The film was very middle of the road; it had so many cliches and nothing that any other werewolf film didn't have already. It was almost a clone of American Werewolf in London -
1) To start with Benicio Del Torro's character has come over from America - even though he has an American accent, he was born in England (in the movie).
2) Just before being killed by a werewolf, it is shot and he is saved
3) A scene from inside a LOCAL public house - featuring one of the actual actors from American Werewolf in London 'David Schofield' he is seen playing darts in AWIL, in this he is a local constable.
4) The transformation sequence is the same
5) He goes on a killing spree in London
6) There is that moment when the werewolf and the woman he is in love with, stare at each other just before he is then shot and killed.
Anthony Hopkins character appeared to be transplanted from 'Bram Stoker's Dracula', the only difference was the role he played. Then there was Hugo Weaving's character - I was expecting him at any moment to say 'Miiissssttterrr Annnnderson, surprised to see me? - where's Morpheus?' Emily Blunt's character was badly cast too, it's much better seeing her play feisty roles such as in 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
I went to see the film after listening to Jonathon Ross's review. He didn't say it was brilliant, just that it was well shot with great special effects and scenery; that was enough for me. The special effects were pretty good, although a CGI bear onwed by some gypsies nearly had me walking out. If you compare it to films such as AWIL, Jaws, Predator, Aliens, I would say that what you saw of the creature happened far too quickly. I feel it should have appeared much more gradually; that and some more harsh lighting on the wolf so it didn't look like a bloke in a costume. I have to say it wasn't awful, I just found it incredibly lazy, like they were just trying to fill hole in the release schedules. Wait til this one comes out on ITV one Saturday night in the future when you have nothing to do.
