Get Smart is a fun and hilarious screwball comedy. Based on the classic television show, the film follows newly promoted Control agent Maxwell Smart on his mission to uncover a terrorist plot. Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway lead the cast and both give strong performances; especially Carell who is perfectly cast in this role that seems tailored to his particular brand of comedy. The film pays homage to the original television show in its use of gadgetry and in the tone of the humor. Some of the comedy is a bit too broad and cartoonish, but most of it works. Get Smart is a clever and fun film that delivers a lot of laughs.
“What a clusterf***.” The Coen brothers’ black comedy Burn After Reading is a complete mess that doesn’t deliver that many laughs. When two gym trainers find a computer disc containing the memoir of a CIA analyst they attempt to blackmail him; meanwhile a philandering US marshal grows increasingly paranoid that he’s being spied on by someone. Starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt, the film has an impressive cast that gives fairly good performances. The problem is, most of the characters are unlikable assholes. And the plot goes nowhere, which would be alright if it was a fun ride or had some clever twist of irony…but it doesn’t. Still, the satiric wit of the Coen brothers makes for a few fun comedic moments. Burn After Reading is entertaining at times but doesn’t really amount to much.
Guy Ritchie gets into some next level shit in Revolver, a high concept thriller that explores the psyche and the nature of identity. The story follows a recently released convict named Jake Green who turns to two nefarious criminals when they offer him a deal that will save his life. The film has a great cast that includes Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, and Mark Strong, and their performances are quite good. However, the storytelling fails, to the point of becoming a jumbled mess. There are several critical twists and reveals that don't work, or are at least done so poorly as to confuse the plot. A noble failure, Revolver aims high and tries to be philosophical and cerebral, but it doesn't work in execution.
The Dark Crystal is one of the most unique and imaginative fantasy films of the ‘80s. From writer/director Jim Henson comes this dark tale about a young boy named Jen who must embark upon a quest to heal the all-powerful Dark Crystal before the celestial Great Convergence, which could end the world. Astoundingly, all of the characters in the film are puppets that have remarkably creative and interesting designs. In fact, the entire visual style of the film is especially vivid and surreal. The Dark Crystal is a strange and bizarre film that's oddly fascinating and compelling.
Labyrinth is a bizarre and surreal fantasy tale from writer/director Jim Henson. In the film a young girl slips into a dreamlike world and must navigate a labyrinth that confronts her with her innermost demons. Jennifer Connelly gives a strong performance and interacts seamlessly with the puppet characters. However, it's David Bowie's inspired performance as the Goblin King that's most captivating. Aside from acting, David Bowie also wrote and performed several songs for the film that are absolutely spellbinding. There are some issues with the storytelling, but the puppetry is amazing. Even with its flaws, Labyrinth is an exceptionally imaginative and creative film that's a lot of fun.
Stand By Me is a compelling and touching coming-of-age film by director Rob Reiner. Based on a novella by Stephen King, the story follows four friends who go searching for the body of a missing kid, hoping to claim a reward. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell, the film has an impressive cast that has great chemistry together and gives incredibly good performances. The characters are also exceptionally well-written; feeling especially real and relatable. And, the costumes and set designs have a remarkably authentic 1950s Americana look that has a nostalgic quality to it. Additionally, the soundtrack is extraordinarily well-done; capturing the playful, carefree youth of the characters. A wonderful film about friendship and the loss of innocence, Stand By Me is a timeless classic.
Extraordinarily compelling, Molly’s Game is a fascinating biopic about an Olympic-class skier turned gaming entrepreneur. The film follows the life of Molly Bloom who fell out of competitive skiing after a debilitating injury and moved to LA where she got involved with underground poker, and eventually struck out on her own and started running her own games until they were raided by the FBI. Jessica Chastain gives an excellent performance and is backed by a strong supporting cast, including Idris Elba and Kevin Costner. And writer/director Aaron Sorkin does a good job at explaining the inner workings of underground poker. Additionally, the flashback narrative structure helps to keep the film moving and builds intrigue. Molly’s Game is an incredibly captivating drama with an interesting story to tell and a positive message about standing up for ones principles.
Blitz is yet another Jason Statham vehicle that under delivers. When London is terrorized by a serial killer (known as Blitz) who's targeting cops, a rogue cop (aka Statham) must go outside of the law in order to bring him to justice. As plots go, it's not a bad one, and there's a subplot or two that helps to heighten the intrigue. But, the film lacks the focus to hold the action and suspense that the story attempts to build. Yet despite its problems, Blitz is still a pretty entertaining crime thriller.
