Month: March 2015

Insurgent: The IMAX Experience 3D

“Insurgent” is a “Hot Mess!!” The movie is a menagerie of dreams, events and chaos which collectively is supposed to mean something, but doesn’t.

In this installment, Tris (Shailene Woodley) searches for answers and allies in the ruins of futuristic Chicago. Tris and Four (Theo James) are now wanted fugitives on the run; they are being hunted by Jeanine (Kate Winslet) the leader of the Erudite elite.
Racing against time Tris must find out what her family risked they lives to protect and why the Erudite elite would do anything to stop her and anyone who helps her. The story unfolds from there…

As I stated previous, “Insurgent” is a “Hot Mess”. There is tons of violence and chaos. The story is confusing and uninvolving. The best elements are that the movie is fast-paced and non-stop, but in the end you will not hunger for the next installment.

“Insurgent” is best viewed on cable.

The Gunman

I had high expectations for “The Gunman” unfortunately it does not deliver, not by a long shot.

Terrier (Sean Penn) is a member of a mercenary assassination team tasked with taking out the minister of mines of the Congo. When the mission is accomplished Terrier is forced into hiding. Eight years later Terrier returns to the Congo only to find out that he has become the target of a hit squad. The story unfolds from there…

From the very beginning the story is disjointed. The dialog and some of the exchanges do not make sense. There is no real story line or plot. The actions and events do not make sense. The stage is not set properly, so you will spend a lot of time scratching your head. You will see events and scenes that will remind you of other movies that were executed better of the same genre.

Needless to say I am disappointed. I expected better. This movie was directed by Pierre Morel who did “Taken”.

“The Gunman” is best viewed on cable.

Run All Night

I thought the weekend was going to slip by before I could see “Run All Night”. I have been severely under the weather with an Acute Sinus Infection and on Antibiotics. Heavily medicated I was NOT going to let a Liam Neeson movie pass by if I could help it. So off to the movies I went late this Sunday afternoon.

Liam Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a mob hit-man in this crime thriller. He and his estranged son Mike Conlon (Joel Kinnaman) are fleeing the wrath of a vengeful crime boss, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) after Jimmy kills Shawn Maguire’s son in self defense to save his own son, Mike. The story unfolds from there…

There are lots of twists and turns and intrigue. It’s in your face violence. There are some interest stunts and moves, but nothing to far out of the way that it’s totally unbelievable.
The only strange element is actor Common playing a sort of “Cyborg” Hit Man. He is out of place here…Common is good looking and debonair. He should stick to the “Lover” type roles. He does not transcend to bad guy very well.

If you like Crime Suspense Thrillers and Liam Neeson, “Run All Night” is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, is a sequel to the 2011 “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Now that the hotel is full with long term residents, co-managers Muriel and Sonny (Maggie Smith and Dev Patel) have dreams of expansion.

This movie highlights the journey that Muriel and Sonny take to get the expansion completed.
At best the movie is “Ho-hum”. I was a bit bored. It does pick up during the last 20 minutes.

“The Second Best Marigold Hotel” is best viewed on DVD, Cable or Blu-ray

This is a 2 1/2 Star Movie!

Chappie

From the makers of “District 9”, “Chappie” has great visual interest and there are a few very interesting scenes toward the end, but that is about it. It’s a bit of a let-down. I expected more.

Crime is patrolled by Police Droids in the city of Johannesburg. Something happens and the Droids are taken off line and the people start to fight back.

One of the Droids (Chappie) is stolen and given a new program. this new program allows Chappie to think and feel for himself. Seen as a potential danger, a destructive force sets out to stop Chappie and end all other Droid forces. The story unfolds from there…

The movie does have its moments, but there are too many holes left unfilled and the dialog is in shambles.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!