melanierose's Full Review: Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
I am not very pleased with the negative ratings that "Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" is getting here at Epinions.com. It's understandable that there will be those who hate any given film, those who are indifferent about it, and those who love it. It amazes me that so many people don't seem to like the sequel to the hugely popular "The Blair Witch Project".
I didn't really enjoy "The Blair Witch Project". I really liked the idea behind it: make a movie that has the look and feel of a genuine documentary. I did not like the plot of the movie, though. It wasn't very scary, or even all that interesting. Film makers go into the woods, film makers wander around for days lost in the woods, film makers get scared, film makers die. Not all that engaging to me. I never really understand why so many people loved "The Blair Witch Project". I'm glad that I got to see it in theatres because it was such an original film, but that's as far as "the good" goes for me.
The thing with "Blair Witch 2" is that you didn't have to have seen the first Blair Witch movie to enjoy it. In fact, it's better if you haven't seen it (although I realize that these people are few and far between). Don't walk into this movie expecting anything like the first movie. It's a film all on it's own. In fact, "Blair Witch 2" would have worked much better if it hadn't have been a sequel. I think that they could have made this film on it's own, and not as a sequel. That way, you wouldn't have people walking into the theatre expecting to see something that is similar to the first movie.
"Blair Witch 2" is shot almost entirely in classic Hollywood style. It's not shot on hand held video cameras. That's why this movie has such a different feel that the first one. Instead of focusing on shot selection and camera use, like in the first one, the main focus of the sequel is the presentation of the story itself. "Blair Witch 2", in my opinion, is much better than "The Blair Witch Project" because it actually has mild surprises and scares, and it's visually stimulating and fun to look at, which the original movie lacked.
"Blair Witch 2" actually makes you think. You have to figure out what's going on in the movie, instead of blantantly being told what is happening. If you're sharp enough to pick up on it, the ending is actually quite surprising. It's not a light movie like "The Blair Witch Project". There is a "film vs video" theme that is presented at the end of the movie. It is thrown out at the audience to look back onto the movie and think about. In this respect, "Blair Witch 2" may be compared to "Fight Club".
I wasn't scared at all by the first movie, but there were a few instances in which I was kind of creeped out during "Blair Witch 2". Childrens laughter mixed with crying has always been sort of creepy, and it's in this movie. So is insanity (who isn't scared of the mind of the demented -- I was totally creeped out by "The Cell") and psudo-realism. I loved this movie for these reasons.
I also loved the look and feel of the movie itself. It was very reminisant of such films as "Fight Club" (editing and the realization at the end) and "Stigmata" (because of editing and visuals as well). And I loved both of these films. "Blair Witch 2" is a visual treat, especially if you're the type of person who loves weird, messed up music videos, and not really being sure what is going on all of the time.
The actors play their parts well, which is always an imporant part of a good movie. Each character is played realistically, and there is such a wide variety of people within a simple group of five (for example, there is a goth, a witch, a pregnant girl and her boyfriend).
The plot as presented on the screen is very deceiving, and there are various jumps in time thoughout it. It is up to the viewer to take all of the visuals that were presented, and think about them once the movie is over. The basic idea of the film is that five young people venture into the Maryland woods for a night to see the place where "The Blair Witch" (a movie which they all loved) was filmed, and to perhaps catch a glimpse at the witch herself. This one night in the woods causes much dismay, confusion, and insanity in these people. That's about all I will say. I think that it would be better if you actually got the chance to go and see the movie for yourself, instead of have me tell you every last detail.
It is my impression that this movie was bound for failure. Those who didn't like the first one, will hate this one because 'it's a sequel'. And those who liked the first one, will hate this one because 'it's not the same'... and if "Blair Witch 2' had been shot in the same manner as "The Blair Witch Project" there would be those who would whine about how the sequel is unoriginal. I think that if "Blair Witch 2" was not a sequel -- if the original movie did not exist -- that people would be much less hard on it.
I find it amusing how many people say that "Blair Witch 2" lacks a 'plot'. A film tells a story -- a plot. All films have some kind of a plot, be it good or bad. If you don't have a plot, then you don't have a movie, and I'm getting sick of reading reviews of idiots who don't understand this. Of course, "Blair Witch 2" doesn't have an insanely complicated plot -- it's a teenage horror flick -- what else do you really expect from it? Some people have to just lighten up and take it easy on this film.
"Blair Witch 2" is good for people of all ages -- although not for little kids because they will get scared by it, and there is some scenes of brief nudity. Other than that, I would recommend this film for anyone. If you love movies that make you think, that play out like a music video, and have scenes that make you feel creepy, than this movie is for you. If you loved the first film, and are expecting something similar to that, you'll be severely disappointed. This film is the best one that I've seen since "Fight Club".... please go see it, keeping what I've said here in mind, and I'm sure you'll walk out of it at least half-way pleased with what you've just seen.
This is the second installment of Blair Witch Project. People, who see the first film, go to Burkittsville, MD to see the site of the first movie. The...More at HotMovieSale.com
Product DetailsOriginal Title:Book of Shadows - Blair Witch 2Actors: Andrea Cox - Anja Baron, - Deb Burgoyne, - Peggy K. Chang, - Pete Burris,Conditi...More at iNetVideo.com
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