Category Archives: Frenetic

Action Film, Action Hero, Chase film, Frenetic, Invincible Hero, Mayhem, Murder Investigation, Police Corruption, Some exaggerated violence, Suspense, Unrealistic, Violent

Schutzengel (2012)

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From IMDB:

A troubled veteran from the war in Afghanistan works to protect an orphaned teenager who witnessed a murder from the killer’s henchmen.

My German son-in-law Thomas played his European version DVD
of this German film (with English or German subtitles) for me when we visited Thomas and daughter Kate in London. Amazon sells both a Blu-ray and DVD version, BUT I am not sure these versions can be played in the USA.

Til Schweiger is a famous German movie star whom you may recognize as Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz in “Inglourious Basterds” from 2009. In Schutzengel (which means “guardian angel”) he is a brooding action figure that is seemingly invincible. Against a dozen armed assassins he never seems to miss a shot. In this film his daughter Luna Schweiger plays a young orphan.

Good guy versus a bunch of bad guys makes for some fun action.

2010, 2012, Acceptable Trash, Australian, Black humor, Born Again Christians, Comedy, Corruption, Crude Talk, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Explicit sexual discussion, Farce, Father-son relations, Financial malfeasance, Flirting, Frenetic, Gambling, Lawyers, Lot's of Fun, Marital Infidelity, Murder Investigation, Murder Trial, Netflix Streaming, Outrageous Behavior, Police Corruption, Prostitutes, Revenge, Senior citizens, Sex Scenes, Somewhat ridiculous plot, Suspense, Teenagers, Transvestite theme, Violent, Vulgar, Witty dialog

Rake (2010)

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From NetFlix:

While Cleaver Greene is a brilliant and driven attorney, he’s also an ex-druggie, a current gambling addict and loathed by many of his colleagues.

Four years after I first reviewed this nutty series it is now 2020 and there are 5 seasons of this outrageous and sometimes really funny series.  Just remember: it is really vulgar.

Each season has 8 episodes lasting about an hour. Probably the best service I an provide is to copy a description of each season.

Season 1 –

Richard Roxburgh is Cleaver Greene, a brilliant barrister battling self-destructive tendencies in this hit Australian comedy-drama. As a lawyer, Cleaver prefers to defend those who are utterly hopeless and probably guilty; his clients include murderers, bigamists, and even cannibals. Despite his roguish ways, Cleaver’s wit and charm have won him many cases and loyal friends over the years.

Season 2 –

An alcoholic and former cocaine addict, Cleaver runs up huge gambling debts and makes enemies of gangsters and politicians alike. Despite his roguish ways, Cleaver’s wit and charm have won him many cases and loyal friends over the years.

Season 3 –

As the third season of this acclaimed Aussie drama opens, Cleaver Greene’s life is once again heading south. Clients are rejecting him and he struggles to find anything resembling a case. He takes on a mid-range drink driving charge that he tries to make into a cause célèbre.

Season 4 –

Smart but self-destructive lawyer Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh, Moulin Rouge!, Van Helsing) faces new challenges in the fourth season of the hit Australian comedy-drama. Last seen dangling from a runaway hot air balloon, Cleaver inadvertently crosses paths with a wanted criminal.

Season 5 –

The final season of this “ever-sparkling comedic drama” (The Guardian) sees Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh, Moulin Rouge!) in the Australian Senate, having won on a pledge to do nothing. But even his low expectations fall short of the absurd reality, as he faces a political nemesis.

—————— FIRST REVIEW IN 2016 —————————–

How can two seasons (8 episodes per season) of a Australian comedy series with negative social value be so entertaining? Answer number one: it helps if the viewer is somewhat immature with a really jaded sense of humor. Answer number two: despite the completely salacious series of situations, the plot lines are complicatedly clever. Answer number three: it is just plain fun to watch Cleaver Green go from screw-up to screw-up, sleeping with just about every woman he comes across.

