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White House Down (2013)
Dumb, silly and A LOT of fun!
When you're making a Die Hard-esque action movie set in the White House, the one thing you need to remember is to not take it seriously. Unfortunately 'Olympus Has Fallen' didn't know this and ending up being a miserable, boring and incredibly stupid mess. White House Down on the other hand, goes for the tongue-in-cheek and fun route and its all the better for it.
The plot is simple and probably has a couple of holes in it but who cares? The film establishes early on that you're just supposed to enjoy the ride and thankfully, the ride is very fun. We have Tatum and Foxx getting into shootouts, fistfights and car chases and its all well shot (No awful shaky-cam), fast-paced and over-the-top, in a good way. It gets so ridiculous that it had my laughing at times but it just reminded me of the glorious over-the-top action films from the 80s like the masterpiece formally known as 'Commando'. I was actually excited when the film was reaching its climax, unlike 'Olympus Has Fallen' where I was just waiting for it to end.
Tatum plays the typical 'John McClane' type role and while he's nowhere near as charismatic as Willis' signature role, he plays the part well enough for us to root for him. I also like that he's quite vulnerable. Unlike Gerard Butler in 'Olympus Has Fallen', he's not an indestructible killing machine. He gets beaten up, runs out of ammo frequently, has to resort to hiding for a lot of the movie and often makes mistakes. Basically he's not perfect which also makes him very human and relatable which in turn makes the action more exciting. Jaime Foxx is also very good as the President. You believe him in the role and he's a lot of fun to watch when acting as Tatum's goofy sidekick. The two are very good together and have some great comedic moments, especially during the car chase in the limo.
There isn't really much more to say about this movie. It is what it is. Fun popcorn entertainment. I will say the few complaints I do have involve the rating. I wish this was R-rated but for a PG-13 movie, they sure did make the most of it. Lots of violence from start to finish, but I just yearn for the days of real blood-squibs and hard F-bombs. I also wasn't a fan of the Tour guy as the comic-relief and I think the pacing could have been tightened up with a little trimming to the runtime. But whatever, bottom line is this is a fun movie. It's in no way a masterpiece and is a HUGE Die Hard rip-off but I can't deny I had a smile on my face throughout the movie.
The Expendables 2 (2012)
Dear Mr. Stallone, why do you like to disappoint me so?
So my reaction to the first Expendables was very lukewarm. I liked the fact that Stallone was bringing back all these action stars to come together in some epic ensemble movie. But sadly, it failed to really excite me as a huge action movie buff. The action was poorly shot and the whole thing felt rushed. Still, I was excited to see what Stallone would do for the sequel. Maybe it would be better.
Alas, I was wrong. This was another disappointment. It started out good with some over-the-top action and plenty of good old fashioned silliness but sadly the plot showed up. The plot (if you can call it that) is a 'done to death' revenge plot where one of the crew members is killed (just before he retired) so the team go out of there way to hunt down evil Jean Claude Van Damme to kill him. Just good old fashioned family fun. Speaking of Van Damme, he's easily one of the best parts of the movie. I've alway found Van Damme to be somewhat charismatic and he's really good a playing a sinister baddie. It's just a shame he gets so little screen time.
The rest of the movie is just the team moving from one action scene to the next. The action has is shot in a much better way when compared to the first film but unfortunately, there are fewer memorable moments. And what's with all the CG gore. Give me some real blood squibs Stallone, stop being lazy. They meet up with Chuck Norris at one point, which is fun but also pointless. I like the fact that he spoofs his own internet persona but that BS about him censoring the swearing is still an issue. So swearing is bad, but killing people in over-the-top violent ways is fine?
Then there's the climax, which honestly I had the most problems with. Like the original film, it felt rushed. It should be really cool seeing Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis gunning down baddies together but it ends up not being too memorable. There are some cool moments, like Arnie ripping the door off a car and then proceeding to shoot a ton of enemies while Willis drives. Speaking of Arnie, he's another great part of the movie, just because of how corny and terrible his delivery is. Believe me, I love the guy, he's my childhood hero but I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous it is to see him doing his 'Commando' routine at his age.
Then there's the fight between Stallone and Van Damme. What a letdown. Stallone's ego seems to be in action here, since for the most part, he has the upper hand. Van Damme only manages to hit him a few times with his trademark helicopter kicks. But eventually, Stallone kills Van Damme. And then the worst part of the movie. Stallone cutting off Van Damme's head and putting it in a bag. WHAT? Remember in the first Expendables movie where everyone thought Dolph Lungdren hanging the pirates was 'sick'. But now it's okay to cut off an already dead man's head and carry it around in a bag. It's overly sadistic and made the character out to be a complete psychopath.
