There were mixed reviews and a weak opening weekend for Priest (2011). Increased ticket prices for the 3D film averaging $12.75 and a reliance on CGI and horror stereotypes over a strong storyline appear to be the main complaints that account for the box-office disappointment. The film will do well to recover its $60,000,000 production costs.
Read a cross-section of reviews of the film at Rotten Tomatoes
1. Thor $34,500,000
2. Bridesmaids $24,409,000
3. Fast Five $19,534,000
4. Priest $14,500,000
5. Rio $8,000,000
Priest, a post-apocalyptic sci fi thriller, is set in an alternate world — one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills.
Black Hat : Leader of the vampire outlaws, played by Karl Urban.
The upcoming film based on Min-Woo Hyung’s graphic novel series Priest takes many liberties with the original concept. Ivan Isaacs (Paul Bettany) is transformed from a demon possessed priest who witnesses the murder of his adopted sister in the graphic novels to a priest vampire hunter tracking down his neice in the film. The main setting in the graphic novels is the Old West but in the film the action occurs on an altered earth.
Priest # 14 - Publisher: Tokyopop
The film abandons the comic book source material which featured demons, villains from the Old West and Isaac’s main protagonist Temozarela, a fallen angel. The film replaces them with vampires and a satanic priest named Black Hat (Karl Urban).
Hollywood, as usual, is abandoning the premise that made the graphic novel a success in favor of a vampire hunter storyline. Why? Because vampires sell tickets – at least they did before the recent Twilight :Eclipse (2010)underperformed at the box-office. The film trailer looks entertaining enough but fans can’t help but be annoyed by Hollywood’s alterations to the original concept.
The film is due for release in 3D on May 13, 2011.
There were mixed reviews and a weak opening weekend for Priest (2011). Increased ticket prices for the 3D film averaging $12.75 and a reliance on CGI and horror stereotypes over a strong storyline appear to be the main complaints that account for the box-office disappointment. The film will do well to recover its $60,000,000 production costs.
