Christine [DVD] [1983] [2005]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, any film maker who takes on the challenge of trying to bring a Stephen King book to the big screen is going to have his work well and truly cut of for him to attempt to condense all the history and details Mr King crams into his novels, in a watchable format. To his credit, the director John Carpenter does pretty darn well here and makes a very worthwhile effort.

The problem I have with Christine is that it was never the best of Stephen King's books to start with and I've never found the idea of a possessed car that sinister, ok it's no dafter than a possessed dog or cat, but there's just something that little bit to cumbersome about the idea of having a car commit murders.

Arnie Cunningham is the typical high school geek, skinny and with glasses he's the ideal target for the mean school bullies and it's good news for him that the high school football jock her, Dennis Guilder, is Arnie's best friend.
Arnie, in an attempt to break free from his mother's very tight apron strings, buys a beaten up wreak of a car from a dodgy looking character called George LeBay. The car in question is a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury which we learn from Mr LeBay belonged to his brother, until his brother ran a pipe from the exhaust and killed himself.

Arnie buys the car and sets to work renovating it although as much work Arnie puts in the car seems to be helping him along by regenerating itself. When the car is finished it's a sight to behold, a classic piece of American Automobile, it's no wonder that behind the wheel Arnie cuts a different figure and his new found good looks lands him the prettiest girl in the school, Leigh Cabot. But the bullies haven't given up all ideas of keeping Arnie down. They break into the garage where Arnie keeps the car and smash it to pieces. But when only days later is it more amazing that the car is fully restored again, or that the bullies are picked off one by one, with Arnie's prized car always being near the scene?

As I say, the film is extremely watchable if for nothing else the excellent smashes and scrapes the car gets itself into, and then amazingly out of again. The regeneration sequences are great effects and although some of the action scenes are quite jerky, there are some brilliant iconic images, like the Plymouth cruising down the highway whilst being on fire.

There's nothing really special about the performances although they are all adequately done. Viewers may spot that Keith Gordon (Arnie) also appeared in the pretty awful Combat Academy and John Stockwell (Dennis) turns up as the pilot "Cougar" in Top Gun. Harry Dean Stanton appears for a small role as the cop assigned to investigate the murders.

What I did like about the film though were the extra areas it covered that aren't in the book. The opening sequence showing Christine on the Detroit production line was a nice touch and I loved the ironic radio set with a mind of it's own, managing to not only switch itself on whenever Christine was up to no good, but playing a suitable classic Rock and Roll hit. A great example would be playing Bony Maronie whilst crushing garage owner Will Darnell against the dashboard.

A evil car comes alive and kills people? Sounds daft to me, normally I would have avoided this movie but John Carpenter has made some of my favorite films 'The Thing' and 'Assault on Precinct 13' to name just a few and that little unknown film 'Halloween' that I decided to give this a try, and boy am I glad that I did.
First thing to say it looks great, not sure if my edition is exactly the same as the ones on Amazon but the picture quality was great for DVD with chrome glistening, the leather looking smooth and the blinding glare from Christine's headlamps making me shield my eyes. The characters are straight out of Steven King and I thought the performances were good. The special effects are fantastic pre-cgi they are all practical with one of the greatest practical special effects I have ever seen when the car gets covered in oil set on fire and chases after someone. This colossal burning ball of flame on wheels is made even more impressive as you can tell its a real car covered in real fire. That's just one of many great set pieces and on a technical level this is flawless, beautifully shot and lit, with brilliant sets and directing.
Fans of John Carpenters soundtracks will love this as it is one of his best ever having that unique sound that Carpenter creates while not being as raw as some of his other work. Add to this a great collection of 1950s rock'n'roll from the cars radio and the sound design becomes as perfect as the visuals.
Problems? Ok the script is kind of weak, the main character disappears for the whole middle section of the film, and most importantly it's not scary. But I don't believe it was ever really meant to be and is in fact often mislabeled as a horror. It is on the other hand extremely thrilling, exciting, tense and overall so much fun.
It made not hold a candle to some of Carpenter's best work but his fans will find lots to love in this and it is essential viewing for fans of real, practical special effects.
Trivia- Kevin Bacon was originally cast as the lead but left to do footloose.

Whilst Christine is not the very best of the master's works- It is a very solid piece of filmmaking.
It's never easy adapting a Stephen King novel into a mainstream movie, many have tried and failed.

But you have to give John Carpenter credit here, the film 'feels' like a King novel, but of course with the added touch of Carpenter. There is a rock n' roll soundtrack and an original Halloweenesque score by Carpenter to boot.

Of all the satanic car movies out there, actually there isn't that many, Christine is not as good as The Car. But Christine remains a very good film. Some may however find the movie a little dated, something I do not subscribe to.

It's interesting seeing a typical King character go from being goofy to cool to downright weird and then being ultimately owned by the demonic Car.

I did find the film a little choppy in places, which was surprising given that Carpenter was behind the lens. The New Year's Eve pick up being the stand out.

The climax felt rushed, but all in all this is a good movie, with classic Carpenter scenes. Not his best work, mind.