I?ve been waiting at least thirteen years for this movie to bemade. So I found myself walking into the theater with butterfliesin my stomach. What if it?s a bomb? What if they completely screwup a script that could practically write itself?

An hour and a half later, I walked out with a smile on my face.They didn?t screw it up. Well, it wasn?t what I?d consider perfect,but it still rocked my world, thanks in large part to the redeemingsecond half of the film.

So what?s wrong with the first half? Although I have anabove-average fondness for the Nightmare on Elm Street series, theFriday the 13th movies are by far my favorite.

I wiggled uncomfortably in my chair for the first 40minutes or so as the plot completely centered around the legend ofFreddy Krueger and Elm Street. Sure, Jason was there, but asnothing more than a lapdog for Freddy.

Here?s the story. Freddy Krueger has been forgotten by thechildren of Springwood, and thus completely erased from everybody?sdreams. This causes him to lose his power &- if they don?tremember him, he can?t hurt them. The only way he can get back intotheir minds is by sending Jason Vorhees after the Elm Street kids.So, as teens get hacked and slashed by Jason, everyone startstalking about Krueger. As people remember, people start havingnightmares again.

Before you know it, Freddy?s back killing teenagers in theirdreams. Well, those who Jason hasn?t already killed. Of course,Krueger is infuriated when Jason steals his victims, and the battlebegins.

The other inherent problem is the ridiculously obviousreplacement Jason. Kane Hodder, who played Jason in the last fourinstallments of Friday the 13th, was passed up for a taller,thinner Jason, played by Ken Kirzlinger. A new look I can handle,but Kirzlinger obviously didn?t spend a lot of time researching.Gone are the signature Jason head-cocks and grunts. Down is thebulky scary Jason for a slim, easier-on-the-eyes Jason.

That?s okay though. Sure, the script isn?t pure gold, but by godif those fight scenes didn?t leave me in full-on nerdy horror flickfan mode. Plus, they laid on just the right amount of camp, whichis a breath of fresh air after that Jason X monstrosity.

For anyone who grew up watching the Nightmare and Fridayseries?, this is absolutely worth $8. I?m not sure if peopleunfamiliar with the franchises would have the good time that I did,but there are some great moments, so I?d recommend this toanyone.