As the draws to a close there are a couple of movies out there I would still like to catch before I bid 2007 a dieu. However one of the movies I knew there was no way I was going to miss was Will Smith latest, potential blockbuster, if such a thing is possible in December, I Am Legend. This movie along with American Ganster were a must for me before the close of the year. Both feature two of my favorite actors, Mr. Washington and Mr. Smith, and both had all the makings of greatness in the design. American Gangster did not disappoint and delivered everywhere it was supposed to, I Am Legend was in no way a disappointment, but did fall a little short. Please don't mistake what I am saying, and I will get to this later, the movie is definitely worth seeing, I highly recommend it, but when you are Will Smith I expect greatness every single time, and this fell just short of greatness.
The premise of the movie was an interesting idea; supposed cure for cancer turns out to be infectious disease that turns all those that come into contact with it into "mindless" super zombies that are faster, stronger, and more agile than humans. However they feed on flesh and blood and are extremely sensitive to ultra violet light. Dr. Neville, Will Smith, is immune to the disease and spends several years alone in New York as the only apparent human survivor trying to develop a cure. Along with his dog Will spends his days, trying to contact any other potential survivors, working on a cure and trying to stay alive.
I Am Legend features a couple of very cool action sequences and a handful of very poignant moments, in particular one between Will and a mannequin. I cannot say anything negative about Will's acting, once again he is exceptional. While Will did not bulk-up to Muhammad Ali size, he definitely toned up and got really fit for this flick, in addition to the look Will had absolutely no problem pulling off the role of genius, super soldier, trying to save the world. Both acting and visually the movie was tops, the movie fell a little short on the story side of things. I can't say the ending sucked, but I don't know it fell a little short. If you haven't seen it I won't ruin, but there was this big build up and in the end the story cheated itself. I will however disagree with many of the critics that felt the infected humans were not scary enough. I don't think the point was for them to be scary, the movie was unaffected by the design of the infected humans.
I really enjoyed this movie, a lot of fun, exciting, suspenseful, emotional, I want to say it was great, but it fell just short of great, but no excuse to not see this movie or even own it.
GRADE - B+
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
American Gangster
I am not sure how this movie was not going to be great, I mean I guess it was possible for this movie to not deliver in every aspect, it has happened before, but in no way was this movie not freakin awesome. I mean I really don't want to say much more because it will all sound so cliche, but man this was a really good movie. I can sum this movie up in one scene. Russ and Denzel face off near the end, it is just the two of them sitting down at table across form one another from one another, each trying to get the other to give up more than they are willing to give up. Normally Denzel crushes the other actor, not in any ill inteded way, but he is just that good and his personality is just that strong and it is hard to hold your own with Denzel and not look like you are literally trying to out do him, but Russ man, Russ stood toe to toe, nose to nose, to one of Hollywood's biggest giants and he did not blink. That is American Gangster, Ridely Scott telling the story of two giants from opposite sides of the law finding enough common ground to work together.
Nuff said
GRADE - A
Nuff said
GRADE - A
Michael Clayton
George, George, George, when did you get so good at this whole acting thing. George Clooney is one of those guys that your like, man how long as he been acting, then you look at his filmography and your like wow, this dude has been acting for a while. And not only that, but the man makes pretty good movies. This was not exception, in fact this was definately near the top of his list, if not his best work, which it very well maybe.
Michael Clayton is a janitor at one of largest most powerful law firms in the world. And by janitor I mean attorney that legally cleans up all the messses other attorneys and their really, really, really wealthly clients make. Michael has made a living out of being able to undo what other dumber more carless attorneys do. This is a niche that Michael has carved out for himself and in the world of corporate law, this niche is as close to tenure as you can get in a law firm.
This film features Michael setting out to clean up the mess of one of his long time friends and a giant at the law firm, Arthur Edens, played by the uber talented Tom Wilkinson. Michael sets out to clean up Arthur's mess, but when Arthur seemingly kills himself Michael sets out to finish the work that his friend Arthur started. Which is taking down one of their major clients for really grimy business practices.
The story is strong, lots of twists and turns and u-turns and suspense and just really good things happening on screen, but I can't say enough about how well acted this peice was. Everyone, I mean just everyone was gold, Tilda Swinton, playing lead council for the grimmy argicultural company that has poisoned people, Sydney Pollack, playing one of the partners at the firm, Tom Wilkinson I already mentioned and of course Mr. Clooney. I don't know if he is getting Oscar buzz and really that doesn't matter all that much to me, but he should, the dude was just money, for two hours he was on, he never missed not once.
You would be crazy if you don't stop reading this right now and go get this movie... ok if you have just come back from wherever you get movies get ready to enjoy one of the best movies of the year. If you haven't left yet let me make it easy for you.
GRADE - A
Michael Clayton is a janitor at one of largest most powerful law firms in the world. And by janitor I mean attorney that legally cleans up all the messses other attorneys and their really, really, really wealthly clients make. Michael has made a living out of being able to undo what other dumber more carless attorneys do. This is a niche that Michael has carved out for himself and in the world of corporate law, this niche is as close to tenure as you can get in a law firm.
This film features Michael setting out to clean up the mess of one of his long time friends and a giant at the law firm, Arthur Edens, played by the uber talented Tom Wilkinson. Michael sets out to clean up Arthur's mess, but when Arthur seemingly kills himself Michael sets out to finish the work that his friend Arthur started. Which is taking down one of their major clients for really grimy business practices.
The story is strong, lots of twists and turns and u-turns and suspense and just really good things happening on screen, but I can't say enough about how well acted this peice was. Everyone, I mean just everyone was gold, Tilda Swinton, playing lead council for the grimmy argicultural company that has poisoned people, Sydney Pollack, playing one of the partners at the firm, Tom Wilkinson I already mentioned and of course Mr. Clooney. I don't know if he is getting Oscar buzz and really that doesn't matter all that much to me, but he should, the dude was just money, for two hours he was on, he never missed not once.
You would be crazy if you don't stop reading this right now and go get this movie... ok if you have just come back from wherever you get movies get ready to enjoy one of the best movies of the year. If you haven't left yet let me make it easy for you.
GRADE - A
The Kingdom
What do you get when you combine, Jaime Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jen Garner, Chris Cooper, Peter Berg, the middle east, terrorism and the most intense 3o minutes of climatic action you will ever see, give up The Kingdom. This movie is about what goes on in Saudi Arabia that most Americans have no clue about. I cannot vouch for how accurate the film is, I studied Latin America college not the Middle East, but I can tell you that felt like it was accurate.
Peter Berg is like my favoritest director that I never think about. This dude just makes solid, fun to watch movies that are never boring. Now the marketing of this movie would lead you to believe it was going to be more than a simply action movie, so don't believe the hype, but than again what is wrong with being a simple action movie. For an action movie this one was a little slow, the begining was good, the middle dragged in parts, but the ending more than made up for it. In fact I am comfortable saying the movie was built around the last 3o minutes and in that regard it did not fail. It delivered several times over.
The story was believable in the sense that stuff goes down in Saudi Arabia, Americans get killed and the last thing the Saudi government wants is American involvment so everything it took to get the FBI over there is believable. It is also not difficult to imagine that once over there they would not be welcomed with open arms. So the initial investigation was slow going, but stuff happens a common ground is found and the investigation is off and runing.
I should say a word about the acting, GREAT. I don't need to say much about the aforementioned cast, however I want to spend a special shout out to Ashraf Barhom, who played the Saudi Colonel that aided the FBI's investigation. This guys was awesome, I mean really really good he along with Ali Suliman money all the way. It is nice that western film has gotten to the place where we put in the effort to cast people from the region to play these roles as opposed to casting a westerner with a tan and learning an accent. This way the acting is much more authentic and pays huge dividens on screen.
Whats not to like about this movie, it was not perfect, but most movies aren't. The Kingdom is a good time at the flix, definately a must see.
GRADE - A-
Peter Berg is like my favoritest director that I never think about. This dude just makes solid, fun to watch movies that are never boring. Now the marketing of this movie would lead you to believe it was going to be more than a simply action movie, so don't believe the hype, but than again what is wrong with being a simple action movie. For an action movie this one was a little slow, the begining was good, the middle dragged in parts, but the ending more than made up for it. In fact I am comfortable saying the movie was built around the last 3o minutes and in that regard it did not fail. It delivered several times over.
The story was believable in the sense that stuff goes down in Saudi Arabia, Americans get killed and the last thing the Saudi government wants is American involvment so everything it took to get the FBI over there is believable. It is also not difficult to imagine that once over there they would not be welcomed with open arms. So the initial investigation was slow going, but stuff happens a common ground is found and the investigation is off and runing.
I should say a word about the acting, GREAT. I don't need to say much about the aforementioned cast, however I want to spend a special shout out to Ashraf Barhom, who played the Saudi Colonel that aided the FBI's investigation. This guys was awesome, I mean really really good he along with Ali Suliman money all the way. It is nice that western film has gotten to the place where we put in the effort to cast people from the region to play these roles as opposed to casting a westerner with a tan and learning an accent. This way the acting is much more authentic and pays huge dividens on screen.
Whats not to like about this movie, it was not perfect, but most movies aren't. The Kingdom is a good time at the flix, definately a must see.
GRADE - A-
The Brave One
Is it possible to be tough and vulnerable at the same time, if you are Jodie Foster it is. This is just another one of those films that Jodie has added to growing list of Jodie Foster movies. There are a handful of actors/actresses that have become so good at developing a character composite that it becomes their role, their movie; Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino. These folks have become so good that movies are written for them to do their schtick. This is not a knock in anyway, there personalities are so strong that they define the roles they take and it becomes them. It is hard for me to think of anyone else playing this role, Jodie is the best at it.
From a film making perspective this movie did not do much to move me or impress me in anyway. The story was sort of perdictable and in the end the lesson learned is being a vigilante is acceptiable as long as you have a really good reason. Having said that the cast is strong enough to make the movie watchable. I really don't need to say anything about Jodie. Terrance Howard is very quietly turning himself into a big time actor that demands respect. He was strong, on time and did not shrink into the background in his scenes with Jodie, but also did not try to steal them either. Naveen Andrews wins the award for luckiest guy ever because he as like two lines in the whole movie. All he had to do was show up and make out with smokin hot Jodie. Granted his character also got beat to death in maybe the most brutal fashion possible, but hey making out with Jodie might be worth it.
Good acting, weak story, weaker ending, not a must see, but worth a Netflix selection.
GRADE - C+
From a film making perspective this movie did not do much to move me or impress me in anyway. The story was sort of perdictable and in the end the lesson learned is being a vigilante is acceptiable as long as you have a really good reason. Having said that the cast is strong enough to make the movie watchable. I really don't need to say anything about Jodie. Terrance Howard is very quietly turning himself into a big time actor that demands respect. He was strong, on time and did not shrink into the background in his scenes with Jodie, but also did not try to steal them either. Naveen Andrews wins the award for luckiest guy ever because he as like two lines in the whole movie. All he had to do was show up and make out with smokin hot Jodie. Granted his character also got beat to death in maybe the most brutal fashion possible, but hey making out with Jodie might be worth it.
Good acting, weak story, weaker ending, not a must see, but worth a Netflix selection.
GRADE - C+
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Eastern Promises
Cronenberg is a twisted individual, but I will give him credit for one thing, he definately takes the movie out of movie violence. I have never been in a brutal knife while steaming in suana, but I imagine it would go a little something like what happened during this movie. There is not sensationalism with Cronenberg he depicts violence as it might actually go down. The violence is brutal and uncontrolled and bloody. His fight scenes are not ten minute choreographed dance numbers, they are knock down drag out, bloody messes that makes the audience cringe and squirm at what they are watching. He does what he does and he does it really well. Cronenberg's graphically violent tendencies aside, which is in now way a knock, Eastern Promises shows western audiences a side to the Russian mafia they have never seen before.
Eastern Promises is the story of a baby, a baby whose mother, a teen-aged prostitute who is raped by the head of the Russian mafia, and than beaten, she later dies at the hospital during child birth. The mother leaves behind a diary that reveals all the terrors she suffered at the hands of the Russian Mafia. The nurse that delivered the baby, Naomi Watts finds the diary and tries to get it translated by taking it back to the very same people that killed the girl. At this restaurant she meets and falls for an undercover agent for Scotland Yard, Viggo Mortensen, posing as a driver trying to make his way up the crime ladder. What follows is a story of how this nurse intent on finding locating this dead girl's family comes to adopt this little child, but getting her father, one of the mafia heads, killed.
It is hard to describe this movie in a few words. There are romantic elements amid splashes of suspense and violence. This movie is a slice out of the lives of the characters we meet on screen. This does not tell a whole story, but rather the turbulent begining of child's life through the lense of her mother's death. We are not entirely sur of what happened before this moment or after all we are given is this breif view into their lives.
In the end it is a good movie, not great because frankly not enough happens for me and I can really do without the naked guy on guy on guy bloody suana brawl. To his credit Viggo does whatever is asked of him and David C. makes movie violence look as close to real thing as possible. Not a must see, but worth a watch for sure.
GRADE - C+
Eastern Promises is the story of a baby, a baby whose mother, a teen-aged prostitute who is raped by the head of the Russian mafia, and than beaten, she later dies at the hospital during child birth. The mother leaves behind a diary that reveals all the terrors she suffered at the hands of the Russian Mafia. The nurse that delivered the baby, Naomi Watts finds the diary and tries to get it translated by taking it back to the very same people that killed the girl. At this restaurant she meets and falls for an undercover agent for Scotland Yard, Viggo Mortensen, posing as a driver trying to make his way up the crime ladder. What follows is a story of how this nurse intent on finding locating this dead girl's family comes to adopt this little child, but getting her father, one of the mafia heads, killed.
It is hard to describe this movie in a few words. There are romantic elements amid splashes of suspense and violence. This movie is a slice out of the lives of the characters we meet on screen. This does not tell a whole story, but rather the turbulent begining of child's life through the lense of her mother's death. We are not entirely sur of what happened before this moment or after all we are given is this breif view into their lives.
In the end it is a good movie, not great because frankly not enough happens for me and I can really do without the naked guy on guy on guy bloody suana brawl. To his credit Viggo does whatever is asked of him and David C. makes movie violence look as close to real thing as possible. Not a must see, but worth a watch for sure.
GRADE - C+
Shoot'Em up
I am skipping the pleasantries and getting right down to business. I am not exactly how I feel about this movie, I am not even sure I can give an effective recap. Clive Owen is Smith, an off the grid former British super soldier that is just trying to stay out of trouble, Paul Giamatti is Hertz, the kind of trouble Smith is trying to avoid and Monic Bellucci is Donna Quintano a lactating prostitute that specializes in... special kind of fetish. The characters are strange enough and the cast is talented enough to make it work, sort of.
The movie is about a baby, a special baby bred for a special purpose, Owen doesn't know the baby is special when he saves the baby's life, but he does and that puts him in Giamatti's cross hairs. Owen goes to Bellucci for help with tacking care of the baby, Giamatti tracks them both down and with a name like Shoot'Em Up, you can imagine what happens.
It is clear that director, Michael Davis was making a tongue and cheek action movie with ridiculous action sequences and spectacular special effects. That is was cool and the cast was cool, but the movie the story, well I guess I should not have expected much. I am guessing that it was written to be ironic and more of a satire, thus the really ridiculous actions scenes, for example a gun fight while sky diving. Either that or Owen and Giamatti read the script and figured this would be a good chance for them to make a movie without having to break a sweat. Owen's character was really a montange of a bunch of other characters he has already played and Giamatti, well I think he so this as his chance to just be rediculous and no one would notice. As for Bellucci, she talented no doubt, this movie doesn't do her much justice, but it definately played up her hotness and yeah she is blazin. That is the sound of Diane Lane getting bumped of the list and replace by Bellucci.
Unless you have a good sense of humor or are able to enjoy a really superficial action movie I would not recommend this. I enjoyed myself, but I was not jumping out of my seat. Some cool visuals, but nothing to go nuts over, well maybe the scene from the hotel, yea good stuff.
GRADE - B-
The movie is about a baby, a special baby bred for a special purpose, Owen doesn't know the baby is special when he saves the baby's life, but he does and that puts him in Giamatti's cross hairs. Owen goes to Bellucci for help with tacking care of the baby, Giamatti tracks them both down and with a name like Shoot'Em Up, you can imagine what happens.
