Year: 2012
Genre: Thriller
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky
Plot: A pair of siblings on the run after a casino heist cross paths with a former boxer fresh out of prison and his parents, while being chased by a young deputy sheriff.
The gist: Deadfall has all the ingredients necessary to make a tense filled thriller. We have a brother and sister team of robbers fleeing after a heist, a former boxer just released from prison trying to make it home to his parents for Thanksgiving, and a young female deputy sheriff trying desperately to prove herself to her sheriff dad. All this taking place during a snow blizzard.
But sadly, it just falls short of what it could have been. Director Stefan Ruzowitzky starts it off well enough by putting his characters through the wringer and slowly develops their back stories and then getting them to cross each other. However, he drops the ball in the final third as it comes to an unsatisfying conclusion. It's sad because the potential is there.
See, the two siblings have a somewhat incestuous relationship, the brother being particularly violent and his sister being vulnerable. The boxer wants to make things right with his folks, but his dad still seems hard on him. The deputy sheriff is continuously humiliated by her own dad, who would rather work with his male deputies than his own daughter. One of these subplots was well handled, but the other two were either easily resolved or simply ignored by the film's end.
The good: The cast perform well enough, with Eric Bana standing out as the violent brother who would save a child from danger but doesn't mind killing cops. Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson also do well as the boxer's parents, so does Charlie Hunnam as the boxer. The blizzard also deserves credit by almost being a character of its own.
The bad: Olivia Wilde is good in her role as the sister, but her character isn't something we haven't seen before. Kate Mara is underused as the deputy sheriff, which is a damn shame. And as mentioned, the ending and wasted potential.
Verdict: Deadfall is a good movie, but thanks to the wasted opportunity, it's like watching a rental movie or something on TV. Still worth for one view though. (6/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action sci-fi
Director: Gavin Hood
Plot: Young Ender Wiggin is recruited alongside many other children by the military to lead an attack against an alien race that nearly destroyed them in an invasion.
The gist: Ender's Game seems very familiar as it's similar to many other sci-fi films before it, such as Independence Day, Starship Troopers and even The Hunger Games.
In this film, Ender Wiggin, a young genius, is recruited by the military to lead their forces against the Formics, an alien race of bugs. Young Ender goes through many trials, both physical and emotional, to rise through the ranks and become the man they want him to be.
The majority of the film sees Ender training and learning, so much so that the final battle is rather brief at the end, which is kinda the purpose of the filmmakers. While Ender's emotional journey is well documented, the overall result lacks suspense and thrills.
The good: Asa Butterfield is quite good as Ender, with Harrison Ford, Viola Davis and Abigail Breslin providing solid support. The special effects are quite cool too, but one feels they ought to spend less time making it like a video game. I also liked the argument presented about sending kids to war here.
The bad: The ending is quite abrupt, possibly because a sequel was planned. The film also lacks humour, which would have lightened the mood considerably.
Verdict: It's an okay film, but plenty of room for improvement. (6/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action
Director: Taylor Hackford
Plot: When a thief is double crossed by his crew and left for dead, he plots his revenge with the help of a real estate agent.
The gist: There are good Jason Statham movies and there are bad Jason Statham movies. This one unfortunately falls in the latter category.
The problem lies in the story and the storytelling. It would be nice if Taylor Hackford just made it about Parker hunting down his old gang who betrayed him to settle the score. But then he throws in Jennifer Lopez as a real estate agent desperate for a commission becoming his accomplice. The fact that she's willing to break the law without a second thought just to get some money is much too far fetched.
The storytelling is also rather messy as we aren't sure why or how Parker is able to trace the gang by surveying high end houses in Palm Beach, Florida, and he switches cars so many times it makes zero sense.
The good: Statham at least still kicks ass, particularly in the fight scene at the hotel.
The bad: The villains, led by Michael Chiklis, get too little screen time. Lopez is all right in the acting department but has no chemistry with Statham. Nick Nolte is also underused as Parker's mentor.
Verdict: For a Statham action flick, this one is rather dull. File this under 'wasted opportunity'. (4/10)
Year: 2014
Genre: Action fantasy
Director: Renny Harlin
Plot: Hercules, born into a royal family, is betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and sold to slavery. He must accept his true birthright and claim the throne.
The gist: Despite the universal thrashing of this film, I decided to give this film a try, and discovered it's not all bad.
Thankfully, Renny Harlin still has some skill in directing action sequences, so the sword fights at least look good.