Anyway overall the movie is 'meh'. Really nothing special aside from the cast. And like the original, the cast is still not used effectively. This should be a love letter from Stallone to every action fan including myself. But it ends up just being nothing special and kind of dull in a lot of ways. The movie has its moments but that doesn't stop the direct to DVD feel I get from it. And after watching the other disappointment that was 'Bullet to the Head', I've lost all enthusiasm for Stallone's work. Expendables 3 is on the way and honestly, I don't care.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
What a dumb and miserable experience
Let me start by saying, I'm a big action fan. Die Hard, Commando, Dirty Harry, most of John Woo's movies, I love 'em. But I can't think of a really good R-rated action movie that has come out in the last 10 years. Most modern day action movies are either PG-13 kiddie flicks with explosions every two minutes or boring, trying too hard action movies like this one that think a lot of mindless violence is all you need to make a satisfying movie.
So 'Olympus Has Fallen' is a Die Hard clone. They're nothing wrong with that, the Die Hard formula has a lot of potential. Many action movies of the 90s tried to do this, my personal favourite being 'Sudden Death' with Van Damme. But what worked in that movie doesn't work here. First off, this movie is stupid. Real stupid. How the hell did the Asher guy become President in the first place? He's constantly making bad decisions based on his sentimentality. I know he's only human but common, he's the president. He almost got the whole country blown up because he wouldn't keep his mouth shut. Also once the US government found out about the terrorists plans, why not make an executive decision and just blow up the white house before they get all the codes? They'll be killing all the innocent people inside but at least they'll save the country. Then there's that part where they pretend to kill off the president in the dumbest way possible. Why does everyone except Banning believe the president is dead even though they didn't clearly see him get on the helicopter? Why on Earth did they think the terrorist would kill himself for no reason? Is everyone except Gerard Butler's character a complete idiot. I heard some people call this film racist, but it's Americans who should be really offended.
Next problem, the film is dull. I hate CGI explosion and blood splatter and I also hate action scenes that have been done to death. The whole movie is robotic in pacing and instead of building up tension, it just drags. How many times can we see Butler choke, stab and headshot badguys with ease. It gets boring really quick. What's worked so well in Die Hard is that Bruce Willis was extremely vulnerable. He could take his share of punishment, but he had to rely on his wits and ingenuity to survive and defeat the badguys. In Die Hard, McClane's first kill in the movie is mostly by sheer luck, as they fall down a flight of stairs and McClane snaps his neck. In 'Olympus Has Fallen' Gerard caps off a few goons on his way into the White House and then later, when he's out of ammo, you think it's going to get exciting but no, he easily stabs another mook to death and already he's armed again. You can have a near indestructible hero in an action movie. As mentioned above, I do like Schwarzenegger movies like Commando, but that's because they're goofy and light-hearted popcorn flicks. Which brings me onto my third and final point.
This movie is way too serious. Another thing Die Hard did right was never taking itself too seriously. There's a lot of humour in that movie that offsets the darker moments beautifully. In this movie however, the darkness is pumped up to 11 and it never lets up. There's a few one liners here and there but it never makes this movie any more enjoyable. From innocent people being gunned down in the streets and later being seen horrible mutilated in hospital, to a woman being brutally beaten by the sadistic terrorists, the movie is just unpleasant to watch. I know they want us to hate the villains but they didn't have to go this far. A movie like this should be a fun and tongue-in-cheek. The movie you can put on at any time and have a great time. But it's not. Everything's ultra-serious and depressing which really doesn't blend well with the over-the-top action. Just because it's an R-rated movie, it doesn't mean it has to keep a straight face throughout. This movie was just a miserable experience for me.
Whoa, I wrote a lot. And I didn't even get into all the melodrama and patriotism throughout this movie. Like how no one cares about all the deaths in this movie, until the president is supposedly dead. Oh no, it's not like they won't have another one to replace him. Anyway there's my rant. I honestly can't think of a single thing I liked about this movie.
Man of Steel (2013)
Just an all around unpleasant experience
This movie is jaw dropping at how bad it is. How could they mess up a Superman movie this badly? It's borderline comedy. I'm half expecting Snyder to just come out and say "We were joking, the real Superman movie is here." But no, this is the final product. This is the movie many are giving 10 out of 10s. And for what? A stupid and ugly film with no value of worth.
