Spawn (1997 film)
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This movie deserves to be in Hell more than Al Simmons does, but it's an okay movie, and you're better off watching the animated series.
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Spawn is a 1997 American dark fantasy superhero film based on the comic book character of the same name, written by Todd McFarlane and published by Image Comics. Directed and co-written by Mark A.Z. Dippé, the film stars Michael Jai White in the title role and is one of the first films to feature an African American portraying a major comic book superhero.
Spawn was released in the United States on August 1, 1997, it received negative reviews from critics with a 17% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and mixed-to-negative reviews from audiences with a 36% audience score, but was also met with mixed reception from fans of the comics.
Plot
An assassin named Al Simmons (White) is double-crossed and murdered by his evil boss Jason Wynn (Sheen). Al makes a deal with Malebolgia/the devil (Welker) and returns to earth as Spawn to see his wife. He is ordered by the devil's minion, The Clown (Leguizamo), to kill Wynn. Wynn has made a deal with The Clown too and is suppose to destroy the world with a deadly virus that will help start Armageddon and allow Hell to attack Heaven. Spawn must choose between Good & Evil.
Bad Qualities
- Very, very dreadful computer animation and effects:
- In one scene you can clearly see that the green glow effect got chopped.
- The Hell sequence, not only because of its location and layout, but also the fact that Malebolgia's mouth movements don’t match with anything that he says.
- Speaking of which, Malebolgia's design is laughably horrendous and could give the models in Joshua and the Promised Land a run for their money. Heck, even the Lord of Darkness from Legend (which was released 12 years ago) has a better, more convincing villain design than that!
- Poor acting, especially from John Leguizamo as The Clown/Violator.
- Inappropriate and disturbing scenes like when The Clown dresses up as a cheerleader and dances.
- Very confusing and messed up story.
- Non-existent logic. In one scene Malebolgia says to Simmons in Hell that "If you fail me... you will die". Never mind the fact that he already died!
Good Qualities
- The characters look accurate to their comic book designs, and even the film has the R-rated director's cut that has additional scenes not in the theatrical cut.
- Leguizamo as Violator, despite how bad his acting is, can be hilarious to watch if you’re not taking the film seriously, save for the infamous cheerleader scene.
- Jessica Priest became a comic character, thanks to the movie.
- Decent quotes:
- "Where you're going, every day's Halloween!"
- "You have been violated, little girly man!!!"
Comments
- Articles marked as Mature
- Mediocre media
- Average films
- 1990s films
- Superhero films
- Fantasy films
- Dark fantasy films
- Horror films
- Monster films
- Based on books
- Action films
- Based on comic strips
- New Line Cinema films
- Moderate success films
- Films with cancelled/scrapped sequels
- Box office hits that received negative feedback