Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) Film Review

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is on suspension, separated from his wife and hungover when he gets dragged back into a work. A bomber has attacked and is threatening further attacks unless McClane is about. On the first of a series of tasks that he is sent on, McClane meets Zues Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) and they are linked for the rest of the film. But are the tasks of Simon Gruber (Jeremy Irons) all they appear to be, or is there more going on?

To begin with, it is an ace film. Willis and Jackson have a great bro-chemistry going on. And I love Jeremy Irons. But guys, come on. A couple of women would be nice? Now you’ve gotten rid of McClane’s wife, who had personality and a bit of drive. The only chick pretty much in the whole film is Katya (Sam Phillips), a side-kick to Gruber. She is violent and handy with a knife, so some may think she is a strong woman. Don’t be fooled! She does not utter a word throughout the entire film, and is there just to be a tool for the bad guy. She is a pet. A bit more imagination and she could have been the bad guy. Or what about a woman as one of the main police folks? I love Graham Greene, but his role could easily have been a woman. Even Zeus’s nephews could have been nieces? Something tells me moving in to the more recent Die Hard films may get me even grumpier.

 

Jumper (2008) Film Review

At fifteen, David Rice (played by Max Thieriot as a young boy, Hayden Christensen for the rest of the film) discovered that he could teleport. As a young adult, he has found a way to live this life, going where he wants, doing what he wants. Until he is tracked down by Roland (Samuel L. Jackson), a man who follows “jumpers” like him and kill them. Why? Religion.

David is a really annoying character – arrogant, smarmy and generally quite crap and annoying. I found I couldn’t care less about him – in fact, I was quite keen for Roland to knock him off sooner rather than later. Made it difficult to care about the film at all. Overall, this feeling didn’t change. But there is an extra in one scene who keeps looking at the camera – it’s quite weird, really – quite funny, and totally made the film for me.

Captain America : The Winter Soldier (2014) Film Review

Captain America, aka Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) has been through a couple of adventures, first in his origin story in Captain America: The Original Avenger, and The Avengers. Now, he is called on again to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) as evil organization Hydra again attempts to rise up and take over the world. He’s helped by the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and a soldier dude, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) who gets to fly around with some fancy new military technology that gives him wings.

This film was timed to be released partway through the television series of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , and I think that was an interesting concept. The film was mostly stand alone, but the television series suffered a bit. Still, this film had a whole heap of explosions, and added to the cast already mentioned were Robert Redford, Chin Han, Jenny Agutter, Gary Shandling and Australia’s own Alan Dale. The one thing I was left asking was, if the world is really about to end, why hasn’t someone given Iron Man and the rest of the crew the heads up? They’d be pretty useful, I reckon.

 

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Film Review

Watching The Bourne Identity recently reminded me of The Long Kiss Goodnight. I’ve watched this film so many times, and I will watch it often in the future because I think it is awesome. Not in some ironic way – honestly, I just love it to bits.

Geena Davis plays Samantha Caine, a housewife living in the suburbs. She has a husband and a child and a seemingly idyllic life, but she has no memories from before she arrived in this town as she was found wandering around. She’s happily married with a lovely small daughter. Then, she starts to remember. She was Charly, a hitman. Along with Mitch Henessey (Samuel L Jackson), a private detective she hired to find her past, she takes a journey to find who she is and free herself from the past.

And it is totally and utterly awesome. There needs to be more action films with women in the roles. I think I have a bit of a girl crush on Geena Davis, she is just so tough and awesome, but gorgeous and funny. I reckon I’ve watched this film twenty times and I could watch it another twenty. Or more.

 

Snakes on a Plane (2006) Film Review

There is a plane. There are snakes on it. Need to know more? No, no you don’t. Well, ok, there is a little bit of a plot. A kid is in Hawaii and witnesses some big gang dude killing someone. He is then being transported to the mainland for the trial. By plane. How does the guy decide to dispose of him? A whole bunch of snakes. On a plane.

I loved it. It is one of the few films that I have actively cheered in the cinema with genuine excitement. No, it is not good. But it is still ace. Plus, there is Samuel L Jackson and Julianne Margulies. Many of the characters are stereotypes. That’s fine. I have no issue with that, because it is funny and only ever so slightly scary. Sometimes, a bit gross, but generally just funny. I just loved it. Every moment. Even on the re-watch. It’s a film that was created with a lot of input from fans on internet forums, and I think it proves that this is not the way to create a cinematic masterpiece – but you may end up with an awesome, fun film.

