Monday, July 18, 2016

Review of THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR: Political Propaganda?

July 17, 2016




"The Purge" (2013) (MY REVIEW) posited that in the year 2022, the US government under its "New Founding Fathers" enacted a law enabling people to legally commit any crime on the 21st day of March each year, from 7 pm to 7 am the following day. They do this to ensure a crime-free year the whole year round. The filmmakers decided to limit the scope of that first film within the confines of a single house. In the sequel called "The Purge:Anarchy" (2014) (MY REVIEW), we finally get to see the purging events that happened out in the streets, and it was not pretty.

In this third installment set in the year 2040, we meet US Senator Charlie Roan. Her family was killed in front of her during the very first Purge Night 18 years before. She is now running for US President, with the main campaign promise of putting a stop to the violence of the Purge. The New Founding Fathers of America, headed by Caleb Warren, is threatened by Roan's popularity. So for Purge Night that year, he purposely removed the immunity of government officials, making Roan fair game for elimination.

Frank Grillo, one of the more memorable actors from "Purge 2," is back. His Sgt. Barnes character is now the security officer of Senator Roan, so Grillo (who did not look like he aged 18 years) gets to show off more of his action skills. Elizabeth Mitchell channels Hillary Clinton as she plays Sen. Roan. I cannot help but think if this film had a real-life political agenda in coming out with this film this year, right in the thick of the US Election season. So the biggest question boiled down to -- Who will win the election at the end? Would it be the Pro-Purge NFFA party or would it be the Anti-Purge party of Sen. Roan?

Since we had already seen what happens in and out of the house during Purge Night, there was nothing really new that we can see here in the third episode. So they inject a controversial political issue in the mix, and then by the second half it will boil down again to practically a rehash of "The Purge 2". It is another guessing game which of the characters they introduce in the beginning of the film will end up surviving the Purge or not. Will it be the friendly Storekeeper Joe (Mykelti Williamson)? or Laney the badass EMT (Betty Gabriel)? or how about those two hateful foul-mouthed war-freak Candy Bar Girls? 

In short, "Purge 3" is basically just a repeat of "Purge 2" no-holds-barred bloodbath with some creepy white supremacist antagonists. However, it is currently relevant in that it had that additional dimension that ties it to reality, especially with US elections in full steam now. Locally, it seems our society is having a Purge of our own, with the rash of deadly shootings involving drug addicts, though this real one does not end in only 12 hours. Anyhow, I liked those masks representing historical American icons which the evil purgers used -- definitely a creepy highlight. I still thought "Purge 2" is still better than this one though. 5/10.


14 comments:

  1. I never watch Purge... Dun even know about this movie.. Not sure if it's seen here... But since there's 1,2,3 of this movie d, should be a good one..

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  2. I've watched Purge 2... very violent movie, can't say i've enjoyed it. from the trailer, purge 3 seems to be even more violent and crazy? don't think i'll watch this.

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  3. I enjoyed the first purge as it was an interesting concept. I didn't even know there was a second or third.

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  4. This might be too gory for me. It would make be nice too see corrupt officials suffer this bloodbath though in real life.

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  5. I enjoyed the first two movies and I agree that the second one is better. I haven't had the chance to catch this one, but it seems like I'm not really missing anything.

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  6. I haven't heard of it until now. I'm a big chicken and am the one in the family who opts to go to the cartoon with the youngest, lol

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  7. I haven't heard about it till now.Seems like kinda violent movie,not my type at all.

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  8. I am not sure if I have already seen the two previous movies but I am sure I did watch at least one of it. Up to now, I don't know what's the movie is all about lol. I may have to watch the first movie so that I know what's the story is all about, I guess.

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  9. I have not watched 1,2 so not sure whether will go for 3...Concept is not bad but too much violence?! Then nay!

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  10. I've heard of Purge eons ago, and I didn't know they already had Purge 2 and 3. But with the violence, I think I won't be fond of either.

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  11. I don't think I'm interested. It doesn't sound very impressive. I do watch political drama but this doesn't sound good.

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  12. Ouch. Your rating for this is pretty low. I'm working on this article soon with the basis that I haven't watched the first two films. So will definitely backlink this article to mine! :)

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  13. I just watched this 2 days ago! It was really intense! I think it deserves more than a 5/10 though, in my personal opinion. My husband has enjoyed all the PURGE films too.

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  14. I did not know about this movie, from your review the rating is not good. So I am going to skip this movie.

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