Who greenlighted this mess?
Trancers 4: Jack of Swords and Trancers 5: Sudden Deth are essentialy the same film, as they where shot back-to-back. They also share the same problems. For starters, the produciton values. The land of Orpheus would look so much more like a REAL PLACE, instead of dirty old landmarks, if they USED EXTRAS in the background. Instead, the castle exteriors look like a dingy museum exhibit. Secondly, why is Jack in a parallel universe? Huh? Wasn't he a TIME TRAVELING COP? Finally, if you combine the run-times of each movie (minus the 15 minutes of flashbacks in the ultra-short part 5), they total about two hours. Enough for one film, not two. I guess Full Moon wanted to rip us off. Mission accomplished.
Both of these entries into the popular series feature a solid (as usual) performance from Tim Thomerson as Deth. But each flick plays more like a bad Deathstalker sequel than a Jack Deth adventure. What's more baffeling, is the fact that both movies where shot as one, then split in two during post - yet the opening of 5 totally changes the end events of 4. Couldn't they get this part right?
Shame on you, Charles Band. Shame.
The low point: The supporting actors. I watched, with my jaw dropped open, as one character literally delivered his lines with all the conviction of Ben Stien. The Video Zone, which follows the feature, reveals he was the stunt choreographer. That explains a lot. Lighten the payroll? Ehh?
The high point: Jack returns home. No more Romanian sequels! Yeah!!!!!!
Bottom Line: Trancers 4 and 5 are two terrible entries in a usually reliable series. The latter film basically retreads the same plot as part 4, and even uses the same villian, Lord Caliban - and THIS GUY acts as if he were once a porno star. If you must watch, be scared. Be very, very scared. BOTH FILMS: [R] for language, violence and sexual situations.
