Bubba Ho-Tep
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: A Film: A-
Bubba Ho-Tep (2003)
has the potential to be a classic midnight movie
- screened for years to come due to fan loyalty. The problem with this is that Bubba may not
hold up as well as other cult movies out there when it comes to repeated
viewings. Not that it’s anywhere close
to being a bad movie - the pace is just a bit slow. Fans are definitely showing support for this
movie now, but that may not be the case 20 years from now.
The
movie is a blend of several different movie styles - balanced amounts of drama
and comedy coming to the forefront more often than any horror. I, myself, was expecting the action level to
be higher, along with added mummy sightings and maybe some gore. Perhaps the movie would have benefited in the
eyes of those looking for the level of cheese like that found in most
low-budget horror flicks. Though,
without it, Bubba Ho-Tep becomes
something a little more unique.
Bruce
Campbell actually makes his Elvis believable (to complete the illusion, you
might want to turn away whenever there are onstage flashbacks). Still alive after all these years, Elvis is
known to those in the Shady Rest retirement home (a pop culture in-joke in
reference to TV’s Petticoat Junction
perhaps, having come out of the same era the characters are referenced?) as
Sebastian Haff - nothing more than an Elvis impersonator who‘s a little light
in the head. He goes through day to day
life while confined to a bed with nothing to occupy his mind other than a
disturbingly large growth on “little Elvis” and his bodily functions.
The
King keeps famous company in this rest home - a black JFK, complete with a bag
of sand where his brain used to be; and a familiar masked man they call
Kemosabe. The performances by the
supporting cast in this movie are excellent. Especially noteworthy are Ossie
Davis and Ella Joyce - both add a lot of realism to what may have been bland
secondary characters.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is not very strong, with softness and
Video Black troubles that are odd for a new film, even if it were a low budget
one. The Dolby Digital 5.1 AC-3 mix is
not as dynamic or effective as it could be, even in the scenes with the zombie.
The extras provided are plentiful, with
two separate audio commentaries to choose from. One provided by Bruce Campbell and director
Don Coscarelli, the other by Mr. Presley himself. The deleted scenes don’t offer very much, but
those included have optional commentary. There are also several featurettes that detail
the making of the movie; trailers for the film; and a music video.
Those interested in
something a little different should definitely pick up this package from MGM -
it’s a great movie to show company when no one feels like going out. If, in the future, it happens to be playing at
a local independent theater, try to make time to go see it, I’m sure it’s even
more fun on the big screen.
- David Milchick
