Change Your Image
jordondave-28085
Reviews
The Yellow Birds (2017)
When war can be embellished
(2017) The Yellow Birds
WAR/ DRAMA
Adapted from the novel by Kevin Powers, that has Pvt Daniel Murphy (Tye Sheridan) in bar noticing a young lady dancing at a bar noticing him, and his army peer attempting to motivate him to go up to her and ask her until explosions are heard and an alarm begins to sound. And both and Murphy then go for cover, arm themselves to run back out and participate in firing back. After that has come and gone, Murphy is then making fast friends with Pvt, Bartle (Alden Ehrenreich) as the Sgt Garret Sterling (Jack Huston) of the unit paired them up with one another. As viewers assume Murphy is the star of the movie, since we are then introduced to his mom, Maureen Murphy (Jennifer Anistan) and so forth the movie then observes her son's slow mental deterioration. At which point some time halfway during the movie, Bartle comes back home from duty with no mention of Daniel Murphy also coming home at all. And when Bartle comes home and sees his mom, Amy Bartle (Toni Collette), he devoid any type of celebration as it was obvious he wanted to be left alone- including seeing and meeting his love interest. Some time during the following week CID Captain Anderson (Jason Patric) then stops by at the mom's place to meet her son and at that point viewers suspect something odd has happened as he came back but his best friend, Daniel Murphy had not. For the movie uses flashbacks from what happened between back then and the present time while Bartle is trying to overcome his guilt, we can only only suspect without any judgement.
I did not like, love this movie but I get the message that war in general is just as ambigouous as the wild west The ending of the movie provided a lot of thought in regarding what is the truth and what isn't!
¿Quién grita venganza? (1968)
I did not care the way with the direction toward the end
(1968) Dead Men Don't Count/ ¿Quién grita venganza? DUBBED
SPAGHETTI WESTERN.
It opens with a betrayal of a wife to her husband to be with her husband's best friend, Steve Rogers. She does this by signaling Steve with a mirror while he is high on the mountains before he shoots him down. The next scene then introduces us to two best friends who happens to be bounty hunters by the name of Fred Danton and Johnny taking on a bunch of wanted men. Their next stop is a town called Blackstone, until one them spots one of the wanted men on the poster by the name of Anderson Todd in the saloon. And by the time he is captured and is brought in for the intention of collecting the reward, the sheriff then asks them to hang around in town until he can find the money for the reward.
Violence (1947)
Of a short running time of a hour and 12 minutes this movie is not bad
(1947) Violence
CRIME DRAMA
Co-produced and directed by Jack Bernhard that has two men beating up a guy name Joe Donahue (Jimmy Clark) for some information before he is killed and murdered. All this ruckus was happening down inside a basement, and it appears that Fred Stalk (Sheldon Leonard) gives out orders while the person who does all the beatings his name is "Joker'(Peter Whitney), both of them are working for a wannabe politician, True Dawson (Emory Parnell) as he has just finished speaking on front of a group of war veterans. As they are interacting with the secretary, Ann Mason (Nancy Coleman) before True Dawson come out and takes him into a private office. We then find out that the guy both Fred and Joker had just murdered, Troy Donahue apparently used to work for the True Dawson campaign until he did some investigating of his own. And that Tony was able to uncover some incriminating dirt on the candidate True Dawson, the reason why he was murdered so that this info cannot get out. And during them discussing matters, is when Ann the secretary walks in to discuss her departure to visit friends in Chicago. We find out later by the time we see her at her apartment that she too is also investigating True Dawson's shady past for a magazine called "View" for an editor, Ralph Borden (Pierre Watkin).
Things takes a turn for the worse as soon as Ann comes off from the Chicago airport and she notices someone following her and she asks the driver to lose him. And gets into an accident that causes her to lose her memory wondering her purpose to visit Chicago in the first place. We are then introduced to another person, claiming to be her fiance who happens to be a war veteran himself, Steve Fuller (Michael O'Shea). And upon Ann return back to LA with Steve at her side, she very slowly begins to recount what happened as well as her purpose including her role as a secretary. And it is not long, Steve is doing some sleuthing himself, he does this by discovering a letter addressed with Joe Donahue's name on it. And of course, he also associates himself with Fred and his brute Joker after working for the True Dawson campaign called the "United Defenders". It becomes complicated when Joe Donahue's wife, Sally Donahue (Cay Forester) shows up looking for her husband and Ann gets involves her self in her husband's disappearance.