Let's start with the characters shall we. All of them are bland. All of them. First off, Cavill. I liked him. He seems to be doing the best of what the poor script will give him. He's tall, handsome, has a good voice and could have made a great Superman. Too bad he wasn't given one. I don't mind a movie that shows the darker side of being Superman, but at the end of the day, I want to be uplifted by his presence. Compare him to Reeve, who swoops us off our feet just as easily as he does to Lois the moment they meet. He shines charisma. Cavill on the other hand just mopes throughout the entire movie, punches things and...I think that's about it.
Lois Lane played by Adams. Starts off well enough with her being tough, wily, etc. But unfortunately her role goes downhill the moment Zod and his buddies arrive. Why did Zod want her on his ship? Was it just for exposition? Screen writing 101 guys, characters actions should make sense. Then towards the end, the military have her on the plane or something. What is she doing there? She's a reporter, not a military adviser. It's like they wrote the story and then someone said "Oh, you forgot to put Lois Lane in." So the screeenwriter just put her into a bunch of scenes without it making any sense. She even has the power of teleportation as shown at the end where she appears just to be the shoulder that Superman cries on when he kills Zod. The rest of the characters, aren't worth mentioning because I forgot them already, except for Zod. Zod is angry...NEXT!
Let's talk about the dumb stuff, particually Pa Kent's death. Talk about not getting it. In the original film, his death is done in such a heart wrenching manner. The point of it being, with all Superman's powers, he still couldn't stop something natural like a heart attack. But here, there's no excuse. It was borderline parody how silly it was. I would have laughed if I wasn't so shocked about how bad the movie was.
Why is everything in this movie super realistic. Superman is an alien with God-like powers who flies around in a cape and tights. You don't try and make that realistic, because then it becomes silly. The cinematography reflects this and it's some of the worst I've ever seen. Shaky cam is terrible. I hate it with a passion. And not only do we have shaky cam where we can't tell what's happening during the boring action but also everything is super PALE. Why is everything either white or blue? EVERYTHING. This is the whitest and coldest movie I've ever seen. It's like they found the film in a block of ice. Even when they're in the desert everything is cold. Where's the COLOUR?!
And finally, the action. Oh boy, could they have made this any more boring? If you enjoy CG explosions and people punching things for 2 hours, then this movie is for you. And this is coming from someone who's favourite movie is Die Hard. News flash guys, action only works in two ways. It can be either tension filled, where we cheer on our vulnerable hero and hope he survives and saves the day. Or is can be done in a way that attempts to impress and entertain you through effects, choreography and stunts. Man of Steel is obviously going for the latter, but the problem is, that kind of action only works in small proportion. Take the original Matrix (another one of my favourite movies). Everyone remembers the amazing 'bullet-time' action scenes. But when you watch the movie, the action only makes up a small portion of the film. The limited amount of action, made the action scenes all the more exciting. It's one of the reasons why Matrix Reloaded didn't work for me, because it had too much action. Man of Steel has the same problem. How many times do we have to see someone being punched in the face? It's ridiculous how violent this movie is. Isn't Superman for family audience? Well not anymore. Step up comic book nerds, here's a movie that's so dark and moody that no one is going to call you a loser for watching it. Except the people who know what a good movie is...(whisper) don't worry though, those people generally don't appear on IMDb message boards.
I wrote too much didn't I? And I didn't even talk about the cliché and cringe-worthy 'movie trailer' dialogue or the forgettable soundtrack. Oh well, I think I've got my point across. Superman shouldn't be dark and realistic. Trying something different is a good thing, but this was just the wrong way to do it. At least this movie wasn't shot on real film, because that would have been such a waste. 1/10
Die Hard 2 (1990)
This time, the weather outside really is FRIGHTFUL!
Die Hard 2 is a film that has got a lot of backlash over the years. Being too much of a rehash of the film, being too violent and over-the- top and having a flawed plot. Personally, I love the film for exactly what it's trying to be, a fun action film that give fans more of what they loved from the original. It's Christmas eve and once again, Detective John McClane must wage war against a team of terrorists. This time they've taken over an airport and have complete control over the planes above, one of which has McClane's wife aboard.
The film lacks the tension that was present in the original. McClane is never really all alone and he never gets as brutal injured as he does in the first film. Instead the film feels like a race against time with McClane desperately rushing around the airport, capping off baddies and doing whatever he can to get the planes to land. It's still great fun and it's always a blast to watch McClane fighting against the odds.
Die Hard 2 also feels a lot more mechanical in it's story telling. Renny Harlin does a decent job but never reaches the excellent standards of McTiernan. The supporting cast doesn't feel as three dimensional as they did in the first film and the gritty realism is somewhat watered down this time. Even the writing isn't as tight this time round.
