There are three things you must know before I get into my review of this film: (1) it took a lot of smooth talk and clout pulling to gain access to a special screening of this film, (2) I had to drive further than I have ever done before for a special screening, and (3) it was worth every penny of gas money spent. Why? Well, duh -- it's Freddy fighting Jason, the film I have been waiting for since 1996, ever since the rumors started circulating about its existence.

The film centers around Freddy Krueger sending Jason Vorhees to do his dirty work on Elm Street. The kids have forgotten about Freddy, due to his being in hell and all, and Freddy decides that sending Jason to do the work is the best idea. Alas, his plan quickly goes askew, and before long, the two horror icons are going toe-to-toe against one another, and killing some stupid American teenagers in the process. The film travels everywhere, from Freddy's killing ground on Elm Street to Jason's realm of Camp Crystal Lake.

This film was well worth the wait. The plot and premise are intriguing and interesting enough to keep the film afloat, and never has the budget of one of these films been so large, which is evident with the special effects, stunts, and make-up effects. It is amazing what a few extra million can do.  The only problem I had with the film was that Kane Hodder was not asked back to portray Jason. The filmmakers were quoted as saying they wanted someone with kinder eyes, someone the audience could sympathize with. Hello? This guy has killed hundreds of innocent people and has been in HELL for a few years -- how can you identify and sympathize with that? Anyways, Hodder was just a better man behind the mask and he was missed.

      Robert Englund really holds this film together. He always seems to eager and excited to be Freddy Krueger and that shows on screen. He puts more energy and zeal into this film than he has in the past three Freddy flicks. Of course, he has more to work with. The last three Freddy films (with the exception of 'New Nightmare') were more comedy than anything else, and "Freddy vs. Jason" tries more shocks and scares.

      There, of course, is also the usual onslaught of stupid teenagers (i.e. Jason Ritter, Kelly Rowland) who deserve to die and do so, accordingly. There is one especially moronic scene with Jason in a cornfield and a young man tossing a cup full of liquid on him, as if he was going to melt like the Wicked Witch. Do teenagers really think like that? Only in these films, I guess.

      "Freddy vs. Jason" is one of my favorite films of the year, simply because I love both franchises so much. They scared me as a kid, and they are still trying to do that today, and I give them much credit for that. I hope these series are not dead yet, and I think all it will take is a visionary and talented director to churn out another horror filled addition. I eagerly await that time.

      Matt  ( 3 out of 4 pops )

 

     The wait is over, and now has come every horror fanatic's (me being one of them) dream:  Freddy Krueger dueling against Jason Vorhees.  Place your bets!  I was slightly disappointed, but this is considering I've been looking forward to this movie more than any other movie this summer.  And waiting 'til August really tests your patience.  But I did enjoy the film.  Robert Englund still plays the role of Freddy magnificently.  I just wish I could've seen more of Freddy fighting Jason, and a little less plot development.  No, that wasn't a typo.  This is a slice-and-dice slasher meant to give the horror audiences what they want:  blood, gore and more blood and gore.  If I want to see a horror film that stimulates my brain, I'd watch "Rosemary's Baby" or "The Ring."  There are some shameless clichés that pay homage to all these slice-and-dice horror flicks of the past.  The film opens with a nude, big-breasted teen skinny-dipping into a lake and having to flee from Jason.  All right!  Now that's what I call giving the horror fans what they want.  There's also a shower scene, where the camera looks down on her with her huge breasts being the points of focus.  The acting and dialogue is as amateurish as a studio film can get away with.  Kelly Rowland (unlike Beyonce) from Destiny's Child is a horrible actress.  Then again, everyone except for Englund pretty much sleeps through their roles.  And this is a sample of the cheesy dialogue:  "Here's some advice.  Coffee.  Make friends with it."  'Nuff said.  But Freddy still has his cool one-liners.  In one instance, he says a variation on his famous line from "Nightmare 4" where he sees Kelly and says, "So sweet.  Dark meat."  The film doesn't deliver too many scares, but I didn't expect to be scared.  Though it takes a while for Freddy and Jason to finally duke it out, when they do it's as grisly and brutal as I hoped.  Does this mean the end of both franchises?  Yeah, if hell freezes over in the next few years.  Come on, they went as far as freezing Jason's body and transporting him into spa

      Mike ( 2 out of 4 pops )

      Even though I was disappointed with this movie, I was still somewhat entertained by this campy gorefest.  While it had a neat premise of a story, they didn't take it very far and it turns out that this isn't much original stuff here that we haven't seen before.  It was basically see how much blood can spurt from endless wounds. And it was really lacking the creative and imaginative ways that both Freddy and Jason had killed their victims in earlier films.  Robert Englund as Freddy with his sinister snarls and one-liners is the only aspect that saves this film.  Plus, none of the teen heroes are exciting, I'd rather see them killed off as well.  So, even though this film is pretty lame and neither scary or creepy, I still recommend it just to see more of Englund's Freddy.ce for "Jason X."  There's no such thing as either of them being killed for good.