With a short running time of an hour and 12 minutes, this movie is not bad if not for the predictable scenes their is a happy ending.
The Boat (2018)
Another head scratcher of a movie that makes less sense more it is thought about
(2018) The Boat
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER HORROR
Co-produced, co-written and directed by Winston Azzopardi that has seni- fisherman (Joe Azzopardi) showcasing a one man performance of him going out to sea with his little motorboat for intention of catching some fish. Only for him to stumble onto an actual sailboat called the "Aeolus", and he would then investigate it for other passengers, but as soon as he comes back out, his row boat with a motor on goes missing. Everything appear to be in good working order, as he uses the CB radio to call for an SOS for another nearby vessel. All goes downhill from there as soon as he locks himself in the bathroom or that the sailboat itself locks the character Joe Azzopardi inside the bathroom. Just when a nearby ship ping vessel shows up, creating a whole bunch of problems, such as flooding. And by the time the movie got to the end, the movie made even less sense as it was trying to tell us something without any explanation whatsoever.
Actor Joe Azzopardi showcasing an one man performance for It is like, throughout the entire movie, I do not recall ever seeing him ever eat a single thing throughout the entire movie. And by the time the movie made it to the end, the movie made even less sense for I ended up asking more questions than I got answers. I don't understand the purpose this supposedly possessed sailboat landed the Joe Azzopardi placed him in this what appear to be an abandoned island/ town or on some alternate not visited area or location. Anyways the movie was way too convenient for my tastes for the things that happened the way that it did!
Vsichni dobrí rodáci (1969)
Eventual authoritarian in Czechoslovakian
(1969) All My Good Countrymen/ Vsichni dobrí rodáci
(In Czech with English subtitles)
WAR DRAMA/ SOCIAL COMMENTARY
Produced, written and directed by Vojtech Jasný which it opens after WWII that showcases two young boys rummaging through a pile of weapons presumed to be left behind until they found a pair of hand guns the boys liked and begin to play with them. We then meet a somewhat of an overweight man, Lithby going through other piles of abandoned war stuff, and he happens to help himself to some of those items, and upon him driving home, he is then gets shot at from the two boys. Shooting off the hat he had on his head, he replaces it with another one. We are then introduced to a tailor, Franta Lampa (Václav Babka) tending to his gardening until we then see those two young boys again targeting him. And after he was being shot at, he then manages to catch up to them and grab their pistols from them. These are some of the eccentric characters from this particular village including a delivery postman, Frantisek (Radoslav Brzobohatý) who is often making out with his love interest (Vera Galatíková) to which they would evntually get married down the line. It is the start of a small glimpse of what a little war can lead toward authoritarian to which laws are imposed toward others without realizing it.
Denounced by Russian that can be a good thing except that some of the singing scores are not too inspiring.
Kazdy den odvahu (1964)
Reminsicent to "Saturday Night Sunday Morning"
(1964) Courage For Every Day/ K a z d y den o d v a h u
(In Czech with English subtitles)
DRAMA. SOCIAL COMMENTARY
Co written and directed by Evald Schorm that has warehouse worker,delník Jarda Lukas (Jan Kacer) or Jarout for short narrating his daily routine. He first meets before he makes out with long time girl friend, Vera (Jana Brejchová) in her rental apartment. Before she is then visited by the lady landlord, Byata (Olga Scheinpflugová) while corresponding with the senior tenant, Eduard Mrázek (Václav Trégl) who lives below her. And apparently Vera is not supposed to have J a r o u t in her little apartment, and she often sneaks him in anyway. On the following morning while J a r o u t is working, he is then visited by a journalist (Vlastimil Brodský) conducting random interviews we first notice a group of older teenagers following direction by a smut teenager, Borek (Josef Krames ) is also interviewed as well. With the help of the journalist's wife, O l i n a (Jirina Jiráskova) she often be the only one who appears to be the one who drives her husband around and they offer to drive Jarout, sometimes are dining or drinking beer with each other.
