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Despite having minor knee surgery, I managed to make it to the theater tonight in order to watch My Bloody Valentine 3-D (2009). I think that most horror fans realize that this film is a remake. A friend of mine, who calls herself a fan of horror movies, didn’t know this though. So just in case, My Bloody Valentine originally hit the screens in 1981. The MPAA came down pretty hard on this film though. What was left ended up being a great movie, but you could tell it wasn’t a complete film. The complete, uncut, film is now out on DVD. If you have never watched it, do yourself a favor and do so. I have yet to see the uncut version, but you can be sure I will be buying it, not renting it. I will compare the two films some here, but this review will mostly be about the 3-D version.
My Bloody Valentine 3-D takes place in the small mining town of Harmony. We see through newspaper clippings, that a cave-in has happened in the mine, and there are six people trapped, maybe killed. Only one makes it out alive, Harry Warden (Richard John Walters). We soon learn that Harry Warden killed the other miners that he was trapped with. The police can’t really do anything though, because Harry came out of the mine in a coma. One year later, which is where the movie really starts, Harry wakes up. He goes on a killing spree yet again. Axel (Kerr Smith), Tom (Jensen Ackles), and Sarah (Jaime King), are all going to a party at the mine around this time. We discover a bit of a love triangle between the three is going on. The three make it out of the mine alive, but just barely. Harry is last seen running away, as the police shoot at him. Ten years later, Axel is now Sheriff, and married to Sarah. Tom took off shortly after the events we got to watch, and is now back in town. The sparks fly when our three main characters meet, in more ways than one, it would seem. Soon after Tom shows up again, a murder happens, that would make it appear that Harry is back as well.
If you decide to go see this film, and want to see it in 3-D, please make sure the theater you are going to is actually showing it in 3-D. My Bloody Valentine 3-D was actually released in 2-D as well as 3-D, so it just depends on the theater. I went slightly out of my way in order to catch it in 3-D. I figured it would be worth it to catch it in 3-D, and I’m glad I did. The effects, to put it as simply as I can, were amazing. Not only are certain objects in 3-D, i.e. things that come away from the screen to come at you, but the entire film is in 3-D. You should notice that there is some depth given to each and every scene. Everything feels like there is some distance between everything else, more than what you get in a regular film. That’s not to say that things don’t come flying out though. Plenty of things do, a miner’s pick axe is the choice favorite of course. We also get some very gory things come flying out as well. You know, blood, an eyeball, and a few other things. There are some pretty graphic effects to be found. You have been warned!
The acting was also good. Jaime King is making a name for herself in horror films. She does a great job here. I was impressed with her more at the end of the film. Jensen Ackles and Kerr Smith both do fine jobs in their roles. I wasn’t as impressed with them though. Megan Boone, with her second role in a film, was also impressive to me. Megan doesn’t get a lot of screen time, since she is playing the other woman. Tom Atkins has a bit more than a cameo part. It is always great to see Atkins in a film, no matter how small the role. Kevin Tighe. who I have watched in many movies, also has a bit more than a cameo role. You can also find Besty Rue, Edi Gathegi, and Karen Baum.
The main difference between the remake and the original film is the mine. If you have watched the original film, you know that the mine plays a big part in the movie. The mine still gets used in the remake, just not nearly as much. The characters have also changed somewhat. I was rather surprised at how quickly the violence starts in the remake as well. Some things remain the same between the two films. The one that jumped out at me the most was the death in the clothes dryer. I was disappointed that the mine itself didn’t play as big a role in the film, but it is a remake after all, and should be judged on its own merit. I did have some problems with My Bloody Valentine 3-D. The only thing I found I didn’t like about the 3-D effects, is that the movements would sometimes look blurred. This was a minor issue though. Sometimes the way the characters acted was annoying to me. Like being chased by the killer, and only pushing the alarm after the person you are with is killed. It was a moment where if I were at home, I would have been saying out loud, “That was there the entire time? And you are just now pushing it?!?” Nothing that ruined the film for me though.