But these are just minor flaws, in fact I consider it to be one of the best action films of the 90s. The film-makers made the film because of the originals success so they basically tried to give the fans more of what they wanted. The action and stunts are well shot and very fun to watch. The villains are colder than the original's and while not as memorable, are still a very believable threat. Bruce Willis is still in his prime and gives another charismatic performance.
Also, while Harlin may have stumbled here and there, the overall feel of the film is superb. The airport is still a familiar and charming setting for the film and the inclusion of setting the film during a blizzard is great. The heavy snow is not only a major plot point but it also adds to the Christmasy feel of the film as well as being another obstacle that McClane and the terrorists have to deal with on throughout the film. The finale is one of the best ever filmed for an action movie and I know this is an overused phrase but they really don't make 'em like they used to.
Most of all the film has heart, while some say it's just a cold cash-in sequel, I still find it just as warm and as charming as Die Hard 1 and 3. It's still follows the elements that make a Die Hard film, unlike Die Hard 4, that felt like just another Bruce Willis film. It's always a joy to watch this film around the Christmas season, back- to- back with the original. If you loved the original Die Hard, check this one out.
Die Hard (1988)
A Skyscraper, 13 terrorists & Bruce Willis = Greatest Action Film Ever!
Back in the 80's, Action movies were mostly dominated by huge he-men action stars such as Schwarzengger, Stallone and Van Damne. Thay were filled with huge explosions, unlimited ammo and hilariously cheesy one liners. Then in 1988, Die Hard was released and for better or worse, changed the action genre for the next decade.
The film starts with our hero John McClane played by Bruce Willis. A chain smoking, foul mouthed and down to earth New York cop, who's instantly likable the minute he's on screen. He's come to LA on Christmas Eve to meet his estranged wife at a party in the Nakatomi tower, hoping to rekindle his marriage. Unfortunately, after McClane has a wash, terrorists take over the skyscraper and take the guests hostage. Now, alone, bare foot and fighting for his life, McClane goes to war with the terrorists, to save the hostages as well as his wife. It's not Shakespeare but it's smarter than your typical 'hero kills bad guys' situation.
What makes Die Hard so revolutionary is how realistic and ground based it is (Atleast in Action movie terms). McClane fears for his life and would prefer the police take care of the situation instead of him. He doesn't run in guns blazing but instead sneaks around the building taking down terrorists one by one. The Skyscraper creates the perfect action setting and give the film a claustrophobic atmosphere. Through the course of the movie he gets bloody, beat up and injured depicting him as a real person. Not that any of this should turn you off, McClane still is cooler than ice and has a great sense of dark humour, filling the film with funny and memorable one liners.
The terrorists are great to, each having their own personality and each being recognisable from another. The team is led by Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman who makes the character instantly memorable and a ton of fun to watch as a suave and cunning villain. The film also has great pacing, starting off slow but as soon as the terrorists arrive, the film snowballs into a fast and furious pace.
There's not really anything else to say that has not been already said. A clever plot, memorable characters, solid acting, a ton of action and many quotable lines. The film is a classic by all mean and not only is it arguably the best action movie of all time, but because of it's setting at Christmas, makes it a perfect 'Anti Christmas movie' as well which is great around the holidays. Highly recommended for everyone.
The Last Boy Scout (1991)
The Movie That Defines 'Underated'!
Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans team up in this buddy action flick which is all the better thanks to Shane Black's witty and dark script.Back when explosions were cool, action heroes were badass and one liners were clever and hilarious.
Bruce Willis is Joe Hallenbeck, a dark and cynical private detective who has a sarcastic comment for any insult that comes his way. Think John McClane if he didn't care about living. Damon Wayons on the other hand plays Jimmy Dix, a down and out American football player who has become a drug addict and womaniser. After Jimmy's girlfriend is murdered the two team up to take down the criminals who did it, not knowing what they're getting into.
The plot is straight forward and nothing really special, but it's whats in the movie that makes it worth seeing. Memorable characters, violent action scenes, lack of CGI and some of the best, funniest and most quotable one liners in any film to this very day.
An action packed ride from start to finish, the film is true 90's action. While it wasn't a commercial hit, fans who did see it, love it as one of Bruce Willis' best and an all out uncensored, brutal and badass guy flick!
Batman (1989)
Batman at his all time Best!!!
Back in the late 1980's, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton teamed up to bring the dark knight back to his dark roots and make audiences forget about the campy 60s series.