It is clear that director, Michael Davis was making a tongue and cheek action movie with ridiculous action sequences and spectacular special effects. That is was cool and the cast was cool, but the movie the story, well I guess I should not have expected much. I am guessing that it was written to be ironic and more of a satire, thus the really ridiculous actions scenes, for example a gun fight while sky diving. Either that or Owen and Giamatti read the script and figured this would be a good chance for them to make a movie without having to break a sweat. Owen's character was really a montange of a bunch of other characters he has already played and Giamatti, well I think he so this as his chance to just be rediculous and no one would notice. As for Bellucci, she talented no doubt, this movie doesn't do her much justice, but it definately played up her hotness and yeah she is blazin. That is the sound of Diane Lane getting bumped of the list and replace by Bellucci.
Unless you have a good sense of humor or are able to enjoy a really superficial action movie I would not recommend this. I enjoyed myself, but I was not jumping out of my seat. Some cool visuals, but nothing to go nuts over, well maybe the scene from the hotel, yea good stuff.
GRADE - B-
3:10 to Yuma
Alright, alright, so I am a little behind. Things have been crazy this month and well, well anyway I am back on track and ready to spit some knowledge about this Fall's flicks. And what a way to kick off the fall than with a good ole fashion Western chaulk full of six shooters, stage coaches, a gang of mean cusses, and indians (i know the correct term is native americans, but I am working on a theme, anyway) hard to ask for much more than that. 3:10 to Yuma is the story of a wounded Revolutionary War veteran who establishes a small ranch in Arizona only to have it threatened by a wealthy land owner who wants him off his land so that he can clear it for the rail road. Christian Bale plays the role of Dan Evans, the small rancher trying to support his family. Just as things seems beyond saving Bale is given the opportunity to save his land and home by escorting one of the west's most notorius theieves, Ben Wade played by Russell Crowe, to a train station where he will board the 3:10 train headed to Yuma where Wade will be imprisoned and eventually executed. During thier journey to the train station Wade and Evans learn that there is more to the other than can be seen on the outside and eventually come to respect and appreciate one another.
Given the story and strength of the cast it is hard to imagine that this wouldn't be a great movie and other than a rather peculiar ending, which didn't hurt the movie it was just weird, this was a great movie. Christian Bale can pull of the pensive, introspective character as well as anyone in teh business and for a change Russell Crowe did not cry in one of his movies, not that there is anything wrong with that. In addition to a great cast, the movie was very well done. The director, James Mangold, did a great job making the film look like it was shot entirely on location and included some great enviornments.
I don't really consider myself a western type of guy. I am definately a bigger fan of the modern western more than the John Wayne of even early Clint Eastwood films, but this was really a solid flick, from begining to end it did not drag and fall off in the middle, but maintained momentum through the entire movie. I definately recommend it to anyone old enough to get in. This is a good time.
GRADE - B+
Given the story and strength of the cast it is hard to imagine that this wouldn't be a great movie and other than a rather peculiar ending, which didn't hurt the movie it was just weird, this was a great movie. Christian Bale can pull of the pensive, introspective character as well as anyone in teh business and for a change Russell Crowe did not cry in one of his movies, not that there is anything wrong with that. In addition to a great cast, the movie was very well done. The director, James Mangold, did a great job making the film look like it was shot entirely on location and included some great enviornments.
I don't really consider myself a western type of guy. I am definately a bigger fan of the modern western more than the John Wayne of even early Clint Eastwood films, but this was really a solid flick, from begining to end it did not drag and fall off in the middle, but maintained momentum through the entire movie. I definately recommend it to anyone old enough to get in. This is a good time.
GRADE - B+
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Simpsons Movie
Well it was a decade in the making, or something like that, but this summer we finally got The Simpsons Movie and I have to say it was pretty good. Now ten/twelve years pretty good would have been totally unacceptable for the great television of all time, but since the show has been on a ten to twelve year skid pretty good is actually really good for this franchise.
Since I went into this movie not expecting a whole heck of a lot, when got a bunch of great one liners, "more than two shakes is playing with yourself" and hand full of memorable scence, full frontal Bart nudity may never leave my head, I was pleasantly surprised. Regarding the story, the writes pretty much stuck to form, we got really selfish Homer doing everything possible to make a bad situation worse, we got trouble making Bart getting into trouble, Marge and Lisa in the virtually meaningless C story line and then everything coming together and working itself out in the end. I mean the show has been on for 80 consecutive seasons for a reason so I have no problem with them sticking to the formula.
I appreciate the resistance of randomingly struting out non-stop celebrity cameos. Tom Hanks was perfect in that spot and Albert Brooks might as well be on the cast, so that was one land mine they avoided. Having said that the only real knock I have on the movie is the same critism I have had of the show the last several years, they are running out of really fresh, innovative jokes. It is expected after almost twenty years, having said that I can't give the movie credit for what the show was like at its best.
All in all a funny movie that probably ended up being about as good as it could be given everything else. I definatey keeper.
GRADE - B
Since I went into this movie not expecting a whole heck of a lot, when got a bunch of great one liners, "more than two shakes is playing with yourself" and hand full of memorable scence, full frontal Bart nudity may never leave my head, I was pleasantly surprised. Regarding the story, the writes pretty much stuck to form, we got really selfish Homer doing everything possible to make a bad situation worse, we got trouble making Bart getting into trouble, Marge and Lisa in the virtually meaningless C story line and then everything coming together and working itself out in the end. I mean the show has been on for 80 consecutive seasons for a reason so I have no problem with them sticking to the formula.
I appreciate the resistance of randomingly struting out non-stop celebrity cameos. Tom Hanks was perfect in that spot and Albert Brooks might as well be on the cast, so that was one land mine they avoided. Having said that the only real knock I have on the movie is the same critism I have had of the show the last several years, they are running out of really fresh, innovative jokes. It is expected after almost twenty years, having said that I can't give the movie credit for what the show was like at its best.
All in all a funny movie that probably ended up being about as good as it could be given everything else. I definatey keeper.
GRADE - B
The Bourne Ultimatum
It has taken me way too long to write this review and for that I apologize, I have had and continue to have a lot of tables. At any rate since this review will pretty much write itself I wanted to get to it. The Bourne Ultimatum, was the third in a trilogy about Jason Bourne, a blakc bag CIA operative who had lost his memory and has been slowly regaining it and trying to piece back his life from before a near fatal accident he had while doing a job. This movie in my opinion salvaged the summer of 2007. After the huge dissapointments of Spiderman 3 and Shreck the Third, it was nice to have a trilogy finally deliver.
In Bourne Ultimatum, the film maker, producers, cast and crew were able to incoroporate all the elements that worked in the first two movies in a such a way as to avoid being redunant and at the same time add a couple of new wrinkles to keep the audience focused on what was happening on screen. The movie featured creative action sequences and fight scenes, in this movie he used a phone book, as opposed to a magazine or pen; slick editing, some of the scenes from Bourne Supremacy, were inserted directly into this movie; the movie even had a plot twist at the end pertaining to his origin. The did not leave anything out, they did not leave any issues unresolved, in fact everyone got the just deserts and our star, well lets just say he is no worse for the wear.
Thank you Universal Studios, Matt Damon and all the rest for making a near perfect trilogy. The Bourne Series is up there with the original Star Wars (Episodes 4-6), Lord of the Rings, and The Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
GRADE - A
In Bourne Ultimatum, the film maker, producers, cast and crew were able to incoroporate all the elements that worked in the first two movies in a such a way as to avoid being redunant and at the same time add a couple of new wrinkles to keep the audience focused on what was happening on screen. The movie featured creative action sequences and fight scenes, in this movie he used a phone book, as opposed to a magazine or pen; slick editing, some of the scenes from Bourne Supremacy, were inserted directly into this movie; the movie even had a plot twist at the end pertaining to his origin. The did not leave anything out, they did not leave any issues unresolved, in fact everyone got the just deserts and our star, well lets just say he is no worse for the wear.
Thank you Universal Studios, Matt Damon and all the rest for making a near perfect trilogy. The Bourne Series is up there with the original Star Wars (Episodes 4-6), Lord of the Rings, and The Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
GRADE - A
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Greatest Summer Action Movies
We got a lot of big "block-buster" type summer action movies this year. While there was only one, The Bourne Ultimatum, that really stood out it got me thinking about how much I love the action movie genre and how great the summer is, becuase there is usually a collection of really good action movies. With this thought in mind I did what any reasonable person that maintains a blog and has a serious problem with watching movies would do; I made a list. Below are the 25 greatest action movies from the last twenty years.
By way of explanation, in order for a movies to be qualified as a summer action movie it has to have been released some time during the summer which is defined as May, June, July and August. It has to be classified as an action movie (loosely defined) and it has to have made a lasting impact. For some of the movies below it is a bit too early to tell, but in my best estimation I believe they have made an impact that will last. Without further ado, The 25 Greatest Summer of the last twenty years -
1. Terminator 2 (July 1991)
2. Independence Day (July 1996)
3. Batman (June 1989)
4. Jurassic Park (June 1993)
5. Die Hard (July 1988)
6. Gladiator (May 2000)
7. Braveheart (May 1995)
8. Saving Private Ryan (July 1998)
9. The Matrix Reloaded (May 2003)
10. Spiderman (May 2002)
11. X2 (May 2003)
12. X-Men (July 2000)
13. Spider Man 2 (June 2004)
14. Mission Impossible (May 1996)
15. The Bourne Identity (June 2002)
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (July 2006)
17. Face/Off (June 1997)
18. Men In Black (July 1997)
19. Batman Begins (June 2005)
20. Blade (August 1998)
21. The Bourne Supremacy (July 2004)
22. Lethal Weapon 4 (July 1998)
23. The Bourne Ultimatum (August 2007)
24. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (June 2001)
25. I, Robot (July 2004)
Transformers
Aight so kill me, its been almost a month since my last blog, I know you have missed me, but I can't tell you enought how much I really don't enjoy writing, if there were some way I could dictate my blogs that would be soooooo much better, but I decided after almost three weeks to get off my duff and get this thing done.
So what summer would be complete without a big shinny, blowing everything in sight-up, Michael Bay movie. The one thing I will say about the guys is that he likes to film the way he likes to film and he gets finding scripts that call for his specific brand of carnage, and Transformers was no exception. For me there were two big hurdles that Bay had to overcome in order to make this work and if done correctly could really make this movie something special. First the transformation had to be legit, he couldn't just give us one or two transformations and then start cutting corners, by pulling the camera away or making the transforming happen when it is dark. If this movie was going to work the tranformations had to be visible, clear and there had to be a bunch of them. To his credit Bay did it. When they Transformers transformed the auidence could see it happening quite clearly. Not only that but the transformations happened different ways. Some transformed standing still, others will moving, other transformed to get into action. There was great variety in the transformations and they all worked. With that all that was left was the second big hurdle; an interesting storyline.
At the end of the day this movie was not made to win any awards, but you have to do a little better in the story department. Outside of Shia LeBeof and Anthony Anderson no one was really stand out, but to be honest it is hard to stand 0ut with these guys around. Tyreese and Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas) were fine as tough guy marine cammandos, but nothing to get excited about. Honestly and I can't believe I am going to say this, but Tyreese is capable of more than this. Be that has it may the movie delivered everywhere else, so go see it. As far as summer movies go you get more summery than Michael Bay blowing stuff up.
GRADE - B
So what summer would be complete without a big shinny, blowing everything in sight-up, Michael Bay movie. The one thing I will say about the guys is that he likes to film the way he likes to film and he gets finding scripts that call for his specific brand of carnage, and Transformers was no exception. For me there were two big hurdles that Bay had to overcome in order to make this work and if done correctly could really make this movie something special. First the transformation had to be legit, he couldn't just give us one or two transformations and then start cutting corners, by pulling the camera away or making the transforming happen when it is dark. If this movie was going to work the tranformations had to be visible, clear and there had to be a bunch of them. To his credit Bay did it. When they Transformers transformed the auidence could see it happening quite clearly. Not only that but the transformations happened different ways. Some transformed standing still, others will moving, other transformed to get into action. There was great variety in the transformations and they all worked. With that all that was left was the second big hurdle; an interesting storyline.
The problemw with adaption movies; comic books to film, or video games, or cartoons, whatever you are adapting to film usually do not have a very compelling origin story or the origin story is part of a larger story that is about more than simply the origin. Comics, video games, cartoons, tv show, all have the luxury of having their stories told over a longer period of time. In a film you get two hours tops before you start to loose people. The writer and director has to find a way to take a series worth of storyline and cram it into 2 hours or find a storyline from the original program, book, whatever that can work in a movie. This is why so few apation movies work. Transformers fell short in that department, there was no story. The Transformers are member of a self desctructive master race of advanced life forms. The survivors have been scouring the globe looking for this cube that if possessed by the wrong one could usher in a new eara of desctruction. And surprise, surprise the cube landed on earth. The Decepticons wanted to possess the cube for themselves, the Autobots want to retrieve the cube and destroy it. Both land on earth in search of the cube and the explosions don't stop till the end.
At the end of the day this movie was not made to win any awards, but you have to do a little better in the story department. Outside of Shia LeBeof and Anthony Anderson no one was really stand out, but to be honest it is hard to stand 0ut with these guys around. Tyreese and Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas) were fine as tough guy marine cammandos, but nothing to get excited about. Honestly and I can't believe I am going to say this, but Tyreese is capable of more than this. Be that has it may the movie delivered everywhere else, so go see it. As far as summer movies go you get more summery than Michael Bay blowing stuff up.
GRADE - B
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The First Twenty of 2007
We are nearing the end of the summer blockbuster months and I have to say what a dissapointing summer. There is still the chance that the Bourne Ultimatum can keep the summer from falling completely on its face. Given that I figured to keep the consistancy going I put together my first list before the summer, now that we are reaching the end of the summer what better time to do my second list, even though the summer has been absolutely weak. Here's hoping this fall is strong as last fall.
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (A-)
4. Breach (A-)
5. Reign Over Me (B+)
6. Live Free or Die Hard (B+)
7. Zodiac (B+)
8. Mr. Brooks (B+)
9. The Grindhouse (B+)
10. Ocean’s Thirteen (B)
11. Hot Fuzz (B)
12. DOA: Dead or Alive (C+)
13. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
14. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (C)
15. Spiderman 3 (C)
16. Smokin’ Aces (C)
17. The Condemned (C)
18. Ghost Rider (D)
19. Shrek the Third (D)
20. Pathfinder (F)
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (A-)
4. Breach (A-)
5. Reign Over Me (B+)
6. Live Free or Die Hard (B+)
7. Zodiac (B+)
8. Mr. Brooks (B+)
9. The Grindhouse (B+)
10. Ocean’s Thirteen (B)
11. Hot Fuzz (B)
12. DOA: Dead or Alive (C+)
13. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
14. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (C)
15. Spiderman 3 (C)
16. Smokin’ Aces (C)
17. The Condemned (C)
18. Ghost Rider (D)
19. Shrek the Third (D)
20. Pathfinder (F)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Live Free or Die Hard
John McClaine is clearly my favorite movie character of all time, hands down, close the polls voting is over, no question about it. I was not sure if I could get behind 50 year old Bruce Willis dusting off his Johnny Mac persona, but I should have known better than to doubt the man. So depending on your definition of what a Die Hard movie should or should not be will determine your level of enjoyment of Live Free or Die Hard. For me the formula is simple, wise cracking John McCaline thrusted into a virtual impossible situatio where he has to use his acute detective skills and survial instincts to overcome insurmountable odds and save the day. In that regard this movie fit the bill. Bruce cracked his jokes, got his head busted in, killed like 500 bad guys and saved the day. Now I will grant you this time around being that it was the fourth movie things got a little out of control, alright well a lot out of control. I mean you would think that someone would draw the line at Bruce surfing on an F-18 Fighter Jet.
