Category: Action

Zootopia in 3D

I am enjoying a couple of days off so I decided to see the animated hit “Zootopia”!!

We should all be so lucky to live in a place like “Zootopia”. It’s a metropolis with neighborhoods like “Ritzy Sahara Square” and “Frigid Tundratown”. Animals from every environment live together and co-habitat without issues. Whether you are a HUGH Elephant to a small tiny mouse, you can be and do anything you like.

Rookie Office Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) wanted to be a police officer ever since she was a little bunny in school. She passes the police academy training at the top of her class. Judy is excited to get her assignment upon graduation day, but when she arrives at her newly assigned police precinct Judy discovers she is the first Bunny to become a police officer. She is not sure about this. There are HUGH animals as policemen. Judy is determined to prove her worth though, but she is assigned to Parking Meter Duty…The story unfolds from there…

“Zootopia” is entertaining, light-hearted and fun. While it’s potentially billed as a movie for the younger set. Adults can definitely enjoy “Zootopia”. There is a lesson in this movie for everyone!

The animation and cinematography are awesome! There is a story, plot and intrigue. If you are interested in something “Light-Hearted and Fun” I suggest “Zootopia”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!

London Has Fallen

“London has Fallen” is an “Action Junkie’s” Dream!

At the order of the US President a drone strike attempts to take out an internationally known Terrorist. It’s believed that the strike was successful, so no further Surveillance was ordered after the strike.

Fast forward two years, an announcement that the British Prime Minister has died causes a major stir among world leaders. Everyone makes plans to descend on London to pay their respects. Security is extremely high given the importance and severity of the situation. The leaders start to arrive in London. The story unfolds from there…

“London Has Fallen” is not quite as bad as the paid critics indicated.
There is a plot, a story, tons of action, suspense and intrigue.

The only problem is that a lot of the events couldn’t possibly happen in the real world. Agent Banning (Gerard Butler) tries to come across as a Presidential James Bond, but he lacks the charisma to pull it off and the movie is a bit short at 1:39.

The action is non-stop. You won’t be bored. I thought Morgan Freeman was pretty good as the Vice President. I still think the movie is worth at least 2 1/2 stars.

Triple 9

“Triple 9” is a “Dark Brooding” Cop Drama based in Atlanta, GA.

A band of dirty cops are being black-mailed by the Russian Mob. This band of dirty cops go about performing virtually impossible heists. The only way to successfully pull off these heist are to issue a “999” police call which represents “Officer Down”.

You know what happens when you have a crew of people working together and money is involved. People get greedy and paranoid. In “Triple 9” the Rookie Cop in the band is setup to die, but he foils the attack. This sets up what turns out to be the best part of the movie which is only a few minutes from the end.

“Triple 9” is strange and subdued. The movie starts off on the wrong foot and it never stands up straight. Kate Winslet is horrible as a Russian Mob Boss.
There is drug use throughout and blatant nudity. Once again you have a movie with “Heavy Weight Actors” who come across as “Light Weight Actors”.

“Triple 9” is best viewed on Cable.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Deadpool

Marvel’s “Deadpool” is a fictional antihero that appears in Marvel’s Comics. Deadpool would fit in nicely with the Mutants from X-MEN.

“Deadpool” is a rather obnoxious, profanity riddled, irritating film. It has its good parts. The action scenes and camera angles are awesome, but there is so much irritation that the good parts get lost.

The story is about how “Deadpool” came to be. A former Special Forces operative turned Mercenary, Wade Wilson finds out he has Lung Cancer and may not live long. Wade is subjected to an experiment that leaves him with the ability to heal himself rapidly if injured. Because of his altered looks, he chooses the name “Deadpool”. “Deadpool” then goes on a mission to find the man who is responsible for nearly destroying his life. The story unfolds from there…

If there wasn’t so much profanity, nudity and irritation this would be an excellent first installment.

If you can get past the irritation of “Deadpool” it’s worth a look. The paid critics gave this movie 4 1/2 stars. It will only receive 3 stars from me.

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

There is no subtlety in this Michael Bay Production!

Based on a true story, “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” provides the detailed account of what really happened in Benghazi in September 2012.
What’s really good about this movie is that there is no politics. The White House and Congress are not involved. This is purely a military and CIA covert operation.

Since this is a Michael Bay production (the Producer of such movies as Black Hawk Down and The Transformer Series), the action and combat sequences could be questioned as to whether there was more or less in the real events. You do get a thrilling ride from all of the action and combat, but who really wants to relive another person’s worst day in their lives. This is what we are treated to in these types of movies. The movie at times is very bloody.

Telling these stories is ok, but now we know who the “Secret Soldiers” are. In the credits the real Soldiers faces are not shown, but names are given. This movie does not make our soldiers look like Hero’s although it should have. Medals and awards were given, but in secret.

I would have to say that of all the Michael Bay Productions, this is probably his best effort.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

The Revenant

“The Revenant” is extremely harsh and brutal, but it was executed brilliantly!!