The plot his a classic cat and mouse scenario which works to the films advantage. After a dangerous killer (Jack Nichleson) fall into a vat of chemicals, he becomes the Batman's arch nemesis, the Joker. Now trying to kill the population of Gotham, it's up to Batman to foil his plans.
Both Keaton and Nichleson share the screen equally, having enough screen time to keep us interested with their characters. Keaton was and still is the best live action Batman, playing a quiet and thought provoking Bruce Wayne and a dark and badass Batman. Nichleson is essentially his opposite being loud, creepy, darkly humorous and completely insane.
Gotham City has Tim Burton's unique style of Gothic cinematography and surreal atmosphere, which perfectly suits the world of Batman. The Batcave, Batmobile and gadgets are all classic Batman and they appear here at their best. The film fits the bill as a Batman film really well...unlike Nolan's over realistic and dull series.
All in all, Batman is the quintessential Batman movie. Keaton and Nichleson complement each over brilliantly, the Gothic style fits the tone and it's brimming with great moments throughout. It's Dark, it's humorous, it's compelling and it's Highly Recommended.
Predator (1987)
Manliest Film Ever Made!!!
Huge guns, Huge tough guys, macho dialogue, funny banter, One liners and an Alien. John McTiernan's 1987 classic 'Predator' is a action fans dream and a true guys film. What's not to like? Quick setup. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team of bad-asses are sent to the South American jungles to rescue a group of POW's from an enemy hideout. Simple enough, but that's before they start getting picked off by a hunter from another planet. The rest of the movie relies on suspense, an over the top macho atmosphere and a entertaining team.
John McTiernan's style of creating a believable atmosphere shines out through the characters and dialogue. Every member of the rescue team is memorable and likable due to their humorous dialogue and over the top macho-ism. Dutch chomping on cigars, Blain wielding a mini gun, Mac shaving with his own sweat and Billy's huge knife are all examples of the manliness portrayed in the film.
The Predator is great in its first portrayal, brought to life thanks to Stan Winston's incredibly lifelike effect. His gadgets and weaponry stay cool and interesting right until the end. One of the things that make the film interesting is watching the team come up with new ways to kill this creature that's picking them off like flies.
The film is filled with memorable quotes and scenes that will linger in your mind any time you think of masculinity. Any fan of action or Schwarzenegger will know this is a must see and one of the quintessential 80's flicks. A true guys film that teaches us that 'If it bleeds, we can kill it' and Guns + Muscles + One liners + An Alien = Manliest Film Ever. Highly Recommended
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
If Classic Has A Name, It's Temple Of Doom
An underrated gem of the 80's, An adventure not to be missed and indescribably classic in every sense of the word. I'm a huge fan of the Indiana Jones franchise and unlike most fans, consider Temple of Doom to be my favourite of the series and one of my favourite films.
Set one year before Raiders(In 1935), Temple of Doom's plot doesn't revolve around the Nazis and takes a darker root. This time Indiana teams up with a club singer named Willie and ten year old, Asian boy named Short Round. After a treasure deal goes wrong the three escape in a plane which turns out to be a trap, causing them to do a death defying escape which ends up in India. When the village people their warn them of the mysterious temple and the horrible loss of their children, the three set off to discover the temple. The plot just gets darker and more action packed from there.
Harrison Ford returns in his signature role as Indina Jones and is still the tough as nails archaeologist he was in Raiders. Short Round is a lovable and has great chemistry with Indy, and during the film he becomes one of the most memorable sidekicks ever. Willie, is a typical damsel in distress, who spends the movie screaming and moaning, but this is just a throwback to the 'B' movies, the Indiana Jones films are inspired by.
From start to finish the film is filled with tons of memorable moments, classic set-pieces and amazing stunt and camera work. With a snow ball pacing that gradually gets bigger and better as it goes along, the movie is pretty much impossible not to enjoy. The score is one of the best I've heard in a film a mixed with the creative and memorable camera work, just makes the film even better and gives me chills every time.
I can't stress this enough, but Temple of Doom is a must see for any fan of film. Some say it's too dark (Heart Scene)and the sillier moments ruined it(Dinner Scene), but the experience for me was never spoilt and the dark moments just made it better. With a bigger 'B' movie feel, great action, amazing set-pieces and effects and timeless feel the film gets my highest recommendation. Not to be missed!
Ying hung boon sik II (1987)
A Far From Perfect But Satisfying Conclusion To The Original
After the movie 'A Better Tomorrow' became a big success around Hong Kong, a sequel was inevitable to happen. Most of the original cast return, including Chow Yun-Fat as Mark Lee's twin brother Ken.