After seeing My Bloody Valentine 3-D, I would have to go with the original film, as far as scares go. However, if you want a very fun time, go see this film, in 3-D if at all possible. The effects are just too good to pass up. Even if the film wasn’t in 3-D, I’m very sure I still would have enjoyed myself. The effects are just that good, and I’m not talking about the 3-D stuff this time. With some very graphic effects, and full frontal nudity, My Bloody Valentine earns its R rating. While I will gladly take the original film, I can’t remember having this much fun watching a film at a theater.
4 out of 5 Be my bloody valentine?
Well Howdy Miss Heather,
I am really glad that you were able to make it out to the wide screen and watch this one maam. I am both happy and greatful too, all at the same time. If you were this impressed with this one, then I KNOW I have to find it playing on a big screen in 3D too. I checked and there is a new movie complex that is up on my side of the big city I normally have to go to in order to find movies you have reviewed. I was not even aware this complex existed, and it is only one of two locations in the big city showing the movie, and the only one with the 3D version. So most definitely, put me in coach, I really want to play maam, hehehe.
I have to admit, even at my advanced age (yeah folks I really is an old fart) I am still a 3D virgin. So since this one will be my first, it makes me look forward to it even more now sweet lady. I believe you posted a trailer not too long ago that was designed to be viewed in 3D. Even watching it on my puter screen, I could get a sense of what a full 3D viewing would add to things. So I am grinning like the cat what swallowed two canaries right now pretty lady.
I am often tempted to have our DNAs compared, as I wonder if our ancestors might have met at some point in the distant past. It truly can be a bit scary to me at time Miss Heather, at just how much we seem to enjoy the same things in our horrors, and even the sub-genres we tend to enjoy the most to boot. But if you really enjoyed the effects in this one, the 3D aspects not withstanding, then this is definitely a flick I would want to watch, period. It just seems I picked a great one to watch for my first 3D movie as well, so it will just be even better for me, you gorgeous sick puppette you, hehehe.
I want to apologize to both you and your other fans if I sounded like I was preaching or on my soapbox in my last comments, regarding your knee surgery Miss Heather. My comments were honestly not intended that way maam, but I reckon they could be seen as such by some folks. It is just that I am truly a major fan of this sweet lady, and not just for your horror reviews. You know I am always interested in your swimming results, and your college classes as well. So I am simply a fan of Miss Heather, the total package deal, hehehe.
I will simply say I have had two surgeries on the same knee maam. The first was a major problem, a full cast for 14 weeks, physical therapy for 6 months post surgery to regain full use of my right leg and knee again, etc. The last by comparison was truly a “piece of cake”. No cast, take the inflatible spling off at night to sleep for 3 days, then stop using it and begin doing knee bends and other exercises at home on my own. Of all my various surgeries knee surgery number 2 was the closest to a non-surgery I have ever had.
I just hope that your surgery turns out to be much like my second knee op was too Miss Heather. I hope the pain disappears quickly for you, you are able to begin exercising again shortly, and with luck will be able to finish out your senior year swimming in some finals for “our” college team maam (grinning). Yeah ok fellow fans, Miss Heather is going to college where I did, so there is also that aspect that makes me a major fan of hers too, hehehe. Even if you are not able to help the team as the season closes, you still know what I hope to see you swimming in one day too sweet lady. So I will break my soapbox into pieces, and simply say I wish you a very quick, very strong recovery maam.
Another great review from my favorite sick puppette. I am already looking forward to your next one before I have even finished typing my thoughts on this one, lol. But that is a very common affect you have on me too. So when this fabulous, flippered femme fetale has the chance, well you know (grinning, tips my hat).
Maybe I was too hard on this flick. The reviews I’m seeing are mostly positive and you and I are often in the same ballpark, if not always in total agreement.
Funny about the alarm scene. When she finally hits the alarm, the people in my theater burst out laughing. I don’t know if it was because of the absurd delay in hitting it or if they were laughing at the huge “Do Not Touch” sign over the alarm buttons. Whatever it was, it cracked the audience up.
I am so glad you reviewed this , as I was curious to how it turned out. I will certainly wait until I can see it in 3-D, its kind of the whole point - no?
