Like solid action and dark themes? Don't miss Gabriel
December 28th 2008 01:27
Gabriel is a 2007 film that comes to us out of Australia. It's billed on Netflix as a "dark actioner." Be assured that it is both, but pleasantly so.
The archangel Gabriel visits a place called Purgatory, where the souls of human beings wait out their time before they go to Heaven or Hell. Gabriel's purpose is to continue the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil for control of purgatory. The forces of evil, called the Fallen, have controlled purgatory for a very long time, and are on the verge of winning the battle for good. Gabriel is the last of the Archangels to come and take up the quest in the name of goodness and light- all the others have been killed or gone missing. Throw in an angel-turned-prostitute, and you have most of the major plot elements.
For a full synopsis of the plot (and other fun facts), check out the entry at the Internet Movie Database.
The action in the movie is high-paced, well-choreographed, and flashy without being over-the-top. There are a lot of guns involved, so if you're a fan of some bullet action, you won't be disappointed. Martial arts are used often and to good effect throughout Gabriel, and in many of the shots you can see it's the actors themselves performing the moves. As one might expect from a film with this subject matter, the action sequences follow in the trend of "matrix-style" action films and cross over into the realm of impossibility, but the creators didn't go too far with it. I found the overall effect to be exciting to watch, without trying too hard.
The mood of the film is dark, as promised, so anybody out there with an inner goth will certainly appreciate the sets and costumes of Purgatory (black leather trenchcoats are all the rage there). That being said, the costumes are intricate and fitting. The sets are also complex and detailed, and accentuate the darkness of the movie.
The performances overall were strong, and were bolstered by a logical plot and strong dialogue. I particularly liked Dwaine Stevensen in the role of Sammael. He's got a very compelling face, and his delivery of the lines really conveyed the part. I'll definitely try any other movie I find with him in it.
The movie also has some depth to it. In the midst of the violence, there is some soul-searching going on, about life, morality, purpose, and free will. There's also some attempt to explore what it means to be human- complete with feelings and urges.
Overall, I give the movie a "thumbs-up" (do I have to pay Roger Ebert to use that term?). I would watch this movie again. I consider it a success, and shows that you can take an old tired theme and still tell a good story with it. It's all about how you do it.
Watch Gabriel Instantly on Netlfix! Your text goes here
The archangel Gabriel visits a place called Purgatory, where the souls of human beings wait out their time before they go to Heaven or Hell. Gabriel's purpose is to continue the eternal struggle between the forces of good and evil for control of purgatory. The forces of evil, called the Fallen, have controlled purgatory for a very long time, and are on the verge of winning the battle for good. Gabriel is the last of the Archangels to come and take up the quest in the name of goodness and light- all the others have been killed or gone missing. Throw in an angel-turned-prostitute, and you have most of the major plot elements.
The action in the movie is high-paced, well-choreographed, and flashy without being over-the-top. There are a lot of guns involved, so if you're a fan of some bullet action, you won't be disappointed. Martial arts are used often and to good effect throughout Gabriel, and in many of the shots you can see it's the actors themselves performing the moves. As one might expect from a film with this subject matter, the action sequences follow in the trend of "matrix-style" action films and cross over into the realm of impossibility, but the creators didn't go too far with it. I found the overall effect to be exciting to watch, without trying too hard.
The mood of the film is dark, as promised, so anybody out there with an inner goth will certainly appreciate the sets and costumes of Purgatory (black leather trenchcoats are all the rage there). That being said, the costumes are intricate and fitting. The sets are also complex and detailed, and accentuate the darkness of the movie.
The performances overall were strong, and were bolstered by a logical plot and strong dialogue. I particularly liked Dwaine Stevensen in the role of Sammael. He's got a very compelling face, and his delivery of the lines really conveyed the part. I'll definitely try any other movie I find with him in it.
The movie also has some depth to it. In the midst of the violence, there is some soul-searching going on, about life, morality, purpose, and free will. There's also some attempt to explore what it means to be human- complete with feelings and urges.
Overall, I give the movie a "thumbs-up" (do I have to pay Roger Ebert to use that term?). I would watch this movie again. I consider it a success, and shows that you can take an old tired theme and still tell a good story with it. It's all about how you do it.
Watch Gabriel Instantly on Netlfix! Your text goes here
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