Taking place a few years after the events of the first film, we see how things are finally starting to look up. Ho is in prison but he's finally re concealed his relationship with his brother Kit, who has become a loving husband and soon to be father. But like the first film, things get bad real quick. Ho's former master Lung has been framed for murder and even loses his mind as his life gets worse. He's sent over to New York to keep a low profile and to be looked after by Ken who owns a restaurant and lives there. Meanwhile Ho and Kit are working together to end the triad gangs.
This is where the problem starts. The first film revolved around Ho and the people around him, but this film spends way too much time with Ken trying to get Lung back to normal. Ho and Kit's plot seems to delve deeper into the main story ark, yet they never seem to get enough scenes. Ken is pretty much similar to Mark although he may be a little darker and you can tell he's only in the film because of Chow Yun-Fat's character was so popular in the last film.
The film doesn't seem to make a huge continuation onto the first film either. Instead of being it's own story, it seems to just be an expansion of the first film, but not in a good way. We don't delve too much into the characters and they seem underused. The film is also known for having a sillier feel in a few scenes(Famous Rice Scene), but it didn't ruin the experience for me. These flaws are apparently due to disagreement between John Woo and producer/second writer Tsui Hark about the tone of the film, causing Woo to disown most of the film, except the end shootout. John Woo's original cut was around 3 hours and is rumoured to improve on some of the flawed moments. A version I hope will appear in some future release of the film.
Now for the goods. The film seems to get noticeable better during the second half, beginning with the amazing hotel shootout. The film is well known for it's exaggerated violence and blood and the film doesn't disappoint. The action is a big step up from the first and some of the best ever filmed for its time. Chow Yun-Fat is once again cooler than ice, with his trademark sunglasses, trench coat, matchstick and dual pistols and may be one of the main appeals of the film. The Climatic assault on the triad mansion is one of the greatest shootouts and one of the greatest ending ever filmed. It's no wonder that it's the only thing Woo likes about the film. The amazing soundtrack returns and their are a few emotional scenes that actually work well.
With many iconic scenes (The stairs scene being one), the film is a lot better than it gets credit for. The film is no masterpiece and doesn't compare to the first but it has its moments. Silly and flawed moments aside the film is actually quite enjoyable and as long as you keep an open mind, I think you'll enjoy this conclusion to the Better Tomorrow saga. Part 3 doesn't count!
Ying hung boon sik (1986)
A Beautifully Made, Multi-Layered, Action Packed, Crime Thriller
After watching two of John Woo's action flicks (Hard-Boiled & The Killer) I decided to check out another one of his classics 'A Better Tomorrow'. And while I wasn't a fan of its fewer action sequences ad slower paced style, at first, after re watching the film I think its probably Woo's best.
I think the reason I disliked at first was the fact I was expecting a huge over the top actioners like Hard-Boiled and The Killer. But this film is a heroic bloodshed crime drama and focuses on the characters and emotions rather than the action (Which is still fantastic). Plus, it was dubbed...nuff said.
The plot revolves around the big boss of a professional counterfeit business named Ho. His brother Kit however is training to be a cop and is unaware of his brothers business. Ho's best friend Mark (Played by the legendary Chow Yun-Fat) works with him as a professional killer who despite his occupation, is a very loyal and caring friend. After a betrayal during a bust, the three characters change over the course of three years and have to go through a lot of hell to deal with their new lives.
All the characters keep your interest throughout and feature some really well acted emotional scenes. Ho is constantly struggling to deal with his brother, best friend and the triads he used to work for. Kit becomes a stubborn cop who doesn't know when to let things go. And Mark, one of the coolest characters ever has to deal with struggling life and helping his best friend. Chow Yun-Fat's trademark trench coat, sunglasses and match stick in the mouth increases the appeal of the film.
The action scenes, though not at their peak(As said above) are some of the best around at the time of the film's release and are just as cool as ever. Duel pistols, exaggerated blood and ballistic shootout, all trademarks, Woo would later be famous for, appear here for the first time and influenced action cinema to this very day.
The film is shot is such a classic fashion but also unique in many places of the film. The soundtrack for the film is also amazing, some of the best film music ever. More could be said about the film but I think this is a film you just have to see. But if you are going to see it, make sure you watch the Cantonese track with subtitle as the dub ruins the emotional moments. Also some DVD's don't have the original soundtrack, so be aware before you buy. Netherless, A Better Tomorrow' is one of the best films I've ever seen and is a definite must see.
