I thought it was a violent show about berserkers and it caught me off guard! Once I adjusted, I couldn't stop laughing!
Reviews
20 Reviews
Kong: Skull Island
(2017)
Just wow!
24 February 2019
Wasn't expecting Kong to be better than the first Godzilla (the new one not the one by Rolland Emmerich) but wow! It's like a war film and a monster film rolled into one with lots of monsters and lots of action. Sam Jackson was scary! He is the real bad guy of Kong. King Kong was so well made! Kudos to the special effects people.
Hard Boiled
(1992)
Die Hard Hongkong style!
24 February 2019
Not a big fan of Hongkong action gunplay but Hard Boiled is pretty good. But if they could reload their guns every once in awhile it would be a lot better!:) It looks like Die Hard (the first one) especially the ending. Lots of action but Michael Mann is still the best director of action gunplay.
The Grissom Gang
(1971)
The best James Hadley Chase film!
24 February 2019
The Grissom Gang is the best film based on a James Hadley Chase novel hands down! Been awhile since I saw it but it's as great as when I saw it the first time. It was a surprise when I realized that Slim was played by Maggie's dad from The Walking Dead (Scott Wilson). He is such a great actor!
Through the Air
(I) (2015)
James Hadley Chase it ain't!
17 July 2015
La resistance de l'air is nothing else than a bad rehash of a very good novel by James Hadley Chase: Like a hole in the head. When I saw the names behind the script, I wasn't surprised at all since they also made another bad rehash of a very good film with Les Cowboys (rehash of John Ford's The Searchers).
The film is totally empty and flat. It's also anti-climatic in so many ways. This being sold as a crime film, you expect at least that it would deliver the goods. Nothing happens. If you expect some muscles and some sparks flying, you'll be disappointed.
A reviewer pointed out how close it was to Colt 45, another french crime film. I can see why but Colt 45 is a much better film than La resistance de l'air. From what I heard Colt 45 was slaughtered in the editing room but even in its actual form it beats Fred Grivoi's picture on every level.
My advice: Forget this film. Read Chase's Like a hole in the head and watch Fabrice du Weltz's Colt 45 instead.
The film is totally empty and flat. It's also anti-climatic in so many ways. This being sold as a crime film, you expect at least that it would deliver the goods. Nothing happens. If you expect some muscles and some sparks flying, you'll be disappointed.
A reviewer pointed out how close it was to Colt 45, another french crime film. I can see why but Colt 45 is a much better film than La resistance de l'air. From what I heard Colt 45 was slaughtered in the editing room but even in its actual form it beats Fred Grivoi's picture on every level.
My advice: Forget this film. Read Chase's Like a hole in the head and watch Fabrice du Weltz's Colt 45 instead.
Les Cowboys
(2015)
Boring and unnecessary
6 June 2015
What a mess of a film!
The only best part was when it finally ended. Les Cowboys is another unnecessary remake (or reboot or whatever they are called these days). Did the director really think he could top John Ford's The Searchers in terms of storytelling and direction? Why would someone do a remake otherwise? Well, no surprise, John Ford's boots are way too big for Thomas Bidegain.
There's a certain arrogance in Les Cowboys that really rubbed me the wrong way. Watching this film felt like watching a 10 year old basketball player trying to keep up with NBA's Dream Team because he's convinced that he's better than all of them. Bidegain (a first time director) thought he had what it takes to tell a story like The Searchers. The fact that he thought he could is actually pretty bold and arrogant. And I can say the same thing about its writer, Noe Debre.
Well, as John Wayne would've said: Back to the drawing board, pilgrims!
The only best part was when it finally ended. Les Cowboys is another unnecessary remake (or reboot or whatever they are called these days). Did the director really think he could top John Ford's The Searchers in terms of storytelling and direction? Why would someone do a remake otherwise? Well, no surprise, John Ford's boots are way too big for Thomas Bidegain.
There's a certain arrogance in Les Cowboys that really rubbed me the wrong way. Watching this film felt like watching a 10 year old basketball player trying to keep up with NBA's Dream Team because he's convinced that he's better than all of them. Bidegain (a first time director) thought he had what it takes to tell a story like The Searchers. The fact that he thought he could is actually pretty bold and arrogant. And I can say the same thing about its writer, Noe Debre.
Well, as John Wayne would've said: Back to the drawing board, pilgrims!
The Lookout
(2012)
Just awful...
5 October 2014
It had to happen: After watching many good french crime films, I found the first stinker. It's the worst kind of film, thinking it's smart when it's not. The lookout is just plain stupid. The plot has so many holes that it looks like swiss cheese. The film is totally unbalanced, trying to be many things at once: a cop film, a crime film about bank robbers, a serial killer film, a jail film and even a whodunit. The characters are weak and cliché. It sucks because the cast was good. I wonder why Daniel Auteuil made this awful film. He deserves better. I was misled by Auteuil and Placido (Romanzo Criminale is highly recommended). But why they turned this mockery of a script into a film is just beyond me. I hope the screenwriters didn't give up their day jobs.
