PG-13
||Action,
Adventure,
Crime|
6 August 1993 (USA)
Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering
his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a
nationwide manhunt.
Director:Andrew Davis
Writers:Jeb Stuart (screenplay), David Twohy (screenplay)
Stars:Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward
Storyline A well respected Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble has found out that
his wife, Helen, has been murdered ferociously in her own home. The
police found Kimble and accused him of the murder. Then, Kimble (without
Justifiable Reason) was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.
However, on the way to prison, Kimble's transport crashed. Kimble
escapes and is now on the run. Deputy Samuel Gerard from Chicago takes
charge of the chase of Kimble. Meanwhile, Kimble makes up his own
investigation to find who really killed his wife, and to lure Gerard and
his team into it as well.
The Fugitive Movie Reviews
This excellent film
details the adventure of a man's search for his wife's killer and to
clear himself of her murder. Harrison Ford is the hero and wanted man
and on the run to escape capture by a determined U.S. Marshal in one
thrilling scene after another. A spectacular train wreck with a bus of
prison-bound felons gets the action underway at which point Tommy Lee
Jones enters the picture and takes over the film by sheer force of
personality and doesn't let go. Harrison, a resourceful type, stays just
ahead of Jones in this taut cat-and-mouse thriller and adroitly leaves
just enough clues for the police as he closes in on the killer. Ford and
Jones are well matched here in one of the best urban crime mysteries
ever filmed. Cast and Chicago locations add realism to a great story.
Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S.
soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers
have been killed in action.
Director:Steven Spielberg
Writer:Robert Rodat
Stars:Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore
Storyline Opening with the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, members of
the 2nd Ranger Battalion under Cpt. Miller fight ashore to secure a
beachhead. Amidst the fighting, two brothers are killed in action.
Earlier in New Guinea, a third brother is KIA. Their mother, Mrs. Ryan,
is to receive all three of the grave telegrams on the same day. The
United States Army Chief of Staff, George C. Marshall, is given an
opportunity to alleviate some of her grief when he learns of a fourth
brother, Private James Ryan, and decides to send out 8 men (Cpt. Miller
and select members from 2nd Rangers) to find him and bring him back home
to his mother...
Saving Private Ryan Movie Reviews
The opening beach
assault sequences were the most violent, realistic, and upsetting
filming I've ever seen; looked as though the thing was actual combat
footage. The shushing noises of rounds cutting through the air was the
most chilling part of all. Perfect portrayal of the insane stupidity of
war and the anguish of all who enter this most foolish of enterprises. A
must see.
Jason Bourne dodges a ruthless CIA official and his
agents from a new assassination program while searching for the origins
of his life as a trained killer.
Director:Paul Greengrass
Writers:Tony Gilroy (screenplay), Scott Z. Burns (screenplay)
Stars:Matt Damon, Édgar Ramírez, Joan Allen
Storyline
Bourne is once again brought out of hiding, this time inadvertently by
London-based reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation
Blackbriar--an upgrade to Project Treadstone--in a series of newspaper
columns. Bourne sets up a meeting with Ross and realizes instantly
they're being scanned. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of
memories, and Bourne must finally, ultimately, uncover his dark past
whilst dodging The Company's best efforts in trying to eradicate him.
The Bourne Ultimatum Movie Reviews
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
begins recklessly mid-chase and in pulse-pounding fashion explodes from
there as Jason Bourne (Matt Damon, absolutely superb) tracks down the
masterminds behind the CIA black-ops that turned him into the perfect
killer in a final attempt to learn his true identity. A devastatingly
icy David Strathairn as the "man behind the curtain" is added to the
returning cast of regulars including Joan Allen (excellent) and Julia
Stiles (non-existent).
Like the second entry in the series, I
wished Paul Greengrass' shaky hand-held camera would go static at least
for the few minutes of downtime. However, that being said, it's a
perfect way to capture the tense, claustrophobic feel of the intimate
hand-to-hand-combat scenes and works equally well in the chase scenes
which are mostly on foot and across rooftops with the occasional big car
pile-up. Part of the fun of the Bourne series is the constant
globe-hopping and manipulation of technology and communications that
seem to defy the laws of physics and current capabilities. The Bourne
films seem to exist in some sort of gritty hyper-reality that is full of
technological-based magic. It makes no sense that everyone seems to be
just in the right place at the right time, but I'll be damned if it
isn't a blast to watch them get there.