Based on factual events, Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) a fur tradesman who is out on a fur expedition with a team of men gets mauled by a bear. The story centers-around Hugh’s brave and sometimes perilous survival in the wilderness of the 1820’s. The story unfolds from there…

“The Revenant” is definitely not my type of movie, but I had to see it since its receiving so many raves. It’s nominated for several Golden Globes and there is massive Oscar buzz about it and Leonardo Dicaprio’s acting in it.

DiCaprio was brilliant and he deserves any Oscar nod he receives. The movie is harsh and unforgiving. The story is told in painstaking fashion. All action is driven by revenge. The cinematography and camera angles are excellent.

If you can stand the harshness and brutality “The Revenant” is worth a look.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens – the 3D IMAX Experience

Star Wars is back with its seventh installment! This is the first of a Trilogy under the Walt Disney umbrella.

The events that occur started after the 1983 “Return of the Jedi” which was installment number six.
Its 30 years later and Luke Skywalker has disappeared. The First Order has risen and is out to eliminate Luke and destroy the Republic. The Resistance, a military force that is led by Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) Luke’s Sister, opposes the First Order while searching for Luke. The story unfolds from there…

There is never a dull moment in the movie. It’s entertaining, there is constant action, mayhem and a Sci-Fi extravaganza! The pick-up from the 1983 installment does an excellent job. You are duly reminded of what happened previously.

The cinematography is excellent, it’s definitely worth the 3D and IMAX Experience.
There is a nice lead-in to the next installment.

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!!

The Hunger Games: MockingJay Pt 2

At last the long awaited final installment in The Hunger Games Franchise has arrived!

This final installment picks up where the Mocking Jay Pt1 left off. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is recovering from her injuries. She wants desperately to speak with Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), but President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and others warn against it.

Once Katniss is well, the team is assembled. The goal is to go to the Capital and kill President Snow. Of Course the team runs into many obstacles, but this does not stop them. The story unfolds from there.

There is lots of action, special effects and mayhem. There are a lot of surprises. Jennifer Lawrence is flawless as Katniss Everdeen. It seems the role was made for her. She brings legitimacy to the story.
Sadly this is the last movie for Philip Seymour Hoffman. This franchise started off in 2012 with a bang, but now goes out quietly.

If you are a fan of “The Hunger Games” Franchise; this final installment should not be missed.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!

Spectre 007 the IMAX Experience

I have been a James Bond fan for a very long time. Sean Connery is and always will be the best James Bond ever!!!

Contrary to what is being said, I do not think that “Spectre 007” is the best Bond ever!!
James Bond receives a cryptic message from his past that send him on a wild goose chase across the continent to uncover a sinister organization known simply as “Spectre”. While Bond is chasing bad guys and trying to find out about Spectre, M fights a political battle to keep the Secret Service intact. The story unfolds from there…

The first 15 minutes of the movie is awesome!! After that things go a bit awry. There are so many angles and layers to the story you are not sure who the bad guys are and who can be trusted or even what is really going on. There is a ton of action, crazy stunts and mayhem. The movie takes you to such places as Mexico, Rome, London and Austria. The usual sexy, awesome looking sports car and car chases are still there along with a couple of crazy Helicopters stunts.

What is not there is the original “M” Judi Dench. It is my understanding that the movie studio thought that Judi Dench was too old to continue to play “M’. For that blunder the movie loses a star.

Judi Dench makes a very brief cameo appearance via a video recording. Judi Dench is and always will be “M”.

This latest installment of 007 James Bond does not bring anything new to the big screen. If you are a Bond fan you have seen it all previously. With the exception of the song/scenes of Bond with naked women, the sound track is awesome especially the music that is playing when the movie starts and goes through the first 10 minutes or so.

“Spectre 007” is a decent movie, but nowhere near what you would expect a Bond movie to be.

This is a 3 Star Movie!

Sicario

It’s Friday Night at the movies literally! I had to hop off a plane from Sacramento, CA and race to the theater to see “Sicario” because on Saturday it’s Matt Damon’s “The Martian”.

The war against drugs continues to escalate. A by the book FBI agent, Kate (Emily Blunt) is enlisted by an elite government task force official, Matt (Josh Brolin) to aid in the fight. The leader of the team is an enigmatic consultant with a dark past (Benicio Del Toro). The team sets out on a clandestine journey that takes them back and forth across the border between the US and Mexico.

Events that occur on the mission cause Kate to question everything that she believes in order to survive. She is not sure who can be trusted. The story unfolds from there…
“Sicario” is a Dark Saga that is ambitious. It gets the word across. It’s not black and white, but deals a lot in the “Gray Areas”. You see up close what the war on drugs really looks like. There is plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. It’s in your face bloody.

On a small front, “Sicario” reminds me of Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 hit “Traffic”.
“Sicario” is a must see!

This is a 4 1/2 Star Movie!