MovieChat Forums > Certain Prey (2011) Discussion > Really disappointing

Really disappointing

posted 12 years ago by FarWestGirl
13 replies | jump to latest

Gawd, where to start? Well, since the author of the screen play and the director are the same and both major problems, how about there? Terrible dialog, hackneyed, hamfisted and totally lacking in flow. Apparently not a clue as to how to get decent performances out of his actors, even Harmon, and that takes doing. In 20-odd years I've never seen him this wooden and lost trying to find and settle into a character. I understand the books were quite good, but this gives me no incentive at all to check. I stuck it out because I like Harmon and either it got better or I became inured to how bad it was, but the first five minutes almost had me erasing it and pulling up reruns of something else.

I strongly sugglest a new screen writer, director, editor and DP if they decide to do another. And they should probably read the books, from what I'm seeing elsewhere. This had real promise, very disappointing.

[–] dvonder100-1 12 years ago

And a different Lucas Davenport

[–] plot68 12 years ago

FarWestGirl,

Don't let this laughable attempt at a movie dissuade you from checking out this book series. I'm at the 13th in the series and each one has been better than the last.

Originally, I thought Harmon was a decent choice for Davenport, then I saw this "movie". I can't really find anything good to say about the movie: Horrible casting, rediculous dialog, pathetic directing and screenplay. The book was actually one of the best in the series, mainly because of character development and depth, neither of which were accomplished here.

Back to my original point.... Disregard this movie completely and give the book series a chance, you won't be sorry.

[–] darren1011 12 years ago

I was genuinely surprised at the poor quality of this film and how badly it had been translated from book to film. Mark HArmon may have been a good choice to play Lucas, but I think someone bigger would have been better, and they might have started at the beginning with Rules of Prey, which is the only book in the series that actually introduces the original characters. I love Mark Harmon in NCIS nut even the best actors struggle in low budget, poorly scripted movies.

[–] The Movieman 12 years ago

While Harmon was miscast, that was the least of this movie's problems, beginning with that script. What is it about bringing a 'Prey' novel to life? It seems others don't have nearly the same problems.

[–] darren1011 12 years ago

I said before that they needed to start with the first novel, Rules of Prey, which actually introduces the characters. Casting, obviously script and production values would need to be better. Lucas is a big man, Cage maybe? It all costs money, which they obviously didn't have for this movie

[–] The Movieman 12 years ago

True, but look at the Jesse Stone TV movies on CBS, those are (generally) well made and I doubt have that high of a budget.

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[–] darren1011 12 years ago

Very true I loved the Jesse Stone movies. When I first saw they had made a Lucas movie I was very excited, maybe they are just books that won't translate well, like a lot of King's books didn't. They are excellent novels and I hope that one day they will make a movie that does them justice

[–] The Movieman 12 years ago

Agreed. I posted in another part of the forum (maybe in the one for the Eriq La Salle version) that instead of adapting one novel, they could combine a couple (like Rules of Prey for character intros and then Eyes of Prey & Silent Prey for the villain, in this case, Michael Bekker).

I think a good adaptation is doable, but Universal (who I believe owns the rights to all the Davenport novels) needs to spend some money on a good screenwriter, one who subscribes to the show don't tell style rather than using lazy voice overs.

One of the limitations I think is the fact that the two adaptations is where they air (the La Salle version I think was on ABC or something). While yes you can get away with more on USA than one of the networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX), there's still have constraints. A "Prey" movie (or even TV series) could work on AMC, A&E (where a show, based on a novel, called "Longmire" is set to air soon) or, ideally, on a pay channel like Showtime or HBO where you can have the language, sexuality and violence.

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[–] darren1011 12 years ago

I have only ever seen the Mark Harmon one, and stumbled on that by accident. What's teh title of the other one? I agree cpompletely, and personally I thought the 2 Bekker novels were pretty much the best, along with Winter pret or the Iceman, as it was called. Too bad Tom Selleck isn't younger, he'd make for a good Lucas

[–] The Movieman 12 years ago

Yeah, if younger, Selleck would've been good. My pick would be Patrick Wilson as he'd probably be the right age (he's currently 39 but looks older), seems to have an odd screen presence, never knowing what he's about and has the kind of smile key for Davenport IMO (i.e. scary and/or a bit creepy). Plus, he's not above doing TV as he recently starred in a TV series (which was subsequently cancelled, though through no fault of his own) and I can't think he'd cost that much money.

The Eriq La Salle version was "Mind Prey" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0188057/) and aired back in '99. Looking back, I actually think "Certain Prey" had a better production budget by comparison, though that's hardly a compliment, lol.

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[–] darren1011 12 years ago

The books were really good fast paced action packed. This movie in no way reflected the books. Coming in hlfway thru the series of books didn't help, but if they had made an effort of some description rather than this thrown together crud, who knows, probably better suited to a series or mini series I guess

[–] The Movieman 12 years ago

Not only coming in so far in the series of books but having long-running supporting characters (Sloan, Sherrill, Black) pop in as if they were already introduced in another movie was, at best, lazy. They didn't even make an effort. What a shame that USA owns the rights to the entire Davenport series... Hopefully they make a deal with Sandford for him to buy them back so another studio/network has a shot to do it properly.

Or USA gets their act together and spends some money on a quality writer, for which there are plenty who work on TV (i.e. Boardwalk Empire, Dexter-early on anyway, Damages, etc).

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[–] darren1011 12 years ago

Very true