Captain America – The First Avenger (2011) Film Review

I think this is it. I think finally I have managed to see all of the released Marvel films; well, this bunch, the bunch leading in to The Avengers. According to Wikipedia, this lot comes under MVL Productions LLC or Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In The Avengers, Captain America was my least favourite character. He had so much make-up on that it looked ridiculous, and I didn’t know his origins. I had little time for him. But, this crazy mission of mine to see them all led to watching this film, and I am so glad it did! Captain America is awesome.

The majority of the story is set in 1942. America is joining the fight in Europe against the Nazis and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), is attempting to be a part of it. However, he is a small man who suffers from a wide range of illnesses and is rejected again and again. Finally, he is spotted by Dr Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a German scientist who has moved to the US and works for the US army. He tests his new technology on Steve Rogers, developing his muscles and motor skills to turn him into a super soldier, Captain America. The program is infiltrated by HYDRA, the organization headed by Nazi Officer Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) who has obtained a Tesseract providing him with powerful weapons and the ability to conquer the world. Captain America must save the day.

Perhaps it is from a childhood of Indiana Jones, but I love a good action film where the Nazis are the bad guys. I think I liked this even more because it was not just the Nazis, but this super group of Nazis. Again, there is an amazing cast and awesome effects, and it leads directly into The Avengers. There is another Captain America due out in 2014. I can’t wait.

Django Unchained (2012) Film Review

The return of Quentin Tarantino. Good. I’ve always been a fan, despite having reached an age and sensitivity where I need to close my eyes during the most violent scenes and some of the hilarious dialogue makes me cringe. Thank goodness there’s a lot more to it.

Django Unchained sees Christopher Waltz (who played the massively evil Nazi in Inglourious Basterds) playing Dr King Schultz, a bounty hunter who travels America killing criminals for the reward. He finds himself hunting three brothers who he can not identify, and requires the services of Django, a slave in chains being marched across the country. Django previously worked on a plantation where these brothers were overseers, and Schultz enlists him to assist him to recognise that dispatch them. Eventually, the two men pair up to find Djano’s wife and return her to his arms. Things get bloody in the way that only Tarantino can manage.

I did enjoy this film, although I found that there were several times when it really seemed too long and I needed a break. However, the performances were so strong that I was caught up in the paths of the characters. Yes, at times they seem a bit too smart for their own good, but they have to be. And yes, those who are evil are totally and unquestionably evil. But that makes revenge so much more sweet.

I think Django Unchained is the type of film you need to enjoy for what it is – ultra violent, quite funny, very clever and with an awesome soundtrack. Like much of Tarantino’s work.

Robert Richardson has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Cinematography

Django Unchained has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture

Wylie Stateman has been nominated for an Oscar for Sound Editing and a BAFTA for Sound

Quentin Tarantino has been nominated for an Oscar for Writing (Original Screenplay), a Golden Globe for Best Director. He won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay (Motion Picture). He was nominated for a BAFTA for Original Screenplay.

Django Unchained was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama)

Leonardo Dicaprio was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a  Motion Picture

Christopher Waltz won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and was nominated for a BAFTA for Supporting Actor.

Fred Raskin has been nominated for a BAFTA for Editing

The Avengers (2012) Film Review

So much of what I want in a good action film can be found right here – lots of superheroes, fights, ego clashes, and a city being destroyed by aliens. Marvelous. (of course it’s Marvelous. It’s from Marvel)

Loki and the ice gods from the film Thor have come to Earth to take over (If you haven’t seen Thor, there is some background to The Avengers in it which is good, but not totally necessary). Secret government agency Shield is stepping in to deal with it, and assemble their crack team; Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Dr Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Natasha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Captain America (Chris Evans). All those egos, all those different approaches, and of course, it almost brings the team apart. But, they learn to work together, and that’s what’s important in life.

It’s possibly not important to have seen the various films leading up to this one before, although I’m still not sure who Hawkeye is and how he fits into the whole Shield picture. Natasha Romanov had a part in Iron Man 2, and seeing that again after seeing The Avengers gives her character some background, but not too much.