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)
A Perfect Sequel Which Ups The First Game In Almost Every Way
After the huge success of Max Payne, a sequel was inevitable to be made. And what a sequel it is...
Taking place a few years later from the first game, Max has moved back to the NYPD and is as cynical as ever before. Whilst on his new case he meets up with an assassin named Mona Sax and the plot only gets better from their. The graphic novel style returns from the first game in a more sleeker and more comic book style. Cutscenes that were pretty much absent from the first game are well done and give the game a film like feel.
Gameplay has also improved. Action is a lot more fluent and fast paced, and bullet time has become a lot easy to use. This time the bullet time allows the player to mow through enemies easily and a clever quick reload system keeps the action fun and not frustrating. Slow moments in Max Payne 2 are rare and the game is fun from beginning to end.
Graphics show off the best of the graphical ability of the time and never seem to pull you out of the game. Little details bring the experience alive such as the police station level which makes you feel like a cop in this busy and characteristic work place.
I only have two minor complaints. 1) The Mona Sax missions can be frustrating and appear to be the worst parts of the game and, 2) The over exaggerated blood from the first game has been toned down immensely and is definitely missed as it gave the first game a John Woo like feel. It's a weird change as the rest of the game is filled with stronger language and more adult themes.
These cons aside, this is one of the best games I've played in a while and may even be one of my favourite games. Definite purchase for fans of the original, third person shooters and slow mo action games.
Commando (1985)
The Definition of 80's Action Cinema
Commando is a must see for any fan of action. Being a Schwarzengger fan, I watched this with high hopes and those hopes were most certainly met.
The plot is simple, Arnol plays a ex commando named John Matrix whose daughter has been by a terrorist and an ex solider who used to work with Matrix. They hold the girl ransom for Matrix to do their dirty work. So what does the Austrian Oak do? Spend the rest of the film killing terrorists, blowing stuff up and spouting some of the best one liners ever. Of Course!
From start to finish is full of clichés,quotable lines and over the top action. Arnold plays the role as an indestructible killing machine, similar to his role in 'The Terminator' a year earlier but this time 'He fights for Love'!
The film is a 90 minute action extravaganza and will please fans of Action and Arnold Schwarzengger. Not for the snobbiest of film goers but for those who are okay with turning off your brain, tongue in the cheek like film, This is a must see!
The Expendables (2010)
Sadly Disappointing from Stallone's 80's revival
First let me say that I love the action genre especially those from 80's and most of the 90's. Back when action films were for adult audiences and were brutal, bloody and had high body counts. Nowadays however, action movies are a lot more family friendly, with bloodless action, few swear words, over use of CG and an annoying shaky cam.
But when I heard Stallone (The star of Rambo) was going to make a big cheesy, 80's style action film with an ensemble cast, I couldn't be happier. When I finally went to see the film however I was sadly disappointed.
I was hoping for a simple plot, with an awesome team, an over the top villain (Unless Dolph Lundgren counts), cheesy one liners and old school action scenes. Sadly the film only briefly delivers...
The plot is just a bunch of terrorism propaganda which is very incoherent, Stallone and Statham seem to be the only characters the film focuses on, no memorable villain, not enough one liners (and some weren't even that good) and as for the action. It delivered on the gore but it was shot with a shaky cam and too many quick cuts which makes it almost impossible to tell what's going on. I was expecting a 'Predator' like film with a lovable team just wielding huge guns, killing bad guys and spouting quotable one liners.
The action is still quite fun at moments and very explosive, but I just wish it was shot the same way something like 'Commando' was filmed. The only scene that reached my expectations was the cameo scene with Schwarzenegger and Willis which is short but sweet. I don't really recommend 'The Expendables' but if Stallone hopes to make another, I hope he does a little history on classic cinema before so. Don't listen to those who say it's the 'Greatest Action Film Ever' as their are far better films that deserve that rank.
Back to the Future (1985)
A Classic That Should Not Be Missed
One evening, during my early teen years, I turned on the TV and watched the 1985 classic 'Back to the Future', and my only regret is that I hadn't seen it earlier...
The film tells the story of a skateboarding, guitar playing teenager named Marty McFly (played by Michael J Fox) whose life is far from perfect. That is until his eccentric, scientist friend Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) builds a time machine and sends him back to 1955. From there the movie really accelerates into exhilarating fun that get more complicated as it goes on but will keep you entertained until the very end.
