The Fourby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Studio
Credits Grade: 6 A stolen coin cast and counterfeit currency are only the beginning. Four superpowered fighters are the only chance to stop an evil man with an undead army.The movie itself is entertaining with a mix of martial arts and magic. The CG and special effects, wire work, and costume / make-up effects blend together well. Only a few times did things stand out unnaturally (like the beast 's transformations and the "flying" done by characters at certain points). If you like movies that mix martial arts and magic, you will find this movie to be quite enjoyable. It is well cast with a few memorable characters. The action scenes don't really exist until the big one at the end. There are a few skirmishes, but they certainly don't wow. My main issue with The Four is that I spent the whole movie trying to figure out which four characters were "the four." Yes, they are the ones on the cover, and yes, the preview (which I watched after the movie) points them out, but it's unfortunate that the movie itself doesn't make it clear. I also wasn't sure if all four were supposed to be on the side of good or not. The back of the DVD's case mentions them by name, but the name "Coldblood" is never used in the film -- he's only referred to as "the beast" (assuming that name matches the fourth character shown). The other thing that really bothered me about the movie is the beast because we're given no explanation as to why he transforms into a monster and it seems very out of place, even amongst superpowers and undead. The DVD case mentions that this is the first in a trilogy. I find that hard to believe. There's no indication of a continuation at the end of the movie, and, while it was an entertaining watch, it's not a movie to re-watch let alone do a sequel of. It just isn't that strong. In fact, the only character I truly want to know more about is Life Snatcher. I want to know his history and how he got that name. I want to know what kind of "clients" he usually deals with (since he makes reference to that in the movie). Emotionless is pretty easy to figure out and her history would be unsurprising. Iron Hands is not that interesting. And the beast seems like that part of him belongs in a different story altogether. At least Emotionless is shown to be an exceptional fighter despite her handicap of being unable to walk. Even without her psychic powers she is formidable (though without those powers she would have been killed by the other girl in this movie). Sadly, this movie resorts to the two common scenarios of girl-fights-girl and guys-fight-badguy. However, I love the surprise at the end of the battle. My favorite part? One of the deleted scenes. If you are a martial artist or one who understands "the way / path / journey" you will appreciate the response the Aunt gives to a marriage proposal. Written: May 12, 2013
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