Crazy wild stunts aside this was a really good time at the multiplex. The story was a little far fetched; crazy super computer genius, Timothy Olyphant, warns the US government of our vulnerability to cyber terrorism and when the government does not respond he proves his point by crashing all financial and ulity systems in an attempt to steal billions of dollars. Yeah I know, but whatever we got a little Kevin Smith and a lot of Justin Long. A word of Justin if I may. We knew from Dodgeball that the boy had skills and this movie just serves to strengthen the case. He has a unique style of comedy that comes across as a combination of sarcasm and physical comedy. When he delivers his lines he will often trail off and lower his voice right at the punchline. It is difficult to describe, but works for him and is hilarious.
With Justin taggin along however ridiculous the plot got between Bruce, Justin and the action I never got too annoyed. I have to say once again the Die Hard delivered. None of them come anywhere near to the greatness of the first one, but hey you can only make the greatest movie of all time once.
GRADE - B+
Crazy wild stunts aside this was a really good time at the multiplex. The story was a little far fetched; crazy super computer genius, Timothy Olyphant, warns the US government of our vulnerability to cyber terrorism and when the government does not respond he proves his point by crashing all financial and ulity systems in an attempt to steal billions of dollars. Yeah I know, but whatever we got a little Kevin Smith and a lot of Justin Long. A word of Justin if I may. We knew from Dodgeball that the boy had skills and this movie just serves to strengthen the case. He has a unique style of comedy that comes across as a combination of sarcasm and physical comedy. When he delivers his lines he will often trail off and lower his voice right at the punchline. It is difficult to describe, but works for him and is hilarious.
With Justin taggin along however ridiculous the plot got between Bruce, Justin and the action I never got too annoyed. I have to say once again the Die Hard delivered. None of them come anywhere near to the greatness of the first one, but hey you can only make the greatest movie of all time once.
GRADE - B+
Monday, June 18, 2007
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
This is one of those, yeah o.k. that movies was yeah o.k. Well maybe that is too harsh, all around good movie, truly, however the thing with sequels is usually they expose any weakness that existed in the first movie and should build on its strengths. FF4: Rise of the Silver Surfer was no exception. An enjoyable sequel that did not do a whole lot to make me a big FF4 fan, but I can appreciate a fun splashy summer movie with all the visual effects to go with it.
I would rather not take the time to do a story summary here. In short the FF4 have become world famous and are now trying to cope with their new found fame. Reed, Ioan Gruffodd, and Susan, J. Alba, are trying to get married, but saving the world keeps getting in the way and just when it looks like the ceremony is about to happen, the Silver Surfer arises to make the earth ready for Galactus, the devourer of worlds. Just as an aside I much prefer the giant planet eating purple space robot to whatever it they gave us in this movie. I mean if you are going to go all the way and not attempt to base the Silver Surfer in reality, why not give me a giant purple robot that eat planets, an additional aside, I never understand the basis for defeating something called “the devourer of worlds”. That seems like a pretty formidable foe to me. At any Surfer shows up the world is in peril, FF4 to the rescue.
I have to get this out of the way now or the rest of this review will suffer. No matter how you try to slice it, Jessica Alba is not Suzan Storm; she is not even an adequate knock off of Suzan Storm. No matter how hot she is, and eve that is starting to fade because she is loosing so much weight, she is not a double PhD genius that is capable of mentally keeping up with Reed Richards and is the powerful member of the team. She is by far the weak link in this franchise, her and this knock-off of Dr. Doom. People Doom is never not in the Doom mask, he is Latverian royalty, not a shady capitalist that wants to take over the world through bank mergers and military contracts. He is a psychotic evil genius with the wealth of a nation backing his twisted plots. I might actually be a bigger fan of this franchise had they not dropped the ball so bad on two of the five essential characters.
However clearly the strengths of the movie and franchise are The Thing, Chiklis, and Torch, Chris Evans. These two are spot on and really keep the moving rolling. This sequel actually gave us more of their relationship and the rivalry/friendship that exist between these two. They really are just like brothers and both actors do a great job of portraying that on screen. This movie would have no shot if it weren’t for these two. Although Laurence’s voice acting should not be taken for granted. Granted he sounds like Morpheous trying to do a deep extra-terrestrial alien voice, but it is still effective nonetheless.
Characters aside the visuals from the movie were enjoyable. All the effects were clean and sharp. Not Pirates of the Caribbean sharp, but sharp for sure. We got a couple of very cool action sequences, with Doom on the surf board and the chase between Torch and Surfer. So from that stand-point the movie was entertaining.
All in all it was an enjoyable experience. The negatives did not out weigh the positives and assuming Jessie doesn’t loose anymore weight she is still extremely attractive, even with the worst contacts in the history of contact lenses.
GRADE – C
I would rather not take the time to do a story summary here. In short the FF4 have become world famous and are now trying to cope with their new found fame. Reed, Ioan Gruffodd, and Susan, J. Alba, are trying to get married, but saving the world keeps getting in the way and just when it looks like the ceremony is about to happen, the Silver Surfer arises to make the earth ready for Galactus, the devourer of worlds. Just as an aside I much prefer the giant planet eating purple space robot to whatever it they gave us in this movie. I mean if you are going to go all the way and not attempt to base the Silver Surfer in reality, why not give me a giant purple robot that eat planets, an additional aside, I never understand the basis for defeating something called “the devourer of worlds”. That seems like a pretty formidable foe to me. At any Surfer shows up the world is in peril, FF4 to the rescue.
I have to get this out of the way now or the rest of this review will suffer. No matter how you try to slice it, Jessica Alba is not Suzan Storm; she is not even an adequate knock off of Suzan Storm. No matter how hot she is, and eve that is starting to fade because she is loosing so much weight, she is not a double PhD genius that is capable of mentally keeping up with Reed Richards and is the powerful member of the team. She is by far the weak link in this franchise, her and this knock-off of Dr. Doom. People Doom is never not in the Doom mask, he is Latverian royalty, not a shady capitalist that wants to take over the world through bank mergers and military contracts. He is a psychotic evil genius with the wealth of a nation backing his twisted plots. I might actually be a bigger fan of this franchise had they not dropped the ball so bad on two of the five essential characters.
However clearly the strengths of the movie and franchise are The Thing, Chiklis, and Torch, Chris Evans. These two are spot on and really keep the moving rolling. This sequel actually gave us more of their relationship and the rivalry/friendship that exist between these two. They really are just like brothers and both actors do a great job of portraying that on screen. This movie would have no shot if it weren’t for these two. Although Laurence’s voice acting should not be taken for granted. Granted he sounds like Morpheous trying to do a deep extra-terrestrial alien voice, but it is still effective nonetheless.
Characters aside the visuals from the movie were enjoyable. All the effects were clean and sharp. Not Pirates of the Caribbean sharp, but sharp for sure. We got a couple of very cool action sequences, with Doom on the surf board and the chase between Torch and Surfer. So from that stand-point the movie was entertaining.
All in all it was an enjoyable experience. The negatives did not out weigh the positives and assuming Jessie doesn’t loose anymore weight she is still extremely attractive, even with the worst contacts in the history of contact lenses.
GRADE – C
DOA: Dead or Alive
Everyonce in a while a movie comes along and it is just too good to be true. You almost have to wonder, what it is you could have done to deserve such a special gift. A year ago I though such a gift was going ot be taken from me for good. I first started seeing trailers for DOA in early 2006 and then it just went away. I was confused, distraught. I felt cheated and yet somehow responsible, as if I did something wrong and this was my punishment, no DOA. But a year later rumors began to resurface and the trailers began to air online, a release date was set and for a moment I dared to dream it possible that I might actually get to see the DOA movie. Well I can't tell you what exactly I did to deserve this, but DOA has finally hit the theaters and I watched it and it was everything I hope it would be. Chessy action and scantily clad young ladies running around causing all types of trouble, Jamie Pressly is really easy on the eyes so is Holly Vance, Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, and Natassia Mathle.
For those of us of the video game generation this is one of the games you would have never considered ever being made into a movie, because the concept of the video game seemed a little out there that idea of someone being able to turn into a movie, well just seemed not possible. However in the hands of Corey Yeun, The Transporter, this seemingly impossible movie became real. And not only did it happen it was great, well maybe not great, but a lot of fun. That probably had a lot to do with the fact that the movie was all of 45 mins long, well a little longer than that, but not much. See all other directors of video game adapted movies with little to no story line should take notice. If there is little story there you don't need to create story where none exist, you just focus on a couple of detials, mix-in some decent fight choreography, add Kevin Nash, Bass, and Brian White, Zach, along with a couple of really hot ladies and you can't go wrong.
What more could you want from a movie about a bunch of young girls fighting in their bathing suits. The movie was spot on in just about every area, the fight choreography was not offensive, the women were smokin, a recurring theme is this blog, and the movie even included volley ball. It really had it all. If I have to take issue with a couple of things I have to say I was disappointed that Hyabusa was not wearing his traditional ninja uniform being covered from head to toe and I have to point out that Ayane the japanese female was played by someone very not Japanese. Those two grips aside, this was good stuff.
Sometimes it is nice to just go watch a movie where everyone involved was very honest about what they were making from the begining and didn't try to get pretentious. The cast and crew of DOA said decided they were going to make a movie about a group of really hot female fighters coming together to fight and look really hot and it is nice to see that they stuck to it. Every movie doesn't have to be groundbreaking or moving or whatever sometime I just want to be entertained by the utterly ridiculous.
GRADE -C+
For those of us of the video game generation this is one of the games you would have never considered ever being made into a movie, because the concept of the video game seemed a little out there that idea of someone being able to turn into a movie, well just seemed not possible. However in the hands of Corey Yeun, The Transporter, this seemingly impossible movie became real. And not only did it happen it was great, well maybe not great, but a lot of fun. That probably had a lot to do with the fact that the movie was all of 45 mins long, well a little longer than that, but not much. See all other directors of video game adapted movies with little to no story line should take notice. If there is little story there you don't need to create story where none exist, you just focus on a couple of detials, mix-in some decent fight choreography, add Kevin Nash, Bass, and Brian White, Zach, along with a couple of really hot ladies and you can't go wrong.
What more could you want from a movie about a bunch of young girls fighting in their bathing suits. The movie was spot on in just about every area, the fight choreography was not offensive, the women were smokin, a recurring theme is this blog, and the movie even included volley ball. It really had it all. If I have to take issue with a couple of things I have to say I was disappointed that Hyabusa was not wearing his traditional ninja uniform being covered from head to toe and I have to point out that Ayane the japanese female was played by someone very not Japanese. Those two grips aside, this was good stuff.
Sometimes it is nice to just go watch a movie where everyone involved was very honest about what they were making from the begining and didn't try to get pretentious. The cast and crew of DOA said decided they were going to make a movie about a group of really hot female fighters coming together to fight and look really hot and it is nice to see that they stuck to it. Every movie doesn't have to be groundbreaking or moving or whatever sometime I just want to be entertained by the utterly ridiculous.
GRADE -C+
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Maximum Risk
You match Van-Damme with Natasha Henstridge in the middle of FBI/Russian Mob conspiracy story topped off with a dead twin and you have Maximum Risk. I mean the thing that you have to love most about Van-Damme is that the guy has never read a script he didn’t like. He is all about the wackier the better. Not that Maximum Risk is that whacky, I mean what is whacky about twins being separated at birth, one becomes a French cop, the other a major player in the Russian Mob. The Mobster ends up getting a hold of enough information to bury the mob and indict several dirty FBI agents. While the Russian Van-Damme tries to connect with his French twin, he is killed. The French twin Van-Damme vows to uncover the secrets to his brother’s death and expose the conspiracy. See I told ya, not that whacky.
So action, let’s get right to it. The movie opens with a pretty cool chase scene that starts off on foot, with Van-Damme leaping across buildings and crashing through windows and all that good stuff and than moves to motor transport, Van-Damme drive as motor-scooter type thing and is pursuers are in a car. The scene climaxes in a very harry death scene in which Van-Damme flies through the air and then crashes through the windshield of another car. Don’t worry we still have one more Van-Damme still in play.
The movies featured a handful of fights, which mostly featured Van-Damme fighting this one particular Russian named Red Face, played by some guys named Stefanos Miltsakakis. Van-Damme and Red Face, love that name, have three or four different fights scenes throughout the movie, that feature a mixed martial arts style, of stylized karate and street fighting. The both use a lot of throws and grappling moves. Van-Damme also incorporates more punching into his scenes. Although it would not be a Van-Damme movie without the jumping, spinning, roundhouse, split kick. So overall good stuff out of this flick. Van-Damme is definitely growing as a fighter on screen.
So action, let’s get right to it. The movie opens with a pretty cool chase scene that starts off on foot, with Van-Damme leaping across buildings and crashing through windows and all that good stuff and than moves to motor transport, Van-Damme drive as motor-scooter type thing and is pursuers are in a car. The scene climaxes in a very harry death scene in which Van-Damme flies through the air and then crashes through the windshield of another car. Don’t worry we still have one more Van-Damme still in play.
The movies featured a handful of fights, which mostly featured Van-Damme fighting this one particular Russian named Red Face, played by some guys named Stefanos Miltsakakis. Van-Damme and Red Face, love that name, have three or four different fights scenes throughout the movie, that feature a mixed martial arts style, of stylized karate and street fighting. The both use a lot of throws and grappling moves. Van-Damme also incorporates more punching into his scenes. Although it would not be a Van-Damme movie without the jumping, spinning, roundhouse, split kick. So overall good stuff out of this flick. Van-Damme is definitely growing as a fighter on screen.
Ocean's Thirteen
The definition of a nice film. Ocean's Thriteen is a perfect compromise between the greatness that was Ocean's Eleven and the utter let down that was Ocean's Twelve, thirteen fit nicely in the middle. Given that writing this review may be somewhat arduous becuase I did not have particularly strong feelings about the movie either way. I can say that it is nice to have all those guys making films together, they all work really well together. The key to the cohesion is the closeness between Clooney and Pitt. They have several alone moments together where the audience is catching them mid-conversation and those moments are just gold. They are discussing issues that come up amongst married people like any other pair of guy friends would, except these two are in the midst of trying to pull off the biggest con ever.
In addition to the original twelve, including Andy Garcia, this time around Pacino is added to play the heel. The caper goes like this. Saul, played by Elliot Gould, against the wishes of all of his friends and trusted callegues enters into a business partnership with Willie Bank, Pacino, a multiple Casino owner with a shark's reputation for screwing over his business partners. Bank strikes again and screws Saul out of their deal and leaves in near financial ruin, the shock of this betrayl leads to Saul's cardiac arrest. With Saul near death Danny Ocean, Clooney, assemblies his crew the ten remaining members of his crew to take down Bank and make thier friend healthy and whole again.
I really don't want to get into the nuances of the con, but it is elaborate, detailed, and expensive. That said all things come up aces in the end, and well go see the movie. It is a fun ride with lots of subtle humor to go along with the obvious gags. Everyone is great as usual and as I stated earlier the story moves a lot more smoothly with this one than the previous film. It can not compare to the original, but Ocean's Thirteen will definately make for a fun night out.
GRADE - B
In addition to the original twelve, including Andy Garcia, this time around Pacino is added to play the heel. The caper goes like this. Saul, played by Elliot Gould, against the wishes of all of his friends and trusted callegues enters into a business partnership with Willie Bank, Pacino, a multiple Casino owner with a shark's reputation for screwing over his business partners. Bank strikes again and screws Saul out of their deal and leaves in near financial ruin, the shock of this betrayl leads to Saul's cardiac arrest. With Saul near death Danny Ocean, Clooney, assemblies his crew the ten remaining members of his crew to take down Bank and make thier friend healthy and whole again.
I really don't want to get into the nuances of the con, but it is elaborate, detailed, and expensive. That said all things come up aces in the end, and well go see the movie. It is a fun ride with lots of subtle humor to go along with the obvious gags. Everyone is great as usual and as I stated earlier the story moves a lot more smoothly with this one than the previous film. It can not compare to the original, but Ocean's Thirteen will definately make for a fun night out.
GRADE - B
Friday, June 8, 2007
Mr. Brooks
Movies about serial killers are usually a tough sell for me. Call me a wuss, but I am not generally a huge fan of delving into that king of pathology, unless the embodiment of the psychosis is William Hurt. William Hurt should be everyone’s sinister twisted alter ego from now on. He is so good at being so twisted it is scary. And he is what makes this movie really work. Not to take anything away from Mr. Costner; he does a good job of keeping the title role, Mr. Brooks, from drifting too far into the absurd or over the top realm. But let me not get a head of myself.
