Raptor (2001) Reviews

• When is a movie not a movie?

  satanslittlehelper2002-01-06

  Answer: When it's two movies edited together. I saw this on the video shelf and thought, "Oh, good. Another low-budget dinosaur movie. Haven't seen one of those since Carnosaur 3." So I rented it and sat down to watch it. The first scene opens with three teenagers riding around the desert in a jeep. "Well," I thought, "This is sort of like that scene in Carnosaur." Then I realized, it WAS that scene from Carnosaur. At first, I thought they gave me the wrong tape, but this was a scene from the middle of Carnosaur, not the beginning. Actually, it was my favorite scene from Carnosaur. Now I was seriously disappointed. Instead of watching a new dinosaur movie, I had been tricked into watching clips from two old dinosaur movies edited together. The other reviewers of this movie miss one point in their otherwise on-target reviews. The movie doesn't just use stock footage in place of special effects; it exists for the sole purpose of using stock footage in place of special effects. The script was only added to string together scenes from the first two carnosaur movies. Every line of dialogue exists only to explain why these completely unrelated events are popping up like plastic gophers in a Chuck-e-Cheese game. If you want dinosaurs, rent the Carnosaur movies again.

• What Happens When You Rip Off A Series of Bad Films?

  EdYerkeRobins2002-02-25

  Roger Corman has enjoyed his shares of cinematic infamy in his illustrious low-budget career, spanning over 300 movies. While few (if any) would call him great, his films' obscure connections to underground culture (via reference, tribute, or influence) have ensured him a warped legacy of sorts. Throughout his career, he has also developed a bad habit of remaking his own films ("Piranha", "Humanoids from the Deep", "The Black Scorpion", etc.), without improving on them in the slightest. "Raptor", "written" and "directed" by "Jay Andrews" (Jim Wynorski, the man behind one of my favorite cinematic guilty pleasures, "Chopping Mall") takes that practice to a disturbing new low regarding Corman's mid-'90s "Carnosaur" trilogy. Wynorski's credits are in quotes because "Raptor" isn't a tribute to the "Carnosaur" films, and not even a remake. "Raptor" IS the "Carnosaur" films, or at least the film's dinosaur-induced death scenes, haphazardly spliced together with trace elements of the original plot and some newly shot scenes (many of which consist of "dino's eye view" shots in a lame attempt to make the inserted scenes look less obvious). The "new" material was written around the footage, instead of vice versa, and is totally unremarkable, with huge gaps of logic (e.g. two separate teams are sent in by the military simply so footage from parts 2 and 3, where the soldiers had different uniforms, could be included), which is amazing considering how little logic plays into any of the "Carnosaur" films already. The actors' lack of any feeling in their characters (though in fairness, any character dimension is only presented in the script once, maybe twice) brings to mind the terribly wooden acting in 1950's b-films, and it certainly doesn't make anything between the ripped-off attack scenes worth watching. Even more embarrassing for the actors of the new scenes is when there is an obvious discrepancy in the physical build between the new actor and the actor in the original scene. When the only scene evoking any response in a film is the oldest trick in the horror book, the "spring-loaded animal", something is seriously wrong. As it stands, this is a despicable practice in two b-grade figures (who need not worry about ruining their reputations, because they haven't got one) ripping off their own material, for the cheapest and quickest of dirty tricks, simply because they can (why else would anyone feel possessed to rip off a series meant to be a rip off of the "Jurassic Park" series?). There isn't much more I can say other than that this film carries my very highest recommendations AGAINST viewing; the only good thing about it (besides gazing at Melissa Braselle's navel) is that now I don't have to see any of the "Carnosaur" movies.

• pathetic

  ruxpin830682005-02-27

  My brother-in-law and his wife brought the movie over one night to watch on video. This should have given me the first clue that it would be horrible. It was. From the very first frame to the last this movie is terrible. It does not even quite register as a "B" movie. Maybe an N or a P. One of the worst 5 movies I've ever seen. From the rubber raptor-on-a-stick to the still-breathing corpses in the car to the beyond horrible closing lines, this movie isn't worth watching if you've received it for free. Skip this one altogether--unless you want to play Mystery Science Theatre with your friends, it will provide good ammunition.

• A Long Tradition

  teuthis2003-05-04

  Raptor is simply a scion of 1950's cheap monster pictures. It's fun. The cast does a fair job. There are two real beauties in it. Who wouldn't want to ogle Melissa Brasselle and Lorissa McComas? The special effects are laughable, but isn't that all part of the heritage that we enjoy? I think people expect too much from D movies these days. [Shades of "Horror of Party Beach"!] A cheap, low-budget picture is still what it was. If you enjoy the ambience of penurious production values, a Swiss cheese plot, stunning beauties, and the amateruish action scenes; then you have succeeded in comprehending the "Zen" of Raptor. I always watch it when it comes on cable. One of my favorite parts is when Lorissa McComas comes out of her coma [more shades- of "Them"] and starts ranting about the "big lizard". And the competing special ops squads are a riot. Where did they dredge up those uniforms? Remember when they just went to army surplus? It's just a fun, cheap movie; and anyone who loves monster pictures should enjoy it at some level. Give it a try!

• jurassic park this ain't///possible spoilers

  BloodTheTelepathicDog2004-12-11

  From the very beginning, you know that not a soul on set took this seriously. The plot centers around a secret lab, ran by Corbin Bernsen, that is raising dinosaurs, from t-rexs to the titled raptors. A raptor gets out and kills some people, thus leading to an investigation by Eric Roberts, who is too good of an actor for this, and the sexy Melissa Brasselle. Watching the immobile dinosaur puppets is laughable, and the climax is anything but climactic. All that being said, Melissa Brasselle will surely keep fellow male viewers interested. Guys, if you don't know who she is, rent Raptor right now, or better yet, pick up Komodo. In heaven all women look like Melissa Brasselle. I'd pay good money for 90 minutes of just watching her run. With that, the highlight to this film is when Melissa tiptoes about her house in her undies, afraid that an overgrown lizard gain entrance into her home.