While watching this, is reminiscent to the Czechoslovakia equivalent of Saturday Night Sunday Morning" and that is sufficient enough.
Cold in July (2014)
Leaves with more questions than answers
(2014) Cold in July
CRIME DRAMA
Adapted from the novel by Joe R. Lansdale co-written and directed by Jim Mickle that opens with family man, Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall) and his wife, Ann Dane (Vanessa Shaw) accidentally woken up in the middle of the night by an intruder. He then manages to shoot the intruder dead, police show up and inform him that he was a known criminal by the name of Freddy Russell. At this point, it's appears to look like the father, Ben Russell (Sam Shephard) of the deceased after he just got off prison is seeking retribution for his son's death. But the story then takes a strange turn, is when Richard decides to visit the Sgt, Ray Price (Nick Damici) in charge of the investigation one day. And he spots an actual photo what Freddy Russell was supposed to look like, and he tells Sgt Ray Price that he was not the person he had shot. And then on one of those nights, Richard decides to go out and he spots Sgt Ray Price and his deputies attempting to make Be Russell's death appear to look like an unfortunate accident by drugging him pour alcohol over him leaving him on the train tracks.
One of the problems I have with this movie is the fact at the first hour I thought it was about exposing dirty or corrupt cops, but as the movie continues further it went into the illegal racket Ben's son, Freddie Russell was involved in. Leaving viewers wondering whether the corrupt cops were ever held liable for they have done! Viewers are also left in the dark the identify of the person who broke into Richard's household! The movie ends with sequence that can be compared to "Taxi Driver", Rolling Thunder" and "Vincent and Theo" to name a few.
Pushover (1954)
Love the first half but do not care too much about the second
(1954) Pushover
CRIME THRILLER
Adapted from the novel by Brady Corbet and Bill S. Ballinger to which the first few minutes is reminiscent to another bank heist movie released a year after called "Rififi" to which there is hardly any dialogue spoken during a successful bank robbery that involves two people, leaving one officer killed. Later, we then see a young attractive blonde lady, Lona(Kim Novak) leaving the theater. And when she could not start up her car, Paul (Fred McMurray) conveniently then shows up and it happens they both came from the same theater. By the time he drives her to his apartment waiting until he got his car fixed, they would then spend time with one another. On the following morning, we are then see Ltd Carl Ecstrom (E. G. Marshall) as he in charge of the case of #1 retrieving the money the 2 bank robbers had stolen #2 to capture one of the two bank robbers, we finally find out one of them his name is Harry Wheeler (Paul Richards) as he is working with other authorities. And it was sometime during this point, Paul walks in and we find out he is intentionally sent to meet Lona to be on the inside to find out the whereabouts of Harry Wheeler as she is supposed to his girlfriend. Also included are authorities keeping an eye on her while living across from her apartment complex. And it is not long before Lona figures out who he actually is, and he falls in love with her, complicating the investigation.
I love the first half, particularly the line when Paul mentions about the money may be dirty, and she responds "Money isn't dirty, just people!" It just goes down in a downward spiral when Paul the officer jeopardizes or compromises the investigation as soon he falls in love with her, to which detectives never considered that to be a possibility throughout the entire movie. Reminiscent to the set up to be familiar to another Fred MacMurray movie called Double Indemnity released back in 1944 to which his character an insurance salesman falls over another lady played by Barbara Stanwyk!
The Sleepwalker (2014)
Quite unsatisfactory movie expereince
(2014) The Sleepwalker
PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA
Co-written and directed by Mona Fastvold that has girlfriend, Kaia ( Gitte Witt) arriving to a house to help out her boyfriend, Andrew (Christopher Abbott). And as we see her get undress to change into her work clothes, viewers should be able to notice some of the scarring of burn marks on the side of her rib cage as she goes to help out her boyfriend. And then it was at this point some time during the night, Kaiea is woken up by a simple phone call. And it turns out to be her sister, Christine (Stephanie Ellis) or Chris for short asking her to come and pick her up at the train station. And that the house both Kaiea and her boyfriend, Andrew happens to be working on also happens to be the house where her and Christine used to grow up in. And that besides notifying her she is pregnant from her husband, from a guy name Ira (Brady Corbet) when Christine was young that she burned a portion of the house which also includes the garage. We also find out that "the Sleepwalker" as the movie says is in reference to Christine who she does not know what she is doing when she sleepwalks. And it was at this point, Kaiea invites Ira to stay with for a few days, with her boyfriend disapproving of the suggestion. Leading the family to re-open some open wounds about what used to happen and why!
