Category: Action

Parker

Have you ever heard of a thief who has a code of ethics? “Don’t steal from those who can’t afford it and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it”. “Parker” (Jason Statham) a professional thief lives by this code. But on his latest heist Parker’s crew double crosses him and steals his loot. The story unfolds from there…
The movie takes you from small town Ohio to West Palm Beach Florida to Chicago. There is lots of action and intrigue. The movie is very violent. Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham together is a miss-matched pair. They are actually quite funny together.
“Parker” is not a great movie, but it’s definitely worth seeing for the entertainment factor alone.
A “B” movie with “A” list stars.

Zero Dark Thirty

Finally!! “Zero Dark Thirty” opened in wide-release. I have known about this movie for over 7 months. It opened in limited release (NY & LA) in December 2012.

The movie needs no introduction. It’s about the events that led up to Osama Bin Laden’s ultimate demise. The movie is intense, chilling, brutal and mind boggling. There is no sugar-coating here. The actions and events are as real as it gets. The movie shows excellent timelines and is very well executed. Jessica Chastain is superb!! Two hours and thirty seven minutes go by quickly.

My only complaint is I wish the ending had been a few minutes longer.

Bravo to Director Kathryn Bigelow for giving us the real deal. The movie was worth the wait, hype and all of the Oscar nominations it received. If it does not win any Oscars I will be angry.

If you have a weak stomach, do not go see “Zero Dark Thirty”.

If you like Action, Suspense and Thrills this is YOUR movie.

Django Unchained

In the “Deep South” 2 years before the Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave with a brutal history. Along comes German born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz who purchases Django and then frees him. Dr. King Schultz teaches Django how to be a “Bounty Hunter” because he needs Django to lead him to the Brittle Brothers; Django’s former slave owners who happen to be Dr. Schultz’s Bounty. They travel cross country to nab wanted murderers “Dead or Alive”. All the while Django is honing his skills because he wants to get revenge on who ever has his wife Broomhilda.
Django tells Dr. Schultz about his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) who he lost to the slave trade long ago. They find out that Broomhilda is currently living on a very rich slave owner’s plantation. Dr. Schultz devises a plan to purchase her and free her. The story unfolds from there…
Well paced Story, but at times will make you angry. The movie is very intense, brutal and contains lots of action.
“Django Unchained” will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally the movie is very bloody and contains a lot of foul language. “Django Unchained” is probably the most “Brutal” movie that I have ever seen from Director Quentin Tarantino, but is worth the price of admission.

Jack Reacher

In a Pennsylvania city on a quiet day, 5 random people are shot dead. The would-be sniper is quickly apprehended and only utters one name during his interrogation, “Jack Reacher”. Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) is an enigmatic ex-Army Investigator who is very good at what he does. As Jack teams up with the would-be Sniper’s defense attorney (Rosamund Pike). As Jack starts to lay the foundation and put the pieces together it smells and looks like someone was framed and corruption involving a big-time construction company with a lot to lose. The story unfolds from there…
Tom Cruise plays a very good tough guy and will remind you of a younger Clint Eastwood in his “Hey Days”.
The movie is brisk with plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. It’s one of those “You think you have it Figured Out” type of movies, but you will find out you are wrong. Tom Cruise looks good, he definitely worked out in preparation for this movie.
“Jack Reacher” is worth the price of admission.

Killing Them Softly

Have you ever gone to an amusement park, gotten on a ride and then wished you could get off the ride after is started, but once it was going it didn’t seem so bad. This is how “Killing Them Softly” seemed to me. During the first 35 minutes I wanted to leave the theater, but something made me stay and I am sort of glad I did.
“Killing Them Softly” is about a high stakes poker game involving 16 people who are robbed by some amateur thugs. Unfortunately the thugs rob the wrong people. One of the poker players calls in a cool, calm killer-for-hire (Brad Pitt) to take care of all who were involved with planning and executing the robbery. The story unfolds from there.
“Killing Them Softly” is brutal, intense and dark. There is nothing “Soft” about the movie. “Killing Them Softly”; appears to have been shot on a small budget, but has some really nice special effects and camera angles.

Skyfall

Sean Connery will always be James Bond to me. He set the standard for all other Bond impersonators who came after him. Although in this latest installment of the Bond Franchise, Daniel Craig runs a very close second to Sean Connery. The James Bond you see in “Skyfall” is “Shaken not Stirred”. He has such a cool facade you wonder if anything gets to him.
In this installment of the Bond Franchise, James Bond and M (Judi Dench) find themselves the targets of a sadistic killer who will stop at nothing to get to “M”. Additionally James Bond’s current assignment goes terribly wrong and all of the real identities of the undercover agents for Her Majesty’s Service have been compromised. Bond must stop the person from leaking all of the identities before the agents are harmed and keep “M” safe. The story unfolds from there…
Lots of action and violence, the movie at times is intense, dark and sensual. Although there are some slow parts, the movie will easily hold your attention. New faces appear for “Money Penny” and “Q”.
“Skyfall” is probably Daniel Craig’s best work as 007. Definitely worth the ticket if you are a James Bond fan.