Your recap: Mr. Brooks is the story of a successful businessman who has a loving wife and a highly lucrative box company. Mr. Brooks, played by Costner has a beautiful daughter in college, he has respect among his peers and he has rich clients. Mr. Brooks also has a secret he has an indulgence that no one else knows about, and his name is Marshal, played by Hurt. Marshal is the manifestation of Mr. Brook addiction to killing people. For two year Mr. Brook has been able to keep Marshal at bay, but he can’t fight his addiction any longer. Mr. Brooks has been doing this for many years, but this time he made a mistake and there was a witness to his most recent escapade. Now Mr. Brooks must find a way to maintain his business, his family, and deal with the evidence that exists against him that could put him away for good.
Likes – I really like William Hurt, granted he probably had the easiest role to play, but he made it much more. Every time he wasn’t on screen I wanted him on screen. Again Kevin Costner was expressive, contained, and professional, but Hurt was awsome. Regardin Costner this was a nice role for him and reminder that he still has the goods. Writer/Director Bruce Evans put together a nice piece of work. I particularly enjoyed the concept that when Costner and Hurt were conversing the entire conversation and all its elements were in Costner head, so Mr. Brooks could be yelling at Marshal it wouldn’t matter because no one around him knew anything was happening. It was a nice detail that made the story that much stronger because it gives the impression Mr. Brooks has been living this way for a long time.
Dislikes – Sorry Demi, but your time has come and gone. Not only did she bring nothing to the film from an acting standpoint, she is not even that hot anymore, she could have easily been replace by Kate Beckinsale or Eva Longoria. In either case we would have gotten a prettier actress that delivered the same performance, who knows they may have done better. I am also not a fan of the daughter’s character. Nothing against Marg Helgenberger, not that she was all that great an actress, but I was just annoyed by her character. I get why she was included in the story and what she represents. And the idea of Mr. Brooks’ addiction being somehow genetic and passing it on to his offspring is very intriguing, but the daughter just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps if her character was written differently.
So we like Mr. Brooks, an enjoyable movie if you can get over the fact that a serial killer is getting away with murder. Don’t worry its just a movie.
GRADE – B+
Your recap: Mr. Brooks is the story of a successful businessman who has a loving wife and a highly lucrative box company. Mr. Brooks, played by Costner has a beautiful daughter in college, he has respect among his peers and he has rich clients. Mr. Brooks also has a secret he has an indulgence that no one else knows about, and his name is Marshal, played by Hurt. Marshal is the manifestation of Mr. Brook addiction to killing people. For two year Mr. Brook has been able to keep Marshal at bay, but he can’t fight his addiction any longer. Mr. Brooks has been doing this for many years, but this time he made a mistake and there was a witness to his most recent escapade. Now Mr. Brooks must find a way to maintain his business, his family, and deal with the evidence that exists against him that could put him away for good.
Likes – I really like William Hurt, granted he probably had the easiest role to play, but he made it much more. Every time he wasn’t on screen I wanted him on screen. Again Kevin Costner was expressive, contained, and professional, but Hurt was awsome. Regardin Costner this was a nice role for him and reminder that he still has the goods. Writer/Director Bruce Evans put together a nice piece of work. I particularly enjoyed the concept that when Costner and Hurt were conversing the entire conversation and all its elements were in Costner head, so Mr. Brooks could be yelling at Marshal it wouldn’t matter because no one around him knew anything was happening. It was a nice detail that made the story that much stronger because it gives the impression Mr. Brooks has been living this way for a long time.
Dislikes – Sorry Demi, but your time has come and gone. Not only did she bring nothing to the film from an acting standpoint, she is not even that hot anymore, she could have easily been replace by Kate Beckinsale or Eva Longoria. In either case we would have gotten a prettier actress that delivered the same performance, who knows they may have done better. I am also not a fan of the daughter’s character. Nothing against Marg Helgenberger, not that she was all that great an actress, but I was just annoyed by her character. I get why she was included in the story and what she represents. And the idea of Mr. Brooks’ addiction being somehow genetic and passing it on to his offspring is very intriguing, but the daughter just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps if her character was written differently.
So we like Mr. Brooks, an enjoyable movie if you can get over the fact that a serial killer is getting away with murder. Don’t worry its just a movie.
GRADE – B+
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Quest
My knee jerk reaction to The Quest was that Van Damme, was trying to recreate some of his early success that came from Blood Sport in this movie. By making a movie about a martial arts tournament he gets to have multiple fight scenes, that he does not have to necessarily participate in and still keep the action moving. Van Damme also wrote and Directed this movie, which may explain the random back story that gets Christ Dubois, Van Damme’s character, to the Ghang-gheng martial arts tournament, in stead of just focusing on the tournament itself. That said for a first time behind the lense he did well.
In short Van Damme is a street hustler that has adopted a bunch of young orphans and is training them to be hustlers also. Eventually Dubois’ dirt catches us with him and he has to leave New York, only to find himself a slave on a gun smuggling ship. The ship he is on is taken over by buccaneers, the captain of this crew is Lord Edgar Dobbs played by Roger Moore, yeah that’s right Van Damme went out and dug-up Roger Moore for this flick, one thing leads to another and Van Damme ends up on an island in Thailand where he allies himself with the Muyi-Thai fighters and their trainer. After a brief stay with these fighter he crosses paths with Dobbs again. This time they strike a deal to go the Ghang-gheng and steal a large solid gold statue.
Some stuff happens, but you don’t want to hear about that you want to hear about the action sequences. I have to give it up to Van Damme, while story may have been so, so, he did a nice job behind the caamera capturing the action, particularly the tournament, which featured a variety of fighting skills. What also made the tournament stuff work was that the fighters that represented their various countries became mini-charicatures of each country. So the dude from Spain had a white silk shirt and some black pants and fought almost like he was dancing, the guy from china utilized different kung-fu styles; monkey, tiger, etc. The guy from Brazil was a capoera fighter and had the drums accompany his fighting. You get the point.
In all the action sequences that Van Damme was in he utilized a lot of his traditional jump kicks and spinning kicks, although the more movies he makes the more varied his fighting becomes. He is still a kick first fighter, but he did incorporate more punches and elbows to reflect the Thai influences in his fighting. The climax of the movie was the final fight scene between Van Damme and Khan, the Mongolian fighter, which was played by Abdel Quissi, which played the role of Van Damme’s last opponent in Lion Heart. This fight was a little over the top, I think Van Damme took too much of a beating to believe that it would be possible for him to actually come back and beat this guy, but it was a fun fight to watch.
In short Van Damme is a street hustler that has adopted a bunch of young orphans and is training them to be hustlers also. Eventually Dubois’ dirt catches us with him and he has to leave New York, only to find himself a slave on a gun smuggling ship. The ship he is on is taken over by buccaneers, the captain of this crew is Lord Edgar Dobbs played by Roger Moore, yeah that’s right Van Damme went out and dug-up Roger Moore for this flick, one thing leads to another and Van Damme ends up on an island in Thailand where he allies himself with the Muyi-Thai fighters and their trainer. After a brief stay with these fighter he crosses paths with Dobbs again. This time they strike a deal to go the Ghang-gheng and steal a large solid gold statue.
Some stuff happens, but you don’t want to hear about that you want to hear about the action sequences. I have to give it up to Van Damme, while story may have been so, so, he did a nice job behind the caamera capturing the action, particularly the tournament, which featured a variety of fighting skills. What also made the tournament stuff work was that the fighters that represented their various countries became mini-charicatures of each country. So the dude from Spain had a white silk shirt and some black pants and fought almost like he was dancing, the guy from china utilized different kung-fu styles; monkey, tiger, etc. The guy from Brazil was a capoera fighter and had the drums accompany his fighting. You get the point.
In all the action sequences that Van Damme was in he utilized a lot of his traditional jump kicks and spinning kicks, although the more movies he makes the more varied his fighting becomes. He is still a kick first fighter, but he did incorporate more punches and elbows to reflect the Thai influences in his fighting. The climax of the movie was the final fight scene between Van Damme and Khan, the Mongolian fighter, which was played by Abdel Quissi, which played the role of Van Damme’s last opponent in Lion Heart. This fight was a little over the top, I think Van Damme took too much of a beating to believe that it would be possible for him to actually come back and beat this guy, but it was a fun fight to watch.
Sudden Death
Van Damme running around a hockey arena trying to diffuse some bombs and outwit Powers Booth, before he kills the Vice President and blows up the entire arena. I know the story sounds a little like Die Hard 2, but instead of an airport it takes place in a hockey rink, but it still works. Van Damme actually manages to bounce back a little after that disgrace of a movie called Street Fighter.
Sudden Death features a variety of different action sequences and fight scenes, including a fight in kitchen between Van Damme and an almost seven foot tall woman in the Pittsburg Penguin mascot suit, a gun fight between two guys in the equipment room and a couple action sequences featuring some home made arson weapons Van Damme cooked up, good times.
Because of the nature of the character in this movie, he does not have a special forces background or anything like that, Van Damme uses a lot of weapons and grappling, he does not make uses of use famous jump kicks and that sort of thing, the fights are gruesome and punishing. These kinds of movies are a testament to Mr. Van Damme’s versatility, because they work just as well as some of his more typical fancy jumping spinning martial arts movies.
Sudden Death features a variety of different action sequences and fight scenes, including a fight in kitchen between Van Damme and an almost seven foot tall woman in the Pittsburg Penguin mascot suit, a gun fight between two guys in the equipment room and a couple action sequences featuring some home made arson weapons Van Damme cooked up, good times.
Because of the nature of the character in this movie, he does not have a special forces background or anything like that, Van Damme uses a lot of weapons and grappling, he does not make uses of use famous jump kicks and that sort of thing, the fights are gruesome and punishing. These kinds of movies are a testament to Mr. Van Damme’s versatility, because they work just as well as some of his more typical fancy jumping spinning martial arts movies.
Street Fighter
Sometimes you see a movie and you think to yourself, wow that was a terrible movie and then you rewatch it years later and realize that it wasn't that bad and then sometimes you realize that it was worse, Street Fighter definately fits into the latter category. This movie was so much worse than I remember I could not get through it fast enough. There is no wonder that movie really did mark the beginning of the end of Van Damme's block buster career.
To be frank I am grateful that this little project of reviewing Van Damme’s movies does not extend to the entirety of the movies themselves and is simply about the martial arts performance of Van Damme. I am further grateful that outside of the final action sequence Van Damme is not involved in too many of the actions scenes. Therefore I can get this over with.
The thing to keep in mind about this movie is that it is based on a video game so many of the actors in the film were cast to mimic the video game characters. Just a brief word on the casting, Steven Brooksbank if the casting director, I looked it up on IMDB and I am pleased to report he has not been part of anything of note, though he still manages to find work. I don't think there is a single more poorly casted movie made. Van Damme is cast to the play the lead character, Colonel William Guile who is supposed to be a Colonel in the United States Army, in this movie Guile is the ranking officer of the Allied Nations peace keeping force and chief rival the psychotic megalomaniac Bison. Brooksbank actually casted the late Raul Julia, yeah it is as ridiculous as it sounds, to play the role of Van Damme's nemesis. Bsion is supposed to like 6'6" 230+lbs, instead of minurature Raul Julia. And it goes on and on, I mean really this casting in this movie was just awgul. So basically the story is this; Bison is out for world domination and Guile’s mission is to stop him, nothing about this movie was good.
Guile and Bison don’t meet until the end of the movie and the fight is choreographed to mimic many of the moves from the video game. In addition to the elaborate jumps kicks that are typical of a Van Damme movie, he also uses a jumping bicycle backflip kick. Deciding to go with an actor instead of a fighter for the role of Bison handicapped the final fight sequence as it has in previous Van Damme films, i.e. Death Warrant. Instead of Guile and Bison capping off the movie in big fight sequence we were left with a bunch of far shots of some stunt double filling in for Julia to punch Van Damme and then some close ups of Julai choking Van Damme. The fight is capped off with Raul Julia being pulled all over the screen on wires in an attempt to simulate flight. Basically the only thing redeemable about the final fight is that Van Damme utilized his world famous jumping roundhouse kick, other than that this movie was absolutely worthless.
To be frank I am grateful that this little project of reviewing Van Damme’s movies does not extend to the entirety of the movies themselves and is simply about the martial arts performance of Van Damme. I am further grateful that outside of the final action sequence Van Damme is not involved in too many of the actions scenes. Therefore I can get this over with.
The thing to keep in mind about this movie is that it is based on a video game so many of the actors in the film were cast to mimic the video game characters. Just a brief word on the casting, Steven Brooksbank if the casting director, I looked it up on IMDB and I am pleased to report he has not been part of anything of note, though he still manages to find work. I don't think there is a single more poorly casted movie made. Van Damme is cast to the play the lead character, Colonel William Guile who is supposed to be a Colonel in the United States Army, in this movie Guile is the ranking officer of the Allied Nations peace keeping force and chief rival the psychotic megalomaniac Bison. Brooksbank actually casted the late Raul Julia, yeah it is as ridiculous as it sounds, to play the role of Van Damme's nemesis. Bsion is supposed to like 6'6" 230+lbs, instead of minurature Raul Julia. And it goes on and on, I mean really this casting in this movie was just awgul. So basically the story is this; Bison is out for world domination and Guile’s mission is to stop him, nothing about this movie was good.
Guile and Bison don’t meet until the end of the movie and the fight is choreographed to mimic many of the moves from the video game. In addition to the elaborate jumps kicks that are typical of a Van Damme movie, he also uses a jumping bicycle backflip kick. Deciding to go with an actor instead of a fighter for the role of Bison handicapped the final fight sequence as it has in previous Van Damme films, i.e. Death Warrant. Instead of Guile and Bison capping off the movie in big fight sequence we were left with a bunch of far shots of some stunt double filling in for Julia to punch Van Damme and then some close ups of Julai choking Van Damme. The fight is capped off with Raul Julia being pulled all over the screen on wires in an attempt to simulate flight. Basically the only thing redeemable about the final fight is that Van Damme utilized his world famous jumping roundhouse kick, other than that this movie was absolutely worthless.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
I consider myself to be a reasonable man, I can make decision about something, but have no problem changing my mind if compelling evidence to the contrary presents itself. After watching the first pirates movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, in 2003 to say I was not impressed was putting it mildly. To be honest much of my opinion was influenced by the fact that I was not, and to be completely honest am still not, a huge Johnny Depp fan. Essentially the first pirates movie was a lot of Johnny Depp running around being this quirky pirate captain character, Captain Jack Sparrow. I would have been completely ok if they stopped making the movies at that point, however many, many, many more people disagreed with me and the movie did well enough to warrant the making of not one, but two more movies, shot simultaneously. Last year Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was a summer block buster, made tons of money and convinced me that maybe I was a little too hard on Mr. Depp and this franchise. I would be less than honest to say I was amped about this summer third installment, but I was certainly curious and anticipating its release. And I can honestly saying I am a Pirates fan.
Rather than give the typical plot summary of the movie to tease and bait you into watching the film, if you haven’t already I want to get straight to the fun part and talk about how I was won over. First of all I have the respect for movies that know what they are and don’t attempt to be anything more. Gore Verbinski, director of all three films in the franchise, and his team made three funny, action filled adventure movies, about the fictional life of one Captain Jack Sparrow and those that were close to him during a certain period in his life. That is it, there is not much more to it than that, there are other characters with their own stories and issues, but for the most part everything comes back to Jack. Therefore the franchise lives and dies with Johnny Depp, I may be a huge fan, but I can respect his abilities and he can definitely do characters in a way no one else can, and there is no clearer indication of that than Captain Jack Sparrow.
In addition to the strength of Johnny’s performance this movie featured an extended cameo from Mr. Yun-Fat Chow - the man, a cameo from Keith Richards, Johnny Depp’s inspiration for Jack Sparrow, who played Jack’s dad, we got the gathering of the pirate lords, we got Jack Sparrow going literally insane and we got a huge at sea battle between Davy Jones, Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, and Cutler Beckett. All of this and nothing in the movie suffered for the inclusion of anything else. The major knock I had against Spiderman 3 was that in order to include the two major villains the villain turned ally, Gwen Stacy, and the Mary and Peter engagement a lot of the story had to suffer in order to get everyone adequate face time on the screen, well Pirates managed to make it work and did it in such a way as to not short change any of the major players. Part of this was accomplished by not even showing Jack Sparrow until about twenty minutes into the movie. The movie did not drag without him, but certainly picked when he was on screen.