A modern update of Day of the Dead, Patient Zero is a frightening horror-thriller. In the aftermath of a rage virus that turns people rabid, a secret underground military base experiments on the infected looking for a cure; but when they discover an Infected who’s intelligent and doesn’t react like the others they start to question everything they think they know. Featuring Natalie Dormer and Stanley Tucci, the film has a pretty strong cast, and the writers do a good job at setting up the post-apocalyptic world and the Infection. Additionally, the action scenes are well-done and full of suspense. Yet the blood and gore never gets gratuitous (as most zombie/virus films want to do). Patient Zero is a smart and exciting Romero-esque horror film.
Incredibly boring, The Amityville Murders tells the true-ish story of the 1974 DeFeo murders. In the fall of 1974 troubled teenager Ronald DeFeo Jr. is slowly driven mad by an abusive father and shadow spirits until he snaps and kills his entire family. Unfortunately there’s no real suspense, as Ronald looks and acts crazy from the jump. And despite a few attempts to attribute Ron’s spirit visions to drugs use and hints at possible mob involvement, the film clearly depicts the supernatural as real and responsible for the murders (as Ronald and others claim). The performances are rather bland and none of the characters are all that interesting. Among the myriad of films made about Amityville, The Amityville Murders is one of the weaker and more forgettable entries.
A rote crime thriller, Acts of Violence is a pretty standard revenge film. When a young woman is abducted her fiancé and his two brothers team-up to find her and discover that she’s being held by a crime boss who’s running a sex trafficking ring. Featuring Cole Hauser, Shawn Ashmore, Sofia Bush, and Bruce Willis, the film has a fairly strong cast. And the action scenes are especially well-done. However, the script is rather weak and does a poor job at integrating the main plot with a subplot about a burned out cop who’s investigating missing girls and gets a lead on the crime boss who’s behind their abductions. Also, the film doesn’t really develop a sense of family between the brothers. Still, the performances by the cast are able to make up for some of the script’s weaknesses. While Acts of Violence is underdeveloped, there’s a fair amount of suspense and intrigue and it does some interesting things with the material.
Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair star in the dark horror-comedy Mom and Dad. When a mysterious signal is broadcast over telecommunications devises parents are suddenly overcome with a drive to kill their children. Cage and Blair give fairly decent performances, but nothing too impressive. And the script seems a little uneven and unfocused; not quite sure of which story to follow, the community or the family, the parents or the children. The violence can get pretty gritty and shocking, and the black humor too is quite edgy. Mom and Dad is incredibly provocative, but while some of it work other parts don’t.
Face/Off is a high adrenaline thriller from acclaimed director John Woo. The story follows anti-terrorist agent Sean Archer who's surgically altered to go undercover as terrorist leader Castor Troy, but the op goes wrong when Troy is able to assume Archer's identity. John Travolta and Nicolas Cage lead the cast and bring a lot of charisma to the film. And whatever one thinks of John Woo, he knows how to shoot action. The story has a few failings, but the action is riveting and intense. As popcorn action movies go, Face/Off is an entertaining, nonstop thrill ride.
Stallone and Schwarzenegger team up for the action thriller Escape Plan. When a security expert goes undercover to test the escapability of a secret CIA prison he's betrayed and left there to die. The film does a good job at developing mystery and tension, particularly in how it sets up the escape. However, the acting is pretty mediocre; except for Jim Caviezel, who creates a strong, interesting character. Escape Plan has some problems, but it's still an entertaining and provocative film.
A low-budget straight to video sequel, Escape Plan 2: HADES is a major departure from the original. While attending a bachelor party with his cousin, Breslin Security consultant Shu is abducted and held prisoner at a black site called HADES, and while he works to escape his team realizes what’s happened and starts looking for him. The plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and is full of bad clichés. Sylvester Stallone takes a backseat to Chinese marshal artist/film star Huang Xiaoming, who really doesn’t have any charisma. Also joining the cast are David Bautistia and Jaime King. Escape Plan 2: HADES has none of the tension and suspense of the first film, and nothing fresh or exciting to offer.
The old '80s & '90s action stars are back for another round in The Expendables 3. The series' trademark stunt casting is rather underwhelming this time, losing more than it gains as Antonio Banderas, Wesley Snipes, and Harrison Ford are poor substitutes for Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Still, Mel Gibson is a good get and makes for a charismatic villain. The plot is typical action movie schlock, but it works well enough. However, the film buries the lead by holding back on the old action stars kicking ass and limiting their screen time. Yet when all is said and done, The Expendables 3 is an enjoyable film that delivers plenty of explosive action scenes.