Will all Cleaver’s misadventures eventually catch up with him by episode 16? Stay tuned if you like exaggerated British satire.

2012, Action Film, British, Car Chase, Chase film, Frenetic, Good digital effects, Mayhem, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Spy Theme, Suspense, Violent, Witty dialog

Skyfall (2012)

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From Netflix:

When a serious menace threatens MI6, James Bond is on the case — putting aside his own life and personal issues to hunt and obliterate the perpetrators. Meanwhile, secrets arise from M’s past that strain Bond’s loyalty to his longtime boss.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour 23 minute action film.

If nothing else, don’t miss the opening chase scene, possibly the current champion in the race to create ever more frantic and probably impossible chases. Comparing this James Bond film with past efforts shows how far film-makers have progressed in their craft. Just how do you make a London subway train crash through its track floor?

Something new has been added: Both M and James are supposedly getting older which pretends to be the main theme in the film. Of course, James appears in some sex scenes. Perhaps it is just his face, which was made to look if not old then at least really haggard (whereas his body is in very good shape, something that make-up probably cannot hide). Indeed he can stay underwater for 15 minutes and tends to leap over tall buildings (reality is just not important). During the filming he was a young 44 years of age.

As M, Judy Dench fits the bill very well. And she at times in the film looks really old! But let’s give her a break because during the filming she was a young 78 years of age.

Creepy surprise: Javier Bardem knows how to make a really hammy villain. Should we ask how he managed to get a mouthful of decayed teeth? He is the kid on the block because during filming he was a mere 43 years old.

Never mind what the critics say, if you are a James Bond fan then this is just another in a long line of eye-candy adventures.

2013, Action Film, Conspiracy, FilmReview, Frenetic, Nothing special, Revenge, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Witty dialog

White House Down (2013)

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From Netflix:

When a paramilitary group engineers a violent takeover of the White House, the president must try to hide from the attackers until he can be rescued. Caught up in the chaos, Secret Service agent John Cale ends up becoming his sole protection.

Just a short while ago we were treated to “Olympus Has Fallen“. Since then the theme hasn’t changed much. Just substitute Channing Tatum for Gerald Butler.

There is some humor injected into all the violence. Did you know that John Kennedy used the White House underground catacombs to sneak in Marilyn Monroe? History, after all, is important.

My inner adolescent had fun watching the same-old same-old. Do you think my inner adolescent will ever grow up?

2013, Adventure, Airline pilot, Amputee, Could Be Hard To Watch, Creepy, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Frenetic, Grim, Mayhem, Medical Theme, Military, Occasional gore, Optimistic, Suicide, Suspense, Violent, Zombies

World War Z (2013)

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From Netflix:

A U.N. employee races against time and fate as he travels the world trying to stop the spread of a deadly zombie pandemic. As the undead hordes gain strength across the globe, governments topple and Earth stands on the brink of total social collapse.

If you are not eager to see virus-crazed “zombies” infecting other humans by biting, crowds of panicky people running to nowhere, bodies flying through the air, exploding airplanes, and very tense escape sequences, then DO NOT SEE THIS FILM!

On the other hand I love suspense and the various episodes in this fright-fare are indeed some of the scariest I have seen in a long while. In fact the tension mounts throughout the film. Probably the most nerve-wracking sequence has Brad Pitt at the W.H.O headquarters in Wales trying to get to some needed stored virus while avoiding the already infected “zombies” at W.H.O. Of course you understand (we learn this early in the film) that noise is what sets these critters in motion.

As far as endings go, the authors found an excellent way to finish the story.

You have been duly warned. However, in the category of well-plotted, not silly, visually and emotionally explosive scare-mares, DO NOT MISS!

2013, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Action Film, Corny, Frenetic, Nothing special, Orchestral Music, Sci-Fi, Violent

Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

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From Netflix:

This sequel returns much of the cast from the Star Trek feature released in 2009, breathing new life into the seemingly ageless space franchise. Led by the intrepid Captain Kirk, the Enterprise crew still includes Scotty, Spock and Chekov as well.