The end of the movie kind of ends on an ambiguous note when a certain somebody goes missing that is reminiscent to the 1960 movie "L Avventura" leaving viewers with questions than answers in an unsatisfactory kind of way!
The Visitors (1972)
Reminiscent to a play about the scars of the Vietnam war
(1972) The Visitors
WAR DRAMA
Somewhat controversial subject matter that centers on common law couple, Bill Schmidt (James Woods) and Martha Wayne (Patricia Joyce) with their young baby Hal. While Martha's dad, Harry Wayne (Patrick McVey) lives next door, we find out is a Western novelist. And just when Bill decides to leave on the following morning on a drive to grab the newspaper, two people show up we find out used to belong to the same army regiment as Bill and wanted to see him or "The Visitors" hence the title. Their names are Antonio Rodriguez (Chico Martínez) or Tony for short and Sgt. Mike Nickerson (Steve Railsback). And as the movie is progressing we find out both Tony and Mike used to be court martialed by one of their own regimen Bill, and it was at this point their motives for showing up at Bill's residence is ambiguous.
Maine (2018)
not much happens if one does not mind tagging along with a couple of hikers
(2018) Maine
DRAMA
Written and directed by Mathew Brown that showcases three people at a hiking trip through Maine, only on the following morning one of them leaves. Leaving just Bluebird (Laia Costa) and Lake (Thomas Mann) to hike by themselves, stumbling onto a a rest stop with a cabin meeting other hikers before they go their merry way! And we learn more about the both of them as the movie is progressing such as Bluebird is originally Spanish and that she may have been married her hiking partner, Lake already knows about.
Some of the interesting things shown on this film are the ritual of the hike itself, that involves the hikers themselves using nicknames or hiking names that is not their own. Just like the two central characters of Bluebird and Lake are not their original names something they call each other as well as other hikers. The few other hikers they have met along the way they have met Hex, Dragon and Flop and then met a young lady name Eliza. Before they meet Cheese and Hermes, and then somewhere along the way, it just was not interesting anymore.
Echo Effect (2015)
Michael Jai White is god but this movie does nothing for him
(2015) Chain of Command/ Echo Effect
ACTION THRILLER.
Co written and directed by Kevin Carraway that has James/ Jimmy Webster (Michael Jai White) celebrating his homecoming from duty with his older brother, Walter/ Walt Webster (Ken Early) and with friends. During this moment that should be a celebration, James notices his brother is having some problems while talking on his phone and tries to involve himself in his brother's affairs without success. On the following morning, he is then informed that his brother is dead. And after retrieving some of his brothers items, each one of his military friends either ends up murdered or discovered dead. And James goes on an investigation rant leaving him with the only clue of the name, Bill O'Brien (Carter Bratton). Meanwhile, a former special ops himself, Ray Peters (Steve Austin) going on a pursuit and is apparently part of a group of thugs/ syndicate involve in the shipping of narcotics from overseas. Part of a military ops group that also includes,supposedly one of Walt or Jimmy's friends, LT Bob Ross (Max Ryan) working for the main boss, Ted Bomber (Ken Strunk) all involved in the recovery of 40 million dollars that was stolen from them. Viewers also discover the man who did most of the murders that also includes James brother, Walt we find out is an agent, Hammond (Charles Page).
All this is, in terms of plot device is the less than equivalent of "Lethal Weapon" that involves special ops going rogue to start up their won criminal syndicate with the only difference is that it involves the recovery of millions of dollars. Upon watching this film sometimes appears that it was made on a whim. The investigator involve in the case of solving James murder is almost worthless or non existent.