With the absence of the
emotive and involving Franka Potente, the writers attempt to create some
emotional connection between Damon and Stiles, but she is so
blank-faced an actress it never really leads to anything. Still, this
can be forgiven, for unlike the "Identity" and the "Supremacy", this
"Ultimatum" reveals all and we finally learn the truth about Bourne's
past. It's an entertaining and satisfying conclusion to the series, and
if they have any good sense, and Damon gets his wish, this will be the
perfect end to it.
PG-13
||Action,
Mystery,
Sci-Fi|
16 July 2010 (USA)
A thief who steals corporate secrets through use of the dream-sharing
technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind
of a CEO.
Director:Christopher Nolan
Writer:Christopher Nolan
Stars:Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
Storyline Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of
extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious
during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's
rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world
of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international
fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being
offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life
back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of
the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the
reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they
succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful
planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that
seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have
seen coming.
Inception Movie Reviews
Inception is truly one
of a kind. A concept which has long gestated in Christopher Nolan's
mind, his eye for drama mixed with his large scale sensibilities ring
true in Blockbuster season making Inception a true original in the sea
of reboots, remakes and sequels.
To try and explain Inceptions
many plot twists and incredibly intelligent arcs, would be a foolish
task. As Nolan himself has been reluctant to. The best way to approach
the film would be with an open mind, if you are prepared to be taken on a
ride of a lifetime, then trust that you 100% will. If Avatar was a
seminal film in technology (although coming out as a rather poor film,
in my opinion), then Inception is seminal in it's storytelling. With a
148 minute running time, you would expect a lot to take place, but what
you wouldn't expect is the pace of it all. I did not think at one time
in the film about how long was left. I was simply blown away by the
depth in every single part of the film. If my enthusiasm for the
storytelling aspect of the film has left you worried about the
spectacle, then don't worry. They are, as hinted in the trailer,
incredible, looking real and unbelievable simultaneously. The most
pleasing thing about the action set pieces, is that they are genuinely
used to illustrate the story, rather than to blow stuff up a la Michael
Bay.
With this complex movie in it's high concept, a stellar cast
is needed. And Nolan as always, delivers with just that. This is
vintage DiCaprio, perhaps only equalled in The Aviator, which is even
more impressive as his role as Cobb in Inception is not a showy one,
needing DiCaprio to be the constant at the centre of the film. And he
pulls off Cobb's emotional contradictions sublimely. The rest of the
cast members all shine in parts of the films, Cillian Murphy shows off
his usually non-existent tender side, Gordon-Levitt bottles his usual
charm for his confidently reserved turn as the reliable Arthur, Watanabe
is devilish as the seemingly ambiguous Saito, Page shows why she's the
next big female star and Tom Hardy revels in being the comic relief of
the film compared to his recent turns as decidedly psychopathic
characters.
Overall, Nolan has indeed surpassed himself. He has
created a world as expansive as his Gotham, a plot dwarfing the
intricacies of Memento and one which blows The Prestige's cinematic
reveal out of the water. This is truly unmissable cinema. Revel in it,
we've still got to wait a whole two years before Batman 3.
A group of professional bank robbers start to feel the heat from police
when they unknowingly leave a clue at their latest heist.
Director:Michael Mann
Writer:Michael Mann
Stars:Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer
Storyline
Hunters and their prey--Neil and his professional criminal crew hunt to
score big money targets (banks, vaults, armored cars) and are, in turn,
hunted by Lt. Vincent Hanna and his team of cops in the Robbery/Homicide
police division. A botched job puts Hanna onto their trail while they
regroup and try to put together one last big 'retirement' score. Neil
and Vincent are similar in many ways, including their troubled personal
lives. At a crucial moment in his life, Neil disobeys the dictum taught
to him long ago by his criminal mentor--'Never have anything in your
life that you can't walk out on in thirty seconds flat, if you spot the
heat coming around the corner'--as he falls in love. Thus the stage is
set for the suspenseful ending....
