|
Here it is, "The Final Chapter." (Or is it, you never really know with these movies.) Jason, unlike Freddy never had one actor for every movie. This did not detract Jason from becoming a cultural icon. In fact, it was a nice touch as each actor who portayed Jason brought something new to the part. In honor of our birthday boy, here is a list of my 5 favorite Jasons. I hope y'all enjoy! Happy Friday The 13th Everybody!!!
5. Ken Kirzinger-“Jason Vs. Freddy”(2003)
Many fans cried out in rage when it was announced that Kane Hodder would not return for “Freddy Vs. Jason.” I was not all that heartbroken. Many actors have played Jason in the past and everyone has brought something new and interesting to the part. Ken Kirzinger’s turn as Jason was no exception. He brought back the more slender look to Jason that was lost in the Kane Hodder entries. I also liked the addition of the jacket and a return to earth tones in the costume. The stands of hair were a nice touch to give a more grizzled look to our favorite slasher.
4. Warrington Gillette “Friday The 13th Part 2”(1982)
“Part 2” is an interesting film to look at in hindsight. Most people thought Jason coming back to avenge his mother’s death was just a silly idea that would never fly. Years later, we’re still talking about this classic series. Here we have the true introduction as Jason Voorhees as an onscreen villain. His look in this movie is COMPLTELY different than any of the other films, it’s obvious that the filmmakers were really trying to find a classic look that would be remembered. He burlap sack was a nice reference to “The Town That Dreaded Sundown,” and the flannel shirt and overalls added to the mystique of the crazed hillbilly in the woods. The make-up used for Jason’s face is generally not accepted by fans, but I think the grizzled beard and shaggy haired look is probably a more fair assessment of what Jason would actually look like having lived in the woods all those years, he was never told about a Mach 3.
3. Kane Hodder “Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday”(1993)
I was never a terrific fan of Kane Hodder as Jason. He’s an excellent stunt-man and was a great mouth-piece for the series, but I always felt that he was a little too beefy to portray Jason. I always saw Jason as the skinny, fast madman who would take his prey out quickly, not the lumbering beast that would toy with his victims and wrestle with them. That being said, Hodder did do a decent job and the makeup and costuming in “Hell” are fantastic. The idea of the malformed head with the hockey mask being sunk in and becoming a part of Jason was nice, as were the tore up clothes, really giving the appearance of a villain that had been hung, stabbed, drowned and burned.
2. C.J. Graham “Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives”(1986)
This was definitely one of the coolest Jason’s. Jason had more of a streamlined look in this one. C.J. Graham had the opportunity to introduce the world to the new “zombie” Jason as a more efficient, mindless killing machine. The utility belt was a nice touch as it gave Jason a whole arsenal of weapons to do away with his victims.
1. Richard Brooker “Friday The 13th Part III”(1983)
This is the definitive, classic Jason look. Richard Brooker really created the style to play Jason in. Jason in “Part 2” is a bit clumsy while the Jason’s of the Hodder area were a little too big. Brooker played Jason just right. He was tall, slender, and moved FAST. This made Jason all the more scary with his madman run, arms flailing about, grunting and groaning like a wild animal. Jason ditched the hillbilly gear for a more modern work shirt and pants. A nice touch was that the clothes were a bit too small on him to give Jason a larger than life appeal. “Part III” is also the introduction of the hockey mask, a true cultural icon. The mask was used to hide the hideous face that hid underneath, some of the best make up this side of Savini’s work on the series. Makeup, mask, style clothes all add up to the best portrayal of Jason on film.
Of course, all of these are open up to discusion
|