However, the film never rises above mediocrity, thanks to the cheap production values, cheesy dialogue and frequently borrowed ideas from 300 and Gladiator.
The good: The acting at least is decent. Scott Adkins makes a solid villain. Gaia Weiss is nice to look at as love interest Hebe. And as stated, the sword fights were well choreographed, too bad they're mostly bloodless.
The bad: Harlin took all the best ideas from 300 and Gladiator, removed the blood and shot them. So in essence, it's a good idea, only done better by other people. Kellan Lutz is very bland as the titular hero unfortunately. And some of the lines were just too corny.
Verdict: You can watch this if you want decent entertainment, but why do that when you can watch other films this one copied from? At the very least, it wasn't horrible, which is the best thing I can say about it. (5/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action
Director: Courtney Solomon
Plot: In order to save his kidnapped wife, a former racecar driver has to carry out tasks while driving a stolen car, with the car's owner, a young girl, as his passenger.
The gist: On the surface, this idea may have worked, but Getaway's poor script and direction just won't let it.
For starters, it takes a large suspension of logic to believe that Brent Magna, the guy whose wife has been kidnapped, is able to escape the police time and time again. No matter how good he is, can't they find him and surround him properly? Those cops have to be really inept.
Add to that the awful dialogue being said throughout, especially from Selena Gomez, and you have a bad film which just gets worse the longer the characters talk.
The good news is, the car crashes were all real, so credit should be given to the stunt team for that. But director Courtney Solomon's idea to film using cameras attached to the inside and outside of the car was poor. It disallows the viewer to see what's going on properly and makes them dizzy pretty quick.
The good: Ethan Hawke at least tries hard to make his character genuine despite the poor script. And the car crashes were well staged.
The bad: Bad script, which even makes Jon Voight, the voice of the kidnapper, sound fake at times. Selena Gomez was all right in the acting department actually, but she ends up asking dumb questions throughout the film, which we can again thank the poor script for. And the above mentioned camera thing, which causes vertigo after a while.
Verdict: You want to watch a movie about speeding cars that crash? Go for the Fast & Furious series. Skip this. (5/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Sci-fi horror
Director: Ruairi Robinson
Plot: A group of scientists on Mars come into contact with a virus that turns them into mindless monsters.
The gist: This film is actually very similar to Ridley Scott's Prometheus, with a lesser budget of course. But it also has the advantage of keeping things simple.
The film moves at a quick pace once the shit hits the fan, and despite the many familiar things that happen throughout, it never gets dull. Director Ruairi Robinson keeps things flowing smoothly as well as the tension level high, so the audience will stay with it to the end.
The good: Liev Schreiber does well as the lead hero, with Olivia Williams throwing in some solid work too as a crewmember with a sucky attitude, though it's rather brief. The pace and action are great, as stated.
The bad: Character development is close to zero here, but it's a small issue considering the genre. The cinematography gets blurry at times with too much smoke in the picture to depict the planet's surface.
Verdict: It's decent for a space horror flick. If you want Prometheus minus the complicated stuff, this is a good choice. (7/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Plot: Machete is back, now he has to go to Mexico to stop a madman from launching a nuclear missile at Washington.
The gist: Machete Kills is the sequel to, well, Machete. I gotta say it's crazier than the first, and played for laughs a lot more often than I expected. It got pretty close to be as insane as MacGruber but thankfully it doesn't get that stupid.
The movie moves pretty fast so there aren't any dull moments at all. The one thing you have to do is to try and keep your logic circuits unwired.
The good: Danny Trejo is fun to watch as Machete, being the guy who can do all this crazy shit with a straight face. Charlie Sheen (credited as Carlos Estevez) is quite funny as the President, but Demian Bichir nearly steals the show as Mendez, the guy who's launching the missile. There's an action scene every 5 minutes or so, so you won't be bored. The opening trailer was awesome. The Star Wars references were funny.
The bad: Some of the jokes just fell flat or way too stereotypical. Sofia Vergara's boob shooting hooker was just bad to look at. Amber Heard is boring as usual. The whole El Camaleon thing was not funny at all and totally unnecessary. A horrible way to waste Cuba Gooding Jr, Walton Goggins and Antonio Banderas. Forget Lady Gaga was here. Please.