Heat Movie Reviews
In this exciting
thrill ride, good and evil battle it out. But not in the usual
comic-book style of most films today. "Heat" carries with it the moral
values so many of us take for granted. Although much in the film is
morally ambiguous, one may find that even when all your life you've
lived on the other side of the law, you can still settle down and have a
heart-to-heart. When I first saw this movie I was sure it would be
another violent crime movie that I would never want to see again. I
have since seen it 4 times and have a copy of my own. The thrilling
sequences and brilliant camera-work have you glued to the screen. The
exceptional cast of characters has you wondering "who could be so lucky
to work with them?". From the opening scene to the thrilling final
scenes and everything in between (including the climax) "Heat" grabs you
and pulls you in. This is a true film masterpiece.
R
||Action,
Crime,
Thriller|
19 November 1999 (Denmark)
Fraternal twins set out to rid Boston of the evil
men operating there while being tracked down by an FBI agent.
Director:Troy Duffy
Writer:Troy Duffy
Stars:Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus
Storyline
Two Irish brothers accidentally kill mafia thugs. They turn themselves
in and are released as heroes. They then see it as a calling by God and
start knocking off mafia gang members one by one. Willem Dafoe plays the
detective trying to figure out the killings, but the closer he comes to
catching the Irish brothers, the more he thinks the brothers are doing
the right thing.
The Boondock Saints Movie Reviews
I guess it'll take a
while for the effect to where off. I saw the unrated edition of "The
Boondock Saints" two days ago and I'm still reeling in from the
experience, which is surreal, to tell you the truth. Quite frankly, a
movie that is this sharply written, acted, and directed is a true rarity
these days. Writer-director Troy Duffy dives into the murkiest depths
of the "law," and its apparent futility in modern times, and how it
takes two Irish fraternal twin brothers, Conner and Murphy (Sean Patrick
Flanery and Norman Reedus - both of whom are a little too convincing in
their roles), to stir up enough debate about vigilantism to become
media heroes. The release of "The Boondock Saints" was sidelined in 1999
because of the Columbine massacre and the plot about Conner and Murphy
being on a mission from God draws some eerie parallels to the motives of
Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. As the film opens in
Boston after St. Patrick's Day, Conner and Murphy get into a bar-room
brawl with a couple of Russian toughs and said toughs are discovered the
next morning in an alley in piles of their own blood and guts. FBI
agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) shows up on the scene to show the
local cops a thing or two about criminology and theorizes it was a
revenge killing. Soon enough, both injured brothers waltz into the
police station and claim self-defense. They're let off after a night in
jail (plus experience a cathartic jail-cell baptism) and no charges
filed. But soon, more bodies turn up, and Smecker learns that Conner and
Murphy (and a third, David Della Rocco) may be the ones behind the
mayhem on the streets. Duffy's film is a bloody one (most of the
gruesome violence is extended in the unrated special edition), with a
cackling screenplay that includes 246 uses of the f-word and assorted
Irish-Euro-slang, and has earned a fearsome reputation in recent years
and has been embraced as a cult phenomenon. (It's easy to see why, if
one is a fan of relentless violence and bloodshed. P.S.: The action is
so balletic in its style and excess that it's almost reminiscent of a
John Woo picture.) I can't believe I stood away from this movie for so
long, darn it! The opening moments don't prepare you for what comes up
next and even though the action (which there is quite a bit of and, as
stated earlier, is extended in the unrated version) is quite bloody,
there's a morbid sense of humor running throughout the carnage and I
fell out laughing on more than one occasion during this picture. And
still, there is a sense of beauty and tragedy underlying much of the
action in "The Boondock Saints," and its ending will certainly leave a
bitter taste in the mouths of some. Lastly, I would recommend reading up
on as much about the controversy surrounding "The Boondock Saints" as
one possibly can; it'll make the experience much more hypnotic.
When Jason Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone awry, he is forced
to resume his former life as a trained assassin to survive.
Director:
Paul Greengrass
Writers:Robert Ludlum (novel), Tony Gilroy (screenplay) Stars:Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen
Storyline
After escaping from the emotional and physical pain he previously
encountered. Jason Bourne and his girlfriend Marie begin a new life as
far away as possible. But when an assassination attempt on Bourne goes
horribly wrong, Bourne must re-enter the life he wanted to leave behind,
in order to find out the truth why they are still after him.
