“The Final Destination” or “Final Destination 4″ sucked. Plain and simple. There was no plot. Which I know going into one of these movies that the plot takes a backseat to the death scenes. However, the death scenes were horrible, unimaginative, and cheesy looking. You need one or the other. It was one of the worst movies of 2009 and probably in the bottom one hundred of all time. I’m a huge fan of the first two movies. I think they’re both top notch. The directing’s good, the special effects were great, and the writing was provocative. I like part 3, but it really is just a generic, by the numbers, sequel. And I’m cool with that, but part 4 was just bad. When I saw the trailer for part 5, I knew it would be better than the last one. I mean how could it not be? I figured it would be like part 3, you know fun but generic. Well as it turns out it has taken its rightful place alongside the first two and has injected life into a franchise that revolves around Death.
“Final Destination 5″ has a group of office workers going on a business retreat. They are traveling by bus and get caught in traffic on a bridge. One of the guys has a premonition of the bridge collapsing. So he and seven others get off and, as luck would have it, the bridge collapses. Now Death stalks the survivors.
So yeah, it sounds pretty standard. So what separates this one from 3 and 4? This one actually has a story and character development. The victims aren’t just stereotypes getting bumped off one by one. You root for the characters instead of against them.
Of course the main highlight was the special effects. I saw the movie in “Real-D” 3D and it was amazing. I was skeptical about the 3D. I saw “The Green Hornet” in 3D and I wasn’t impressed with it. (The 3D. Not the movie. I thought that was good.) It wasn’t “Real D”. I don’t know what the hell it was, but it wasn’t great. But here the blood, guts, and carnage was actually coming at you! It really was a fun experience. That does pose the question: will the movie look good in 2D on my DVD player? 4 looked cheesy, but I didn’t see it in 3D. It might of looked spectacular in 3D on the big screen. I don’t know. I guess I’m just gonna have to wait and see.
But the best part was the ending. It really knocked me back into my chair. We all know that at the end of the movie, when it says “one month later” or whatever, that it ain’t over. Well this one’s no exception and this ending is by far the best in the series. I’m not gonna spoil it for ya’, but trust me it’s awesome.
So in closing, you need to see this movie! Don’t wait for it on DVD or Blu-Ray. Go to your nearest theater that has the “Real D” 3D and watch it. I know people out there just despise 3D. Well maybe you just haven’t seen the right movie in 3D. What’s the right movie? “Final Destination 5″
-Daniel Richardson