"I always preferred the hard way."
In this second pairing of director Stewart and lead actor Bettany, mankind is under attack not from angels but vampires of the nasty variety in this awkward mash-up of Blade and The Matrix. There is quite a lot of violence on show for a 12A certificate film (in the UK), as this is of course fantasy violence, but it is this element of compromise that weakens the film, which has every indication of being tough and uncompromising but which ultimately leaves little lasting impression. The film attracted a good cast, with effective performances from Paul Bettany and Karl Urban, but Cam Gigandet feels mis-cast and Maggie Q is given little to do. The grimy Blade Runner-eque dystopia of Cathedral City is excellently designed, and there is some good vampiric creature work on display, but the harsh desert sunlight and gloomily-lit interiors both frequently neutralise the 3D effect. Probably the most frustrating aspect of Priest 3D is that it ends just as the real finale is about to begin - or is that simply being held over for an optimistic but unlikely possible sequel?
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