The Bourne Supremacy Movie Reviews
A supremacy over the
Bond franchise, increasingly. Matt Damon reprises an impressive,
convincing delivery of a role well executed the first time around.
Dalton's efforts come closest, alas within the insuperable cage of
audience/exec. production expectation (and reasonably so, I might add).
The
equal star of this picture is the efforts of the director Paul
Greengrass. I stumbled on a televised doc-feature of this film a couple
of hours ago (the sort of thing that becomes a DVD special feature).
Greengrass pints to his work in documentary as a style and means of
getting closer to the principal character as he tries to discover (i)
who he is and (ii) what the ever-present forces are that cause his
mental and occupational Sturm und Drang. It all works - the hand-cam and
editing chucks us about and it's exciting trying, visually, to keep up
with Bourne's every move. There's next to no CGI (the aforementioned
documentary claimed none but I don't think that's possible these days)
so the interest stays with the characters and never strays into the
peripheral or wantonly spectacular.
The one downside with these
production values is that one can get a bit seasick at being in the
centre of a fight/chase sequence - I kept wondering why Greengrass
doesn't put Bourne's heart rate up on the screen as well for good
measure. Anyway, the irony is that this film is a Hollywood studio
flick: two preposterously good looking spies (Karl Urban's Russian
nemesis to Bourne, Kiril, being the other) engaged in a ripping thriller
with a shady baddie and a handful of classy women. So bravo to
Universal's production hit-squad for not interfering with the project
(i.e. trying to work up non-existent sub plots or pointlessly maintain
A-ish-list screen time, etc.).
PG-13
||Action,
Adventure,
Sci-Fi|
4 May 2012 (USA)
Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team
if they are to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from
enslaving humanity.
Director: Joss Whedon
Writers:Joss Whedon (screenplay), Zak Penn (story)
Stars:Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson
Storyline
Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping
agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man,
The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.
When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury
and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.
The Avengers Movie Reviews
'Avengers
Assemble' ('The Avengers') is a truly enjoyable superhero film that
lives up to its hype and creates a story that allows for four of the
greatest superheroes to connect in this mega-blockbuster extravaganza.
Joss Whedon has created one of the most action-packed Marvel films to
have graced the screen, full of humour, thrills and a great cast of
characters, all of which impel this visual effects-driven spectacle.
Whilst I had the great opportunity to watch this epic in the cinema in
3D, the film is equally as stunning on an average television set, with
the final battle between the Avengers and Loki's army being one of the
most spectacular scenes in a superhero movie. An impressive and
remarkable fantastical superhero flick from Whedon.
PG-13
||Action,
Crime,
Thriller|
29 April 2011 (USA)
Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers plan a massive heist to
buy their freedom while in the sights of a powerful Brazilian drug lord
and a dangerous federal agent.
Director:Justin Lin
Writers:Chris Morgan, Gary Scott Thompson (characters)
Stars:Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson
Storyline
Former cop Brian O'Conner partners with ex-con Dom Toretto on the
opposite side of the law. Since Brian and Mia Toretto broke Dom out of
custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now
backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in
order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top
racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good
means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's
not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs
never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and
Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them.
But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the
good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his
prey... before someone else runs them down first.
Fast Five Movie Reviews Fast
Five is a terrific action movie with a well written script. The action
scenes are the best in the entire Fast series and I rate the Fast Five a
solid 10 stars. For sheer thrills and edge of your seat action don't
miss this movie. Romance is kept to a minimum, a must for action movies,
and the next chase, gun fight etc. is just a couple minutes away. The
110 minutes on the screen went by in a flash, another indication of how
great this movie is. I've been to movies where 2 hours seem like 2 days.
D Johnson really held up his part of the movie and was very believable
in his DSS (FBI) like role. BTW I usually don't rate the movies I really
like above a 7 or 8 stars, but Fast Five deserves the entire ammo belt
load of 10 stars. If you like action pics (duh who doesn't) SEE THIS
MOVIE!
PG-13
||Action,
Adventure,
Thriller|
9 November 2012 (USA)
Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her.
Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the
threat, no matter how personal the cost.
Director: Sam Mendes
Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade
Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris
Storyline
When Bond's latest assignment goes gravely wrong and agents around the
world are exposed, MI6 is attacked forcing M to relocate the agency.