Verdict: It's not always entertaining, but it's never boring. It does make me wonder if Machete Kills Again...In Space will be good though. (6/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Fantasy
Director: Harald Zwart
Plot: A young girl discovers a hidden world of demons, vampires and werewolves, and that she comes from a line of warriors chosen to protect the mortal world from evil.
The gist: This film has similar elements with Twilight and Harry Potter, but none of the former's heart or the latter's charm.
It's basically a story of good versus evil, and how a girl named Clary Fray, who had always lived a normal life, must now live up to her lineage of warriors and embrace her true nature. Along the way she meets a few people who will either help her, fight with her or kill her.
Director Harald Zwart tries his best but is unable to keep the film flowing steadily, his mistake is clearly trying to put as many things from the book into the film as possible. The result is an uneven and messy picture.
The good: Lily Collins and Jonathan Rhys Meyers are probably the only two solid performers here. Lily does great as Clary while Jonathan is menacing enough as the villain, too bad he doesn't get enough screen time. Lena Headey is always good to have in any film, here she plays Clary's mother, but gets even less time than Jonathan. The CGI and action sequences are decent at least.
The bad: Jamie Campbell Bower is a bad choice as the hero Jace, especially since he always looks like a male supermodel on screen. There's an oversaturation of characters in the film, till it's so hard to keep track of everyone. The final third of the movie is one big mess as a dozen things seem to be happening all at once. Some of the dialogue are also quite unintentionally laughable. And what's with the cheesy pop songs every time they want to make a romantic moment?
Verdict: Many people hate Twilight for obvious reasons. I'd rather watch that than this pile of mess. It's not the worst thing I've seen, but it clearly has too many problems to be good enough. (5/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action
Director: Gary Fleder
Plot: A former DEA agent moves to a quiet town with his daughter, only to cross paths with a local meth dealer.
The gist: Usually with Jason Statham, you can expect loads of action and lots of broken bones, unless it's the dramatic Hummingbird where he tones down the fist fighting and exercises more acting chops. Homefront seems to lean more towards his usual stuff, but doesn't have as much excitement as you'd expect.
The premise itself seems promising though not entirely unfamiliar. A DEA agent whose last task went south, retires and moves to a little town with his daughter, but soon gets the unwanted attention of a local meth dealer, who subsequently discovers his identity and tries to take advantage of it.
Statham does get to throw down a few times, but he spends half the film trying to be a father to his little girl, and sadly he's not very good at playing the caring dad trying to start anew. Even the final action sequence is a letdown, thanks to Gary Fleder's poor direction.
The good: Kate Bosworth is quite good as the trailer park trash drug addict sister of James Franco's character, but sadly doesn't get enough screen time. Izabela Vidovic is all right as Statham's daughter. Same goes for Winona Ryder as Franco's girlfriend.
The bad: James Franco falls short in becoming the villain of the film, he's just not intimidating enough. Frank Grillo, who plays one of the other bad guys, would have been more suitable for the role. And as stated, lots of slow and dramatic attempts at creating substance, but not very convincing.
Verdict: It's just decent as an action movie, and considering Sylvester Stallone himself adapted the screenplay, I expected more. (6/10)
Year: 2005
Genre: Adventure
Director: Jon Favreau
Plot: Two brothers play a mysterious board game that transports them into outer space, and the only way they can return home is to finish the game.
The gist: This story is written by the writer of Jumanji, hence the many similarities between the two. Two young siblings play the game and get in trouble, lots of things start coming out of it, including another player from long ago, and they have to finish the game to return everything to normal. Same old same old.
However, unlike Jumanji, Zathura just isn't as fun as the former. It's obviously written more for the younger viewers, and because of that the threats they face don't seem that huge. It also doesn't help that the two kids are annoying as heck, thanks to the way they were written here. It takes a long time before the two finally decide to work together and stop arguing, and what a wait it is.
The good: The CGI is actually quite good, from the robot to the alien lizards and the space views.
The bad: The dumbed down script, the unfortunate likeness of it to Jumanji, the predictability overall. It could have been handled better, is all I'll say.
Verdict: It's an average film for the older viewers. Kids will love it though. (6/10)
Year: 2013
Genre: Comedy
Director: Edgar Wright
Plot: Five friends attempt to outdo their pub crawl from years ago, only to discover an alien invasion taking place in their hometown.
The gist: It's British comedy, which for me is hard to like, and I thought I was gonna hate it after about 20 minutes. But as it turns out, it got better and better.
