Category: Action

Mad Max: Fury Road The IMAX Experience

“Mad Max: Fury Road” was not on my original “Watch List” as I am not a fan of the Classic Mel Gibson installments, but after I checked out some very early reviews, I decided to give it a look.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is insanely crazy!! It’s explosive, It’s strange, but very entertaining.

Thirty years later here is the fourth installment in the Mad Max Franchise. Director George Miller takes things to a new level. It’s like Steam Punk meets The Cannon Ball Run which in turns meets a Road Derby.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is thrilling, violent, and action packed. Dirt flies like never before. You won’t be bored. There are plenty of surprises. It’s also strangely weird!! If you are expecting a plot of some sort, forget it!! “Mad Max: Fury Road” is void of such elements as a Plot or Story. The movie is just non-stop craziness.
Charlize Theron is brilliant as “Imperator Furiosa”.

If you are a fan of the Classic Mad Max films, “Mad Max: Fury Road” is not to be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Avengers: The Age of Ultron – The IMAX 3D Experience

They are back!! “Avengers: The Age of Ultron” is a good sequel, but not great! It does not compare to its predecessor.
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) activates a dormant peace keeping program, but somewhere along the way things go awry and the team finds themselves involved in an epic battle to save the planet. The story unfolds from there…
What would have made this installment great is a better plot. The plot is very underdeveloped. Saving the world has now become a hard working job for The Avengers. Their latest nemesis Ultron gives the team all they can handle and more. Ultron is like an energizer bunny, he just keeps coming and coming.
There is lots of non-stop action, edge of your seat thrills and constant mayhem. There is even reason to laugh a bit. “The Age of Ultron” is a definite must see in IMAX, but 3D is not necessary.
If you are a fan of the Avengers then “The Age of Ultron” is a must see.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!

Fast & Furious 7: The IMAX Experience

They saved the best for last!!

“Fast and Furious 7” is 2 hours and 20 minutes of “Non-Stop Action, Suspense and On The Edge of Your Seat Thrills. They take “Pedal to the Metal” to another level!! It’s a MUST SEE IN IMAX!!!

In this installment, Torreto (Vin Diesel) and the gang face some unexpected challenges from a new International Assassin who is out for some sort of revenge from a past incident that occurred.

The gang is up to the challenge and is not about to allow anyone to destroy them or their family.

There are some out of this world stunts, some crazy, scary driving. They really did take this to another level. The movie is very entertaining. The cinematography is fantastic!!

This has been one franchise that has lived up to the hype. There is a wonderful send off for Paul Walker at the end. If you are a fan of the “Fast & Furious” Franchise, “Furious 7” is not to be missed.

This is a 4 Star Move!!

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.

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!

Black Sea

You are a rouge submarine captain who has just been laid off. Your family left you because of the job and now the job leaves you.

You have been contacted about a rumored sunken treasure in the Black Sea. You put together a misfit crew of merry men that you believe represent the best in their position as it pertains to a submarine.

There is money to be made if you find the treasure. So off you and your crew go. Time passes as you travel under sea heading toward the location site. Desperation and greed take control as uncertainty sets in among the crew. The story unfolds from there…

“Black Sea” is not the very best “Suspense Thriller”, but it is a very good one. Two time Oscar Nominee; Jude Law is awesome as the rouge submarine captain. The movie is entertaining and gloomy all as the same time.
“Black Sea” was directed by Academy Award Winning Director Kevin McDonald.

If you like “Suspense Thrillers”, “Black Sea” is worth a look.

This is a 3 1/2 Star Movie!!

Jupiter Ascending 3D

“Jupiter Ascending” is spectacular from a visual point of view. Too bad that’s as good as it gets.

Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) was born under the night sky with signs that predicted she was destined for great things. Jupiter grows up to live what appears to be a dull mundane life. Then one day Caine (Channing Tatum) an ex-Military Hunter comes to earth to track her down. Jupiter soon finds out that a greater fate awaits her on another planet. The story unfolds from there…

The story and plot are not set, so you have no clue as to the reasoning for some of the events that take place in the movie. It’s only after the first 45 minutes that you start to piece the puzzle together, but it still does not make sense.
As I stated earlier the visual effects are great. There is a lot of action and nice special effects. The problem with “Jupiter Ascending” is that the story isn’t put into context soon enough. There is too much bewilderment.

This is a 2 Star Movie!!

Black Hat

“Black Hat” is more of a “Black Eye”.

“Black Hat” is about Cyber Crime. For no apparent reason a remote nuclear attack on China is staged via a computer system. As it turns out it was staged so that all of the money that the Chinese Casinos are bringing in can be stolen. The Chinese Government reaches out to the United States for help. The person, Nick Hathaway (Hemsworth) most able to solve this crime is serving time in a U.S. Prison. The U.S. Justice Dept gets Hathaway out of prison so that he can help solve the case. The story unfolds from there…

The story on paper is very interesting, but on the big screen not so much. The problem is the stage is not set correctly, so you have to watch the entire movie to piece it together. There is no rhyme or reason. I was bored the first 90 minutes of the movie. 

Too much time is spent showing the viewing audience what the inside of a computer chip looks like way down in the depths, from the time the
“Enter” key is hit on the keyboard until it reaches it’s destination.

I expected better from a Michael Mann production. Movie “Heavy Weights” “Viola Davis” and “Chris Hemsworth” are not enough to give “Black Hat” high marks.

There are 3 other movies scheduled to open soon with the word “Black” in their title, let’s hope they fair better.

This is a 1 1/2 Star Movie!

American Sniper

FINALLY!! “American Sniper” opens wide! I have been waiting for this movie for many months. It does not disappoint!! “American Sniper” isn’t just about war; it’s about how war affects the loved ones who remain at home. Multiple tours can and do take their toll on a family.

Bradley Cooper plays Chris Kyle an American Sniper who was the deadliest Sniper in U.S. Military History. He served four tours with one goal in mind; “Protect” his brothers-in-arms. He does just that saving countless lives, but Kyle becomes a wanted man behind enemy lines with a price on his head. Insurgents would love nothing better than to take Chris Kyle out. Each time Chris returns home he finds it difficult to leave the war behind. The story unfolds from there…

You will be on the edge of your seat! The movie will hold your attention. It’s nerve racking intense, suspenseful and has plenty of action. It is a bit bloody.

This is probably Bradley Cooper’s best role. He has come a long way since starring as “Will Tippin” in the ABC hit “Alias”.

“American Sniper” is definitely worth the price of admission.

This is a 4 Star Movie!