Sometimes, a SCIFI original movie is worth watching simply because it is so awful, it's good. An MST3K-like guilty indulgence, if you will. In this case, the guilt stemmed from wasting two hours of my life on this dreck.
Malicious fireballs from space land in Minnesota and take over "host" bodies to ensure survival, although why the fire would need to do this in a woodland is never quite explained. Guess it's just cool to see that "fire-eyed" effect on the actors.
Although the movie was called "Fire Serpent" - and there was fire - there wasn't much serpent. There was a dragon-y looking critter within the flames at times, but only when it was fully erupted and not stuck in a human host's body. "Fire Parasite" might have been a more fitting title.
The plot was Chinese take-out menu predictable, the effects schlocky, the credibility strained to the breaking point. Did anyone believe that decrepit, rust-infested and weedy-looking pumping station made any sort of parallel to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?? In Minnesota??? And the big mystery: what did any of this have to do with William Shatner? Bill, c'mon, 'splain! There are some interesting thought points along the way in this miserable journey, such as the danger posed by religious extremist zealots in positions of political power, which are perhaps relevant in some small way to these times. There's no misunderestimating the potential consequences of elevating ideology over objectivity and reason, especially that of a scientific nature. While religion and its most driven promoters (or slavish adherents, take your pick) are a natural foil for objective (if not altruistic) science, the inclusion of this subplot is utterly lost amid the rampant silliness of the primary plot itself. Better had they skipped it altogether.
"Fire Serpent" will make a great drinking game some day, perhaps, but it is not worth watching for its own merits, as those are entirely lacking.
Malicious fireballs from space land in Minnesota and take over "host" bodies to ensure survival, although why the fire would need to do this in a woodland is never quite explained. Guess it's just cool to see that "fire-eyed" effect on the actors.
Although the movie was called "Fire Serpent" - and there was fire - there wasn't much serpent. There was a dragon-y looking critter within the flames at times, but only when it was fully erupted and not stuck in a human host's body. "Fire Parasite" might have been a more fitting title.
The plot was Chinese take-out menu predictable, the effects schlocky, the credibility strained to the breaking point. Did anyone believe that decrepit, rust-infested and weedy-looking pumping station made any sort of parallel to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?? In Minnesota??? And the big mystery: what did any of this have to do with William Shatner? Bill, c'mon, 'splain! There are some interesting thought points along the way in this miserable journey, such as the danger posed by religious extremist zealots in positions of political power, which are perhaps relevant in some small way to these times. There's no misunderestimating the potential consequences of elevating ideology over objectivity and reason, especially that of a scientific nature. While religion and its most driven promoters (or slavish adherents, take your pick) are a natural foil for objective (if not altruistic) science, the inclusion of this subplot is utterly lost amid the rampant silliness of the primary plot itself. Better had they skipped it altogether.
"Fire Serpent" will make a great drinking game some day, perhaps, but it is not worth watching for its own merits, as those are entirely lacking.