Simon Pegg plays Gary, an alcoholic who yearns to finish the twelve pub crawl he attempted years ago with his friends. After some persuasion, he gets his old buddies to join him, even though they don't seem as enthusiastic.
The fun begins when the guys stumble upon an alien invasion, and a battle ensues, in very comedic fashion. Edgar Wright keeps things simple and doesn't bother much with the story, but he keeps things fast paced and as a result, there's not a dull moment to be found here.
The good: The action sequences, though being played more for laughs, is spot on. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are as sharp as ever, playing best friends who still have issues with each other.
The bad: It takes a while before you warm up to Pegg's character, as he's obviously a jerk who hasn't grown up since the old days, but once the aliens come into the picture, it gets better. The main gripe is the other actors not getting enough screen time, which is a pity since they're just as talented.
Verdict: Worth for more than a handful of laughs. It's a surprise, and good surprises are most welcome. (7/10)
Year: 2012
Genre: Drama
Director: Jake Schreier
Plot: An aging jewel thief befriends a robot butler given to him by his son, and together they plan a heist.
The gist: Robot & Frank tells the story of a friendship between a human and a robot. Frank is a former jewel thief with a rapidly increasing memory problem, who is assigned a robot butler by his son, so that he can be taken care of instead of being sent to a nursing home.
At first, the old man dislikes the idea of having the robot there, but the machine grows on him after a while, becoming his loyal friend and even assisting him in planning a heist somewhere nearby.
The entire story is simple enough, as it focuses on their friendship and how a machine can learn to care for its owner despite not having any emotions of its own.
The good: Frank Langella is solid in the role of Frank, who makes his character likable despite being rather grumpy most of the time. Peter Sarsgaard does a good job voicing the robot, giving him a human like quality even though he sounds very much like a machine. There's a minor twist in the third act which was nice, even though it doesn't quite affect the story too much.
The bad: Even at a short 89 minutes, the film does feel draggy at times. I would also have preferred the robot to have more presence in the film than it got, as Frank gets more character development overall.
Verdict: It's a decent story about friendship, and worth checking out. (3/5)
Year: 2010
Genre: Horror
Director: Adam Wingard
Plot: A serial killer escapes from prison and hunts for his ex-girlfriend, who is trying to rebuild her life.
The gist: I understand the need for indie filmmakers to come up with something different in style and mood to set themselves apart from everyone else, thus justifying the different methods they use, from camerawork to writing and scene setups and so forth.
That being said, A Horrible Way To Die simply did not get it right. If alternately disorienting and boring the audience is an indie method of doing things, I'd rather watch something more straightforward with the time I would have saved from seeing all that.
This film basically focuses on two people, Garrick the killer and Sarah, his ex-girlfriend. Garrick has just escaped from prison and is on the move towards her, just as she's trying to get her life back together with the help of a guy she meets at AA meetings. The film alternates between the two characters plus some flashback sequences before he was caught, when they were still together.
While I can't argue with the fact that Adam Wingard went to great lengths to establish his leads and is decent enough at that, his pacing is way off and there is zero excitement or thrills, even when he hits the big twist at the end.
The good: The twist was actually good because I didn't expect it, but it gets followed up by another (I'll mention this in a bit). Acting is decent at least.
The bad: The second twist made zero sense to me, it simply did not add up. Camerawork was awful, supposedly to create a dark mood but only ended up making me dizzy. Pace was snail level slow.
Verdict: Even indie filmmakers need to make an effort to bring the right kind of reaction to the audience based on the genre they're going for. This one failed in so many ways. Avoid. (2/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Horror
Director: John Luessenhop
Plot: A young girl learns she has inherited a large mansion in Texas and decides to go there with her friends, not knowing she has also inherited a chainsaw wielding killer with it.
The gist: I never saw the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film or the many remakes following it. So I'll judge this based on its own merits as a horror flick.
Texas Chainsaw 3D is pretty much a by-the-numbers horror film in every way. Pretty damsel in distress? Check. Horny woman who shows lots of skin? Check. Inept law enforcement officers? Check. Good guys who aren't what they seem? Check. Characters making stupid decisions? Check. Bloody kills? Check that one too.
I've seen quite a number of slasher type horror films, and nothing in this particular one makes it even remotely outstanding compared to those. Worse off, towards the end, it turns out that there are more despicable people in the story than poor Leatherface. Boo hoo.
The good: Alexandra Daddario at the very least makes good eye candy, even with her clothes on.
