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Member since:02.07.2005
Reviews:48
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* Please note: This review originally appeared on dooyoo.co.uk under my dooyoo alias of dlb74*
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I thought I'd round off my DVD reviews of the 'Final Destination' trilogy with a review for… 'Final Destination 3'
Having seen the first 'Final Destination' film in the cinema upon it's release but having missed 'Final Destination 2' until it's DVD release, I made a point in going to see 'Final Destination 3' in the cinema when it hit the big screen in February, 2006.
It's an arguable point that we've seen it all before already (I think that argument came up when the second film was released) and perhaps we have but as long as the sick buggers that write these films (I'm only calling them sick because they get paid to write this stuff and I don't!) can think up new, inventive and sicker ways to kill their characters - I'm sure there will still be enough people who will still go and see it.
So… Is 'Final Destination 3' worth a look? Read on… and all shall be revealed.
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THE PLOT:
When visiting a theme park, Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her friends to get on a rollercoaster ride called "Devil's Flight". Sounds ominous enough. So, "what happens next?" you may well be asking.
Well they all get on the rollercoaster, have a thrilling ride on it before getting off again and living happily ever after.
Okay… okay… I lied about some of that. As this is a 'Final Destination' movie, you have no doubt already guessed that they do indeed get on the rollercoaster but everything does not go as planned.
As with the previous two 'Final Destination' films, the main character has a premonition that something terrible is going to happen. In this case, Wendy foresees that there is going to be a malfunction on the roller
coaster that will see the entire ride de-rail - killing all on board. Once again, the premonition of the disaster is pretty spectacular - playing on yet another primal fear - in this case, the thought of not being in control in particular.
Wendy sees the entire accident in very graphic and gory detail - which ends with her going off the tracks in the last carriage of the rollercoaster and falling to her own death.
Switching back to the present, already strapped into the rollercoaster - and just mere seconds before the ride is activated, Wendy panics and forces the people who run the rollercoaster to let her off - along with Kevin (Ryan Merriman), a friend of her boyfriend (who is sitting with her through alternate seating arrangements). The disruption leads to a fight which leads to some people getting thrown off the ride while a few others get off of their own accord - in a very similar way to the first 'Final Destination'.
As the group is being led away from the ride, the tracks collapse and the ride de-rails - just as Wendy foresaw.
There are probably no surprises for guessing that Wendy and her fellow survivors are not as lucky as they might at first seem. As in the previous two instalments, death comes after the survivors as they have temporarily thrown a spanner in the works of death's design.
As with it's predecessors, 'Final Destination 3' finds some pretty gruesome and inventive ways to kill off the survivors. Some of them are so horrific that some may watch bits of this film through their fingers!
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THE CAST / ACTING:
The cast in 'Final Destination 3' are generally pretty good - given that a good majority of them are playing pretty stereo-typed characters - you could pretty much hold a check-list and tick off the clichés. Self-obsessed high school air-heads who get their breasts out at the drop of a hat, (wait a second… I'm not complaining about THAT… am I?!?) equally self-obsessed football player/athlete/"jock" what have you… Most of the characters are merely props used in elaborate set-pieces involving their demise - but don't let that put you off. That's just what the 'Final Destination' franchise does - and does particularly well.
So sit back, try to relax (if you can) and wonder in what horrible way those less likable characters are going to bite the dust…
The script is good enough for a film of this type but unsurprisingly isn't as fresh as the original 'Final Destination' was back in 2000. There seems to be a lot of departures from the way the plot unfolds in this film to that of the two prequels. In this film, the main character sees signs in digital photographs taken of people and places that will foreshadow the way in which they will die. There is even a scene where Wendy shows Kevin a photo of the World Trade Centre - and points out the shadow of a plane on one of the ill-fated towers.
This is an unusual plot device but never steals your attention away from the film itself. It is also worth noting that aside from brief mentioning of Flight 180 and the highway pile-up from the first two films etc, there are no role-reprisals from either of the previous 'Final Destination' films in this one - so in some ways, this almost feels like a stand-alone film.
One of the gripes you could possibly have is with the very simplistic pattern that the film follows - which is certainly nowhere near as complex as death's design. Wendy and Kevin generally spot the clues in her photos of the remaining (but rapidly decreasing) survivors as to dangers they could face, find the person who is at risk and tell them what they are facing. Of course, the next victim tells them they are crazy - minutes before getting killed before their very eyes.
