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BUBBA HO-TEP (2002)
Director: Don Coscarelli
I find myself being drawn to movies that take the better part or more of a decade to fully blossom into my favorites list. Bubba Ho Tep is one of those films.
The first time I saw this movie I thought it was a misfire, and it very well may be a misfire. Some of the humor doesn't quite translate and comes off a bit dorky and thin to me. A few of the narration lines seem less than poetic and don't have enough meat on their bones to be truly effective. Almost like the writing was too watery or the delivery wasn't convincing enough. Sort of like it tries to be a bit profound but doesn't quite nail it with a full confidence. I also felt that this picture was very slowly paced and not very exciting at all. The climax was hum drum, the moments leading up to it seemed like they needed to be about 10 minutes longer with more sentiment and humor. I felt that icons such as JFK and Elvis deserved more gravity and depth.
After several re-watches of Bubba Ho Tep I began to find things that I did like about it.
I mean, what can I expect? It's the only film of its kind and no one seems to be rushing to make a sequel (which would be terrific!). The slow pace is more my speed these days. It's a perfect before bed movie to nod off to. The acting by Bruce Campbell as Elvis is funny. I'm not sure I could call him the best Elvis because I thought Kurt Russell and David Keith both were strong portrayers of the King, but Campbell's take on him is definitely the most bold and memorable. So, I guess that means Bruce's Elvis is my favorite. I keep changing my mind even as I write this review. And I'm not sure that "portrayers" is even a word but I'll move on.
There is no shortage on atmosphere here. The hallways of the convalescent home are dark, the trim shows signs of half a century old mildew stains, we hear the sound of an organ warming up with its dual fans as an elderly woman prepares to play in the community room, the campus lawn is illuminated with sparse lights and lend a very effectively eerie scape for the mummy to walk on.
I forgot to disclose this film is about a mummy terrorizing the souls of old people and a black John F. Kennedy reincarnate by government meddling teams up with an Elvis impersonator (not really, though) to battle the evil beast.
What a concept that is! Bubba Ho Tep is based on a short story that director Don Coscarelli was referred to at a local book store. That would explain the length of the film and the lack of depth (maybe) of the characters. Don't get me wrong, there is backstory, and a zinger of a flashback at that, but it still seems truncated. I would have loved it if Coscarelli had brought in more writing power to really kick this film up a few more notches. The potential was there for this to be one of the very best genre defying films of all time.
Dramatic elements of the story are carried on the shoulders of composer Brian Tyler. His simple and heartfelt score really bring home the bacon for the emotional component that drives this movie as a semi serious drama. Without such a fantastic music score I do not believe this film would have worked on any level outside of it being a freakish premise. It does transcend that goofy story. It does it as well as I can expect. And for me to keep complaining that Bubba Ho Tep isn't good enough because it was a missed opportunity wouldn't help a thing. It's done and it has had success as the cult film it should be.
I watch this movie about once every two years and I appreciate it more every time, though, my initial reservations about it remain the same.
Sometimes it just happens like that. It's not a perfect movie, and maybe it never could be, but while it's here on Earth, protected in canisters, and not the victim of a complete society nuclear blast, it's appreciated. I would send this one out to space pretty soon for safe keeping.
Director: Don Coscarelli
I find myself being drawn to movies that take the better part or more of a decade to fully blossom into my favorites list. Bubba Ho Tep is one of those films.
The first time I saw this movie I thought it was a misfire, and it very well may be a misfire. Some of the humor doesn't quite translate and comes off a bit dorky and thin to me. A few of the narration lines seem less than poetic and don't have enough meat on their bones to be truly effective. Almost like the writing was too watery or the delivery wasn't convincing enough. Sort of like it tries to be a bit profound but doesn't quite nail it with a full confidence. I also felt that this picture was very slowly paced and not very exciting at all. The climax was hum drum, the moments leading up to it seemed like they needed to be about 10 minutes longer with more sentiment and humor. I felt that icons such as JFK and Elvis deserved more gravity and depth.
After several re-watches of Bubba Ho Tep I began to find things that I did like about it.
I mean, what can I expect? It's the only film of its kind and no one seems to be rushing to make a sequel (which would be terrific!). The slow pace is more my speed these days. It's a perfect before bed movie to nod off to. The acting by Bruce Campbell as Elvis is funny. I'm not sure I could call him the best Elvis because I thought Kurt Russell and David Keith both were strong portrayers of the King, but Campbell's take on him is definitely the most bold and memorable. So, I guess that means Bruce's Elvis is my favorite. I keep changing my mind even as I write this review. And I'm not sure that "portrayers" is even a word but I'll move on.
There is no shortage on atmosphere here. The hallways of the convalescent home are dark, the trim shows signs of half a century old mildew stains, we hear the sound of an organ warming up with its dual fans as an elderly woman prepares to play in the community room, the campus lawn is illuminated with sparse lights and lend a very effectively eerie scape for the mummy to walk on.
I forgot to disclose this film is about a mummy terrorizing the souls of old people and a black John F. Kennedy reincarnate by government meddling teams up with an Elvis impersonator (not really, though) to battle the evil beast.
What a concept that is! Bubba Ho Tep is based on a short story that director Don Coscarelli was referred to at a local book store. That would explain the length of the film and the lack of depth (maybe) of the characters. Don't get me wrong, there is backstory, and a zinger of a flashback at that, but it still seems truncated. I would have loved it if Coscarelli had brought in more writing power to really kick this film up a few more notches. The potential was there for this to be one of the very best genre defying films of all time.
Dramatic elements of the story are carried on the shoulders of composer Brian Tyler. His simple and heartfelt score really bring home the bacon for the emotional component that drives this movie as a semi serious drama. Without such a fantastic music score I do not believe this film would have worked on any level outside of it being a freakish premise. It does transcend that goofy story. It does it as well as I can expect. And for me to keep complaining that Bubba Ho Tep isn't good enough because it was a missed opportunity wouldn't help a thing. It's done and it has had success as the cult film it should be.
I watch this movie about once every two years and I appreciate it more every time, though, my initial reservations about it remain the same.
Sometimes it just happens like that. It's not a perfect movie, and maybe it never could be, but while it's here on Earth, protected in canisters, and not the victim of a complete society nuclear blast, it's appreciated. I would send this one out to space pretty soon for safe keeping.