För att inte tala om alla dessa kvinnor (1964)
Unfunny, boring and too long
(1964) All These Women
(In Swedish with English subtitles)
COMEDY DRAMA FANTASY
Co-written and directed by Ingmar Bergman that has several ladies attending at a funeral of an infamous cello maestro artist, Villa Tremolo. At this point, viewers were never shown what he actually looked like other than he was an known person. Next we're then introduced to his biographer, Cornelius (Jarl Kulle) who's obviously there as comic relief. As we find out more about all the women in his life before his unfortunate passing from his mistresses, his multiple wives and the maids and butlers to which if anyone were to find the humor in this, there is nothing like that here.
Bergman's first color film and is the seventh of thirteen movies Bibi Anderson worked with Ingmar Bergman!
Rain Fall (2009)
The lesser equivalent of the Jason Borne movies
(2009) Rain Fall
THRILLER/ DRAMA ACTION
Adapted by the novel by Barry Eisler, co-written and directed by Max Mannix that has John Rain (Kippei Shîna) being sought over because of past experiences for he is considered as a suspect for some killings that may have been tied to him. The person in charge for the operation is CIA William Holtzer (Gary Olman). Meanwhile, a guy named Yasuhiro Kawamura (Takeo Nakahara) had just stolen incriminating information by downloading it from an intelligence computer. He is then followed, and upon him leaving the subway, he is then murdered with the flashdrive gone missing. Suspected to have taken the drive is John Rain we find out more about his life as he used to be a part of Special forces mumble jumble. He too is looking for the drive and involves Yasuhiro Kawamura daughter, Midori Kawamura (Kyoko Hasegawa) to retract where it could have been hidden.
The lesser equivalent of the Jason Bourne movies with less action and less suspense and more dramatical moments such as the moments John Rain corresponds with the daughter is quite lame!
Angel Unchained (1970)
Hated the ambiguous ending
(1970) Angel Unchained
SOCIAL COMMENTARY DRAMA/ ACTION
Produced, co written and directed by Lee Madden from American International pictures responsible for a number of low caliber unmemorable biker movies this happens to be one of them. It stars Angel (Don Stroud) along with his motorcycle gang waiting for a brawl with another rival gang at an empty carnival fair. And during the brawl, Angel happens to spot his best friend, Pilot (Larry Bishop) is in trouble and he saves him, and it was at this point police cars start showing up and everyone runs with both Angel and Pilot escaping together. And during their private moment hiding in one of the empty train compartments, Angel then hands over his boss jacket reigns over to Pilot for the intention of experiencing something different. And by the time Angel reaches to the next town with only a single sheriff, it was during then he witnesses discrimination. Which as soon as he takes his gas from the only gas station in the town, and by the time some hippies show up to fill up is when men with cowboy hats step in to prevent them to take any. Angel with the owners dismay then steps in to fill up their Dodge A100 anyway. And as a result of this good gesture, Angle is then invited by both the driver and the lady passenger to come and join their commune. The leader of the commune his name is Tremaine (Luke Askew) and it is not long before Angel falls in love with the commune members, Merilee (Tyne Daly). And it is not long before there are harassed by the men wearing cowboy hats riding their dune buggies and wrecking their compound/ garden. During this scuffle, Angel manages to injure one of them with a pitch fork, we find out are lead by Tom (Jordan Rhodes) and his best friend, Dave (Peter Lawrence). And during the commune's meeting they then try to convince Angel to involve his biker members as protection, but angel resists. One can pretty much be able to predict what happens next with disastrous results that makes no sense whatsoever leaving viewers with another ambiguous ending.
Samira's dream (Ndoto Ya Samira) (2022)
One student's journey to be a teacher despite the hurdles
(2022) Samira's Dreams (Ndoto Ya Samira)
(In Swahili with English subtitles)
DOCUMENTARY
Documentary filmmaker Nino Tropiano stumbles onto an ambitious student, Samira and he decides to document her journey through a time span of seven years to become a certified teacher. From studying with her best friend, Shamsa to how she met and married her husband Mohomed to how she was able to handle her brothers and sisters as her dad had affairs with three different women.
What is interesting about this is Samira's culture and barriers she has to go through to get through to her studies to which she has barely passed as opposed to some of her peers who eventually give up and get married instead. Her studies also required money she often needs to ask her father for sometimes.
