Ba'al

This is a ridiculously funny TV movie, though I doubt the producers planned it that way. The dialogue is stilted, the acting is wooden and the plot is completely nonsensical. However, it's really good for a laugh. Canadians will get a kick out of watching for the ridiculous Canadian goofs. (Like much on SciFi, this picture was produced in Canada -- Vancouver, natch.) Listen for the secondary characters with their Brampton accents... the Canada Post mailbox in the background... and my favourite, the US Navy Lieutenant with bars on his collar and corporal's stripes on his sleeve (reminds me of the MASH episode where Radar gets a "field promotion" to a Captain-Corporal). To make things even better, the rank chevrons point downward, a-la Commonwealth usage. Hell... you'd think someone in the crew would have noticed this?

This movie can be summed up by one word: "blah". It wasn't good, and it wasn't really bad. It just *wasn't*. I was hoping for another laughable Sci-Fi Original; some terrible script, some sad predictable plot, some poorly delivered lines, some poor acting.... but there's none of this. It's just "blah" all around.

In this film, you won't find much of a story. There really isn't a plot, just some very vague good-vs-evil. There's a lot of running around, and the whole movie is one big exercise in boredom. It doesn't even have the humor of a so-bad-it's-good flick.

So don't bother. Just go rent Carnosaur instead ;)

Occasionally we select a film from the rental shelves because we were intrigued with the jacket cover. In school we often study and learn of ancient Gods from around the world. The title of this movie is " Ba'al " so I was intrigued. From it's inception, the story begins to fracture like a thin layer of ice. Beginning with a trip to the Alaska wilderness, we meet Carol (Stefanie Von Pfetten) and her companion, Dr. Lee Helm (Jeremy London) who have come to visit an eminent archaeologist, Dr. Owen Standford (Scott Hylands) who has discovered one of four ancient amulets. Although the find is dangerous, the mad doctor becomes obsessed with their combined power as it will activate the wrath and power of the ancient Sumarian god. The film then has our heroes gallivanting around the globe, chased by an assortment of characters like the F.B.I., Commander Kittrick (Michael Kopsa) of the Canadian government and the director of the museum. One need not see the entire movie to notice all the inaccuracies within the film. Granted the mistakes are obvious, the movie does get a couple points, like the impressive special effects and the near resemblance of the hero to Brandon Frasier. The conclusion is, although it's a badly constructed movie, it's entertaining enough to warrant a look-see. **

While some of the special FX aren't too bad for a movie with this budget, I cannot forgive some really poor production values which makes this film painful to watch. Let me highlight an example...one of the main guys in the film is a lieutenant, he is often referred to by his rank, he even has lieutenant bars on his collar...yet somehow he and everyone else on the movie set fails to notice he has giant corporal stripes on his arms as well. It's beyond ridiculous.

The plot, very typical disaster movie, but with a sci-fi twinge. So rather than it being mother nature that will destroy the planet, it's a supernatural being wielding the power of mother nature.

Suffice to say, I changed channel without watching the whole thing.

Unless you really like one of the actors in this film, I can't see why anyone would want to watch it.

Yes, the film was a valiant attempt at making a movie. The 'Leutenant' at the beginning was wearing COrporal stripes AND LT. bars, AND NO epaulets. The aircraft were erroniously identified, the list goes on and on. Was this a good film? no. Would a bigger budget have fixed it? doubtful. Would different actors fix it? no. Would different directing or FX fixed it? Doubtful. Would it have been a good film if made in the US? no.

What is NOT noticed by one other reviewer (JoeB131) is that low budget films are made all the time. This is common. there are probably 10-20 made of this calibre for every blockbuster. Suck it up man.

Calling every film made in Canada cheesy is a national insult. There have been MANY blockbuster big budget films done in Canada, and many top TV series are filmed in Canada. The difference in the dollar offers producers a chance to make a lot more for the same budget.

Yes there was weak acting here, and there was some good work too. The specific work of Lexa Doig was certainly professional.

Don't let an obvious 'hater' make you think nonsense. OK, the film was low budget, it was weak, but some comments were a blatant slam and unwarranted.