I've been quiet, but I'm a big Scream Stan.
Strengths:
I loved the opening scenes.
I loved the final scenes.
I loved the new characters, specifically Kirby and Sidney's publicist.
Weakness:
I needed more Gale Weathers. I like her strong, not weak.
What I loved about the first
Scream and the franchise is that Ghostface gets his ass KICKED before he kills his victim. Whether it be Sidney slamming a door into his body, Gale smacking a phone across his face, Tatum piercing him with beer bottles, or Cici smashing a potted plant through his cranium, I love how the girls put up a good fight before they are slashed. I feel that's iconic and specific to
Scream and I feel I didn't get that enough/at all in
Scream 4.
I also needed more suspense as well as for Ghostface to appear instantaneously and without warning. That was mastered in
Scream 2. Ghostface always threw you off-guard. (i.e. When Ghostface had the balls to go after Sidney right after the party had ended, with her boyfriend and the crowd not even 12 feet away outside? That was epic and unexpected. And the crawling out of the car scene -- SUSPENSE HEAVEN.) I need more of both those aspects in
Scream 4.
Overall, I still loved the movie and is better than any scary movie that has come out in the past two or three years -- yes, INCLUDING the wack-ass "Paranormal Activity" craze. The last scary movie that I loved that was released to theaters was "Drag Me To Hell."
...Vin