The bad: Plenty of lapses of logic, even though it's not uncommon in horror films. Like for example, some people choose the worst places to run or hide from a monster, like an open grave. And what kind of policeman would enter a house where the killer is with no backup? And the above mentioned textbook elements.
Verdict: Skip this and go watch some horror flicks with genuine scares, of which there are plenty. (2/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action comedy
Director: Robert Schwentke
Plot: A cop betrayed and killed by his partner is recruited by the undead police force, where he is paired up with a 19th century US Marshal.
The gist: As it turns out, RIPD is a lot like Men In Black, only not as funny. The similarities are obvious: veteran and newbie paired up together, they don't get along, they fight supernatural stuff, lots of crazy hijinks ensue, the works.
On paper, this idea might not seem so bad, even if it's not entirely original. The problem is, it never breaks the average barrier. The script, direction, comic timing, action and plot are all average or lower, and the CGI is barely decent.
The saving grace is Ryan Reynolds, who at least plays it straight enough for us to root for him till the end.
The good: As mentioned, Ryan Reynolds. Stephanie Szostak is easy on the eyes as Reynolds' character's wife. Kevin Bacon does a decent enough job as the villain, but he deserves better.
The bad: Jeff Bridges is basically playing Rooster Cogburn all over again, only with a more exaggerated accent. I could barely understand a word he said. Mary Louise Parker simply isn't funny, period. She shouldn't even be here. Everything else they tried to do, MIB can do better. And I'm not even an MIB fan.
Verdict: It's not bottom barrel bad, but you can do better things with your time than watch this. (2.5/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Thriller
Director: Kasper Barfoed
Plot: A burnt out CIA agent must protect a CIA broadcast station and its operator from outside forces who attempt to breach the station.
The gist: After watching this, one can't help but feel that John Cusack is going the same route Nicolas Cage is, as in taking smaller, low profile projects which will probably end up on DVD only.
That's not to say The Numbers Station is bad, in fact it's decent. However the quality of the film is obviously low, looking almost like the entire thing was shot on a shoestring budget and in less than a month.
Cusack plays Emerson, a burnt out CIA operative who botched a mission and is sent to guard a remote CIA broadcast station and the civilian operative who broadcasts the numbers from there every day. Things get hairy when unauthorised people try to break in and use the station for themselves. Then Emerson, who is in this situation because of a conscience problem, now has to decide again whether to follow orders, or follow his heart.
Director Kasper Barfoed wisely uses the most fascinating tool about his film well, which is the idea of broadcasting numbers to agents through the station. This isn't something viewers are used to, at least not for me, so I liked the creativity. However the rest of the plot seems pedestrian and predictable, unfortunately.
The good: Cusack makes decent chemistry with Malin Akerman's civilian broadcaster character. He plays the burnt out agent well, though you can't help but sense he deserves better roles than this. Akerman's fine, but she does get occasionally annoying trying to get through to Emerson. The idea of using number codes to send out assignments is, as I said, intriguing.
The bad: The feel overall is bland. There are just a few minor shootouts and a couple of decent explosions. If you're looking for an edge of the seat thriller, this is not it.
Verdict: A decent thriller that relies on breaking codes more than busting heads. Just barely over average. (3/5)
Year: 2012
Genre: Cop thriller
Director: Nick Love
Plot: The film focuses on The Sweeney, a group of armed elite cops tasked to fight crime with any means necessary.
The gist: I hadn't seen the 70s UK TV show that this film is based on, but watching this does remind me of The Shield, a US cop show a lot like this one, except those cops were mostly dirty.
The plot involves Jack Regan, head of the squad who tries to solve a robbery-murder, only to get into trouble with Internal Affairs over his methods. When someone in his squad gets killed, Regan gets suspended, and he has to break a few rules to bust the case.
I like the gritty approach that director Nick Love applied for this film. These guys are tough cops and make no excuses for their actions, and Love has no problems showing what they have to do to catch the bad guys. He also spends some time painting the guys in a normal light, showing that they're regular folk who enjoy what they do, but at the end of the day, they're just people trying to make ends meet.
The good: Ray Winstone is tailor made for the lead role, there are very few guys who can cuss and kick ass like him. Ben Drew deserves plenty of credit as Carter, Regan's second in command, who shows lots of guts when he has to. The action sequences, which include long shootouts and a couple of car chases, are well filmed. They're made to look gritty and not flashy, which works for the film.