These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Gareth
Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and
Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M
is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows -
aided only by field agent, Eve (Naomie Harris) - following a trail to
the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives
have yet to reveal themselves.
Skyfall Full Reviews
As
a lifelong James Bond enthusiast who has been extremely disappointed
with the franchise's latest efforts (with the exception of Casino
Royale), I was extremely pleased with this film. It strayed away from
the storyline of the previous two films and I couldn't have been happier
after the mediocrity of Quantum of Solace. This film has all the
constituents from the Bond films that have preceded it. Big explosions,
ridiculous stunts that not a single person in the history of humanity
can survive, and let's not forget to mention the beautiful women that
would make both genders stop and stare. So what does Skyfall have that
the other Bond films don't? For the first time, we get a glimpse into
our mysterious hero's dark past. Where he came from and what made him
the person he is today.
Although I've always been the one to say
that Sean Connery is the greatest Bond ever, I can now confess that
Daniel Craig now holds that honor. Sean plays the comedic, smooth, and
witty Bond to perfection while Daniel plays the mysterious, dark, and
lonesome secret agent flawlessly. I will always choose a darker
portrayal over a comedic one because it takes a certain mindset to
depict someone of that nature. One of my favorite scenes is where Bond
is sitting in a bar drinking alone. I don't care who you are or what
your background is, if you are drinking by yourself in a bar, then you
have issues that are haunting you. Whether you can admit it or not, you
are in a dark place and that is exactly where this Daniel Craig
portrayed Bond is. And I love it.
Aside from Daniel Craig, you
have a cast that includes some of the finest actors that have ever
graced the big screen. Javier Bardem plays a blood thirsty ex-MI6 agent
out for revenge. His performance is equally as creepy and twisted as his
portrayal of Anton Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men" and it is an
Oscar worthy performance in my opinion. Judi Dench reprises her role as M
and Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney give important and memorable roles
which I won't go further into detail about. Also two prominent figures
from James bond history find their way back into the story line. Sam
Mendes shows why he was the right choice to direct a film of this
magnitude and along with the contribution of Oscar Nominee John Logan,
Neal Purvis and Robert Wade come up with a memorable narrative after the
disappointment of their last collaborating effort, Quantum of Solace.
I
look forward to what the future has in store for everyone's favorite
spy. If Skyfall is a sign of things to come, then I will remain
incredibly optimistic about the future.
John McClane attempts to avert disaster as rogue military operatives
seize control of Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
Director:Renny Harlin
Writers:Walter Wager (novel), Steven E. de Souza (screenplay)
Stars:Bruce Willis, William Atherton, Bonnie Bedelia
Storyline
After the terrifying events in LA, John McClane (Willis) is about to go
through it all again. A team of terrorists, led by Col. Stuart (Sadler)
is holding the entire airport hostage. The terrorists are planning to
rescue a drug lord from justice. In order to do so, they have seized
control of all electrical equipment affecting all planes. With no runway
lights available, all aircraft have to remain in the air, with fuel
running low, McClane will need to be fast.
Die Hard 2 Movie Reviews
This
is still a good movie,although it's not as good as the first one.for
one thing,it's a lot slower paced and there is less action.John McClane
is once again the only person who seems to be standing in the way of
terrorists carrying out there plan.this time,it just happens to an
airport which is the scene.Bruce Willis is back as McClane,of course,and
he actually has some more and funnier lines than in the first.William
Sadler plays the main bad guy in this one,and puts in a great
performance.i liked his character better than the main villain in the
first movie.the biggest problem with this movie,like i mentioned,is the
pacing.it is a bit slow especially compared to the first one.but that
makes a big difference in how enjoyable it is is.it's just not as fun or
thrilling.for me, Die Hard 2 is a 7/10
PG-13
||Action,
Adventure,
Sci-Fi|
1 August 2014 (USA)
A group of intergalactic criminals are forced to work together to stop a fanatical warrior from taking control of the universe.
Director: James Gunn
Writers: James Gunn, Nicole Perlman|
2 more credits »
Stars: Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper
Storyline
After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter
Quill from Earth, is now the main target of a manhunt led by the
villain known as Ronan the Accuser. To help fight Ronan and his team and
save the galaxy from his power, Quill creates a team of space heroes
known as the "Guardians of the Galaxy" to save the world.