In closing I also would be remise if I did not comment on the clarity with which ILM was able to pull off some of the more complex and spectacular visual effects like for example Jack Sparrow stabbing a shirtless version of himself during one of his psychotic episodes. Everything was amazing, the cannon blasts from ship to ship, the Black Pearl reemerging from beneath the water, even the exploding of the East India Tea Company’s mother ship, all of it was amazing, and crisp and very, very pretty. Thank you Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, you may have just saved the summer.
GRADE – A-
Rather than give the typical plot summary of the movie to tease and bait you into watching the film, if you haven’t already I want to get straight to the fun part and talk about how I was won over. First of all I have the respect for movies that know what they are and don’t attempt to be anything more. Gore Verbinski, director of all three films in the franchise, and his team made three funny, action filled adventure movies, about the fictional life of one Captain Jack Sparrow and those that were close to him during a certain period in his life. That is it, there is not much more to it than that, there are other characters with their own stories and issues, but for the most part everything comes back to Jack. Therefore the franchise lives and dies with Johnny Depp, I may be a huge fan, but I can respect his abilities and he can definitely do characters in a way no one else can, and there is no clearer indication of that than Captain Jack Sparrow.
In addition to the strength of Johnny’s performance this movie featured an extended cameo from Mr. Yun-Fat Chow - the man, a cameo from Keith Richards, Johnny Depp’s inspiration for Jack Sparrow, who played Jack’s dad, we got the gathering of the pirate lords, we got Jack Sparrow going literally insane and we got a huge at sea battle between Davy Jones, Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, and Cutler Beckett. All of this and nothing in the movie suffered for the inclusion of anything else. The major knock I had against Spiderman 3 was that in order to include the two major villains the villain turned ally, Gwen Stacy, and the Mary and Peter engagement a lot of the story had to suffer in order to get everyone adequate face time on the screen, well Pirates managed to make it work and did it in such a way as to not short change any of the major players. Part of this was accomplished by not even showing Jack Sparrow until about twenty minutes into the movie. The movie did not drag without him, but certainly picked when he was on screen.
In closing I also would be remise if I did not comment on the clarity with which ILM was able to pull off some of the more complex and spectacular visual effects like for example Jack Sparrow stabbing a shirtless version of himself during one of his psychotic episodes. Everything was amazing, the cannon blasts from ship to ship, the Black Pearl reemerging from beneath the water, even the exploding of the East India Tea Company’s mother ship, all of it was amazing, and crisp and very, very pretty. Thank you Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, you may have just saved the summer.
GRADE – A-
Shrek the Third
Over the past few years kids CGI movies have become like any other genre of movie. Once upon a time one or two were released a year, Toy Story, Monster’s Inc., Shrek. Now they are all over the place and for a parent that enjoys going to movies they are a welcome addition to family time activities. Typically these movies are very formulaic and cookie cutter, every once in while one of these movies stands out as exceptional, either good or bad. Six years ago the original Shrek was released to critical acclaim and overwhelming box office success, three years later Shrek 2 was released and it broke all sorts of box office records, clearly this is a juggernaut franchise. Shrek the Third hit theaters last week and one would assume it academic that the third installment of this franchise would be a repeat of the previous two movies success, well if one were to do that one would be very wrong. I don’t know what else to say about Shrek the Third other than it was hugely disappointing.
From a formula stand point the movie had all the pieces in place, all the voice-actors came back, with the introduction of yet another large celebrity, this time it was Justin Timberlake, the movie featured many recognizable characters with the usual comedic twist, the narcoleptic sleeping beauty, the bungling merlin, King Arthur as a wimp. So the problem with the movie was not the formula it was simple a matter of execution or lack there of. The writers sat back on their previous two successes and got lazy. The jokes were ill-timed and redundant, even for potty-jokes, which by their nature are less about timing and more about being gross. The story was weak and unnecessarily dark; you are making a kids movie, there is no need to get all pretentious and attempt to make a serious story about the nature of villainy, just be what you are, a silly franchise featuring an Ogre anti-hero and a talking donkey, seriously that is all you need.
In the end Shrek the Third, fell well short of expectations. I am sure it will still make a staggering amount of money, but not nearly what it could have. If this is any indication of what the summer of sequels is going to be like I would just assume fast forward to Oscar Season.
GRADE - D
From a formula stand point the movie had all the pieces in place, all the voice-actors came back, with the introduction of yet another large celebrity, this time it was Justin Timberlake, the movie featured many recognizable characters with the usual comedic twist, the narcoleptic sleeping beauty, the bungling merlin, King Arthur as a wimp. So the problem with the movie was not the formula it was simple a matter of execution or lack there of. The writers sat back on their previous two successes and got lazy. The jokes were ill-timed and redundant, even for potty-jokes, which by their nature are less about timing and more about being gross. The story was weak and unnecessarily dark; you are making a kids movie, there is no need to get all pretentious and attempt to make a serious story about the nature of villainy, just be what you are, a silly franchise featuring an Ogre anti-hero and a talking donkey, seriously that is all you need.
In the end Shrek the Third, fell well short of expectations. I am sure it will still make a staggering amount of money, but not nearly what it could have. If this is any indication of what the summer of sequels is going to be like I would just assume fast forward to Oscar Season.
GRADE - D
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Spiderman 3
I have been putting this review off for a couple of reasons, mostly because when I am through I will have concluded that the Spiderman franchise would have been better off had this movie not been made, or at least been made a lot differently, also because other than one or two directorial decisions I am having a difficult time articulating exactly what my problem is with this movie and lastly because I was hoping to see the movie one more time before I had to write this review. Well enough procrastinating, here goes.
Spiderman 3 was disappointing in a way that hurts your heart. Not the kind of disappointment you feel from the Superbowl, or even the kind of disappointment you get from a highly regarded restaurant that doesn’t serve your favorite dessert, no this was more like the kind of disappointment that comes after you have spent the last couple of months working tirelessly on a school project only to receive a C or like waiting two years for the release of an amazing movie, starring amazing actors, with an amazing story, only to have the movie be everything but amazing.
In all fairness I must preface my next few comments by saying that I went into Spiderman 3 with perhaps unreasonably high expectations, but I think in the case of this franchise as with the other two franchises that released third installments this summer, Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek, the expectations are only a result of tremendously positive experiences from the first two movies. There is no question that Spiderman and Spiderman 2 were ground braking pieces of cinema that proved comic movies don’t have to be niche films for comic geeks, but can be great movies for anyone and everyone. With all the build-up surrounding Spiderman 3 there was no reason to expect anything but greatness. Venom, Sandman, Hobb Goblin, Gwen Stacy, this movie was going to have it all, however therein lies the key flaw. Perchance this is the final movie under the direction of Sam Raimi that stars both Tobey and Kirsten, it felt like Sam tried to include every remaining fundamental element to the series in his potentially final film of the franchise. In the end it was just too much.
Story and character development were sacrificed in order to get stuff on screen, we knew nothing about Eddie Brock’s back story including how he ended up in New York and falling for Gwen Stacy. Even Gwen herself was sort of pushed into the story as one of Peter’s “lab partners” at school. Sandman comes out of nowhere as the guy that really killed Ben Parker, and Harry becomes the Hobb Goblin for a little while, then goes insane for a little while then comes to Peter’s aid during a huge final battle. It really was just too much. We did not need the Sandman at all and really could have done without Harry for the entire second half of the movie. Instead of focusing on Peter’s endless battle with trying to balance his own happiness with being responsible with the powers he had been given, we got a lot Peter interacting with all these different characters in different situations that really did not add anymore depth to the story. There was no reason to change the formula from the first two movies. One villain, Peter and Mary struggling to be happy, Peter struggling with his powers – this works, why change it now. This movie would have worked really well, if Harry disappeared after his big fight with Peter, if the extraterestial dark plasma that gives Spiderman his new powers drives Peter to be more eggressive and therefore he struggles between wanting to grow his relationship with MJ or move one with Gwen, something like that, instead we got this super hero, super villain, soup that just made things messy.
Don’t get me wrong the movie was not a complete waste, there were some very cool visuals and the actors are too good for the movie to just be terrible, it was not terrible, but some movies and directors I have to hold to a higher standard and based on past experience I have to hold Spiderman 3 is one of those movies.
GRADE - C
Spiderman 3 was disappointing in a way that hurts your heart. Not the kind of disappointment you feel from the Superbowl, or even the kind of disappointment you get from a highly regarded restaurant that doesn’t serve your favorite dessert, no this was more like the kind of disappointment that comes after you have spent the last couple of months working tirelessly on a school project only to receive a C or like waiting two years for the release of an amazing movie, starring amazing actors, with an amazing story, only to have the movie be everything but amazing.
In all fairness I must preface my next few comments by saying that I went into Spiderman 3 with perhaps unreasonably high expectations, but I think in the case of this franchise as with the other two franchises that released third installments this summer, Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek, the expectations are only a result of tremendously positive experiences from the first two movies. There is no question that Spiderman and Spiderman 2 were ground braking pieces of cinema that proved comic movies don’t have to be niche films for comic geeks, but can be great movies for anyone and everyone. With all the build-up surrounding Spiderman 3 there was no reason to expect anything but greatness. Venom, Sandman, Hobb Goblin, Gwen Stacy, this movie was going to have it all, however therein lies the key flaw. Perchance this is the final movie under the direction of Sam Raimi that stars both Tobey and Kirsten, it felt like Sam tried to include every remaining fundamental element to the series in his potentially final film of the franchise. In the end it was just too much.
Story and character development were sacrificed in order to get stuff on screen, we knew nothing about Eddie Brock’s back story including how he ended up in New York and falling for Gwen Stacy. Even Gwen herself was sort of pushed into the story as one of Peter’s “lab partners” at school. Sandman comes out of nowhere as the guy that really killed Ben Parker, and Harry becomes the Hobb Goblin for a little while, then goes insane for a little while then comes to Peter’s aid during a huge final battle. It really was just too much. We did not need the Sandman at all and really could have done without Harry for the entire second half of the movie. Instead of focusing on Peter’s endless battle with trying to balance his own happiness with being responsible with the powers he had been given, we got a lot Peter interacting with all these different characters in different situations that really did not add anymore depth to the story. There was no reason to change the formula from the first two movies. One villain, Peter and Mary struggling to be happy, Peter struggling with his powers – this works, why change it now. This movie would have worked really well, if Harry disappeared after his big fight with Peter, if the extraterestial dark plasma that gives Spiderman his new powers drives Peter to be more eggressive and therefore he struggles between wanting to grow his relationship with MJ or move one with Gwen, something like that, instead we got this super hero, super villain, soup that just made things messy.
Don’t get me wrong the movie was not a complete waste, there were some very cool visuals and the actors are too good for the movie to just be terrible, it was not terrible, but some movies and directors I have to hold to a higher standard and based on past experience I have to hold Spiderman 3 is one of those movies.
GRADE - C
The Condemned
There is not whole lot better than Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones running around on a jungle trying to kill each other. Sometimes you just need to take step say lets not over think the room, Steve is a mean cuss and can bust open some heads, Vinnie is wise cracking Brit that is also capable of busting some heads we don’t need to dress this thing up a whole lot more than that. The Condemned is the story us ten different death row inmates who are given a chance at freedom by participating in an online video broadcast. The broadcast is off the inmates trying to kill each other in order to become the last one standing. The last one standing is given a full pardon and some cash to start their new life. Steve’s character, Jack Conrad, is hesistant to get involved in the game and only wants to find a way to get word back to his girlfriend. However once he accomplished that he dedicated himself to taking out Vinnie’s character, Ewan McStarley, because well Steve has to have someone to after in this movie and since he is the good guy and can’t very well go around killing his fellow convicts simply for the sake of survival.
Alright so the premise of the movie works and key character work, but were this movie stops being enjoyable is where most current action movie made is the country fall short, during the action sequences, particularly the fighting sequences, the director does this epileptic thing with camera where is starts moving all over the place in an erratic manner in no discernable pattern. Typical directors do this to hide whatever their actors lack in order to make the fights work, however in this movie there is nothing to hide, Steve may be old, but he can do all the fighting stuff, and Vinnie is a seasoned vet so I can’t believe the camera was compensating for him. I mean there was even a fight scene between Steve and Nathan Jones and even that scene was all crazy and wacky camera stuff. When you have people that can do that action, just shoot them doing the do, you don’t need to get overly sophisticated with the camera, just point and shoot.
When it comes to movies like this for me all they can do is hurt themselves. I make no apologies about the fact that I am an action movie junkie, I love them. It takes a lot for me to walk out of an action movie disappointed or upset, although it does happen; see Pathfinder here. However in the case of The Condemned, while I was not disappointed the wacky camera did leave a seriously bad taste in my mouth, along with the writers trying to give freaking Stone Cold Steve Austin a tender moment on the phone with his girl. Look Steve is a beer swilling, butt kicking, Texas red neck, don’t change that, it works. While I have seen worse so far this year, unfortunately The Condemned will not be breaking into the top of half of movies viewed this year.
GRADE - C
Alright so the premise of the movie works and key character work, but were this movie stops being enjoyable is where most current action movie made is the country fall short, during the action sequences, particularly the fighting sequences, the director does this epileptic thing with camera where is starts moving all over the place in an erratic manner in no discernable pattern. Typical directors do this to hide whatever their actors lack in order to make the fights work, however in this movie there is nothing to hide, Steve may be old, but he can do all the fighting stuff, and Vinnie is a seasoned vet so I can’t believe the camera was compensating for him. I mean there was even a fight scene between Steve and Nathan Jones and even that scene was all crazy and wacky camera stuff. When you have people that can do that action, just shoot them doing the do, you don’t need to get overly sophisticated with the camera, just point and shoot.
When it comes to movies like this for me all they can do is hurt themselves. I make no apologies about the fact that I am an action movie junkie, I love them. It takes a lot for me to walk out of an action movie disappointed or upset, although it does happen; see Pathfinder here. However in the case of The Condemned, while I was not disappointed the wacky camera did leave a seriously bad taste in my mouth, along with the writers trying to give freaking Stone Cold Steve Austin a tender moment on the phone with his girl. Look Steve is a beer swilling, butt kicking, Texas red neck, don’t change that, it works. While I have seen worse so far this year, unfortunately The Condemned will not be breaking into the top of half of movies viewed this year.
GRADE - C
Hot Fuzz
I do not like horror films at all, just not my genre, but I thought Shaun of the Dead was funny and very entertaining so when I saw the same guys that made that were doing a similar movie, but for the action genre I was all over it and very excited. Hot Fuzz is a comedic action movie about an over acheiving London Cop Sergeant Nicolas Angel, Simon Pegg, who is transfered to the most peaceful of London's suburbs where there hasn't been a murder in almost a decade or at least one hasn't been reported.
Edgar Wright's films are meant to be somewhat tongue and cheek commentaries are the elements that make up a genre. Hot Fuzz is a clear example of the director having fun with themes of the genre. The movie has everything any action movie should, the mismatch partnership between an experienced veterian cop and his younger overly zealous partner looking for some action, elaborate chase sequences both on foot and in car, even people two guns at the same time whilst jumping through the air. This movie had it all. It made it all that more enjoyable becuase the villians in the movie were a bunch of older residents of the town that conspired to keep things the way they were. So in the end you have a bunch of 60 something year old towns folk shooting it out with the cops. Just good stuff.
This is one of the those you go to watch and even though you are constantly reminded that you are watching a movie it is o.k. becuase you are enjoying the experience. Edgar Wright does a good job of balancing the moments of levity with the moments of tension in his films. Hot Fuzz was an ejoyable combination of laughs and ironic action. It won't win any awards, but it was still a lot of fun.
GRADE - B
Edgar Wright's films are meant to be somewhat tongue and cheek commentaries are the elements that make up a genre. Hot Fuzz is a clear example of the director having fun with themes of the genre. The movie has everything any action movie should, the mismatch partnership between an experienced veterian cop and his younger overly zealous partner looking for some action, elaborate chase sequences both on foot and in car, even people two guns at the same time whilst jumping through the air. This movie had it all. It made it all that more enjoyable becuase the villians in the movie were a bunch of older residents of the town that conspired to keep things the way they were. So in the end you have a bunch of 60 something year old towns folk shooting it out with the cops. Just good stuff.