The bad: A better representation of the team would have been nice. The other members should have gotten more time for character development. The plot itself isn't much, it's just another case for the team, the kind of case that barely qualifies as a reason to make a movie with.
Verdict: A solid cop thriller, despite the flaws, and it's rare to see one set in London. (3.5/5)
Year: 2003
Genre: Action
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Plot: When a sacred Buddha statue's head is stolen from a village temple, a village youth named Ting volunteers to travel to the city and get it back.
The gist: Before there was The Raid, there was Ong Bak. Thai action star Tony Jaa made waves with this first film in the Ong Bak series, featuring the Muay Thai fighting style in all its glory.
Director Prachya Pinkaew and co-writer Panna Rittikrai (who passed away recently) who also served as stunt coordinator, have come up with an action masterpiece which stands the test of time.
While the story isn't really strong and Jaa's acting isn't too solid, it's not a big deal as Jaa easily wins the audience's support by playing the country bumpkin who is forced to go into the underworld of Bangkok, a world he is unfamiliar with, and fight his way to the Buddha head he has to retrieve.
Credit goes to the film crew and stunt guys who make all the action pieces stand out. Notably, Jaa did all his own stunts.
The good: All the fight sequences were great and well choreographed. Even the chase sequence involving tuk tuk cars was well executed. Petchtai Wongkamlao plays Ting's ally George with enough humor to make him quite likable.
The bad: There is a slight overusage of slow motion and instant replays during the action sequences. But it's not a big deal.
Verdict: One of the best action flicks out there. Recommended. (4/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Animation
Director: David Soren
Plot: A snail gains speed powers after a freak accident, enabling him to perhaps realise his dream of winning the Indy 500.
The gist: The story of the underdog overcoming impossible odds is nothing new, but it is one of the most satisfying ones out there, despite its predictability.
In this case, a snail named Theo wants to be fast, like his hero Guy Gagne, the Indy 500 racer. He keeps dreaming about it despite being told by his brother Chet to face reality. One night, he gets sucked into a drag car's engine and gets a dose of nitrous oxide, and a lightning fast snail is born. Along the way, he meets Tito, a guy who sells tacos and races snails on the side, and like him, wants to have a dream his brother doesn't believe in.
Overall the story is as predictable as it gets, but it never really gets old. The characters are at least likable even though the dialogue isn't as sharp as it should be. The kids will love this more than the adults, I think.
The good: The animation is pretty good, though the snails look better than the humans. The final race sequence was nicely set up, especially since it involves a snail racing against huge race cars.
The bad: Even as an animated film, the idea of a snail racing with cars can be a bit hard to swallow, even more than toys that talk. The jokes also don't always hit the mark.
Verdict: As a film it's not too bad. It's light entertainment at best, just don't expect Pixar level stuff. (3/5)
Year: 2014
Genre: Action
Director: Gareth Evans
Plot: After the events of the first film, Rama is tasked by Internal Affairs to go undercover and infiltrate a criminal organisation to bring them down and the corrupt cops protecting them.
The gist: Remember how you felt when you watched The Matrix Reloaded and noticed how different it was compared to its predecessor? That's the feeling I got after watching The Raid 2.
While The Matrix was much more cohesive than Reloaded, and therefore the better film, The Raid 2 outshines the first, most obviously in the action department. Unlike the Wachowskis, Gareth Evans certainly knows how to make things bigger and better.
Evans has choreographed some of the best action sequences ever here, and in order to keep the film flowing, he throws in a storyline that is reminiscent of Hong Kong's Infernal Affairs. Granted, at times the story doesn't work so well and seems to only serve the plot and connect one action sequence to the next, but Evans' ass kicking moments are so good, you won't really care.
Although, like The Matrix Reloaded, it doesn't quite gel with the first film, it still works well enough to be entertaining overall. Credit must be given to Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian for the excellent fight choreography, as well as all the people involved in every fight sequence.
The good: Action sequences, all of them, are executed to perfection. From a fight in a toilet cubicle to a prison yard brawl, to a hellacious car chase sequence and more, it's all a sight to behold. The final 50 minutes of the film are the most memorable.
The bad: Lapses of logic, like why are there no cops when they start fighting on the streets? Or why the bad guys choose to attack Rama one by one instead of simultaneously?
Verdict: The Raid 2 is brutal to a tee, but it's brutal for a reason. Ass kicking has not been this good since the early days of Jackie Chan. Highly recommended for action fans. (4/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Horror
Director: Adam Wingard
Plot: A family reunion turns bloody when three masked men attack and maim them during dinner. But they didn't count on one of the victims having the ability to turn the tables on them.