Guardians of the Galaxy Movie Reviews
If
you've seen the trailers for Guardians of the Galaxy, you'd be within
your rights to think Marvel Studio execs have been hitting the bottle
hard or taking LSD.
The film revolves around a group of
dysfunctional but goodhearted criminals – think Robin Hood's Merry Men
of the future – comprising human thief Peter Quill aka Star-Lord
(Pratt), green assassin Gamora (Saldana), talking raccoon Rocket
(Cooper), knife-wielding Drax the Destroyer (Bautista), and walking tree
Groot (Diesel).
Like the Avengers, the Guardians get off to a
false start but soon unite over a common cause, namely, the galaxy being
obliterated by genocidal maniac, Ronan – not Keating – the Accuser.
Ah yes, the old, let's-exterminate-everyone-for-the-mistakes-of-their-forefathers ploy.
But
unlike Avengers Assemble, Guardians of the Galaxy oozes offbeat
originality and frankly, it's the most unique and delightful film Marvel
has created to date.
It's a hell of an achievement given the
extensive movie library the company is building up and when you consider
the characters aren't household names like 'big three' Iron Man, Thor
and Captain America, but Marvel seems well aware of that fact with the
final production risky to say the least.
The film opens in 1988,
which is when Quill is abducted from Earth, and 26 years later we see
he's become a crooked intergalactic outlaw with a taste for all things
shiny, valuable and not his.
Given the distinct decade in which
he was taken, his cassette player and mixtape of 70s and 80s tracks are
laced throughout the film, which creates a quirky yet grounded quality
in the midst of all of the dazzling interstellar warfare that takes
place along the way.
In addition to the soundtrack, jokes and
comedy have never been more of a feature in a Marvel film – perhaps Iron
Man 3 was the closest – as gags are thrown into the unlikeliest of
scenarios to lessen the tension, and I would imagine, to really
differentiate itself from Avengers Assemble, Star Wars and Star Trek,
which by comparison are left looking very sombre.
That said, if
you were going to compare Pratt's Quill to someone, the character is
quite reminiscent of Chris Pine's Captain James Kirk – smart,
womanising, reckless leaders, who eventually find their feet.
The
editing is supreme and makes each bit of dialogue super-sharp and
tight, so when the infamous five are bickering or talking generally, the
repartee all feels really clean and natural without being awkward or
forced.
Thor can be stubborn, Iron Man can be arrogant and
Captain America is considered too stiff, but all of the Guardians bring
even more wildly different qualities to the table and offer some
diversity that doesn't ever grate or bore, which wouldn't have been
possible without such excellent casting.
Meanwhile, the film is
very much in the here and now, with Quill's backstory the only one that
truly gets a look-in, which creates a sense of intrigue about his
colleagues who only have their pasts hinted at, meaning sequel fodder.
There's
just no way of knowing where you're going and tonally the movie
delivers a piece of everything and it's done big and without hesitation.
Guardians may have been a gamble, but I'm Grooting for it to Rocket to the top.
In a Fascist future where all forms of feeling are illegal, a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Stars: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson
Storyline
In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing
emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a
crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking
government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules.
When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders
emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the
new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing
it.
Equilibrium Movie Reviews
The "Equilibrium" is
one of the very little action movies that actually make sense! The
script was influenced by many books and it worked! The film is really
great, quick action, combined with a brilliantly stated philosophical
question, breathtaking scenes with lots of effects, superb actors! It
perfectly balances on the verge between just a high-budget nonsense
action film (despite it's low budget) and extremely boring
science-fiction film. It was quite a nice surprise when I watched it,
because the director is not famous! And there was not any Hollywood
superstar but all and the acting is amazingly great! Like the actors
completely fit in their roles and ruthlessly overwhelm the weak script
parts! I still remember the change of the emphasis when the main
character changed sides! With this performance it is a serious
competitor of "the matrix" or maybe more!
Although one little
remark must be made in the beginning, when cleric Preston enters the
barricaded room with the rebels, some shooting scenes are the same!
But I guess there is not a good film without a little weakness in it, is it?
