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Reviews
Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)
Enteretaining with a bit of bitter-sweet nostalgia
As a child of the 80s (I graduated H.S. in '90), I love all things 80s, and the original is still one of my favorite movies ever. It had just a quintessential 80s feel to it, plus being a great vampire movie (the only type of "horror" movie I ever liked).
When I saw (here on IMDb, in fact) that there was a DTV sequel out, now some 21 years later, I was dubious but interested, so when I saw it available at the $1.99 DVD rental machine, I said, "Why not?"
While it certainly isn't nearly as good as the original (how many sequels are?), it was entertaining, and the acting and the general production value was indeed a bit better than I feared it might be; on the whole, well worth the $1.99 I paid to rent it.
The two actors playing our new protagonists, brother and sister Chris and Nicole Emerson (Tad Hilgenbrink and Autumn Reeser), were both surprisingly good, and, well, let's face it, Autumn Reeser is HOT!! One thing I would wish for, is for her role to have been a bit more
(ahem) revealing, especially in the sex scene with Shane (Angus Sutherland). I mean, it is already rated R.
Seeing Corey Feldman return as Edgar Frog was certainly a nice touch, but I would have loved to have seen some more participation by some more of the original cast, if only in brief cameos; come on, Jason Patric hasn't been THAT busy lately! Oh, wait; there was the absolutely unnecessary and unexplained appearance by the other Corey (Haim) in the scene following the first few seconds of the credits.
I also have to say, the remake of CRY LITTLE SISTER, one of my all-time favorite songs, was very good, and captured the essence of the original.
Some questions I would have liked to have seen answered: What is the relationship, if any, between Chris and Nicole Emerson (Hilgenbrink and Reeser) and the Emersons from the original? That seems like an awful big coincidence for them to have the same last name, if there isn't a relationship.
And why did the location change from Santa Clara to Luna Beach, and what, Edgar Frog just happens to have moved to this new town?
Also, is the any connection between the character David, played by Kiefer Sutherland, from the original, and that of Shane, played here by Kiefer's half-brother, Angus Sutherland? The physical resemblance, although perhaps somewhat slight, is noticeable, and would be another large coincidence. Or, is it merely an attempt by the producers to enhance the sequel's "legitimacy"?
Ultimately, the DVD was good way to spend a couple of hours when I didn't have anything else to do.
I must also say that, the movie left me kind of feeling like I do when I go back to a Homecoming at my H.S., seeing younger people doing and enjoying many of the things we did, and remembering what things were like back then, and thinking about the way things have changed.