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Final Destination 2 (Infinifilm Edition)
Stars:
Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landes, and Tony Todd
Writers:
J. Mackye Gruber and Eric Bress
Based
On A Story By: J. Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress, and Jeffrey Reddick
Based
On Characters Created By: Jeffrey Reddick
Director:
David R. Ellis
Feature
length: 90 minutes
Extras:
Filmmaker Commentary, Documentary, Featurettes, Fact track, Deleted and
Alternate Scenes, Link To Original Website, Script-To-Screen, Wallpapers, Chain
Reaction Activity, Exclusive Online Infinifilm Content Link
Languages:
English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 15
Sound:
DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound,
and Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2003/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Home
Video Distributor: New Line Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
A
year has passed since the events in the first “Final Destination” film
occurred and Death is still trying to correct its pattern and maintain balance
between the lives that enter and leave this world. The only survivor, Clear
Rivers (Ali Larter), has had herself committed into an institution in a padded
cell as a last ditch effort to prolong her life, but you can’t cheat Death
twice and consequences from the actions that occurred in the first film have now
effected a whole new group of survivors, who are trying to understand the
supernatural events that have occurred since narrowly surviving a huge highway
accident. Coaxing Clear out of the asylum is only the beginning of their plight
as they learn that the ramifications that have spiraled out of cheating Death
the first time has now lead Death to create a new pattern of clearing account
balances and their only hope is to see to it that a whole new system of checks
and balances is created by insuring that a new life that was never supposed to
be is bought into this world.
“Final
Destination 2” has some intriguing philosophical ideas regarding the nature of
fate and mortality that even makes one ask whether or not Death is in a way not
a malevolent force, but just an active part of nature? If that is so then the
big question left unanswered in both films is then why do certain people get
premonitions of their demise while others do not since it seems that those who
escape one gruesome finale only face an equally if not more terrible end? The
other question that ties into the first then is depending on who is responsible
for the premonitions; one has to ask which is the more malevolent force? Is it
Death or is it the vision maker that creates false hope? These are some angles I
hope the Writers will intelligently play around with if there is a third film in
the series since there is no reason why even a splatter horror thriller like
“Final Destination 2” can’t be smart as well as scary.
As
a whole I think “Final Destination 2” is an inferior sequel in some ways and
yet after listening to the commentary track I can understand why only one
character was bought back for the sequel besides the cameo appearance by Tony
Todd. I agree one hundred percent that any survivors from the first film are
bound to have similar feelings as the character of Clear does in the film.
However what if a second survivor decided to throw caution to the wind and lived
a normal life in the year since the first film, still thinking that it was all
over and then only to be confronted with the reality that the game is still
afoot? Then we would have two people who have coped differently and therefore
would behave differently, one out of fear and the other out of denial. Alas the
crux of the film is more centered on how the filmmakers can trick to viewer by
creating several inventive methods by which characters will be killed off, but
at the same time create enough misdirection so the viewer cannot see it coming
anymore than the characters. The film is gory, but there is a sort of slight
demented humor about it that helps to ease the tragedy of it all. The effects
are top notch as well and the opening highway accident sequence is so viscerally
alarming and sadistically entertaining that the rest of the film never quite
tops that first sequence.
New
Line Home Entertainment has presented “Final Destination 2” as a part of
their “Infinifilm” series of movies on DVD. The disc is a DVD-14 with the
single layered side containing a full screen (1.33:1) aspect ratio presentation
of the film with a choice between English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound
and English Dolby Surround Sound. There are no extra features on the single
layered side. Everything else can be found on the dual layered side, which
features a clear and brightly detailed anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect
ratio presentation that preserves the way the film was exhibited theatrically as
close as possible for home video viewers. A
lively and aggressive English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Soundtrack
is included as well as the well-mixed and discrete English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Surround Soundtrack. English Captions for the hearing impaired are encoded as
options.
There
are a number of extra features included on this DVD that can be viewed through
the “Infinifilm” option where extra value material related to the film can
be accessed through branching and then the viewer is returned to where they left
off watching the film. These features can also be accessed separately thus
appealing to the more traditional DVD user that is more comfortable accessing
the special features individually after watching the movie. First there is an
engaging feature length and screen specific audio commentary mix with Director
David Ellis, Producer Craig Perry, and Screenwriters Eric Bress and J. Mackye
Gruber. Besides discussing the casting and set pieces to the film, they also
discuss in depth the audience reaction to early screenings, which I found
interesting because it gives the listener an idea of how the process of a film
in post-production is developed into a finished product as well as how people
react to certain scenes and whatnot. A popup fact track is also included with
anecdotes and more.
The
deleted and alternate scenes are presented in an equal quality anamorphic
widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio with a full English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack as well as optional filmmaker commentary for five scenes, which can
be viewed individually or as one reel (10:14) and are made up of the scene
headings that include “Post Accident Interview” (1:49), “Alternate
Crematorium Visit” (4:03), “Isabella’s Husband” (1:19), “Nora And
Eugene” (: 35), and “Truck Chase/Eugene At Hospital” (2:08).
Next
up is a documentary entitled “Bits & Pieces: Bringing Death To Life”
(30:30), which begins with about ten minutes of exploring the public’s
fascination with gore from 19th century French theater through the
early cinematic work of Herschel Gordon Lewis and clips from New Line’s
“Jason” films and then focuses on how the visual effects were created in the
film. The documentary even contains another deleted scene not included with the
other deleted and alternate scenes I have detailed above. There are also two
featurettes entitled “The Terror Gauge” (14:00) where a few young people are
hooked up and monitored with neuro biofeedback equipment and then watch the film
in an almost “Clockwork Orange” like style. Afterwards they are debriefed
and the Doctor discusses the various impressions and effects experienced by the
viewers before, during, and afterwards. “Cheating Death: Beyond And Back”
(18:10) contains several interviews with individuals who have had near death
experiences or have come back from being clinically declared dead and lived to
tell what they experienced. The
“Choose Your Fate” option seemed more like a “waste one’s time” option
than anything engaging.
Windows
based PC users with a DVD-ROM drive will have additional access to exclusive DVD-ROM
features that include a Script-To-Screen comparison, wallpapers, web links and
more in addition to the DVD-Video options already available to set top users.
Two
music videos for The Blank Theory song “Middle Of Nowhere” (4:16) and The
Sands song “Seven Days A Week” (3:19), featuring a lead singer who reminds
me of a young Debby Harry are included along with (1.85:1) theatrical trailers
with full Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for both “Final Destination”
(2:20) and “Final Destination 2” (1:30) and a bonus (2.35:1) trailer for
“Highwaymen” (2:10) wraps up the extra features included on this DVD. The
menus are well rendered, easy to navigate, and feature detailed full motion
scene selections too.
Within
the keep case is an insert detailing the various features and a list of scene
selections as well as a $5 dollar mail in coupon for consumers who purchase
either “Final Destination 2: Infinifilm” or the upcoming “Willard: New
Line Platinum Series” DVD, which streets on October 7, 2003, along with one of
a select group of New Line horror titles already available on DVD. There is also
an insert containing the titles of New Line’s upcoming horror theatrical
releases that include the remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, “Freddy
Vs. Jason”, and “Highwaymen.” Finally there is a “Final Destination 2”
DVD mail in sweepstakes postcard.
“Final
Destination 2: Infinifilm” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, July 22, 2003
from New Line Home Entertainment and I think the film is definitely worth
checking out.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Final Destination 2 (Infinifilm Edition)