The Phantom Empire (1987)
Low budget rendition of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "The Land of Time Forgot" "
(1987) The Phantom Empire
SCIENCE-FICTION ADVENTURE
Co-written and directed by Fred Olen Ray that has the daughter of a paleontologist, Denae Chambers (Susan Stokey) employing the services of a struggling PI, Cort Eastman (Ross Hagen) and his female tomboy partner, Eddie (Dawn Wildsmith) to pursue for a priceless neckless that was supposed to be a legend. And after negotiating a deal, he first needed to retrieve a map from another former explorer who used to be a part of the "Reichman" group, and this person was the only survivor who happens to have a drawn out map. By the time Denea arrives to Cort and Eddie meeting place, he then introduces to two other people, mineralogist, Professional Artemis Strock (Robert Quarry) and a young archeologist, Andrew Paris (Jeffrey Combs) to join in on their expedition through the cave! Along the way they eventually stumble onto a prehistoric woman, they nickname her Cave bunny (Michelle Bauer)
A few things, at the opening a man is killed by one the cave mutant dwellers who are supposed to be like cannibals. Killing a small dog and a woman's husband, and all of this was happening in the sunlight. Then as the movie continued further, it was soon revealed they were supposed to be afraid of the light that also includes flashlights, contradicting what happened at the opening. Despite the phony looking costumes, the gore effects look fake as well.
1990: I guerrieri del Bronx (1982)
Watchabke mess that is inconsistent
(1982) 1990: The Bronx Warriors/ 1990: I guerrieri del Bronx
DUBBED
SCIENCE-FICTION ACTION
Co-written and directed by Enzo G. Castellari directing an apocalypse movie that is a cross between "Escape From New York" made one year earlier and "The Warriors" that has a young lady, Ann ( Stefania Girolami) escaping to the Bronx as it has now become a cessppol for criminals as governments label the area as unlawful, blocking it from the rest of the city. She is running away from something except viewers are oblivious from what. She is then cornered by a gang of roller skaters until another rival gang but with motorcycles called "The Riders" led by Trash (Mark Gregory) who wears an elbow pad with spikes on his elbows and he ends up saving her. By the time The Riders head back home, they find of their own men dead by the waterfront. It is then revealed that it was another rival gang that did it, called "The Tigers" but this time they show with cars this time, much of them are similar to the Ford coupe vehicles, they are led by "The Ogre" (Fred Williamson). And upon The Riders and The Tigers gang facing one another, Trash then walks up to speak to "The Ogre car, he suggests to him that he may be a spy as a gizmo had been discovered on him. The gizmo the movie is referring about is the listening device, and they both then go on their merry way. While The Riders are hanging around on their resort, a man with a shotgun, Hannah (Vic Morrow) guns two people before he runs away. It turns out he was sent over to the Bronx to retrieve Ann. We find out Ann is an important person which as soon as she turns 18, she'll be in charge of the "Manhattan Corporation", part of the reason why government officials are after her. He does with the help of a trucker, Hot Dog (Christopher Connelly). Complicating matters is when Ann gets kidnapped by a rival gang at the opening we find out are called "The Zombies" as Hannah manages to convince one of Trash's members to conspire with him.
Les lettres portugaises (2014)
It belongs more on stage than it does on screen
(2014) Letters of a Portuguese Nun/ Les lettres portugaises
(In French with English subtitles)
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Associate produced, co-written and directed by Bruno François-Boucher that stars Ségolène Point in a one person performance as if she is on stage, but in this case she enters into a monastery dresses up as a nun reciting actual letters discovered from 1669 we find out her name is Mariana Alcoforado. And although the nun's lover/ soldier, Noël de Chamilly (Nicolas Herman) is shown, he does not have an actual role other than he often writes back to her. At some point we also find out he does not even read the letters she sends him, he just sticks them into a drawer while she pleads her heart out. Then it is like, at the end it was soon revealed that a portion of her actual letters were lost at sea, she is also seen burning a letter a or two. Meaning that if some of the letters were either burned or destroyed, how were historians know what was said. It belongs more on a stage than it does on screen.
Last Seen Alive (2022)
Had more questions than answers!