"You can't beat a classic." The Expendables 2 ramps up the action and delivers an explosive, adrenaline fueled thrill ride. This time the Expendables are hired to recover a map of a former Soviet plutonium mine that a terrorist group is attempting to exploit. Most of the cast from the first film return and are joined by Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Director Simon West handles the action exceptionally well and is able to utilize each of the main actors effectively. However, the dialog is a bit weak and there's a fair amount of cheesiness in the film. Still, when it comes to raw, adrenaline-pumping action, The Expendables 2 can't be beat.
An exciting action-comedy, RED 2 is an incredibly entertaining spy thriller. When classified documents are leaked that link retired CIA agent Frank Moses to a black ops mission in Moscow he's forced to go on the run from government assassins seeking to cover up the mission. The plot gets a little convoluted, but ends up being a rather fun adventure. The comedy's a little rote, but the actors are able to make it work. Most of the original cast returns, and are joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins. And, the visual style incorporates an interesting animated comic aesthetic that helps to create a lighthearted, high-energy tone for the film. RED 2 is a little formulaic, but still delivers an enjoyable romp.
From Hallmark Entertainment comes The Poseidon Adventure, a rather cheap and poorly made updated adaption of Paul Gallico’s adventure novel. When a terrorist attack capsizes the S.S. Poseidon during a luxury cruise a group of passengers band together and struggle to reach the outside; meanwhile the military attempts to find the missing ship and get a rescue crew to her before she sinks. The terrorist angle is a real WTF kind of curveball that creates all kinds of problems. However, most of the other changes aren’t that bad and explore some of the characters that were left out of the Irwin Allen version. But the script is just awful and the acting is garbage (despite featuring some talented actors). Also, the digital effects and blue screen work are atrocious. Even by Hallmark TV movie standards, The Poseidon Adventure is pretty abysmal.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets ratchets up the crazy by a factor of 10. This time Ben Gates is on a quest to find the lost City of Gold in order to prove that his great grandfather wasn't a conspirator in the Abraham Lincoln assassination. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, and Jon Voight return, and are joined by Ed Harris and Helen Mirren. Cage and Kruger easily slip back into their roles and recapture the magic that made their characters so fun in the first film. However, this plot is just too convoluted to go with. There are a lot of fun moments, but the adventure's not as interesting or entertaining as the original. The story is weak, but National Treasure: Book of Secrets manages to deliver a fun and solidly entertaining adventure.
More blood must be shed in order to get out of the assassin world in John Wick: Chapter 2. After settling up with the Tarasov family retired assassin John Wick is ready to return to a peaceful, quiet life, until an old friend shows up with a marker demanding that he honor it by killing one of the members of the High Table. Once again Keanu Reeves gives an excellent performance, making Wick an incredibly compelling character who’s a tortured soul that adheres to a strict code of honor. And the fight choreography and gun-fu are extraordinarily well-done and remarkably intense. However, the worldbuilding is a little convoluted, with nearly everyone being some type of assassin (or part of the supporting infrastructure). But despite a few small problems, John Wick: Chapter 2 is a thrilling, non-stop action film.
Keanu Reeves stars as John Wick in this action-packed revenge thriller. Former hitman John Wick comes out of retirement to kill the son of a Russian mafia boss after being brutally assaulted by him. Co-starring Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, and John Leguizamo, the film has a solid cast; Palicki in particular does a good job at handling the physicality of the fight scenes. And the directing is also well-done, creating an interesting visual style and an atmospheric tone. Though the plot is pretty formulaic, John Wick proves to be a rather impressive and entertaining film.
The Expendables is the ultimate achievement in action movies, it's the culmination of all of cinema. Every film since the first nickelodeon has been building toward this. Stallone, Statham, Li, Austin, Willis, Schwarzenegger; it's amazing that the film reels didn't explode trying to contain them all. A generation's greatest action stars have come together to rumble; Stallone throws down with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Jet Li opens up on Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham has a knife throwing contest with Mickey Rourke, etc., etc. It’s the Godzilla vs. King Kong of action heroes. Just seeing Stallone, Willis, and Schwarzenegger all on screen together sends chills down the spine. This is a film specifically for action movie buffs. Promising action stars kicking ass, The Expendables delivers in spades.