36th Precinct
(2004)
Pretty good
3 October 2014
I was watching a lot of french crime films lately and was pleasantly surprised by many of them. They have something American crime films don't have anymore: a soul. 36 is pretty good. The director obviously loves Michael Mann a bit much because he stole many things from him (even the poster reminds me of Heat). It's not as good as Heat (not even close) but it delivers the goods. The actors were the real highlight of the film. Daniel Auteuil playing the head of robbery unit was terrific. Gerard Depardieu was also impressive. He kinda reminded me a fat version of Nick Nolte's character in Q and A (a very good cop film). The only actor who was overacting and bringing the film down was the leader of the robbers. So annoying. I didn't buy the scene where he's arrested (dozen of cops wearing tactical gears getting knocked-down by a naked man? Gimme a break!). Besides this annoyance, 36 is better than most American thrillers. Those french are good. Vive Le France!
Justified
(2010–2015)
Good but...
3 October 2014
Don't believe the hype! The show doesn't redefine anything or bring something new to the table. Heck no!
Timothy Olyphant is good as the us Marshall but his performance in Justified is nowhere near Deadwood (that was a great show, wish HBO brings it back). I like Elmore Leonard very much but Justified doesn't really feel like Elmore Leonard. It's too sleek. The characters don't have the same edge as in Mister Majestyk or 310 to Yuma (both versions).
But don't get me wrong, many episodes are pleasant to see nonetheless! But don't expect surprises. They use the same TV formula.
Timothy Olyphant is good as the us Marshall but his performance in Justified is nowhere near Deadwood (that was a great show, wish HBO brings it back). I like Elmore Leonard very much but Justified doesn't really feel like Elmore Leonard. It's too sleek. The characters don't have the same edge as in Mister Majestyk or 310 to Yuma (both versions).
But don't get me wrong, many episodes are pleasant to see nonetheless! But don't expect surprises. They use the same TV formula.
Sabotage
(2014)
Disappointed...
3 October 2014
Sabotage wasn't made for brain surgeons for sure. It had good action scenes but why would I care about characters who are total douche bags? I mean, really? Many times, it felt like I was witnessing a pissing contest. I felt sorry for Arnold. He deserved better.
I was really looking forward to this one since action films with real characters and not superheros are becoming endangered species but I was disappointed. There was good action scenes like the one with the team clearing the entire building and a very graphic car chase. But I couldn't get in the film because the characters were disgusting (especially the redheaded narc) and the entire script didn't make any sense. The ending was bad. Come on, Arnold's character is the cartel enemy #1 and when he shows up in a cartel hangout only wearing a hat, nobody makes him? Gimme a break! I gave it a 5 and I was being generous.
I was really looking forward to this one since action films with real characters and not superheros are becoming endangered species but I was disappointed. There was good action scenes like the one with the team clearing the entire building and a very graphic car chase. But I couldn't get in the film because the characters were disgusting (especially the redheaded narc) and the entire script didn't make any sense. The ending was bad. Come on, Arnold's character is the cartel enemy #1 and when he shows up in a cartel hangout only wearing a hat, nobody makes him? Gimme a break! I gave it a 5 and I was being generous.
Colt 45
(2014)
Pleasant surprise
3 October 2014
Wasn't expecting much but it was a pleasant surprise! It's very violent, very bleak. The story is easy to follow but some plot points had me scratching my head. A reviewer said the film was butchered by suits and it kinda figure why some plot points didn't make any sense. But the film is still good though. The shootouts were good, very intense. The actors did a good job and they use their guns like pros. Going through the cast and crew list, I wasn't surprised the guy who worked on Heat and Collateral was involved in that film. If the film was cut by the studio, I wonder what the director's cut would be like. Bottom line: it was good to see an old school action film that isn't a blockbuster, superhero flick or a reboot, remake or whatever Hollywood is doing these days. The french know how to do it!
Godzilla
(2014)
Godzilla rules!
3 October 2014
Not bad at all considering the fact Godzilla only appears after an hour! Wish we could see him longer. I didn't care about the human characters. They either die too quickly or don't do much throughout the film. David Strathairn was good as the Navy skipper though (he reminded me Sam Elliott minus the mustache). But when the monsters show up, hell yeah! It's a wild ride and Godzilla really kicks butts. I like the fact that the two MUTO look like rejects from Cloverfield and it's sweet to see Godzilla showing them who's the real boss. Because let's face it, Godzilla is like John Wayne. There can be only one! Forget about the version made by Rolland Emmerich.
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