The gist: While the home invasion horror genre is nothing new, You're Next successfully milks it for all it's worth and even throws in a few laughs while they're at it.
Director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett (who also doubles as one of the invaders) cleverly marries blood and gore with some deadpan humour, thereby easing some of the tension that comes with the genre. The story is reminiscent of The Strangers, except with more violence and less seriousness.
Speaking of violence, there are some really cool kills here, my favorite being the one involving a blender. We also have arrows, axes, knives, glass and some nails. Bloody good.
The good: Australian actress Sharni Vinson is a revelation here as Erin, the victim who collects the courage to fight back and organise every resource around her. Kudos to Wingard and Barrett for throwing in some unexpected laughter when the family start arguing on how to save themselves.
The bad: There are some scenes that defy logic, though I don't know if it was intentional. For example, why send a distraught victim to rest in her room alone when there are killers lurking around? The twist at the end was good, but I saw it coming.
Verdict: It's not as innovative as say, The Cabin In The Woods, but You're Next is really fun to watch overall. A solid entry into the home invasion horror genre. (3.5/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Action comedy
Director: Paul Feig
Plot: An FBI agent and a Boston cop team up to take down a drug lord, if they don't kill each other first.
The gist: The idea of teaming up Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy in a comedy ought to be good, since they both excel at the genre. But as far as The Heat goes, it's a hit and miss affair.
Bullock plays Ashburn, an FBI agent that is not so different from the one she played in Miss Congeniality, as in difficult to work with and puts her male colleagues down constantly. She is forced to team up with McCarthy's Boston cop Mullins, and McCarthy is exactly what you'd expect from her: foul mouthed, rude and nasty.
The duo are obviously playing to their strengths, and to their credit, they have a chemistry that works on screen. However, the film only works half the time since the jokes aren't always funny. It also doesn't help that Paul Feig uses the same cliches we've seen before, like Mullins having an obnoxious family, Ashburn being the way she is because of her upbringing and suffers from loneliness etc.
Predictably enough, like most buddy cop films we've seen, the two eventually get along and work together, but you already knew that.
The good: Bullock and McCarthy work well with each other at least. The running joke about the albino agent was quite funny actually.
The bad: The jokes fall flat half the time, and it just uses too many recycled ideas we've seen before.
Verdict: It falls a bit below expectations. The Heat isn't breaking new ground nor is it one of the top films of its genre, but it's funny when it tries hard enough and is decent at best. (3/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Comedy
Director: Don Scardino
Plot: A Vegas magician, who has become obsolete thanks to an edgy street magician's crazy stunts, tries to revive his career with the help of the legendary magician who inspired him in the first place.
The gist: Steve Carell is Burt Wonderstone, the Vegas magician who has a fallout with his longtime partner Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi). Realising he's doomed after Criss Angel like street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) upstages him and no one else will hire him for a show, Burt gets some help from aspiring magician Jane (Olivia Wilde) and retired legend Rance Holloway (Alan Arkin).
Carell has made a career out of being a loser who eventually rises to the occasion, and he does the same here, with mixed results. It's a little tiresome getting past the part where he doesn't understand the problem, but it's sort of worth it when he finally takes himself seriously and puts on a bit of his charm.
Same goes for Carrey, who always plays the over the top character, and his performance here is reminiscent of his Fire Marshall Bill character from In Living Color, but with less theatrics.
Overall the film takes a bit of time to get going but sort of redeems itself towards the end.
The good: Always good to see Olivia Wilde here, playing the smart and pretty magician who teaches Burt a thing or two about respect. Kudos to the writers for making her character a serious one instead of the type Kristen Wiig is well known for playing. Alan Arkin lends his great screen presence as the mentor. And I gotta say, some of the magic tricks look cool, even though you've probably seen them before.
The bad: Carell and Carrey are pretty much playing the same characters they're known for here, even though it's good, but predictable. Steve Buscemi is underused here. And that terrible Imagine Dragons song, hate it.
Verdict: A decent comedy. Predictable, but it has its moments. (3/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Drama
Director: Steven Knight
Plot: A former Special Forces soldier, now a drunk living on the streets, haunted by his war crimes, gets a new lease on life after breaking into another man's flat. Using the man's money, he gets a job and tries to rebuild his life, and at the same time avenge the death of a girl he knew, while maintaining his friendship with a kind nun.
