James Purefoy Goes All Van Helsing in New 'Solomon Kane' Trailer
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips
I have this pet theory about movies, and that is sometimes I think it's much more fun to watch everything go wrong than go right. What I mean by that is that when you get that feeling that the film had every intention of being a straightforward action, drama, whatever, and instead winds up as a comedy. Call me crazy, but it makes me like a film just a little bit more. The reason I mention this is that after watching the first English language trailer for Solomon Kane, in two minutes flat I was able to figure out that this film might look silly, but I don't mean that it looks bad. Instead, this particular flick shapes up to what I like to call a 'Cornball delight' -- and to give you an idea of what I mean, think of a movie like Reign of Fire. Kane is based on Robert E. Howard's series, and stars James Purefoy (clad in an leather coat and hat combo that looks like a reject from the Van Helsing costume department) as a cursed swordsman tasked with defeating an evil wizard and saving a village from a demonic army.
Usually for a film to earn the 'Cornball' moniker from me, it comes down to my personal tastes. But sometimes you have to respect a movie more for being willing to take it so far over the top that you can't see the ground anymore. Then again, maybe I'm wrong, because in the midst of all the silliness, the film is chock full of respectable actors like Pete Postlethwaite (The Omen) and Max von Sydow (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly). But I'm going to go with my gut and saying that, yes, the cheese factor might be strong with this film, but I'm kind of digging it ... how about you?
After the jump: the English language trailer for Solomon Kane...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-11-2009 @ 8:48PM
Kirby Buckner said...
Since "Solomon Kane" was created in the 1920s by Robert E. Howard and illustrated by various artists decades ago well before that steaming turd called "Van Helsing" was ever conceived - it is the Sommers film that ripped off the "look" of Solomon Kane rather than the other way around. Hopefully it will be successful because "Moon of Skulls" and "Red Shadows" would make great movies.
Sommers also seemed to copy from Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereal commercials in "Van Helsing" too.
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9-11-2009 @ 9:00PM
DJ Heinlein said...
It took a while for the Van Helsing film to completely grow on me. Recently I have been getting into the Jonah Hex comics (and am looking forward to watching the movie when it is released). After watching the trailer earlier today for Solomon Kane it is going to be an interesting visit to the theaters to watch it. I hope that I am not disappointed!
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9-11-2009 @ 9:12PM
Taran said...
Kirby Buckner speaks truth. Solomon Kane is finally getting his hat back from Hugh Jackman. I find his costume recalls more of _Witchfinder General_, myself.
Judging by the screenplay, this won't be the cornball movie you seem to be hoping for, unless you find it impossible to take a fantasy story in earnest. The subject matter is treated with deadly seriousness, which hasn't been done in a Sword & Sorcery film for a loooong time, and as long as you're willing to go along with the premise, then it will be worth a watch. However, if you're ambivalent towards the fantasy genre altogether, than I don't think this movie will be for you...very little humor, too heavy on the religious themes, and too disturbingly violent in areas (again, judging from the screenplay) to really enjoy in the same way as _Reign of Fire_ or other PG fantasy flicks for sheer goofiness.
If you enjoyed _Conan the Barbarian_ as a good piece of cinema, and not "that beef cake film with Ahnuld", than this is the movie for you. Otherwise, you're probably better off elsewhere.
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9-12-2009 @ 3:47AM
Waldgeist said...
Everytime a movie-journalist uses the line "like Van Helsing" god kills a kitten!
Please do a bit of research, before slapping a tag onto a movie. Howards Kane came first, the artworks for the Kane Pen & Paper RPG came first and Van Helsing is a total rip-off of those artworks.
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9-12-2009 @ 1:52PM
Stan Winsome said...
Yeah likes like a DTV Van Helsing...
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9-12-2009 @ 1:53PM
Stan Winsome said...
I mean *looks* like... even my comments are cheesy.
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9-14-2009 @ 8:51AM
welshficwitch said...
*grins* purefoy does love his cheese fest action flicks! could not agree more! i list van helsing, timeline, reign of fire and so on in my fave films, because they are FUN...and frequently the better actors get involved and raise them up above what they'd ordinarily be!
cannot wait for this to finally come available to me! and not just for the purefoy *grins*
nothing like a bit of the purefoy, historical inaccuracy and some swordfighting thrown in for good measure...
*looks at george and the dragon* *looks at upcoming Ironclad* *grins*
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