The thing I loved the most about this flick was the quick-witted dialogue, and it was not surprised to see Joss Whedon credited as director and co-writer in the closing credits. That and seeing Robert Downey Jnr and Mark Ruffalo onscreen bantering, which was pretty awesome.

As with all of these Marvel films, watch to the end of the credits – there’s a teaser for a future adventure. Hopefully, The Avengers 2 – let’s get these guys back together. Oooh, just checked IMDB… The Avengers 2 – 2015!

The Avengers was nominated for an Oscar for Visual Effects and a BAFTA for Special Visual Effects.

Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010) Film Reviews

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr) is the egomaniac head of Stark Industries, a multinational corporation that deals with a variety of technology, including arms dealing. In Afghanistan, after demonstrating the power of a new weapon to potential buyers, Stark is captured by a terrorist group who want him to build the weapon for him in a cave. In the capture, he is wounded by shrapnel which has left large amounts of metal in his body, and a fellow captive has created a powerful magnet to keep the scraps from entering his heart and killing him. Instead of building the weapon, he improves the magnet so it is self-powered and builds a suit of iron – the first stage of Iron Man.

Escaping and returning to the US, Stark removes arms sales from his company, causing share prices to drop. His passion becomes using his technology for good, but he has powerful enemies who are not happy with the path he is taking.

Iron Man is a great action film, with lots of explosions and big fights combined with humour and the delightful charisma of Stark. Of course, as all good action films should, it leads up to a massive battle between Stark and his nemesis.

Coming back in Iron Man 2, Stark has outed himself to the world as a superhero, and this has brought the wrath of Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) the son of a Russian scientist who worked with Tony Stark’s father in the fifties and sixties. Vanko wants revenge and uses the same technology that Stark possesses to create great big huge electrical whips – big enough to cut a car in half during the Monaco Gran Prix. The US government wants to own the technology that Stark uses for his Iron Man suit to create an army, but Stark refuses to sell, even after a formal governmental enquiry. Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) is an arms dealer who wants to develop Iron Man suits, and manages to get Vanko on board. Unsurprisingly, Vanko does not share the vision of Hammer, and a massive battle ensues, with Stark paired up with his army contact  Lt. Col. Rhodes (Don Cheedle) to fight the final battle. This second film takes the fight sequences to a ridiculous height, and I loved every moment of it. I believe there is a third Iron Man in the making, and I can’t wait. Even with Gwyneth Paltrow totally miscast as Pepper Potts (and I’m a Paltrow fan, I just didn’t buy her in this role) it was a wonderful and ridiculous piece of cinema.

Hang about until the end of the credits to see the teaser for another Marvel flick.

The Other Guys (2010) Film Review

Every time I try to tell someone about this film, I get so excited by it that I end up watching it. It happened again last weekend. I don’t think The Other Guys did very well at the cinemas, which is a darned shame. Here’s the low down.

Due to a hilarious mishap, the heroes of the New York City Police Department (Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnston and Samuel L Jackson) are no longer the top cops and some of the other guys are trying to step up. Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) is an excellent cop who made a career destroying mistake which has left him attending a ridiculous support group and partnered with forensic accountant Alan Gamble (Will Ferrell). Martin(Rob Riggle) and Fosse (Damon Wayans Jnr) are two other cops desperate to get in on the action, and who are utterly terrible at delivering an action movie-style one-liner. Love it. When Gamble accidentally stumbles across a conspiracy, they have to go rogue to try to find justice.

I reckon that the storyline is a bit weak, especially some of the details regarding the conspiracy, but I don’t care. The film is just so funny and absurd that I love it. From the whisper fight to the mysterious attraction of Gamble and the skills that Hoitz developed as a child to bully other children, it’s marvelous. I am a fan of Ferrell, and I think if you don’t like him and his humour, you probably won’t like this film. However, there is an amazing supporting cast including the marvellous Steve Cogan as the incompetent businessman and Eva Mendez as the ‘plain’ wife of Alan Gamble. Plus, it was totally and utterly wonderful to see Michael Keaton back on the screen as the fantastic police chief with a part-time job at Bed, Bath and Beyond who is constantly accidentally quoting TLC. Too good.

Now I’ve said all of that, I just want to watch it again. Hilarious.