The gist: Imdb lists action in this film's genre, but I disagree. It's mostly a drama, starring Jason Statham in an unlikely role.
Statham proves here that he has acting chops to go with his ass kicking skills, and though he gets to beat a few people up here, it's his acting ability as a former soldier trying to go straight that gets more focus.
Steven Knight, who wrote the screenplay and directs, does a decent job keeping the film flowing for the most part. His focus on London street life after hours is fascinating and dark at the same time. He also makes good use of his two main leads, Statham and Agata Buzek, who plays the nun Cristina. Their relationship, which gets more complicated as the story moves along, is the heart of this film.
However, I do feel that this story would work better as a miniseries, so that Knight can explore his story even further and give more time to other supporting characters like the dead girl Statham tries to avenge, or the Chinese human trafficker played by Benedict Wong, or Statham's ex-wife and daughter.
The good: Believe it or not, Statham is pretty good here, and so is Agata Buzek. They make a great duo on screen. The story is also well written overall.
The bad: Too little time spent on the story and supporting characters. The ending is a bit of a letdown, though it does tie up most of the loose ends. The film could also use a bit more tension overall.
Verdict: A decent effort for a drama starring action star Jason Statham. Just try this with an open mind and don't expect an action flick. (3/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Heist thriller
Director: Loius Leterrier
Plot: Four David Blaine wannabes execute a series of heists while being pursued by a determined FBI agent.
The gist: Have you ever seen a heist movie where the thieves don't succeed? No? Well, me neither. Now You See Me does not change that unfortunately.
Did I just give away the ending? No, there are still a few twists here and there. I only wish it were interesting enough to make this film worth watching.
So we have four street magicians who each can do what David Blaine does so well (and better I might add) being recruited by a mysterious person to carry out high stakes robberies. A no-nonsense FBI agent teams up with an Interpol agent to catch them with the help of a magic debunker.
The problem here is most of the characters are either poorly written or not likable enough, with only Woody Harrelson's mentalist and Mark Ruffalo's FBI agent standing out. Louis Leterrier films the whole thing at such breakneck speed, the audience doesn't even get to enjoy or fathom completely what's going on before he moves to the next point, and the next, and so forth.
The twist itself is weak and overall makes little sense to what we just saw beforehand, at least for me it was.
The good: As mentioned, Ruffalo and Harrelson stand out. There's a decent car chase scene in the middle portion of the film. Melanie Laurent is all right as the Interpol agent but isn't given much to work with.
The bad: Jesse Eisenberg plays the Mark Zuckerberg version of David Blaine. Boring. Isla Fisher and Dave Franco are wasted. Michael Caine was wasted even more. Morgan Freeman was given a role much lower than what he's capable of. Someone a little younger would have been more suitable. And as above, the too quick pace, the lame twist, poor characters etc.
Verdict: Now You See Me trips over itself trying to be smart, and doesn't really offer anything new when it comes to heist films. Any excitement it generated vanished faster than the money the Blaine copycats stole. Skip this. (2.5/5)
Year: 2013
Genre: Comedy
Director: Seth Gordon
Plot: A man loses his identity after getting duped into giving his personal information to a female stranger over the phone, and must find her to reclaim his life and job.
The gist: Identity Thief is a lot like Due Date, as in it's a road trip comedy pairing off two people who have nothing in common, and they have to get somewhere. In this case, Jason Bateman is the poor sap who was stupid enough to give up his personal details to Melissa McCarthy over the phone.
She takes control of his credit cards and starts a spending spree, so he locates her and tries to get her back to his city across state lines so that she can face justice and he gets his life back. Predictably, this is where the two would normally get into various shenanigans and bond over their pasts etc, as most road trip comedies do. Problem is, it's just not funny.
Seth Gordon tries his best to throw the duo into all sorts of supposedly funny situations, but most of them don't stick. If you think watching a fat cowboy take his pants off or finding a snake crawl up someone's jeans or watching someone rub McCarthy's legs while she pretends to have a cramp is funny, then go see this. I didn't think it was funny.
The good: Bateman and McCarthy at the very least work well off each other, the former as the straight and honest guy and the latter as the conwoman with a sad past.
The bad: As stated, it's not as funny as it could have been. The potential was there, but mostly wasted.
Verdict: It doesn't quite work as a comedy, despite the leads' best efforts. Pass on this. (2.5/5)
