Tag: Josh Brolin

The Running Man in AMC Dolby

The Running Man in AMC Dolby

In a near future society, The Running Man TV Show is the top-rated show on Television. It’s a show of survival, not surviving is not an option because if you don’t survive the 30 days necessary you are dead. The participating contestants are Runners that are hunted by Assassins on live broadcast TV. This does not deter people from wanting to sign up. Contestants still line up to take the required tests to see if they will pass because the millions of dollars that can be made represent a “Way Out” to a better life.  

Ben Richards (Glen Powell) needs a better life for his family. His baby daughter is sick and the prescription medication is unaffordable. So, Ben is determined to get on “The Running Man” TV Show. He believes he can survive the 30-day requirement. The story unfolds from there…

The movie starts off great. The execution is on point and then half way through the movie the story derails. It does pick up again, but by that time the movie is almost over and some of the scenes are ridiculous. There is tons of action and intrigue. The movie is very bloody at times.

Unfortunately, Edgar Wright’s The Running Man does not live up to its predecessor or the action extravaganza that was displayed in the trailers.

If you saw the first Running Man from the 80’s, this installment is worth a look.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Weapons

Weapons

This is a special edition of Thursday Night at the Movies with The Movie Warrior!!

It’s been 8 or 9 years since I have gone to the movies on a Thursday night.

“Weapons” was not on my original “Watch List”, but when a couple of co-workers mentioned it and asked why I had not reviewed it, I had to look it up and then once I saw a trailer, I decided I would give it a look. I don’t generally do Horror Movies anymore because I just don’t have the stomach for them.

“Weapons” is not your ordinary Horror Flick… 

Strange thing… When all but one child from the same class mysteriously disappears on the same night, it causes all kinds of chaos, finger pointing, accusations and questions as to who or what is behind this disappearance. A Community is torn. The story unfolds from there…

The story is executed brilliantly! I was shocked! Yes, it’s a Horror movie, a bit scary and bloody at times, but not your garden variety type of Horror. There were tons of edge of your seat suspense and intrigue right up to the end. There were a lot of big elements in the movie. It gives new meaning to the Horror Genre. “Weapons” is definitely worth seeing.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Dune Part 2 In IMAX

Dune Part 2 In IMAX

Dune Part 2 explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Paul soon faces a choice of the love of his life or the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can see. The story unfolds from there…

“EPIC” is the word for Dune Part 2.  The movie was shot in IMAX and its best seen in IMAX. You will definitely feel every ride, storm, Combat, monsters etc…, throughout the movie. The World of Dune remains complex and you will see that throughout the movie. This is definitely a Blockbuster. It’s been a while since we have had one of those. The visuals are outstanding. It’s NOT CGI Heavy, but does get the job done. The action is suspenseful as expected. This is one of those rare times when the Sequel is a bit better than the first Installment.

Sci-Fi Fans you should RUN, not Walk to see Dune Part 2 in IMAX.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

Dune

Dune

In this first of two installments of “Dune” we learn of a young man who is born into a destiny not of his choosing but is forced to do whatever is necessary to save the future of his family and his planet. In order to do this, he must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe and fight while overcoming his own fears to survive. The story unfolds from there…

 Wow! What a visual. The movie is a bit cumbersome in some areas, but that does not take away from the story. The execution of the saga is on point and the casting is AWESOME! Some of the desert scenes reminded me of the 2015 Blockbuster “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “Desert Dirt Flying…”. This is the first of 2 Dune movies and I am excited for the conclusion.

“Dune” is in Theaters and Streaming on HBO MAX until Nov 21st.

It’s best seen on the big screen!

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Sicario: Day of Soldado

“Sicario: Day of Soldado” starts a new chapter in the continuation of the first installment “Sicario”. The team is faced with a new battle in the ongoing drug wars where there are no rules and regulations. Everything and everyone is fair game. The team has been tracking the Mexican Cartel who has been trafficking terrorist across the border into the US.

In an attempt to get to the Cartel, Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) calls on his old buddy Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) whose family was murdered by a Drug Cartel Kingpin to help the team escalate the war between the Mexican Cartels. The story unfolds from there…

There is never a dull moment in “Sicaro: Day of Soldado”. The movie is bloody and “In-your-face” violent. As long as the story stays true to its self, everything is fine, but there are a few detours that throw the movie a bit off track and that is why it’s not quite as thrilling as the first installment, but none the less it’s worth seeing as there are a few surprises at the end.

This is a 3 Star Movie!!

Deadpool 2

Deadpool is one of the lesser known Marvel Universe characters. His antics and “In Your Face” verbiage is at times very offensive and very foul.

Wade Wilson (Deadpool) must bring together a team of fellow rogue mutants to protect a young boy who possesses supernatural abilities from the brutal time-traveling mutant called “Cable”. What Wade Wilson (Deadpool) learns is that “Cable” is not the only person that he must keep away from the young boy. The story unfold from there…

“Deadpool 2” is foul. The action, language and intensity is “In Your Face” offensive. There are some really cool stunts. The movie is really bloody and the language is not appropriate for young children under 15.

This installment starts off slow. It takes a while to get to something meaningful. At first I found myself bored, but half way through the movie things picked up and finished with a flourish.

I am a HUGH Marvel Universe fan but, as of right now I am not sure I would see another Deadpool installment. “Deadpool” is not one of my favorite Marvel characters. I did not really enjoy this second installment.

See “Deadpool 2” at your own risk.

This is a 2 ½ Star Movie!!

Hail Caesar!

“Hail Caesar!” was not on my original watch list but, I decided to give it a look.

The Oscar winning filmmakers the Coen Brothers are back with a Star-Studded Golden Aged Comedy. Unfortunately I did not find anything golden about the movie.

The story is centered-around a typical day in the life of a “Studio Fixer”, but what you see is anything but typical and I can’t imagine that everything that goes on could have possibly happened in 24 hours. There are so many problems that even Olivia Pope from the ABC hit Scandal couldn’t possibly fix them all without a cast of thousands.

The movie starts off ok, but goes down-hill fast. There were too many stories and sub plots, so the movie is all over the place and no place. At one point I was bored out of my mind. I sat there thinking how could they have this many heavy weight actors and the movie be so boring. Don’t get me wrong there were some funny scenes, but not enough to be entertaining. I did not find George Clooney funny at all.

The paid critics said that “Hail Caesar!” was “Fresh”. I say its “Stale”.

This is a 2 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!

Gangster Squad

Set in 1949 Los Angeles, “Gangster Squad” is about the Brooklyn mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). Mickey Cohen runs the show in Los Angeles and he wants everyone to know it. He has judges and cops in his back pocket and believes he is untouchable, but along comes a few of LA’s finest that he doesn’t have in his pocket and they decide to form a squad to take Mickey and his gang down once and for all. The story unfolds from there…
This is based on a true story. The timeline is good, but the story is a bit choppy. Things bounce around a bit and at times don’t quite make sense. The ensemble of actors is good. The right people were picked. Sean Penn is very good as Mickey Cohen; although at times he does not come across as menacing as he should have.
I love Josh Brolin and he does an excellent job of leading the charge, but alas something is missing. The movie does not hold as much excitement as the previews lead you to believe.
The original opening date for this movie was September 2012, but it was moved to January 2013 and I am not sure why.
“Gangster Squad” will be good to watch on Blue-Ray or DVD. Wait for it unless you have nothing else to do.