In a future British tyranny, a shadowy freedom fighter, known only by
the alias of "V", plots to overthrow it with the help of a young woman.
Director:James McTeigue
Writers:Andy Wachowski (screenplay) (as The Wachowski Brothers), Lana Wachowski (screenplay) (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Stars: Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Rupert Graves
Storyline
Tells the story of Evey Hammond and her unlikely but instrumental part
in bringing down the fascist government that has taken control of a
futuristic Great Britain. Saved from a life-and-death situation by a man
in a Guy Fawkes mask who calls himself V, she learns a general summary
of V's past and, after a time, decides to help him bring down those who
committed the atrocities that led to Britain being in the shape that it
is in.
V for Vendetta Movie Reviews
well... all i can say is goddamn.
keeping
in mind that anytime you see a movie as part of a major film festival
world premiere, where the cast and creators are present, along with
hundreds of avid film fans and press, it tends to raise the experience a
notch or two... but having said that - i found it to be a work of
monumental genius. i thought it was so amazingly good in fact that i
actually had to say something as extreme as that to express my current
mood towards it, which is still only a mere fraction of how i felt when i
actually left the theatre. it was seriously that good.
and yes,
i'm biased, if you can call it that. but i like the wachowski's for a
reason, not blind admiration. they're geniuses, and they've trained
mcteigue well.
naturally, i think it will be under-appreciated by
much of the general public as its not nearly as action-packed as the
trailer would have you believe, but whether it makes 100 mil or 200 mil,
it should at least completely redeem the wachowski's legacy in even the
most critical of critic's minds.
i have to say, the rush of
adrenaline i felt when...well, you know if you've seen the trailer -
made me want to stand u and cheer. when a movie can make you feel like
that, it's succeeded.
A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post apocalyptic Australia
in search for her homeland with the help of a group of female prisoners,
a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max.
Director:George Miller
Writers:George Miller, Brendan McCarthy|
Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
Storyline
An apocalyptic story set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a
stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and almost everyone is
crazed fighting for the necessities of life. Within this world exist two
rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order. There's Max,
a man of action and a man of few words, who seeks peace of mind
following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos.
And Furiosa, a woman of action and a woman who believes her path to
survival may be achieved if she can make it across the desert back to
her childhood homeland.
Mad Max: Fury Road Movie Reviews
Mad Max: Fury Road sees veteran maestro director George Miller return to the Mad Max franchise after a 30 year hiatus.
Fury
Road is a hallmark in action films. Miller's post-apocalyptic future
provides an impeccable backdrop for the crescendo of mayhem present in
this movie. From the first scene to the last, there is plenty of
spectacular action, vehicular and human. The cinematography is lush
throughout. From the opening shot of the lizard being stomped by Max
(Tom Hardy) to all the action scenes raging in the desert, the
camera-work remains consistently on point. Many iconic shots are to be
found in this movie.
75% of the movie consists of action; so much
that there isn't an 'action SCENE' present. Any action aficionados will
have their expectations transcended while common moviegoers will have
their satisfaction met too. What is surprising, however, is the
emotional heft of the 25% that remains. Much of it is dedicated to the
back story of Furiousa (Charlize Theron) who effortlessly delivers an
Oscar worthy performance by mixing brawn with emotion for her internally
wounded character.
Nicholas Hoult's Nux, who provides one of the
best lines of the film: "It's a lovely day!" at the midst of a crazy
thunderstorm consisting tornadoes consisting cars consisting mad humans.
Nux is an interesting character in this interesting world and provides
plenty of the action by his well... actions.
Finally, Tom Hardy's
delivers a subtle performance as Mad Max. For a character whose name is
slapped largely in the film poster, he receives barely a page of
dialogue minus a monologue at the start. Considering the fact that he
wears a Bane-like (see the parallel) mask throughout much of the film,
it is surprising how powerful his performance actually is.
One
musical masterpiece act in the movie comes in the form of the guy the
mask furiously shredding a flame-throwing electric guitar while dangling
above a mobile wall of speakers that roars through the desert. Imagine
that. When all hell breaks loose only accompanied by that as the
background music, epic is truly an understatement as a description.