This is one of the those you go to watch and even though you are constantly reminded that you are watching a movie it is o.k. becuase you are enjoying the experience. Edgar Wright does a good job of balancing the moments of levity with the moments of tension in his films. Hot Fuzz was an ejoyable combination of laughs and ironic action. It won't win any awards, but it was still a lot of fun.
GRADE - B
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Time Cop
Five for five, can you believe it. Mr. Van Damme is having the run of a life time. Another great movie, another great performance. And again fresh story idea. Now time travel has been done before, but the idea of enforcing time travel through the use of a Washington DC law enforcement agency now that's different. In Time Cop Van Damme plays Office Max Walker a Washington DC cop that gets recruited into a newly formed law enforcement organization that polices time travel and arrests anyone that attempts to visit the past in an attempt to change anything, especially for personal gain. Walker's wife and unborn child are killed the night before he joins the new agency. He has resisted the temptation to return to the past and save their lives, until the opportunity arises where he gets to stop the greedy Senator Aaron McComb, Ron Silver, who is trying to position himself in the past to make a fortune in the future to fund is Presidential campaign. By tracking down this Senator Van Damme gets the chance to save his wife.
This movie feautres a couple of gun battle and some mixed fighting action sequence that make use of both weapons and hand to hand combat. One particular scene of note include Van Damme and one of the random thugs in a knife fight, which came across as very cool on the film. The fight was choregraphed so that knives were used as almost miniture swords. There was a lot of clashing and clanging of the blades with the occasional slash or two. Unlike Hard Target the action in this movie was not staged as a deliberate fight scene or was set up more like Universal Soldier where all the fighting happens within the context the storyline. Not to say that this is wrong; it is worth noting becuase even though it does not a huge elaborate action sqeunce it does have some great special effects and some memorable moments, like appearing in the past right in front of an 18-wheeler.
This movie feautres a couple of gun battle and some mixed fighting action sequence that make use of both weapons and hand to hand combat. One particular scene of note include Van Damme and one of the random thugs in a knife fight, which came across as very cool on the film. The fight was choregraphed so that knives were used as almost miniture swords. There was a lot of clashing and clanging of the blades with the occasional slash or two. Unlike Hard Target the action in this movie was not staged as a deliberate fight scene or was set up more like Universal Soldier where all the fighting happens within the context the storyline. Not to say that this is wrong; it is worth noting becuase even though it does not a huge elaborate action sqeunce it does have some great special effects and some memorable moments, like appearing in the past right in front of an 18-wheeler.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Hard Target
The streak continues; make it four in row and counting. Hard Target had a lot of good things going for it, chief among them being helmed by John Woo in his western movie making debut. Woo, Hard Boiled and The Killer, is a Hon Kong action movie icon for his use of slow motion and combining gun fights with martial arts. He brings his fight choreography and unique visuals to the table when he teams up with Van Damme. This was a match made in heaven. Though Van Damme did not do a lot of the really hard stuff, which I am sure Woo was not accustomed to, because in Hong Kong the stars do basically everything, they still made it work. This movie is nothing but one really cool action sequence after another. This movie is also a who’s who of “that guy”. Arnold Volsoo, The Mummy and 24, Lance Henriksen, Alien, Yancy Bulter, Witchblade, even Wilford Brimley shows up to do a little sumtin sumtin. What more can you ask for.
The greatness of this movie lies in the fact that Woo thinks of the most ridiculous possible action sequence and them films something twice as ridiculous; kicking someone off a dirt bike while jumping off the back of a car, doing a flip and landing on your feet while stuff explodes behind you, no no surfing on a dirt bike while shooting a gun and leaping off that same dirt bike onto the top of an suv, than rolling off the suv onto the ground and then shooting the suv till it explodes, now that’s an action sequence. That is what you get when you team up Van Damme and Woo, the rest of the alphabet is just frontin.
I could break down every action sequence, but there is no need they are all great. Van Damme uses a lot of his typical cinema martial arts, jumping spinning, etc… but with Woo’s help he adds more gun play to his repertoire. Many of the actions sequences feature a combined use of hand to hand and weapons, most often simultaneously, so he would shoot a guy a couple of times and then finish him off with a round house; great stuff, just great. While Bloodsport and Double Impact out rank Hard Target on the list of great Van Damme flicks, it is not by much.
The greatness of this movie lies in the fact that Woo thinks of the most ridiculous possible action sequence and them films something twice as ridiculous; kicking someone off a dirt bike while jumping off the back of a car, doing a flip and landing on your feet while stuff explodes behind you, no no surfing on a dirt bike while shooting a gun and leaping off that same dirt bike onto the top of an suv, than rolling off the suv onto the ground and then shooting the suv till it explodes, now that’s an action sequence. That is what you get when you team up Van Damme and Woo, the rest of the alphabet is just frontin.
I could break down every action sequence, but there is no need they are all great. Van Damme uses a lot of his typical cinema martial arts, jumping spinning, etc… but with Woo’s help he adds more gun play to his repertoire. Many of the actions sequences feature a combined use of hand to hand and weapons, most often simultaneously, so he would shoot a guy a couple of times and then finish him off with a round house; great stuff, just great. While Bloodsport and Double Impact out rank Hard Target on the list of great Van Damme flicks, it is not by much.
Nowhere to Run
After Double Impact and Universal Soldier it is hard to imagine that Van Damme could continue the streak, after all up until this point he has not been able to string together consecutive strong movies. Much to my disbelief Nowhere to Run, makes it three; we have a streak ladies and gentlemen. What is interesting about this film is that it also continues Van Damme’s run of original story ideas, well at least for him. He's been a genetic experiment, a set of twins, even a world renown fighter; this time he is an escaped convict trying to start over. And believe it or not he is actually guilty. Van Damme plays the role of Sam Gillen an imprisoned bank robber who is released early when his partner, who did not get caught, helps him escape during a prison transfer. His partner, Anthony Starke, is killed during the escape leaving Gillen with all the money they stole from the bank. Gillen ends up making his way onto the property of a widowed mother of two young children, Clydie Anderson, played by Rosanna Arquette. Gillen is quickly found on the property by Clydie’s son, Mookie, played by Kieran Culkin, yeah Macauly’s younger brother. Gillen is welcomed into the family shortly there after when he comes to their aide as a bunch of thugs attacked them. Clydie’s property is in the middle of a major land development that is under way and she does not want to sell. Van Damme ends up staying with the family and helping them hold onto their property.
Nowhere to Run is more about Gillen’s relationship to his newly adopted family and his attempt to put his past behind him than it is his ability to kick major booty. However there were a couple of pretty good action sequences including the final fight, which is one of the better fight scenes in his first seven movies. This is worth mentioning because again in stead of going out and getting a fighter to play the main baddie the movie enlisted the services of an actor, Ted Levine who played Mr. Dunston. In the past this has resulted in a very weak fight scene for a movie climax. However in this film, Director Robert Harmon was able to make the fight work. Again because Levine is not a professional fighter he does not utilize much kicking, but his punches were varied and he made use of environmental weapons such as a pick fork and a windows. The fight also consisted of a lot of rolling around and takeling. So instead of Van Damme uses his martial arts he just fought, which resulted in the final fight scene being just that a good old fashioned knock down drag out fight. In the end Van Damme wins, but still gets hauled off to prison. This type of ending was teased in Lionheart, but the directoe pulled back and went for the cheesy happy ending. I give Harmon credit for having the guts to actually have Van Damme the criminal, no matter how likable he is, get arrested. Good move.
Nowhere to Run is more about Gillen’s relationship to his newly adopted family and his attempt to put his past behind him than it is his ability to kick major booty. However there were a couple of pretty good action sequences including the final fight, which is one of the better fight scenes in his first seven movies. This is worth mentioning because again in stead of going out and getting a fighter to play the main baddie the movie enlisted the services of an actor, Ted Levine who played Mr. Dunston. In the past this has resulted in a very weak fight scene for a movie climax. However in this film, Director Robert Harmon was able to make the fight work. Again because Levine is not a professional fighter he does not utilize much kicking, but his punches were varied and he made use of environmental weapons such as a pick fork and a windows. The fight also consisted of a lot of rolling around and takeling. So instead of Van Damme uses his martial arts he just fought, which resulted in the final fight scene being just that a good old fashioned knock down drag out fight. In the end Van Damme wins, but still gets hauled off to prison. This type of ending was teased in Lionheart, but the directoe pulled back and went for the cheesy happy ending. I give Harmon credit for having the guts to actually have Van Damme the criminal, no matter how likable he is, get arrested. Good move.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Universal Soldier
On the heels of Double Impact, Universal Soldier is released and it is another really good movie, uh oh, Mr. Van Damme is dangerously close to developing a trend. I sense a streak coming on. In much the same way Double Impact was aided by a the unique concept of having Van Damme playing duel roles and bringing Bolo Yeung back to play the lead henchmen, Universal Soldier is aided by an interesting story idea and co-star slash fellow comrade in the action movie buff category, Dolph Lundgren.
Universal Solider is about a top secret genetic engineering super soldier program. Military geneticists have found a way to regenerate dead human tissue and therefore are able to revive former soldiers killed in action. By regenerating dead tissue they are also able to increase the soldier’s strength, speed, endurance, and accuracy making them virtually unstoppable. Private Luke Deveraux, Van Damme and Sergeant Andrew Scott, Lundgren were Vietnam War Vets that killed each other when Deveraux tried to defend some innocent villagers from the homicidal blood lust of Scott. These two were among the firsts dead soldiers to take part in the program. After three successful covert missions the US Military is preparing to take the program public when Deveraux and Scott have mental relapses. Deveraux escapes their military instillation where they are kept in an attempt to return home while Scott takes it upon himself to lead the manhunt for Deveraux.
Given the fact that the movie is about super soldiers it is not hard to guess most of the action was gun fights, there were a couple of hand to hand scenes, one took place in a diner, with shades of the Kickboxer, type of fight choreography expect this one was a little more grueling, but also some what tongue and cheek. At one point Van Damme punches a guy and lands hard enough on pool table to sink three balls into the corner pockets. To further add to the scene instead of playing it drunk this time Van Damme is preoccupied with eating, as a super soldier the are fed intravenously, so every time he knocks a guy out he goes back to eating something. He is also emotionless in the scene because is a brainwashed super soldier. So he just goes about wiping the floor with a bunch on Midwestern tough guys and take breaks to finish eating his lunch. Good stuff.
The movie climaxes with the final scene, an extended fight between Scott, Lundgren and Deveraux, Van Damme. This is a great fight sequence. Mostly because he though he is a big guy, Lundgren can move around and is light on his feet. While he does not through too many kicks he does have a complete inventory of different punches and throws so his attacks were no redundant and boring like we have seen from previous Van Damme movie baddies. When the fight concludes Van Damme uses a lot of his patented kicks and jump kicks to defeat Lundgren by kicking on the spikes of an industrial sized rotor-tiller. It is worth noting that the final blow was not the jumping spinning round house he is famous for, but rather a straight heel kick to the face.
Universal Solider is about a top secret genetic engineering super soldier program. Military geneticists have found a way to regenerate dead human tissue and therefore are able to revive former soldiers killed in action. By regenerating dead tissue they are also able to increase the soldier’s strength, speed, endurance, and accuracy making them virtually unstoppable. Private Luke Deveraux, Van Damme and Sergeant Andrew Scott, Lundgren were Vietnam War Vets that killed each other when Deveraux tried to defend some innocent villagers from the homicidal blood lust of Scott. These two were among the firsts dead soldiers to take part in the program. After three successful covert missions the US Military is preparing to take the program public when Deveraux and Scott have mental relapses. Deveraux escapes their military instillation where they are kept in an attempt to return home while Scott takes it upon himself to lead the manhunt for Deveraux.
Given the fact that the movie is about super soldiers it is not hard to guess most of the action was gun fights, there were a couple of hand to hand scenes, one took place in a diner, with shades of the Kickboxer, type of fight choreography expect this one was a little more grueling, but also some what tongue and cheek. At one point Van Damme punches a guy and lands hard enough on pool table to sink three balls into the corner pockets. To further add to the scene instead of playing it drunk this time Van Damme is preoccupied with eating, as a super soldier the are fed intravenously, so every time he knocks a guy out he goes back to eating something. He is also emotionless in the scene because is a brainwashed super soldier. So he just goes about wiping the floor with a bunch on Midwestern tough guys and take breaks to finish eating his lunch. Good stuff.
The movie climaxes with the final scene, an extended fight between Scott, Lundgren and Deveraux, Van Damme. This is a great fight sequence. Mostly because he though he is a big guy, Lundgren can move around and is light on his feet. While he does not through too many kicks he does have a complete inventory of different punches and throws so his attacks were no redundant and boring like we have seen from previous Van Damme movie baddies. When the fight concludes Van Damme uses a lot of his patented kicks and jump kicks to defeat Lundgren by kicking on the spikes of an industrial sized rotor-tiller. It is worth noting that the final blow was not the jumping spinning round house he is famous for, but rather a straight heel kick to the face.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Double Impact
In Van Damme’s sixth installment he takes on a new challenge of playing two different roles in the same film. Van Damme plays twin brothers Chad and Alex Wagner who were separated when they were six months old following the assassination of their parents. Chad is taken by his late father’s personal body guard and close friend Frank Avery, Geoffrey Lewis, who raises Chad like his own son in Paris and then in LA. Alex was taken by his Chinese nanny and dropped off at an orphanage in Honk Kong. Given their dramatically different upbringings they grow to become very different adults. Chad is a privileged play boy who likes shopping and wearing black silk underwear, Alex is hard-nosed thug trying to make his way selling imported cars and other goods on the black market. The two brothers are re-united in Hong Kong when a private investor for Frank finds Alex. Frank hopes to re-unite the brothers and convince them to strike back at the two men responsible for their parent’s death.
In the past I have refrained from mentioning anything about Van Damme’s “acting ability” in the movies I have commented on mostly because these commentaries are intended to evaluate and compare the fighting and action sequences from movie to movie. I would be remise, however, if I didn’t show Mr. Van Damme a little love for pulling this off. He really did play two very different characters in this movie and quite successfully. He even went so far as to change the fighting styles between the two characters. Chad, having the more sophisticated background, utilized more formal fighting stances, most of his moves were the trade mark Van Damme stylized kicks, a lot of roundhouse and jumping roundhouse kicks, plenty of straight kicks as well, he also did not shoot that much. Alex’s fighting style on the other hand was more rough and violent. Alex used a lot of punches and throws, also many of his moves resulted in fatal blows, based on the idea that this is someone that has had to fight to save his own life. Alex was also the one that did most of the shooting in the movies again reflecting their environments. Chad did have to use or get comfortable with guns in his youth, unlike Alex who I am sure was packin at age 8.
While the final fights between the two head villains that were ultimately responsible for their parent’s deaths did not involve a knock down drag out grulling physical fights, they did offer up elaborate death sequences and it gave Van Damme a chance to kill two different bosses two different ways while playing both roles. This set-up actually made for great action movie climax as the two bad guys are fleeing the scene in opposite directions Alex says to Chad (in other words Van Damme is yelling to himself) “Chang is mine, you get Griffith", so the two bad guys split up and the twins split up, that’s called symmetry boy and gilrs, film making 102.
By way of a final word Double Impact also featured Bolo Yeung, incidentally he was 53 years old when he made this movie, who you may remember was Chong Li in Bloodsport, he was 50 when he made that movie. Naturally he and Van Damme face each other a couple of times in this movie including their final scene. One of the things that makes Double Impact such a better action movie than some of his previous films is that Van Damme can actually use martial arts when fighting the main villain. Bolo can take the hits and deliver them as well, versus someone like Patrick Kilpatrick, Sandman from Death Warrant, who is a decent actor, but not a fighter. It is about more than casting people that look the part. There is a significant difference in the quality of action film when there is someone who can actually go toe to toe in a combat sequence versus someone who can only throw right hooks.
