Thursday, January 29, 2015

F/X (1986)

Note:  This review was originally posted to my Epinions account.


If you’re over 30, like I am, there are probably things you can remember that don’t exist any more.  I was born early enough to remember the tail end of rotary-dial telephones.  I went to middle school pre-Internet.  We didn’t have cell phones or laptops.  I can remember when VHS and BetaMax were fighting it out and you had to buy rolls of film for your camera.

Another thing of the past is analog special effects.  Back in 1986, movies accomplished special effects with actual items.   Rolland ‘Rollie’ Tyler is someone who specializes in this.  He’s so good that he’s called upon by the Department of Justice to help fake the death of a Mafia witness that’s going into protective custody.  No one will try to kill him if he’s dead.  Rollie is even asked to pull the trigger of the fake gun.

After the staged ‘hit’, Rollie realizes that he’s next.  The two people he was dealing with both try to kill him.  He’s really paranoid, now.  He can’t even be sure that it was blanks he used.  One of the guys kept playing with the gun.  This means that not only does he have to worry about the DOJ killing him, but he’s wanted for a murder that he may or may not have committed.

The rest of the movie is Rollie trying to get revenge on those that set him up.  Because of this, I’m going to end up with a very lopsided review.  The ‘death’ of the witness occurs early on in the film.  I’m not saying that this is good or bad or that the movie dragged on at all.  It’s just hard to give a lot of detail about a movie where most of it is one person out to get revenge.

It was just under 2 hours, which was about right.  I don’t really think much could have been cut out and it didn’t seem like anything needed to be expanded upon.  If you like this kind of movie, I think it would be enjoyable.  The only real complaint is that it’s dated.  Kids may watch this movie and wonder what half the stuff is.  I’d be interested in seeing a remake done in today’s world just to see how they’d do it.

It’s an interesting premise.  Apparently, they got a sequel and a TV series out of it, but I can’t attest to either one.  I may check out one or both if I get the chance.  As for this one, it may be worth getting just for the nostalgia.  Just be prepared to explain a lot of stuff if you’re watching it with kids. 



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