Killer Elite is a thrilling espionage film that's supposedly based on true events. The story follows a mercenary contracted to takeout an elite SAS unit that assassinated the sons of an influential Middle-Eastern family. Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Dominic Purcell, and Robert De Niro all give solid performances and have good onscreen chemistry that helps sell their comradery. However, there are a few turns and subplots that don't seem to work (which often happens when films try to rework true events into a cinematic plot). Still, the action scenes are exciting and the hunt for the SAS targets is full of suspense. Killer Elite is a well-crafted, entertaining film with an interesting story (true or not).
The climatic final chapter of The Maze Runner trilogy, The Death Cure is an exciting sci-fi thriller. After a failed attempt to save Minho from WICKED Thomas and his band of rebels track him to the last city where they met some old friends who help them break into the labs to rescue him. The screenwriters do a good job at adapting the novel, making it more cinematic and action-packed. And the special effects are really well-done, making for some thrilling and intense fight sequences. Additionally, the score enhances the action and adventure. Entertaining and full of thrills, The Death Cure provides a strong conclusion to this remarkable series.
The Bank Job is a British crime drama that's based on the true story of the infamous Baker Street Robbery. A team of criminals are manipulated by MI5 to rob a bank's safety deposit boxes in order to have them unwittingly retrieve illicit photos of a British Royal, but when it's discovered what they've stolen the team becomes the target of several powerful politicians and gangsters. Starring Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows, the film has an interesting cast that handles the material fairly well. However, the writing is rather poor and doesn't really develop the characters or add that much tension to the plot. In a lot of ways The Bank Job is a typical heist film, but it still kind of works as an entertaining piece of historical fiction.
DC’s biggest superheroes unite for the action-packed adventure Justice League. In the wake of Superman’s death an alien warlord named Steppenwolf makes a play to conquer Earth by uniting three Mother Boxes that will give him ultimate power, but when Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince learn of Steppenwolf’s plan they attempt to form a team of super-powered individuals, including the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg, to defeat him. The introduction of the new Justice League characters is fairly well-done and opens the door to start exploring more of the DC Universe. And all of the actors give pretty solid performances; except for Ezra Miller, who doesn’t seem to have a handle on his character (Barry Allen/Flash). Also, the CGI work is a bit weak and can be distracting at time. Still, the action sequences are incredibly exciting and dynamic. Entertaining and fun, Justice League is just what’s needed to launch the DC Extended Universe to the next level.
An incredibly fun comic book film, Suicide Squad is action-packed and full of thrills. In the wake of Superman's death the government puts together a black ops team of super-criminals, including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Killer Croc, to fight the battles that no one else can. Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, and Cara Delevingne, the film has an impressive cast that gives some very good performances; particularly Robbie who's outstanding as Harley, bringing a lot of charisma and personality to the role. However, the storytelling is rather formulaic and convoluted. Still, the action is pretty exciting, as are the characters (especially Deadshot, Harley, and Joker). And the soundtrack is extraordinarily well-done, using classic rock to set a campy, lighthearted tone. Suicide Squad, while it has its problems, is entertaining and presents an interesting vision of the DC Cinematic Universe.
A complete clusterf**k, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is overstuffed and poorly executed. Still, it's incredibly exciting to see DC's biggest titans going at it. As Superman grows increasingly concerned about the Gotham vigilante known as the Bat, Bruce Wayne trains to take down Superman; having seen his frighteningly destructive power firsthand. And while this main story-arc is solid, there are half a dozen subplots cluttering up the film, making it hard to follow what's going on. Ben Affleck proves to be excellently cast as an older, war-torn Batman, and Gal Gadot does an impressive job as Wonder Woman. Additionally, Zack Snyder’s directing is visually stunning, creating some extraordinary imagery, and the score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie LX is riveting, and brings a lot of tension and suspense to the film. Yet as thrilling and action-packed as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is, it’s constantly tripping over itself.
Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan team up to deliver a new vision of Superman in Man of Steel. The film retells the origin of Superman, from his birth on the dying world of Krypton to his rise as a superhero when he must defend the Earth from a rogue group of Krptonians. It's a heavy, and at times, convoluted story that's not told very well. Henry Cavill does a fair enough job at creating a new interpretation of Superman, but Amy Adams is a poor Lois Lane. However, the special effects are incredible; though the CGI is overused and ends up overwhelming the plot and the characters. Still, the action sequences add a lot energy and excitement to the film. While it's not super, Man of Steel successfully reboots the franchise and delivers a science fiction focused vision of Superman.
