Of The Most Dangerous Game...
by Guest Reviewer Alan Trehern

"Some say it could kill 5 million people in an hour..." Wait, wrong movie. But this trailer is almost as badd-ass as it's predecessor. I've always agreed with myself when I said that not only is Ben's Movie Reveiws a great site for movie reviews, but also for the film works he does on the side. That's right, folks, Ben is a director as well as a film critic. But today, I shall combine this website's true purposes and review one of the greatest movie/trailers to hit the I-Net in years. Coming from the minds of Leapfrog Productions and Triforce 20 Productions comes this year's ultimate adventure!

Let's begin with the storyline. In the book The Most Dangerous Game, a man named Rainsford is thrown overboard and is stranded on a strange island in the Caribbean. Here he meets General Zarroff, who "has become bored with hunting the usual beasts." So instead of hunting animals, he has begun hunting man. He attempts to get Rainsford on board, but the fellow hunter refuses. Instead, Zarroff takes this as a challenge to hone his skills against one who thinks like he. Thus the most dangerous game ensues.

In the Leapfrog produced trailer of the same name, many of these literary elements are purely adapted for the screen. Rainsford plays the outside man who falls into this web of confusion, mayhem and death. Ivan the bodyguard is adapted perfectly as the creepy but silent protector of the house. Sadly, he plays much less of a role than in the book, mostly because the direction company could not afford losing their main actor in a pit of spikes.

Further, the environment, although all day shots, have a way of still containing the fear and suspense Rainsford feels in the book. The miles of forest that surround our hero keep him imprisoned while at the same time being his only protection for survival from Zarroff. The castle that serves as Zarroff's abode is adapted for the screen as a huge cabin-like house. The large metal gates are replaced with glass sliding doors, while the great animal heads are represented by the roaming house cat.

Not only is this trailer almost as good as the book, the producer adds things that the book fails to present. For instance, Zarroff is totally bent on hunting and killing Rainsford, as if some personal business is unsettled, making the antagonist much more fearful. Many of the shots show Zarroff storming about the forest with an intense look on his face, letting the audience know he will die before he lets Rainsford escape. In the book, Zarroff simply hunts the protagonist because it is a last resort; he isn't hunting Rainsford because he hates him, he just wants to hunt. As far as props, replacing a bottle of vintage 1912 Don Perignon are wine coolers and lemonade with a kick, giving the film an updated spin. Now this classic story can apply to viewers of all ages.

In closing, I'd like to close with some of the best and most-stunning shots in the film. First, we have the shots from the trees when Rainsford sits atop a leaning branch. Sources say that only two men were used to capture this most timeless and suspenseful camera angle. Zarroff knows the young hunter is hiding up there, but continues walking to mess with our hero's psyche.

Second, we have the classic fight scene at the closing of the preview. Jumping from the trees with weapon in hand comes Rainsford, while across the way the dreaded Zarroff drops his firearm and unsheathes his blade. The final charge and the clash of swords lets us know a great battle took place, one much larger than a mere backyard could contain. Finally, the very last shot of the movie where SUMMER 2008 flashes almost moved the theater to tears. Rainsford looks out in complete and desperate thought. The splashing waters continue to taunt him while the endless river only gives him hope of escape. Why must he run from this madman and what had he done to deserve this?

And there you have it. If you haven't checked out this film, use the module below. Safe journeys, space fans, wherever you are...