  PriestMPAA Rating:
 for intense sequences of violence and action, disturbing images and brief strong language._____
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Teens Adults
Genre:
Sci-Fi Fantasy Action Suspense Thriller Adventure Horror Adaptation
Length:
1 hr. 27 min.
Year of Release:
2011
USA Release:
May 13, 2011 (wide—2,800+ theaters)
DVD: August 16, 2011 
“The war is eternal. His mission is just the beginning.” Producer’s synopsis: “‘Priest’ is set in a world ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany is Priest, a legendary warrior priest during the last Vampire War, who now lives in obscurity among the other human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities controlled by the Church. But when his 18-year-old niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires in the desolate wastelands outside, Priest breaks his sacred vows and ventures out to find her and seek vengeance upon those responsible, especially their brutal leader (Karl Urban). Priest is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend, Hicks (Cam Gigandet), a local outpost sheriff, and Priestess (Maggie Q), a member of his former legion of vampire-killers who has otherworldly fighting skills.
Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie—Request this assignment See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Comments below:
Positive
Positive—I loved this movie and thought it was very very good, it was worth going to the theater to see. Now I will start off that I was dragged to this movie, and I hate blood and guts movies, and I hate contemporary Horror movies. This had no disgusting scenes just for being disgusting. It had a good thrilling plot. Nothing sexual, except for one small scene where a girl is buttoning up the top of her blouse in the begining, but you dont see anything. It is very very tame.
This is also said from someone where my husband and I do not watch any movies with any sort of nudity in them. The vampires are called vampires, but are more like a “monster.” If I had children, I don’t think I would mind letting my 14 year old watching this. The main priest holds to his former marriage vow. In the end, great movie, don’t miss seeing a good story that has nothing bad in it, as it is very rare for Hollywood. Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5 —Emily, age 23 (USA) Positive—I really liked this movie. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleased, overall. I really liked Paul Bettany’s character, and Maggie Q played a strong, female role. The creatures were reminiscent of something from “The Lord of the Rings,” so they weren’t as scary to me. I would let my 14-year-old daughter watch it.
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3½ —Lettym, age 48 (USA) Positive—I find “Priest” good and positive for the following reasons: the hero and his team are strong in faith, every action or course they take is with prayer, no nudity and little profanity, great action scenes, etc. Even though Christian religion is portrayed as a bit of totalitarian state religion, the hero and his team of priests never waver from their faith or vows.
Story is not exactly the same as the graphic novel, and the plot is like a prologue, still you’ll see some great action scenes, sometimes defy reason though, and tense moments. 3D was not necessary. Consider this movie as just something to pass by, don’t take it seriously under theological light. Consider as a futuristic sci-fi horror, nothing more… Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 3½ —Cyril, age 32 (United Kingdom) Negative
Negative—Let’s face it, these moviemakers do not share our view of what is the meaning of life nor do they respect America’s Christian heritage. Does the movie honestly portray America’s racial situation in the 1930s and 1940s? Absolutely not; it is the same old same, old heavy-handed, anti-White, anti-Christian propaganda that the left serves up to us daily. An honest movie would show that the Christian way of life was made available to the African-Americans and that there are great cultural barriers to be overcome for them to accept the faith. The un-Christian life style is made manifest, but its moral corruption is not made manifest.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3 —Walter Lewkowski, age 68 (USA) Movie Critics
“…‘Priest’ follows the current Hollywood vogue for geek-friendly, comic-inspired genre mash-ups, chucking elements of western, horror and sci-fi into its overheated pot. It’s predictably effects-heavy, and while the CG elements are a little more solid and inventive here than in, say, ‘Sucker Punch’ or ‘Jonah Hex’, the blurry 3D transfer serves to scupper any sense of visual spectacle.…” “…Not exactly an unholy mess, but still a rather too pious retread of classic sci-fi/action/horror riffs that lacks originality or pizzazz, ‘Priest’ won’t strike much awe in anyone.…” “…It moves at a lick, but is instantly forgettable. ‘Better’ than ‘Legion,’ in that it doesn’t run to unintentional laughs, it’s marginally less entertaining. On the strength of this duo, the Bettany-Stewart teaming will never threaten Wayne-Ford in the pantheon.” [2/5] “…‘Priest’ is one of the best examples of a broad-scale vampire blockbuster.… at its bloody, undead heart, ‘Priest’ is an action movie… And for his target audience of gore-loving ghouls, Stewart emphasizes—wisely if disappointingly—the gooey visceral payoffs.” [3/5] Sorry, no other viewer comments received yet. If you have seen this movie and would like to share your observations and insights with others to be posted here, please contact us! |
E-mail this page to a friend