Overall,
Mad Max is a gleefully insane symphony of destruction that makes the
Avengers seem like misfits and the Fast and Furious crew seem like the
Slow and Sweet crew. This action packed masterpiece exhibits no shortage
of high voltage, 2,000 horsepower action that also contains of lush
cinematography, sufficient character development and a satisfactory plot
(that works, cause it's 75% action anyways). Mad Max: Fury Road is
definitely one of, if not the finest blockbuster of 2015!
After training with his mentor, Batman begins his war on crime to free
the crime-ridden Gotham City from corruption that the Scarecrow and the
League of Shadows have cast upon it.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Bob Kane (characters),
David S. Goyer (story)
Stars: Christian Bale,
Michael Caine,
Ken Watanabe
Story line
When his parents were killed, billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne relocates
to Asia when he is mentored by Henri Ducard and Ra's Al Ghul in how to
fight evil. When learning about the plan to wipe out evil in Gotham City
by Ducard, Bruce prevents this plan from getting any further and heads
back to his home. Back in his original surroundings, Bruce adopts the
image of a bat to strike fear into the criminals and the corrupt as the
icon known as 'Batman'. But it doesn't stay quiet for long.
Batman Begins Movie Reviews
This
film easily trumps any live-action incarnation we've scene of the Dark
Knight before, borrowing heavily from both the comics and the Dini and
Co. animated series. This is a hard, fast, driving, heartfelt epic that
draws you into the character of Bruce Wayne and makes you damn well
care. Batman doesn't play second-fiddle to the villains here like in the
other films. It's his movie and that's the way it should be.
Much
has been said of the film's "reality" quotient, and I'm here to say it
works. Nolan talks about how Batman's strong because he does push-ups,
he gets around because of his gadgets, and by introducing each of them
with a plausible explanation, we forget to quibble and go along with it.
The technology may be fantastic, but it's believable. And, unlike the
"reality" of something like Daredevil, Nolan doesn't forget his ideals
halfway though and start having Batman wire-jump thirty feet into the
air.
Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writers: Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay),
George Lucas (story)
Stars: Harrison Ford,
Karen Allen,
Paul Freeman
Storyline
The year is 1936. An archeology professor named Indiana Jones is
venturing in the jungles of South America searching for a golden statue.
Unfortunately, he sets off a deadly trap but miraculously escapes.
Then, Jones hears from a museum curator named Marcus Brody about a
biblical artifact called The Ark of the Covenant, which can hold the key
to humanly existence. Jones has to venture to vast places such as Nepal
and Egypt to find this artifact. However, he will have to fight his
enemy Rene Belloq and a band of Nazis in order to reach it.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Movie Reviews
There
are only so many films in history that I can watch again and again,
gaining new appreciation for, one of them is this film. I went from the
movies to VHS, and finally to DVD. The availability and quality of this
film keep raising the bar of what I can get from it.
I read
someone posted that this is the king of B movies or something of that
sort, while I honestly think in some scenes like when Indy is running
from the Hovitos and he rises over the hill, the film had a really
strange documentary feeling, like if a comic actually came to life and
like in the Twilight Zone, you were stuck in it. It is great to see this
film, now that I edit and produce small independent films, and have
worked in post production in Los Angeles. I honestly think almost every
scene in this film is better than what's coming out today in
sci-fi/adventure. I might pull back that comment in regards to some nice
visuals in Riddick, and maybe the new Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,
but I'm not certain.
The amount of time and effort put into the
comedy, adventure, and depth of each character dazzles me because I
really can't tell it was filmed the same year Fame was. It really has a
unique look to it. The key lighting in the piece is amazing, almost
everything looks like it was perfectly worked out.
My only
complaint is the attempt to visualize the opening of the Ark, as most of
the other scenes don't deal with the supernatural except maybe a
burning crate with a nazi symbol on it. George should redo that last
scene in my opinion, and tighten it up, because I really think it wasn't
coming together, however when I was a child it was so amazing and scary
realistic. It's all perspective, but my point it that now in this
modern filming era, the acting and film production is holding tight to
this day.
I forward you to just enjoy this film and look for
things like formulas on chalkboards, skeletons in classrooms, proper
patches on Nazi gear, gun accuracy. Research the film's era and
background, and it only gets better. That's the ability that Spielberg
and Lucas have, attention to detail and clever twists on most of their
bodies of work.