Premium Rush

Bike Messenger Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) spends his day dodging pedestrians, cars, open car doors, buses, taxis and delivery trucks throughout New York City’s roadways as he makes “Premium Rush” deliveries. His last delivery of the day seems to be no big deal, just deliver an envelope to an address in China Town. What appears to be routine is anything but.

As part of Wilee’s job he is not to release his delivery until he gives it to the recipient. Wilee finds himself being chased by a NYPD Detective who wants the contents of the envelope that Wilee is carrying and he will do anything to get it. The story unfolds from there…

Kudos to “Premium Rush”! It’s a HUGH adrenaline rush, non-stop action and dare devil speeding bicycles traveling thru New York City!! You will get a “Rush” just watching the movie. The bikes in the movie appear to have no brakes. “Premium Rush” is a decent end-of-the-summer escapism. The movie was well put together and there is some intrigue, a bit of suspense and some surprises.

The paid critics gave “Premium Rush” high marks! It’s definitely worth a look.

The Expendables 2

The testostrone loaded, intense, action-packed mercenaries known as “The Expendables” are back!! They have increased the size of their group thus allowing them to take on assignments that require more of their special skills.
Mr Church (Bruce Willis) enlists Barney (Sylvester Stallone) and his crew “The Expendables” to take on what seems to be a very easy job of recovering a computer device that is locked in a safe aboard a plane that has crashed somewhere in China. “The Expendables” easily retrieve the computer device and were on their way to leaving the area, but unbeknownst to them they were followed to the plane crash site by a group known as the “Huns”. The story unfolds from there..
“The Expendables 2” is a blast!! It’s “Action Packed”, “In your face Bloody Violence” and “High Energy”. The movie opens with an involved action scene, followed by another and another until you get to the end where they saved the best for last.
Of Course the entire story is perposterous, but it’s fun anyway. There are some holes in the story and a few unfinished scenes. There is a lot of jumping around, but I am sure because of time this was necessary.
If you saw the first installment “The Expendables” in 2010, you will understand the jumping around. Sylvester Stallone is the screen writer on “The Expendables” movies he makes you assume some things to save time.
The paid critics were all over the map on this movie. I think as an “Action/Adventure” it should receive high marks

The Bourne Legacy

I have been waiting since early 2010 for “The Bourne Legacy”. It was first believed that Matt Damon was going to once again reprise his role as Jason Bourne, but because Director Paul Greengrass retired, Matt Damon said if Paul did not direct “The Bourne Legacy” he would not return. This left Tony Gilroy the writer on all of the previous installments to either get another director or do it himself.

It’s been 5 years since “The Bourne Ultimatum” hit theaters. It was believed that Jason Bourne was dead.

“The Bourne Legacy” centers around another “Rogue Enhanced” CIA Agent by the name of “Cross”. Agent Cross is on the run. He runs out of meds and locates what he believes is a “Safe House” in the wilderness.

Back at CIA Headquarters it’s believed that Jason Bourne is alive and in New York. A rumor is spread and this causes chaos and an all out manhunt starts. Meanwhile Agent Cross is trying to elude being killed by the CIA also while trying to get to the research institute or locate the Doctor he received his supply of meds from. The story unfolds from there…

The problem with “The Bourne Legacy” is that Jeremy Renner lacks the charisma that Matt Damon brought to the franchise. Matt Damon has magnetism and Jeremy Renner does not. Jeremy Renner is bland and stiff to say the least. The plot is complicated and difficult to decipher. There wasn’t nearly as much action as the other 3 installments. Too much time is spent referring to previous installments with regards to Jason Bourne. In addition to Matt Damon not returning, neither did Julia Stiles. Had Julia returned it would have been a big help for “The Bourne Legacy”. Actors from the 3 previous installments reprised their roles if only briefly. “The Bourne Legacy” really felt like a different story and not related to the other 3 installments.

“The Bourne Legacy” with all of it’s faults is still better then “Total Recall”. My concern is that the door was left open for additional installments. Universal Pictures would be wise to get Matt Damon back!! I can’t imagine Jeremy Renner as Agent Cross again.

Drawbacks: Violence and Action Sequences

This is a Action Adventure Film, If you like this type of movie ENJOY”!!

The Paid Critics gave this movie 3 stars. I agree.