(2022) Last Seen Alive
SUSPENSE THRILLER
Despite the happy ending, the movie is very relative that delves on familiar territory such as "The Vanishing" from 1988 and 1997 "Breakdown" to name a few. Co-produced and starring Gerald Butler, he plays real estate developer, Will Spann along with his wife, Lisa (Jaimie Alexander) as they stop by a local gas station before heading to her parents place. As she goes inside the store to use the bathroom, he goes to fill up the gas tank, and upon her coming outside after buying bottled water, she is then not seen again. What happens next is reminiscent of "The Vanishing" and "Breakdown" as Will involves the police with Detective Peterson (Russell Hornsby) in charge of the case. And with rotten luck, after the cashier tells both Will and the detective that the video footage is busted, will suddenly notices that the cashier was lying about it. And he takes it upon himself to confiscate the footage himself. And through flashbacks we then see how their relationship is a little rocky as the detective is pressing on the possible motive. And there first lead after Will rips the receiver from the gas station is that the suspected abductor used to work for them, and that his nickname was Knuckes (Ethan Embry) leaving the why and how does he get his wife back.
One of the problems I had with this movie despite the superficial ending is not so much the ending but the reason for the abduction in the first place that kind of contradict what the bad guys were doing for a living, which they were running a meth lab. Like why would anyone involve in abduction if they are also involve in drug producing! That does not make much sense. It is as if the makers were making the movie as they were going along.
Sniper: Ultimate Kill (2017)
Worthy entertaining Sniper entry
(2017) Sniper: Ultimate Kill
ACTION THRILLER
Someone gets killed by a sniper fire without viewers finding out why except that he was heavily guarded until there was a small opening from a window. Meanwhile, a sniper commits suicide, with both Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins) and his suitor, Richard Miller (Billy Zane) paying their respects to his funeral. He then manages to convince Brandon to visit Columbia for another job.
Upon his arrival, and with his dad, master commander sergeant Thomas Beckett (Tom Berenger) happens to be one of them in charge of the operation in the take down of a known cartel,Jesús Morales (Juan Sebastián Calero) who's been eliminating other cartel rivals by employing the services of an expert sniper, Enrique Quingtera nicknamed as El Diablo (Andrés Felipe Calero). They do this with the help from Columbia's DEA agent, Kate Estrada (Danay García) leading the case in the capturing Morales. Except that one of the obstacles is that their appear to be a mole within the entire operation.
One of the better Sniper movies that moves the story along which although predictable, it also garner some imaginative direction that is unlike other cartel movies of this caliber.
I nuovi barbari (1983)
Corny and quite bad from better movies.
(1983) Warriors of the Wasteland/ I nuovi barbari (The New Barbarians)
SCIENCE-FICTION ACTION
DUBBED
Co-written and directed by Enzo G. Castellari that takes place during the year of 2019 and the world is under an apocalypse/ nuclear holocaust showcasing a small compound being attacked and then wiped out by a savage band of drivers and bikers called "The Templars". They are led by a guy name One (George Eastman) with his right hand man, Shadow (Thomas Moore) as one their own members notify them about a caravan. They would then go after it, but cutting them halfway as soon as they go after the lady, Alma (Anna Kanakis) attempting to run away but was captured by a net, the hero, Scorpion (Timothy Brent) intervenes and saves her. Because Shadow intervened with the scuffle between one of the aggressive members, Mako (Massimo Vanni) by driving his vehicle coming in between them. And upon them coming back to the compound, Mako and others then decide to go rogue despite disobeying orders to go after Scorpion We then find out more about Scorpion as he used to be one of the members of "The Templars" until he broke free of the group. Along the way Scorpion also has two helpers, Nadir (Fred Williamson) who is kind of an archer and a young blond kid ( Giovanni Frezza) with adult abilities who appears to be the only person who can repair or fix Scorpion's V8. His preferred weapon is a sling shot!
From better films to make this unwatchable turkey,I practically had to look at the clock hoping this film to get closer to the time it should have been over. A combination of "The Road Warrior"/ "Mad Max 2" to "A Fistful of Dollars" to "Death Race 2000". Anyone who has seen these movies would not have to watch this one.
