Source: Wikipedia

Two Worlds Collide, One Epic Battle

Wow, after taking that year off Nicolas Cage has really come back with a vengeance this year. Outcast might do things that you have seen before but what it does do, it does it well and makes it thoroughly watchable. 

The story here isn't the most unique but, again, it works for what it is and the change of setting helps. It starts off a little like Season of the Witch to be honest and I got a lot of flashbacks, I find it funny how this film has more religious themes than Left Behind did but I actually liked them in this, they fit in quite well. I also like how Hayden and Nic's characters end up where they do, it's explained in a good way. The film could be called slow at times but when there isn't action, the characters are allowed to breath, talk and learn from each other, the film also dabbles in other forms of discussion like gender politics, which is always interesting. 

The acting in this is a mixed bag, while most of it is good, some of it is really flat. Luckily, it's just the side characters that are only in one or two scenes that aren't that great so it doesn't distract too much. Hayden Christensen has really come a long way in just a few years, he gave a very good performance in this and played his character well, it was nice to see. Nicolas Cage does what I've wanted him to do for awhile now, I'll just say that it makes sense why his name was in second billing, now. He does a good job, and it's nice to see him do a period piece, he also does a few things I haven't seen from him before. Also, during one scene he handles a snake and like he did in Joe, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually did that with a real snake. I just really liked his character in this and what he did with the character, also, he does the Bad Lieutenant laugh, so that's always good. Yifei Liu does a good job and plays her character well, I hope to see more of her in the future.

The film certainly looks and sounds the part, it has great production and set design and some of the shots look absolutely incredible and the soundtrack is good and fits the mood. The effects look good and the action certainly is entertaining to watch, there was a scene where an arrow flew past someone's face and it didn't have any special slowmo applied to scene and it just looked great but that is however, when we actually get a chance to see it.

source: teaser-trailer.com

Some of the shaky cam action moments are a bit disorientating and even when there isn't anything going on sometimes it'll do quick cuts for no reason. There was a subplot involving shooting arrows and while it served as a nice throwback for the character that's teaching as it reminds him of his past, it doesn't really go anywhere, the character learning didn't become an expert after one lesson which was nice but they only have a couple lessons in total and it just sort of concludes, I guess. There is a character that gets saved about half way through but besides a few lines of dialogue she was kind of pointless and I don't know why she was included, they say that they could use her because the people after them are looking for 3 people instead of 4 but besides that, the filmmakers didn't do much with her character. Some things in the plot didn't seem to fully piece together, some I can't say because of spoilers but there's a scene where two characters part ways and later one of them goes back and finds them in a matter of seconds? How did they manage to find them that fast but perhaps I'm just nitpicking. 

A lot happened on screen in just 90 minutes and I was surprised that so much happened in one scene and only a few minutes had passed but I liked that because no time is wasted and the ending is suitably epic and does have some very strong moments. Outcast might not reinvent the wheel but it does entertain with some good character development and good lead performances and makes sure to put its characters at the heart of the story as opposed to the action and so, makes the action have more weight when it does happen. It's just a solid film and if you watched it one night, I don't think you'd go away disappointed, it knows what it is and gives you exactly what you expect and or want and does it in an interesting setting. 4 out of 5 movies, Nic, well done.

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