Customer Reviews

The Cell 2

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Of all the films released in the last decade, "The Cell" would be one of the least likely candidates for a sequel. Well, they decided to make "The Cell 2" anyway, without Jennifer Lopez and Vincent D'Onofrio. In fact, "The Cell 2" could be called in any way you want, like "Kiss the Girls 3" or "Saw 9." Whatever it is, the film is a lifeless rehash of serial killer stories you ever heard, told in the most thrill-less fashion you can imagine.

Tessie Santiago is Maya, an agent who has special powers. Just by touching an object that belonged to someone, she can see things about that person. When an elusive serial killer named "The Cusp" is back, (and this killer, who abducts and tortures victims before killing, is actually responsible for her supernatural powers), she decides to use her unwanted ability again.

The story of "The Cell" (2000) was shallow at best, it is certain, but the original has the impressive visuals thanks to director Tarsem Singh, costume designers Eiko Ishioka and April Napier, and special make-ups by Michèle Burke and Edouard F. Henriques (the last category nominated for Oscar). In the sequel, however, you have none of these nice visuals and designs (except the beautiful filming location of Utah) while the story gets only shallower, with the insipid storytelling, 30 minutes' worth of story dragged out to 90 minutes. Everything is repetitious and obvious in this painfully tiresome film.

I watched this in-name-only sequel partly because it has Frank Whaley. He is not bad, actually he is very good. He deserves a much better script than this one, though.

Being killed and brought back to life many times has to suck. That's what the victems in this film have to face before being killed for real. The cell 2 is for sure not as great as the cell, but it does have some good parts. The mind of the killer is not as exciting as the previous killer but it's still a little wicked. All the colors and mirrors were cool. The characters you don't really care for but the plot is enjoyable enough and the acting is fine. It's a blockbuster rental.

Some of these reviews seem a bit harsh. This is a direct to DVD film, it does not have the budget of a major motion picture. We need to judge the film against its peers. While the special effects are not award winning, I thought they were acceptable. The crew did well with a limited budget and schedule. The science is indeed goofy, but if we reject horror films with goofy science there won't be much left to watch. I don't want to spoil the film, so I will only say that I liked Frank Whaley's performance and no one seemed to be sleep walking though the film. All in all it is a nice watchable film and I will probably watch it again some time. I give it 3 stars and for the record, I would give the original "The Cell" 4 stars.

I rented this movie because of the name. I figure it would have some nice special effects like the original. I knew that it was a direct to DVD sequel. I knew the special effects couldn't live up to the orignial. I agree the killer belongs to the SAW movies. Instead of him dying from cancer or he's just some average looking Joe. When this chicks goes into the killer mind there is not journey to be found. I keep seeing the same rooms and that's very dark and industrial looking. They couldn't even get her a killer wardrobe. It was very predictable and the characters were very predictable. Maybe Maya have been the most interesting character. Stay away from this film.

If The Cell was directed in the 80s, had the next-best-thing to Jennifer Lopez, and was nothing like The Cell at all, it would be The Cell 2.

Some films are a natural progression from the original, others are The Cell 2. Follow a carnival gypsy as she reads fortunes and looks into the present to unravel a serial killer's secret.

Wasn't the original "The Cell" some nonsense about using technology to enter a killer's mind and being in some whacky killer's mind world? This is some different nonsense about a magical witch using voodoo and items of the victims to see what they see. They're not remotely the same line of movies, might as well call Jurassic Park "Little Women 2". Nudity less than 10 minutes into the film, so there's no need to watch more than 10 minutes of this.

Very bad. I should have trusted my first instinct and not jumped to get this one. Just because a sequel has the same title as the original (The Cell - which was great!) does not guarantee satisfaction. Very poorly written ... very poorly acted ... almost non-existent special effects. Not even close to the visual masterpiece that was The Cell. Stay away from this one.

Had to give this a fair shot as The Cell is a popular long-term rental here, but the franchise will have to stop there.

Laundry list/bad: writing, editing, sound mixing, acting, dead bodies that breathe in the morgue, corny macho local cops vs: Feds, C grade effects, really bad makeup, and so on. The kicker (for those that follow all of the bad flubs regarding medical stuff in film): Our main deputy and important character later in the film says: "I used to be an EMT, I can check her pulse" and does so for three seconds with his thumb and states she's all good. The writing was that caliber throughout.

The good: the two stars go for the beginning and end credits with those beautiful Utah mountains and salt flats in Blu clarity. Was a great promo for tourism there, but nothing else appears as relevant for testing the display or sound mixing. The supplemental documentary ran 30 minutes and wreaked of how incredible everyone was to work with. Includes some great examples of what not to say about film making and how not to be interviewed during your early acting career.

You might get some light entertainment as a rental, and I want to list all of the other things wrong with this, but I do not want to harp on it any more. Not a reference Blu, can't recommend it.

This makes my top five horrible movies of all times list! Just dreadful. I loved "The Cell" with Lopez and was looking forward to part 2. There is almost no conncetion to the first movie. The acting his horrible. My seven year old could have produced a more intriguing and convincing plot. The worst part of all, however is the creative, stunning, amazing costuming and artful imagery of the first movie is completely non existent in this one. It is predictable and and a total snooze fest. Nothing to see here folks, move along!

I saw this sequel to The Cell last night and I was skeptical since I am a true fan of The Cell -- but I actually enjoyed myself. My husband and I both thought it was pretty creepy, pretty stylish/cool looking, and just plain fun. Grab some popcorn and just enjoy this film for what it is. It won't win an academy award, but it definitely gives some thrills and chills -- definitely a fun way to spend a couple of hours...!!

Version: U.S.A / New Line-Warner / Region Free
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
VC-1 BD-25 / AACS / Advanced Profile 3
Running time: 1:33:19
Movie size: 20,803,559,424 bytes
Disc size: 22,723,837,642 bytes
Total bit rate: 29.72 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 22.85 Mbps

Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1711 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1711 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio German 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps

Subtitles: English SDH, French, German, Spanish
Number of chapters: 20

@Behind the scenes documentary (30 minutes)
#BD-Live enabled