack and mediocre special effects.
The acting was awful (Martin Sheen is a great actor and he sucked) The only person that did a good job in acting was John Leguizamo, but he was so disgusting he was hard to watch.One good thing about this movie is it gives you a good idea of what Hell is like.
While some effects looked decent & watchable like Spawns suits & gadgets or The Violator, some just were unbearably bad, especially the scenes from Hell.
I did feel entertained, especially the first ¾, just the movie as a whole felt meh.I'm looking forward to the reboot this year with Jamie Foxx - 'Spawn' is a cool character with potential, almost like Venom maybe..
I'm sure the answers lie somewhere in its comic-book origins but in the film, everything seemed to lead to more questions and more special effects.I actually wanted to like "Spawn" but alas, it has let me down.
First of all the cheesiness is just too much to bare and Michael Jai White is awful as spawn and Martin sheen is really bad too,Hell looks awful and the plot is rushed, not very well thought out and not explained very well leaving the viewer confused especially if they haven't read the comics or watched the animated seriesSo why did I gave it 5*?
Clown is awesome in this movie whenever I see this character I forget how bad the film is.2.
And at times, the film does feel a bit too much like a movie.