Pretty much everything about 'Back to the Future' works from the interesting characters, to the clever humour, to the magical experience of going back in time. But without giving too much away, I'm going to let you go see it for yourself. A well worth purchase and a classic for generations to come.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Most Overrated film I've ever seen!
When I went to the cinema to see Indiana Jones 4 I remember seeing a trailer for 'The Dark Knight'. It was dark, full of explosions and looked really cool. Being a huge fan of Batman and the two Burton films I couldn't wait to see it. While I never saw it in cinemas, I remember my friends telling me it was amazing and one of the best films ever. Fast forward to when I finally got to see the film and it was a different story.
Two and a half hours of the most pretentious, boring and disappointing film I had ever seen. Lets start with the plot(s). Basically, the Joker (atleast that's what they call him) starts killing people and causing mayhem, meaning Batman has to stop him. Sounds simple but the film spoils this by having too many plot lines, most of which have nothing to do with the actual plot, don't last long enough to be interesting and could have been easily cut out to make a shorter and easier to follow plot.
Now for the hero and villain. Batman is played by Christian Bale and comes complete with an over the top gruff voice, which sounds like he smoked a entire packet of cigarettes while doing a cross country marathon. He's nowhere near as dark or as intimidating as Keaton's Batman and isn't very engaging as Bruce either. Now for the reason the film is considered to be so great, Heath Ledger as the Joker. Ledger is the main driving point of the film and the most interesting character. He plays the role very convincingly and I'll admit is the best part of the film, even though they could have called him anything else instead of 'the Joker' and it would have been the same.
And that's my biggest problem with this film, it doesn't feel like a Batman film. Batman has always been a surreal franchise, meaning it walks on a line between the real world and a fantasy world. Why does Gotham City just look like and regular city? Why does the Joker not have any comical death contraptions? Why does the Batmobile look like a tank? Where are all Batman's unique gadgets? The problem is Nolan doesn't understand that a man who dresses up as a Bat and fight crime can't be taken completely seriously. Burton made a surreal world for Batman and Batman Returns, creating a perfect environment for his films. But with Nolan, all I think of is just a crime drama with Batman in it. The Joker could have been just a psycho with makeup.
The pacing is also a flaw. Sometimes the film moves too quickly for us to digest what's going on and other time it goes to slow that we lose interest. Only reason people loved it was for Heath Ledger's amazing performance and his unfortunate passing away before the film's release, and even that doesn't fit the bill for a 'Batman' movie. To sum up, 'The Dark Knight' will go down in history as the most overrated film ever made.
Max Payne (2008)
Put's the Payne name to Shame!
This film is the perfect example of a cheap Hollywood cash in. Before I saw the film, I had played both games numerous times and loved them for their film noir, graphic novel feel and the amazing third person, slow motion action. And because of my love for the games, I decided to check out the film...
What a disappointment. Almost nothing about this film has anything to do with the games. No inner-monologue, no action until the final act, hardly any slow mo (I can remember about 3 instances), Max wasn't the criminal killer he was in the game, Mona was pointless and didn't even use a desert eagle and a sluggish pace.
This film won't please anyone. Action fans will hate it's snail like pace, crime thriller fans won't care for the lousy plot and fans of the games will hate the fact it has nothing to do with the game.
If there is an upside to this film, it's the stylish film noir look to it but that alone can't save this mess. Even as a standalone film this film suffers from a bad action, a dull plot and uninteresting characters. This film doesn't deserve the name 'Max Payne' nor does it deserve a dime for such a butchered adaption.
Lat sau san taam (1992)
One of the Greatest Action movies of all Time
Being a huge action fan, I began to here praise from the legendary Hong Kong director John Woo. Curious of his work I decided to check out one of his most famous films Hard-Boiled. And I don't regret it...
After the amazing tea house shootout, I was hooked and it just got better from there. The star Chow Yun-Fat plays the Hard-Boiled cop, Tequila Yuen who's up against the triad and seeking revenge for his partner. Simple yet affective.
Tequila is one of the coolest characters ever. As a 'take no prisoners cop' Tequila spends most of the movie, filling bad guys with led with an arsenal of weapons such as dual pistols, machine guns and the most powerful shotgun in a film. But while still a dark person, Tequila is still an engaging and likable character, that you'll be rooting for by the end.
Featuring some of the best shootout scenes ever shot, the film is a non-stop 2 hour joyride. Full of exaggerated blood, stylish shooting, huge explosions and Chow Yun-Fat in one of his coolest roles, this is some of John Woo's best work.
Unless, you've got something against blood filled action, I recommend you hunt Hard-Boiled down and enjoy one of Woo's best works.