Well Miss Heahter anf fellow fans, I just got back in from watching this one on the wide screen. I reckon I have led something of a sheltered life (grinning, those of you who know me would appreciate my gift for sarcasm there, hehehe), but I am red faced to have to admit it. But shucks, my comment will just go to prove that a young sick puppette can easily teach an OLD sick puppy a new trick or ten. Miss Heather helped me lose my 3D cherry today. Well shucks, she was not sitting beside me in the wide screen, which would have been incredible, but I think you folks know what I mean by that.
Miss Heather it was your obvious enthusiam in discussing this one that convinced me if I could find the 3D version within a reasonable driving distance, I would watch my first one. I have a couple of horrors in my collection that included both a 2D and 3D version, but I have never owned any glasses to try to watch the 3D versions with. Well now I do, so thanks again for that one sweet lady.
I can easily sum up my thoughts in one word WOW (ECHOING WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW). I was impressed, especially with the effects. I think for a true horror fanatic, just the effects alone would be worth a bit more drive.
My audience was sort of a mixed bag I reckon. A few old farts like me, several obvious parents with their teenage children with them (which really surprised me a bit, lol), and some younger folks that looked like they might have brought younger bro or sis with them. So a real diversity of ages. I was not sure how that age range was going to work, but I should not have worried.
Maybe in my neck of the woods, folks that pay to watch a horror are serious horror fans. I don’t know. But I never heard the first laugh at all. What I kept hearing were a lot of quiet “oohs and aahs” and several quiet “nice, great, incredible”. Everyone seemed to appreciate this one as much or nearly as much as I did. I doubt seriously if most of them were as “sick” as I am, hehehe, as they were making too many guiet noises. I was just sitting there grinning like a wild man, and at times nodding my head in approval/appreciation for the effects folks.
Miss Heather, I salute you maam - you have made a true 3D believer out of me sweet lady (standing ovation). Since our glasses were handed to us along with our tickets, wrapped in new plastic packaging, and since my ticket was a bit more than I am accustomed to paying as well, I figured they were suggesting I simply keep my glasses. I did not ask, but they left with me for possible future use. They were not the most user friendly for someone who already wears glasses, but they were doable, just the same.
This was my first trip to this wide screen location. Until I did a search for the 3D version, I was not even aware this complex existed. It turns out it has been there less than 6 months, shows 18 flicks, has more than fair prices on their concessions, and show a wide range of movie types. So I think I will be making more trips back there, as it is in a much better neighborhood than I had expected, with a huge parking lot that actually had real police cars driving around in it. On top of all that, given the fact that I live south of the “big city”, this complex turns out to be the closest location to me, with a very easy drive.
Miss Heather, now I clearly understand what your enthusiasm was all about maam. Much like paying for my first set of night sights on a handgun, I kept watching and thinking, man oh man (more appropriately woman oh woman in hommage to Miss Heather, hehehe), I wish I had done this decades ago (grinning).
I can only assume that creating 3D effects are a bit more expensive than 2D ones. If that is true, all I can add to your incredible review maam is those folks did not scrimp on the pennies they spent on their effects. It is one thing to read your description of some of these effects. You explained them clearly and accurately. But mere words could simply not do them justice to me. Seeing is believing, big time.
Hope your knee is not giving you fits, and is healing nicely for you maam. Hang in there, and I keep checking frequently hoping another incredible review is going to pop up. What can I say, some of us old farts are truly greedy old dogs. But be realistic, hehehe, we have had many more years to develop that talent too maam (smiling, tips my hat).
Jedd -
I love reading your comments. I have a big grin a can’t seem to shake now.
Howdy Miss Rachel,
Thank you maam. When I type comments to a review, I try my best to type just like I would say things if in a conversation. I have often joked with Miss Heather what a total hoot I think it would be to sit down and share a nice meal with her, and talk horror movies for hours. That really would be a major blast for me, that would be something I would always recall fondly too (hint, hint, hint Miss Heather, roflmao). I keep putting spaces in for new paragraphs, which do not show up. Then when my comment posts I see this huge chunk of type. My initially reaction dang did I say all that. Of course those who know me well, like Miss Heather and her fans would immediately grin and say “of course you did, you always do idiot” (sticks out tongue at Miss Heather). While it probably be a major shock to her and her fans, the truth is I tend to be a bit shy in person, so I turn out to be a much better listener than speaker, lol. But glad you enjoy my ramblings maam (tips my hat).