Tag: Matt Damon

The Martian in 3D

I love Matt Damon!! In “The Martian” he does not disappoint!!

A team of NASA Astronauts are on a manned mission on Mars. While members of the team are out performing routine tasks a storm brews in the distance. A quick decision as to whether to stay or go is made in a snap. While packing up and trying to get everyone back to the Space Shuttle to take off, the storm blows some heavy metal debris toward the team members as they are trying to run. Astronaut Watney (Matt Damon) is struck and buried beneath a lot of red dirt and is believed to be dead.

The team takes off and heads back to their Satellite station “Hermes” where they report the tragic incident to NASA officials. A few hours later Astronaut Watney wakes up. He’s badly injured, but very much alive. He gets himself to the team housing quarters and tries to repair his wound. The story unfolds from there…

“The Martian” is nail biting suspenseful, intense, intriguing, entertaining and very well executed. The movie is also moving and of “Epic” proportion. At times the cinematography is breath-taking.

“The Martian” will remind you of Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”.

This “Science Fiction Epic” should not be missed!

This is a 5 Star Movie!

The Monuments Men

George Clooney has done better in the directing department. He should have let Quentin Tarantino or Martin Scorsese direct this. Needless to say I am very disappointed because I had been looking forward to this movie. It’s not even close to my expectations.

Based on a true story, “The Monuments Men” is an action drama/documentary about an unlikely group of men who were tasked by FDR to recover stolen artistic masterpieces from Germany. This movie starts out in Ghent, Belgium and moves on to 1943 France, 1944 France and 1945 Merker, Germany.

The formed unlikely World War II Platoon comes up against unparalleled odds as they find that the art is trapped behind enemy lines. As they are attempting to recover the art, the German army under orders to destroy everything as the Reich fell makes it a difficult task because the “Monuments Men” are more familiar with Michelangelo than they are with the M-1. The story unfolds from there…

The problem with “The Monuments Men” is that it can’t decide if it’s an Action Drama or a Documentary. It’s a good story but told in the most boring fashion. The movie is flat, it drags and the suspense is ho-hum… You might be reminded of an old movie called “The Dirty Dozen”. Think of “The Monuments Men” as a WWII version of A Band-of-Brothers. The Dirty Dozen definitely has way more going for it than “The Monuments Men”.

Elysium

I love Matt Damon and he does not disappoint!!!

This is 2159 and humanity is divided into two worlds; one is earth and the other is a space station called Elysium. If you are fortunate enough to live on Elysium, you will be free of sickness; you will be wealthy and care free. If you live on earth, you are most likely dirty, hungry, struggling to get by and if you are one of the most unfortunate on earth you are plagued with sickness and possibly near death.
Max (Matt Damon) is a working stiff on earth. He works at the major electronics planet. An accident occurs at work that causes Max’s life to hang in the balance. He must get to Elysium for treatment, but they don’t allow many new inhabitants. Max takes on a dangerous mission to get to Elysium. The story unfolds from there…

Bloody is the word of the day for “Elysium”, but none the less the movie is good! There is plenty of action, suspense and intrigue. Jodie Foster is brilliant. The cinematography is excellent.

I believe that if any other cast would have made this movie, it would not be as good as it is.

If you can stand the bloodiness, “Elysium” is a must see!!

Promised Land

The economic decline gives way to a big natural gas company who is trying to secure drilling rights in a small farm town. They send in their corporate sales partners Steve Butler (Matt Damon) and Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) to sway each farmer to sell their land and move. But in swoops what is believed to be an environmentalist to try to sway the town’s folks from selling. The story unfolds from there…
The paid critics were “Luke-warm” about this movie, but I don’t think it’s bad at all. Matt Damon is an excellent actor. He will make you believe in his character. The movie is a bit slow, but all of the pieces do come together in a surprise ending.
If you are a Matt Damon fan “Promised Land” is worth a look.

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.