Crossfire (2023)
Not the most cringe worthy experience.
(2023) Crossfire
THRILLER
Co-edited, co-produced, written and directed by Yadhu Krishnan that has Mark Patson (Louis Mandylor) part of a anti-criminal task force in New Mexico and him stepping down his role for the intention of spending more time with his teenage daughter, Alisha (Samm Wiechec). At first it looked as if he was an absent father, but as it turned out, his daughter was cutting him out of her life as a result of him being somewhat responsible of his wife/ mom's death. Mark was also infamous for bringing down the "Gorilla Gang" and his wife was gunned down for retribution. He picks her up at the airport and during the movie, we learn more about their relationship as well as the helpful neighbor, Miriam (Lori Pelenise). Mark also used to work in Special Forces and he trains his daughter to defend herself as well a shoot. And while there, she also meets up with some old friends such as Viola whop still hangs out with some bad people. Viewers are wondering whether Mark will ever catch the killer of his wife.
One of the major problems with this movie is the fact although he taught her how to use a fire arm as well her being just as good as him, he does not even arm her toward the end, when the killer is on the loose. Nor does he have law enforcement to look out for her. My rating might've been lower as a result of those inconsistencies but the direction is not the most cringe worthy I had ever seen. And the action is just a few fight scenes!
Acts of Vengeance (2017)
It was entertaining enough
(2017) Acts of Vengeance
THRILLER ACTION
It opens with Frank Valera (Antonio Banderas) he also happens to be a narrator coming into a diner, and as soon as he hears a cough, he then walks into the diner's kitchen and confronts him. A scuffle happens between the cook and him after he locks the door with a broom handle. It is only then the movie flips back one year earlier to make viewers understand what happened, how it came about and the reason he is scuffling with the cook. That the time the actual movie starts is after the one hour mark if viewers had the patience.
(some spoilers)
And as the movie looks back, we find out Frank Valera used to be a successful defense lawyer with a wife and daughter. And on one of those busy nights, Frank promised his daughter at the recital he would be there, but as a result of him signing some more papers and then rush hour, he was already late. And he buys a stuffed animal to make it up to her. Only until he was waiting at home is when a couple of police officers show up at his door to inform him of the bad news. Unable to focus on his work, a detective Bill Lustiger (Johnathon Schaech) is in charge of the case. He can't give him any clues other than a few golden fibers were discovered on the bodies. And after he goes on a deep depression and gets involve in MMA fighting before he stumbles onto a "Meditation" book by Marcus Aurelius which his passages have been cited throughout the entire film beginning with "Punish only he who has committed the crime". And it was at that point, he sobers up and goes on an obsessive rant to find out or pin point his family's killers or killer. He does this with the help of a service dog and a ER nurse, named Alma (Paz Vega).
Unusual direction approach without very much action other than a few scuffles, which to me is sufficient enough!
The Hunter's Prayer (2017)
It is sufficeint enough
(2017) The Hunter's Prayer
ACTION THRILLER
Adapted from the novel by Kevin Wignall that opens with a mom and dad and their servant killed before their place has been torched by an assassin, Metger( Martin Compston) located in Switzerland. And as the place is being burned down,a photo is being burned as well that they also happened to have a teenage daughter. And that daughter is at an all girl girl's private school, her name is Ella (Odeya Rush). She then decides to sneak out to go to a nightclub to see her boyfriend, and it is not long before gunmen are shooting at her, is when another expert assassin, Lucas (Sam Worthington) intervenes and for some odd reason saves her life. We then find out more about them such as Lucas is a junkie who used to serve in desert storm while learning more the reason Ella's parents were killed. We find out that Ella's dad was going snitch on a businessman, Richard Addison (Allen Leech) that involve financial crimes as well as stole substantial amount of money from him. Richard wants that money located and returned back to him, and he is able to do this with the help of a crooked FBI agent, Banks (Amy Landecker). And it was soon revealed it was located in Ella's savings account and instead of executing her Richard now needs her bank account info.
Some scenes were a little predictable if one were to watch enough of these movies, but with some interesting hand to hand fights, car chase scenes and gun battles with a superficial ending the movie is sufficient enough.