I think it's possible that Wendy and Kevin are nothing but a pair of jinxes and if not, at the very least, someone needs to take Wendy's bloody camera off her!
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THE SPECIAL EFFECTS:
The effects in 'Final Destination 3' more than serve their purpose - dishing out blood and guts throughout - so if you've seen and liked the first two films, you'll probably already know what to expect - and will most likely not be disappointed.
As with the previous two 'Final Destination' outings, Shirley Walker returns with another fantastically dark and menacing score. One of the notable things about her score for this film is the return of sorts of the main theme from the first film - which accompanies the very nicely done opening credits - and at a few other points during the film.
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THE DVD:
Picture and sound quality are both every bit as good as you'd expect from a high quality DVD transfer.
The specifics of the DVD are as follows:
Presentation ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic PAL
Available language(s): English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX English DTS-ES 6.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
This DVD - unlike 'Final Destination' and 'Final Destination 2' is a 2 Disc edition.
Disc 1: The Film
- Audio commentary by writer/director James Wong, writer Glen Morgan and director of photography Robert McLachlan.
I have to mention one of the coolest extras on any DVD film recently - or at all - on Disc 1 itself: The 'Choose Their Fate' version of the film - where at key points of the movie, you will get to choose between two different options. One of these options may well take the film in the same direction as the theatrical version - while the other can radically change the plot - and possibly even make the difference between life and death for some of the characters. Ever wanted to play God with your remote control? Here's your chance! Fantastic!
DISC 2:
Extras here are extensive and include the following:
- 'It's All Around You' - animated featurette
- 'Dead Teenager Movie' - featurette
- 'Kill Shot: The Making Of FD3' including:
- Introduction - Never Get Off The Boat - This Is A Dark Ride - Abusement Park - Liberty Or Death - Bring Me The Head Of Franklin Cheeks - The Blood Of The Workers - Texas Battle's Minority Report - Boobs & Burns - It's Not Easy Being Green - Kill 'em All
- Deleted Scenes (or 'Severed Pieces') - 6 separate sections - Extended Police Station Scene
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS:
- Planned Accidents - Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spots: Destination Every Picture Find You
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MY CONCLUSION:
Despite not being as fresh as the original 'Final Destination', this is still pretty entertaining stuff and is still probably not the final 'Final Destination'.
The extras on the DVD make this an even more worthy purchase as when you've watched the film a few times, you have more than enough extras to wade through. Suitably - death by extras, perhaps? An idea for 'Final Destination 4' there I should think!
If you like the first two 'Final Destination' films, chances are you should enjoy this one. Just don't expect Shakespeare or Oscars! This is an enjoyable enough film but how many more can they make?
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2000 - Horror - Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Carmen Electra, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, James Van Der Beek, Keenen Ivory Wayans
I did enjoy this one, but no where near as good as the first two installments, and yes, I also think there will be anothe FD, bound to happen. Great review, demps :-)
QueenAngella 10.09.2006 15:23
What a jolly review, these film reviews can get boring, but this one didn't hurrah! Have an E, they're good for you dude, make you forget your woes. x
mrpaella 10.09.2006 11:14
Again this deserves an E. You have included a lot of facts and information useful to the reader. I have enjoyed all 3 of your reviews on this film and its sequels. But I don't think this is my type of chick flick. Thanks...Paul
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horror franchises will thrive as long as teenagers keep finding spectacular ways to die. A stand-alone sequel to the first twoFinal Destinationthrillers, this one b...
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Giddily gruesome and perversely entertaining,Final Destination 3proves, yet again, that ... more
horror franchises will thrive as long as teenagers keep finding spectacular ways to die. A stand-alone sequel to the first twoFinal Destinationthrillers, this one b...
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Set six years after the original "Final Destination" film the latest installment in the ... more
series centers around a high school senior who has a premonition of a fatal roller coaster accident involving herself and all her friends. When the premonition pro...
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Advantages: *The Special Feature of Changing the destiny of the characters* Unpredictability of the film Disadvantages: *You have to listen to one song a lot, but i guess it appropriate to the film
throw_away_your_television_2 03.09.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Final Destination 3 (DVD)
![Final Destination 3 [2006] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78478594.jpg "Final Destination 3 [2006] [DVD]")
Sep 9th, 2006
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