In the past I have refrained from mentioning anything about Van Damme’s “acting ability” in the movies I have commented on mostly because these commentaries are intended to evaluate and compare the fighting and action sequences from movie to movie. I would be remise, however, if I didn’t show Mr. Van Damme a little love for pulling this off. He really did play two very different characters in this movie and quite successfully. He even went so far as to change the fighting styles between the two characters. Chad, having the more sophisticated background, utilized more formal fighting stances, most of his moves were the trade mark Van Damme stylized kicks, a lot of roundhouse and jumping roundhouse kicks, plenty of straight kicks as well, he also did not shoot that much. Alex’s fighting style on the other hand was more rough and violent. Alex used a lot of punches and throws, also many of his moves resulted in fatal blows, based on the idea that this is someone that has had to fight to save his own life. Alex was also the one that did most of the shooting in the movies again reflecting their environments. Chad did have to use or get comfortable with guns in his youth, unlike Alex who I am sure was packin at age 8.
While the final fights between the two head villains that were ultimately responsible for their parent’s deaths did not involve a knock down drag out grulling physical fights, they did offer up elaborate death sequences and it gave Van Damme a chance to kill two different bosses two different ways while playing both roles. This set-up actually made for great action movie climax as the two bad guys are fleeing the scene in opposite directions Alex says to Chad (in other words Van Damme is yelling to himself) “Chang is mine, you get Griffith", so the two bad guys split up and the twins split up, that’s called symmetry boy and gilrs, film making 102.
By way of a final word Double Impact also featured Bolo Yeung, incidentally he was 53 years old when he made this movie, who you may remember was Chong Li in Bloodsport, he was 50 when he made that movie. Naturally he and Van Damme face each other a couple of times in this movie including their final scene. One of the things that makes Double Impact such a better action movie than some of his previous films is that Van Damme can actually use martial arts when fighting the main villain. Bolo can take the hits and deliver them as well, versus someone like Patrick Kilpatrick, Sandman from Death Warrant, who is a decent actor, but not a fighter. It is about more than casting people that look the part. There is a significant difference in the quality of action film when there is someone who can actually go toe to toe in a combat sequence versus someone who can only throw right hooks.
2007 So Far
Since we are on the edge of the summer movie blitz, I figured now would be a good time to get my rankings out for the first Quarter of 2007 -
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Breach (A-)
4. Reign Over Me (B+)
5. Zodiac (B+)
6. The Grindhouse (B+)
7. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
8. Smokin’ Aces (C)
9. Ghost Rider (D)
10. Pathfinder (F)
1. 300 (A)
2. Black Snake Moan (A)
3. Breach (A-)
4. Reign Over Me (B+)
5. Zodiac (B+)
6. The Grindhouse (B+)
7. Daddy’s Little Girls (C+)
8. Smokin’ Aces (C)
9. Ghost Rider (D)
10. Pathfinder (F)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pathfinder
When reviewing a movie the ideally wants to make some connection with the movie, either something they really enjoyed or something they really disliked, the hardest movies to review are those they leave you somewhere in the middle. It is in those moments the reviewer ends up fixating on some small details form which they are able to squeeze out a reasonable review. Pathfinder left me with a reaction, but not a reaction I am particularly comfortable with.
There are bad movies and then are movies like this despicable excuse for what passes a motion picture. The sad thing is I really thought this movie had something. Pathfinder is about a Viking child, Karl Urban, that is abandoned by his family after he failed to participate in the carnage they wreaked on an unsuspecting Native American village. The young warrior is orphaned and shortly thereafter is discovered and raised by one of the tribes that did not initially fall victim to the Vikings. I know, I know this has the makings of something kind of interesting, well believe me when I tell you there was nothing interesting happening here at all. This was one of the hollowest stories I have seen on screen in a while. I mean at least with a movie like Electra it was terrible, but terrible in the car accident sense where it was awful, but interesting. This movie was not even interesting, even now I am having a hard time recalling any details from the action sequences. All I remember are much of guys running around on horse-back with big fur coats with metal helmets and Karl Urban wearing next to nothing fighting them off. There was nothing memorable or worthwhile here. And it sux because I actually like Urban, but he is clearly not cut out to lead, he is a good number 3 or 4, but he should be no where near the headlining role. It was bound to happen eventually congrats Pathfinder you are officially the worst movie I have seen so far this year, and it is not even close.
GRADE – F
There are bad movies and then are movies like this despicable excuse for what passes a motion picture. The sad thing is I really thought this movie had something. Pathfinder is about a Viking child, Karl Urban, that is abandoned by his family after he failed to participate in the carnage they wreaked on an unsuspecting Native American village. The young warrior is orphaned and shortly thereafter is discovered and raised by one of the tribes that did not initially fall victim to the Vikings. I know, I know this has the makings of something kind of interesting, well believe me when I tell you there was nothing interesting happening here at all. This was one of the hollowest stories I have seen on screen in a while. I mean at least with a movie like Electra it was terrible, but terrible in the car accident sense where it was awful, but interesting. This movie was not even interesting, even now I am having a hard time recalling any details from the action sequences. All I remember are much of guys running around on horse-back with big fur coats with metal helmets and Karl Urban wearing next to nothing fighting them off. There was nothing memorable or worthwhile here. And it sux because I actually like Urban, but he is clearly not cut out to lead, he is a good number 3 or 4, but he should be no where near the headlining role. It was bound to happen eventually congrats Pathfinder you are officially the worst movie I have seen so far this year, and it is not even close.
GRADE – F
Death Warrant
Death Warrant
Van Damme’s fifth feature film, Death Warrant was more of an attempt by Van Damme to make a dective movie more than an action flick, which did not turn out well. Death Warrant is about an Detective Louis Burke, Van Damme, an undercover officer for the Royal Canadian Police who goes all the way to LA to track down the serial killer Sandman, Patrick Kilpatrick, who claimed the life of his partner. Apparently Burke kills the Sandman in LA and for his efforts is offered an uncover assignment inside an LA prison where a number of inmates are being killed. As the investigation unfolds Burke discovers some of the guards are conspiring with some of the inmates and the prison doctor to harvest healthy body parts to be sold on the black market. The movie climaxes with the Sandman showing up at the same prison to kill Burke for his interference. This time Burke gets the job done, well at least it looks that way…
At this stage in his career Van Damme is trying to rely less on his fighting ability and more on acting meaningful action scenes. He is no longer fighting for the sake of keeping the movie rolling he is relying on story and his ability to portray an effective character within the story. This is not a recommended course of action; even though by going this direction we got to see some Robert Guillame - shout outs to Beson. Death Warrant has really three to four action scenes in the entire movie. The opening sequence is the first encounter between Burke and the Sandman, in which the Burke shoots the Sandman several times. The scene does not last long and there is little to no fight choreography. The second fight scene is a brief brawl in the prison lunch room that is nothing more than Van Damme doing his patented jumping round house kick. The next sequence and the first real fight scene of the movie is a two on one fight in which Van Damme fights on two inmates. The scene makes us of the scenery weapons, ala a mop handle and chain. This is the first scene with real choreography. It is not overly elaborate Van Damme makes use of his kicks and does very little punching he blocks his opponents advances and ends up beating the two with little trouble. He even tries to inject some comedy into the scene by smashing one of the inmates faces into a drier and turning on. He walks away as we hear the drier banging the inmate’s face. The final real action sequence is the last scene of the movie which is a farely elaborate chance sequence and then a brief fight between Burke and the Sandman. Ultimately the fight is disappointing because Kilpatirck is not a martial artist. The fight ends up being nothing more than Kilpatrick throwing Burke around and Burke kicking him a bunch of times, once into a furnace, from which The Sandman jumps from and extinguishes his own flames and then again he kicks his head into a long screw that pierces his skull. It made for some interesting visuals, but ultimately a very ineffective final scene, very much like the ending of Cyborg.
Van Damme’s fifth feature film, Death Warrant was more of an attempt by Van Damme to make a dective movie more than an action flick, which did not turn out well. Death Warrant is about an Detective Louis Burke, Van Damme, an undercover officer for the Royal Canadian Police who goes all the way to LA to track down the serial killer Sandman, Patrick Kilpatrick, who claimed the life of his partner. Apparently Burke kills the Sandman in LA and for his efforts is offered an uncover assignment inside an LA prison where a number of inmates are being killed. As the investigation unfolds Burke discovers some of the guards are conspiring with some of the inmates and the prison doctor to harvest healthy body parts to be sold on the black market. The movie climaxes with the Sandman showing up at the same prison to kill Burke for his interference. This time Burke gets the job done, well at least it looks that way…
At this stage in his career Van Damme is trying to rely less on his fighting ability and more on acting meaningful action scenes. He is no longer fighting for the sake of keeping the movie rolling he is relying on story and his ability to portray an effective character within the story. This is not a recommended course of action; even though by going this direction we got to see some Robert Guillame - shout outs to Beson. Death Warrant has really three to four action scenes in the entire movie. The opening sequence is the first encounter between Burke and the Sandman, in which the Burke shoots the Sandman several times. The scene does not last long and there is little to no fight choreography. The second fight scene is a brief brawl in the prison lunch room that is nothing more than Van Damme doing his patented jumping round house kick. The next sequence and the first real fight scene of the movie is a two on one fight in which Van Damme fights on two inmates. The scene makes us of the scenery weapons, ala a mop handle and chain. This is the first scene with real choreography. It is not overly elaborate Van Damme makes use of his kicks and does very little punching he blocks his opponents advances and ends up beating the two with little trouble. He even tries to inject some comedy into the scene by smashing one of the inmates faces into a drier and turning on. He walks away as we hear the drier banging the inmate’s face. The final real action sequence is the last scene of the movie which is a farely elaborate chance sequence and then a brief fight between Burke and the Sandman. Ultimately the fight is disappointing because Kilpatirck is not a martial artist. The fight ends up being nothing more than Kilpatrick throwing Burke around and Burke kicking him a bunch of times, once into a furnace, from which The Sandman jumps from and extinguishes his own flames and then again he kicks his head into a long screw that pierces his skull. It made for some interesting visuals, but ultimately a very ineffective final scene, very much like the ending of Cyborg.
The Grindhouse
The Grindhouse
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez team up for a seven-ties style double-feature. The Grindhouse is a double-feature; showing casing Rodriguez’s Planter Terror and Tarantino’s Deathproof. Both movies were made to imitate the stylized horror features of the seventies. While each film exists on its own, the duo of directors did collaborate to make the Grindhouse as authentic a double-feature experience as possible for those of us un-initiated. Not only did the Grindhouse feature two movies, but also three original trailers of ficitional films produced exclusively for these movies, and a number of original commercial also produced exclusively for the movies. All things considered the running time of Grindhouse was well over three hours; and though I have mixed emotions about the movies the films the over-all experience was worth the price of admission. As I stated earlier I did not have much familiarity with the double-feature experience prior to the Tarantino/Rodriguez collaboration, but for a first experience it was not a disappointment. From what I can gather the two directors stayed true to the nature and formula of Grindhouse Theater. Particularly with the inclusion of period-style commercials that appeared between the two features. Regarding the original trailers they were a nice component that rounded out the experience. Machete was the first of three trailers and clearly the best and most likely to be made into a movie, but that could just be my blatant bias to Danny Trejo and me wanting the movie to be made. The other three trailers, Thanksgiving, Don’t, and Werewolf Women of the SS, pretty much get lumped together because while they were funny and each had their high and low points, specifically the final shot of Thanksgiving (if you haven’t seen it I don’t want to ruin just look for the really interesting thanksgiving fowl), I really don’t any of them getting made into its own feature. As for the feature themselves, they were very different movies and while both were enjoyable, one clearly stood out. The are reviewed in the order they were shown
GRADE – B+
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez helmed this is horror-comedy flick about a poisonous vapor that is released into the air and ends up infecting the residents of “random rural town USA”. The movie is about an army battalion lead by Lt. Muldoon, Bruce Willis, that are infected with this new biological weapon, noxious gas that was manufactured in the Middle East. In an attempt to steal more of the weapon, which the members of the battalion rely on in order to stay alive and remain “normal”, from the weapons primary manufacturer – an Iranian chemical engineer Abby, played by Lost’s Naveen Andrews; the weapon is released into the air and began to infect the residents of a nearby town. The gas transforms all those that inhale it into ravenous zombies; one can also be transformed into a zombie if they come in contact with any of the zombies’ blood. To stop the spread of this horrible plague a pair of unlikely heroes come together, an exotic dancer (not to be confused with a stripper) Cherry Darling, Rose McGowen, and Wray, Freddie Rodriguez (Lady in the Water). Wray and Cherry are former lovers that reconnect during this time of crisis to try and save humanity.
In Planet Terror Rodriguez had made a tongue and cheek horror homage to seventy-style horror films. The movie is complete with gruesome death scenes, massive body count, graphically gross images and even a woman with an assault rifle for a leg. Even the dialogue is over the top. While this is not my style of movie I can appreciate the director having fun in the genre and wanting to have fun with the audience. The story and shallow and the movie leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it is fun and disgusting and chalk full of “ewwww” moments when the audience has not choice but to cringe. I could do without zombie rape scene, well mostly I could not with the zombies’ testicles falling off, but I am weird like that. All in all fun movie, not Rodriguez’s finest, he has done much better, but I am not mad at the movie.
GRADE – C+
Deathproof
The second film in the double feature, clearly the better of the two, and its no coincidence that QT directed this one. Deathproof is the story of a sadistic stunt man, Stunt Man Mike played by Kurt Russell, that is gets off my killing women with his specially built stunt car that is virtually indestructible and death proof, at least for the person seated in the driver seat. Stunt Man Mike also seems to favor attacking groups of women; although he is not above killing them one at a time. This movie was really good because it is a QT movie. What I have come to appreciate about Tarantino is that when he makes a movie, it doesn’t matter what kind of movie it is, it is a Tarantino flick. Meaning that he is going to make it his way, with lots of cool dialogue, long single frame shots, and strong female characters. Deathproof is no exception, even though Russell runs away with movie doing what he does best, be Kurt Russell, all the female characters are sexy, strong, and commanding. Even though the death sequences are gruesome and violent, it doesn’t make the ladies look any weaker in fact I have more respect for any female that signs up to have a tire run over her face. And in the end Stunt Man Mike downfall comes at the hands of three women. This movie is good times to be had by all.
GRADE – A
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez team up for a seven-ties style double-feature. The Grindhouse is a double-feature; showing casing Rodriguez’s Planter Terror and Tarantino’s Deathproof. Both movies were made to imitate the stylized horror features of the seventies. While each film exists on its own, the duo of directors did collaborate to make the Grindhouse as authentic a double-feature experience as possible for those of us un-initiated. Not only did the Grindhouse feature two movies, but also three original trailers of ficitional films produced exclusively for these movies, and a number of original commercial also produced exclusively for the movies. All things considered the running time of Grindhouse was well over three hours; and though I have mixed emotions about the movies the films the over-all experience was worth the price of admission. As I stated earlier I did not have much familiarity with the double-feature experience prior to the Tarantino/Rodriguez collaboration, but for a first experience it was not a disappointment. From what I can gather the two directors stayed true to the nature and formula of Grindhouse Theater. Particularly with the inclusion of period-style commercials that appeared between the two features. Regarding the original trailers they were a nice component that rounded out the experience. Machete was the first of three trailers and clearly the best and most likely to be made into a movie, but that could just be my blatant bias to Danny Trejo and me wanting the movie to be made. The other three trailers, Thanksgiving, Don’t, and Werewolf Women of the SS, pretty much get lumped together because while they were funny and each had their high and low points, specifically the final shot of Thanksgiving (if you haven’t seen it I don’t want to ruin just look for the really interesting thanksgiving fowl), I really don’t any of them getting made into its own feature. As for the feature themselves, they were very different movies and while both were enjoyable, one clearly stood out. The are reviewed in the order they were shown
GRADE – B+
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez helmed this is horror-comedy flick about a poisonous vapor that is released into the air and ends up infecting the residents of “random rural town USA”. The movie is about an army battalion lead by Lt. Muldoon, Bruce Willis, that are infected with this new biological weapon, noxious gas that was manufactured in the Middle East. In an attempt to steal more of the weapon, which the members of the battalion rely on in order to stay alive and remain “normal”, from the weapons primary manufacturer – an Iranian chemical engineer Abby, played by Lost’s Naveen Andrews; the weapon is released into the air and began to infect the residents of a nearby town. The gas transforms all those that inhale it into ravenous zombies; one can also be transformed into a zombie if they come in contact with any of the zombies’ blood. To stop the spread of this horrible plague a pair of unlikely heroes come together, an exotic dancer (not to be confused with a stripper) Cherry Darling, Rose McGowen, and Wray, Freddie Rodriguez (Lady in the Water). Wray and Cherry are former lovers that reconnect during this time of crisis to try and save humanity.
