Priest: Critic Reviews

Adapted from a graphic-novel series (and what isn't these days?), this unholy mess of horror and Western cliches is, at least, blessed with a wonderfully loony premise.

The film, based in name only on a series of South Korean graphic novels, has nice, washed-out desert exteriors and some cool jet-powered motorcycles, but there's nothing in the hackneyed story or the derivative action scenes to make you take notice.

"Priest'' is based on a series of Korean graphic novels. What it's really based on, though, is other movies - a whole lot of other movies.

[If] you're looking for a diverting sci-fi actioner that handily mixes the DNA of several different movies, with a few flying crosses thrown in and a heavy dose of Western mythology, sink your teeth in.

High production values and slick editing can't save this picture. Nor does its overbearing soundtrack music, which tries to strong-arm viewers into believing they're watching a pulse-pounding thriller.

Not exactly an unholy mess, but still a rather too pious retread of classic sci-fi/action/horror riffs that lacks originality or pizzazz.

"Priest" is about five beads shy of a rosary.

A mash-up of vampire horror and period westerns stewed with Blade Runner cityscapes and ridiculous religious images in a bubbling cauldron of dumb ideas and sinfully bad dialogue.

Too good-looking to be dismissed entirely, not bad enough to be worthy of outright scorn, but not good enough to watch, either.

Doesn't have a prayer.

The film is somehow a disappointing combo of too-full and oddly empty.

Bettany is a great actor who does melancholy very well, he also has a sense of mischief. It would be nice to see it shine a bit before it, too, fades to grey.

At the very least, the film's herky-jerky mood swings will keep viewers on their toes long after they become bored with the main plot.

What's not to like about badass Catholic vigilantes who fly through the air to punch demons in the face? (Don't answer that.)

Its visual style veers between bleached desert tones and slimy undercover dankness, but the 3D version is undistinguished.

Predictable action sequences & lazy character development add up to an all too blatant cash in at the box office

Some scenes on the train have a certain chill, but overall this is likely to short-change genre lovers.

Vampires, cowboys and warrior priests: an unholy mess.

Director Scott Stewart has fun with the genre, making effective use of 3D technology and amid the ridiculous, delivers an often surprisingly compelling B-movie with some superior elements.

Priest 3D might be of interest for those keen on the comics but for others it's a very loud and chaotic but lame fantasy effort with much mayhem but insufficient payoff.

...as dull and intolerable an actioner as one can easily recall...

There's an overriding sense that many aspects of the movie have either been shockingly underdeveloped... or left on the cutting room floor.

Priest is the sort of movie you walk into knowing full well its IQ is significantly less than the bucket of popcorn balanced in your lap...