In Planet Terror Rodriguez had made a tongue and cheek horror homage to seventy-style horror films. The movie is complete with gruesome death scenes, massive body count, graphically gross images and even a woman with an assault rifle for a leg. Even the dialogue is over the top. While this is not my style of movie I can appreciate the director having fun in the genre and wanting to have fun with the audience. The story and shallow and the movie leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but it is fun and disgusting and chalk full of “ewwww” moments when the audience has not choice but to cringe. I could do without zombie rape scene, well mostly I could not with the zombies’ testicles falling off, but I am weird like that. All in all fun movie, not Rodriguez’s finest, he has done much better, but I am not mad at the movie.
GRADE – C+
Deathproof
The second film in the double feature, clearly the better of the two, and its no coincidence that QT directed this one. Deathproof is the story of a sadistic stunt man, Stunt Man Mike played by Kurt Russell, that is gets off my killing women with his specially built stunt car that is virtually indestructible and death proof, at least for the person seated in the driver seat. Stunt Man Mike also seems to favor attacking groups of women; although he is not above killing them one at a time. This movie was really good because it is a QT movie. What I have come to appreciate about Tarantino is that when he makes a movie, it doesn’t matter what kind of movie it is, it is a Tarantino flick. Meaning that he is going to make it his way, with lots of cool dialogue, long single frame shots, and strong female characters. Deathproof is no exception, even though Russell runs away with movie doing what he does best, be Kurt Russell, all the female characters are sexy, strong, and commanding. Even though the death sequences are gruesome and violent, it doesn’t make the ladies look any weaker in fact I have more respect for any female that signs up to have a tire run over her face. And in the end Stunt Man Mike downfall comes at the hands of three women. This movie is good times to be had by all.
GRADE – A
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Lionheart
Van Damme’s fourth release, and his second screen play, Lionheart is about a French Legionnaire, Lyon Gaultier – Van Damme, who goes AWAL when he receives a letter from his sister-in-law, Helene Gaultier – played by Lisa Pelikan, telling him that his brother has been badly burned in a drug deal gone bad. Van Damme flees North Africa and makes his way to the United States, he arrives in New York where he has no money, food, or means of reaching his family in LA, when he comes across a underground fight circuit with no rules and a big payout. The manager of the fight club, Joshua – played by Harrison Page, takes Lyon under his wing and gets him an introduction to the highly paid, upscale fight club. Lyon uses his fighting skill to travel to LA where he meets up with family. By time he reaches LA it is too late and his brother has died. In order to help his sister-in-law make ends meet and provide a better life for her and his niece, Nicole – played by Ashley Johnson, he fight on the west coast circuit of the fight club in hopes to make enough money to move his family out of their depressed neighborhood and into a better life.
Lionheart is built on the same platform as Bloodsport and Kickboxer, single-opponent arena fighting action sequences. In this film, Van Damme has three brief fights sequences outside of the fight club circuit, one while he is expecting the French Foreign Legion another when he is trying to get away from two captains from the Legion that came to bring him back, and the third is when he fights off a group of thugs attempting to mug he and Joshua, his manager. Other than these three scenes the bulk of fighting take place in the fight clubs.
Van Damme is featured in seven fight club scenes. Realizing that this approach to film making is becoming repetitive director Sheldon Lettich, wisely incorporates environment changes into the story to give Lionheart and element of originality. Because the fighting is illegal many of the contests take place in private locations; parking garages, private residences, country clubs, etc… Simultaneously Van Damme’s fighting style has taken on some variety as well. Considering the nature of these clubs and there participants the contest are violent and brutal therefore Van Damme incorporates more straight punches and elbows. There are also more throws in this movie than in the others. Most of the fights end with the looser near death and badly beaten. To get this effect most of the hits land on the head and face. Van Damme still employs his signature, seeing as how this is his fourth movie and he has used it in all four it is his signature, round-house and jumping round-house kicks. He uses very little if any splits in this film, again as a means of portraying the brutal nature of this kind of fighting. As for the final fight sequence to further sets this movie apart, we are not introduced to the final fighter until the end of the movie and all we know is that he is unbeaten and seemingly unbeatable. To further stack the deck against Van Damme’s character he fights with a broken rib. The final fight, similar to Cyborg, features a lot of punching from the heel. The punches show the brutality and force of the heel and that directly contrasts the skill and agility of Van Damme’s kicking.
While there is not much in the way of new moves or techniques Van Damme does attempt to diversify by utilizing more punching, which in the end does pay off because Lionheart does come across as something different from his previous films.
Lionheart is built on the same platform as Bloodsport and Kickboxer, single-opponent arena fighting action sequences. In this film, Van Damme has three brief fights sequences outside of the fight club circuit, one while he is expecting the French Foreign Legion another when he is trying to get away from two captains from the Legion that came to bring him back, and the third is when he fights off a group of thugs attempting to mug he and Joshua, his manager. Other than these three scenes the bulk of fighting take place in the fight clubs.
Van Damme is featured in seven fight club scenes. Realizing that this approach to film making is becoming repetitive director Sheldon Lettich, wisely incorporates environment changes into the story to give Lionheart and element of originality. Because the fighting is illegal many of the contests take place in private locations; parking garages, private residences, country clubs, etc… Simultaneously Van Damme’s fighting style has taken on some variety as well. Considering the nature of these clubs and there participants the contest are violent and brutal therefore Van Damme incorporates more straight punches and elbows. There are also more throws in this movie than in the others. Most of the fights end with the looser near death and badly beaten. To get this effect most of the hits land on the head and face. Van Damme still employs his signature, seeing as how this is his fourth movie and he has used it in all four it is his signature, round-house and jumping round-house kicks. He uses very little if any splits in this film, again as a means of portraying the brutal nature of this kind of fighting. As for the final fight sequence to further sets this movie apart, we are not introduced to the final fighter until the end of the movie and all we know is that he is unbeaten and seemingly unbeatable. To further stack the deck against Van Damme’s character he fights with a broken rib. The final fight, similar to Cyborg, features a lot of punching from the heel. The punches show the brutality and force of the heel and that directly contrasts the skill and agility of Van Damme’s kicking.
While there is not much in the way of new moves or techniques Van Damme does attempt to diversify by utilizing more punching, which in the end does pay off because Lionheart does come across as something different from his previous films.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Reign Over Me
Reign Over Me is the story of two former dental school roommates who meet up more than a decade later and find that even though they appear to be in much different mental states have more in common than either could have supposed.
Don Cheadle stars a Dr. Alan Johnson, a successful New York City dentist looking for more from his life. His gorgeous wife Janeane, Jada Pinkett Smith, is loving and kind, but somewhat suffocating and his two daughters are smart and respectful, but needy. Alan is looking for his own space or an at least some sort of outlet of his own, but does not know how to articulate this need. Than one day Alan comes across his former roommate, Dr. Charlie Fineman played by Adam Sandler, walking on the street. Fineman also practiced in New York until he lost his wife, three daughters, and family dog to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, his family was on the plane from Boston. When Johnson approaches Fineman on the street he does not recognize Johnson and appears distant and lost. As Johnson attempts to rekindle their friendship it becomes aware that the tragic loss of his family has taken a terrible toll on Fineman who is living out his life in a self medicated haze. He plays drums for a small punk band and when he is not playing live or in his studio he is remodeling his kitchen, shopping for vinyl record, or playing video games. Johnson wants to help his friend out of this slump, cope with his loss and move on, but Fineman does not want to be help. Reign Over Me is the story of how these two once close friend re-connect and help each other get more out of life.
It is difficult to review a movie that does more or less what you expect it to. Going into this movie I expected Cheadle to be his ever solid reliable self, Sandler to make the role work in a way no one else could and together for them to act out a powerful story; check, check, and check. I don’t know if it is possible to make a perfect 8, but that what this movie was. There were no glaring flaws, it wasn’t too long, or boring, the characters were believable and relatable, no one tried to do too much or fell short. From top to bottom this was a very good movie, just not great. Cheadle is a rock, when you cast Don to a role you give him the script and walk away, he doesn’t need assistance. Sandler has the ability to take an abstract idea and make it real. Before this role I would have no idea how to describe someone that is coping with this kind of pain, but now I can say “…you know like the way Sandler acted in Reign Over Me, that’s how they are dealing with it”. He manages to make his quirky and big personality work. He even manages to work in the signature Sandler fits of rage.
With these two doing the bulk of the heavy lifting all nothing else is required is that Director Mike Binder tell a good story and make the pieces around them work. While Binder may not be a household name, I mean beside the greatness that is Blankman, yeah that’s right freakin Damon Wayans in Blankman. After this movie his phone will ring once or twice, not that it wasn’t after Blankman. True with leads like Sandler and Cheadle what more do you have to do than point the camera and shoot, but he does uses some very interesting camera angles, a lot of low angles looking up, and some lighting tricks that accentuate the performances. As for the other pieces, while I was hoping Jada would be on screen more and have the opportunity to stretch her legs she does all that is asked of her, and my goodness the woman is good looking. Saffron Burrow, plays Sandler’s potential love interest and is also a little crazy herself, manages to sell all the scenes that she is in without being very sexual even though her character comes across as someone with some sexual angst. Liv Tyler who plays Dr. Ashley Oakhurst, Fineman's psychiatrist manages to deliver a respectable performance. Even Donald Sutherland shows up and holds a couple of scenes for good measure.
Reign Over Me is a really good about very real people coping with hard issues. It is nice to see about movie deal with hard life stuff without being melodramatic. Cheers to Binder, Cheadle, and Sandler, well done.
GRADE – B+
Don Cheadle stars a Dr. Alan Johnson, a successful New York City dentist looking for more from his life. His gorgeous wife Janeane, Jada Pinkett Smith, is loving and kind, but somewhat suffocating and his two daughters are smart and respectful, but needy. Alan is looking for his own space or an at least some sort of outlet of his own, but does not know how to articulate this need. Than one day Alan comes across his former roommate, Dr. Charlie Fineman played by Adam Sandler, walking on the street. Fineman also practiced in New York until he lost his wife, three daughters, and family dog to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, his family was on the plane from Boston. When Johnson approaches Fineman on the street he does not recognize Johnson and appears distant and lost. As Johnson attempts to rekindle their friendship it becomes aware that the tragic loss of his family has taken a terrible toll on Fineman who is living out his life in a self medicated haze. He plays drums for a small punk band and when he is not playing live or in his studio he is remodeling his kitchen, shopping for vinyl record, or playing video games. Johnson wants to help his friend out of this slump, cope with his loss and move on, but Fineman does not want to be help. Reign Over Me is the story of how these two once close friend re-connect and help each other get more out of life.
It is difficult to review a movie that does more or less what you expect it to. Going into this movie I expected Cheadle to be his ever solid reliable self, Sandler to make the role work in a way no one else could and together for them to act out a powerful story; check, check, and check. I don’t know if it is possible to make a perfect 8, but that what this movie was. There were no glaring flaws, it wasn’t too long, or boring, the characters were believable and relatable, no one tried to do too much or fell short. From top to bottom this was a very good movie, just not great. Cheadle is a rock, when you cast Don to a role you give him the script and walk away, he doesn’t need assistance. Sandler has the ability to take an abstract idea and make it real. Before this role I would have no idea how to describe someone that is coping with this kind of pain, but now I can say “…you know like the way Sandler acted in Reign Over Me, that’s how they are dealing with it”. He manages to make his quirky and big personality work. He even manages to work in the signature Sandler fits of rage.
With these two doing the bulk of the heavy lifting all nothing else is required is that Director Mike Binder tell a good story and make the pieces around them work. While Binder may not be a household name, I mean beside the greatness that is Blankman, yeah that’s right freakin Damon Wayans in Blankman. After this movie his phone will ring once or twice, not that it wasn’t after Blankman. True with leads like Sandler and Cheadle what more do you have to do than point the camera and shoot, but he does uses some very interesting camera angles, a lot of low angles looking up, and some lighting tricks that accentuate the performances. As for the other pieces, while I was hoping Jada would be on screen more and have the opportunity to stretch her legs she does all that is asked of her, and my goodness the woman is good looking. Saffron Burrow, plays Sandler’s potential love interest and is also a little crazy herself, manages to sell all the scenes that she is in without being very sexual even though her character comes across as someone with some sexual angst. Liv Tyler who plays Dr. Ashley Oakhurst, Fineman's psychiatrist manages to deliver a respectable performance. Even Donald Sutherland shows up and holds a couple of scenes for good measure.
Reign Over Me is a really good about very real people coping with hard issues. It is nice to see about movie deal with hard life stuff without being melodramatic. Cheers to Binder, Cheadle, and Sandler, well done.
GRADE – B+
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Kickboxer
Released the same year as Cyborg, 1989, Kickboxer is the story of two brothers who were separated when their parents got divorced and though there were raised in two different countries remained closely bonded to one another. When Eric, Dennis Alexio, is paralyzed in a brutal kickboxing contest in Bangkok, his younger brother Kurt, Van Damme, swears revenge and sets out to train in the ancient art of Muay Thai kick boxing so that he can take down the reigning champion, Tong Po (Michel Qissi) and avenge his brother.There are two unique features to Kickboxer, Van Damme gets a writing credit and second he is only in four combative action sequences and the first three are very short. In this film Van Damme tries to capture the magic of some of the older Hong Kong martial arts movies that featured elaborative training sequences. The majority of the movie is spent watching Van Damme develop into a make-shift Thai fighter. He is trained by a small older Thai man, Xian (Dennis Chan). Xian pushes Van Damme through a series of elaborate exercises and rigorous training sequences to grow his skill. This is reminiscent of the flash back sequence in Bloodsport that featured an intense training regime, except the training in this film is shot over longer sequences and is much more elaborate, however the intent is the same. The training sequences gives the audience a chance to see how physically impressive Van Damme can be without having to involve another combatant in the scene. On the other hand Chan’s character does personally engage in a large portion of the training similar to his character’s equivalent, Tanaka, in Bloodsport.
Along with the unique features there are some common themes amongst the fight choreography in this movie. In the four action sequences Van Damme utilizes many of the same movements seen in his first two films. He throws very big round house kicks and very few punches. In the first fight scene featuring Van Damme he is a small rural shop defending Xian's neice, and his love interest, from the local thugs that are extorting her for protection money. He makes quick work of these two thungs using mostly straight kicks and some the environment to his advantage. In the next fight scene he is in a bar fight with a bunch of young Thai fighters. Important to note abou this scene is the incredibly awsome dance moves he displays prior to fighting. We get to watch a special treat as the rythimcally giften Van Damme shows off some awesome moves (as you can see above - thanks to my boy Gabe for the gif). When it comes to the fighting he does his usual kicks and incorporates a new split move. He is able to kick two men on either side of him in the face by doing a jumping into the air and doing a split so that he brings his legs up high enough to reach these men’s faces. In the third fight scene he is facing an experience Thai boxer in the ring and the scene consists of nothing by kicks to the body. The men trade kicks to the ribs until eventually Van Damme’s opponent cannot with stand Van Damme vicious body blows.
The final fight scene is more elaborate and features Van Damme and Qissi fighting with shards of glass glued to the bandages wrapped around their hands. In this scene Van Damme incorporates more body movement. He throws some punches, tries to work in some knees and elbows which are big elements in Muay Thai, but in the end the big shot of the scene is the jumping spinning round house that he has done in all three of his movies thus far. However the final blow was a straight kick the face with the heel making contact. This kick gave Van Damme the chance to showcase and his balance and flexibility.
Overall Kickboxer’s action sequences were an improvement from Cyborg, especially in that the final fight, which was not a complete disappointment. The training sequences attempted to compliment the choreographed fight sequences, but fell short.
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