If you are a fourteen year old male or have left in your psyche enough adolescence, then you might enjoy this nothing-special sequel to a sequel to a ….

As far as digital effects go, the eye-candy is just fine. If you don’t mind an incredibly over-sentimental (in fact, downright sloppy) script, then jump right in. Maybe you will watch out of sheer perverse loyalty.

2013, Action Film, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, Frenetic, Mayhem, Military, North Korea, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Thriller, Violent

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

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From Netflix:

Director Antoine Fuqua’s action thriller stars Gerard Butler as a disgraced Secret Service agent who must come to the rescue when Korean terrorists descend on the White House and take the president hostage.

Are we seeing a competition among movie makers to create more and more violent mayhem on screen? But so what! This particular film kills just about every U.S. employee possible, destroys the White House, lots of automobiles, and at least 5 helicopters. Despite what seems like the usual number of explosions this is a well-made, exciting, could-it-ever-happen action film just made for an alpha-male actor such as Gerard Butler.

If we ever look back to this film review, let’s note that it is the year 2013 and since every such film needs a villain, this year’s choice seems to be North Korea. Do you think the starving people in North Korea will ever be offended by this film?

From Google I found references to Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards hell. Who knows if we could really detonate all our underground missiles at once while they are still in the ground?

Perhaps I am an action-film junkie, but I could not stop watching.

2013, Car Chase, Crime, Crude Talk, Frenetic, Gangs, Mediocre, Mixed Martial Arts, Nothing special, Revenge, Violent

Parker (2013)

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From Netflix:

Parker is a thief who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don’t steal from people who can’t afford it, and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it. But when his crew double-crosses him, Parker teams up with an unlikely partner to even the score.

If you like Jason Statham then you will like this film since it is pretty much like all his other films: much violent action, unconvincing romantic touches, and an amoral philosophy.

This last note bothered me: the film for the most part condones and makes attractive stealing and killing. “Don’t steal from people who can’t afford it, and don’t hurt people who don’t deserve it.” What nonsense! It is OK to kill crooks because they are nasty people. It is OK to steal jewelry from other crooks have already stolen the jewelry – but wait: did not that jewelry originally belong to someone? At least Jennifer Lopez gets to live happily ever after with the proceeds from selling those stolen gems.

Is there something wrong with Nick Nolte’s throat ?

If you are not a solid Jason Statham fan, don’t bother with this film.

2007, Chase film, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, FBI, Frenetic, Mayhem, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Vulgar

Live Free or Die Hard(2007)

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From NetFlix:

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back and badder than ever, and this time he’s working for Homeland Security. He calls on the services of a young hacker (Justin Long) in his bid to stop a ring of Internet terrorists intent on taking control of America’s computer infrastructure. Fear not, the information-age plot still boasts plenty of good old-fashioned gunfights, smash-ups and explosions.

Just a short review:

  • Die Hard (1988)
  • Die Harder (1990)
  • Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
  • Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
  • A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

So why bother since they are all more or less the same ? Well, the car wrecks and car chases and exploding buildings and gun fights sometimes are all my aging immature mind can handle.

Let’s just hope that the movie is just fiction and it is not all that easy to take the country down using computer hacking. Maybe I’ll just keep my money in my mattress.

2012, Corny, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dancing, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Dysfunctional Lives, Feel Good Not For Children, Frenetic, Manic depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Sports

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

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From NetFlix:

After a four-year stay in a psychiatric institution, former teacher Pat Peoples has no choice but to move back in with his mother. While he’s trying in vain to reunite with his wife, Pat meets another woman fated to change his life.

Let me make several observations:

  • I LOVED THIS FILM!
  • You will either love or hate this film.
  • Probably the best adjective that describes this film is “manic-depressive” or more accurately “manic”. At the very least it is never boring.
  • From time to time certain scenes might make you cringe.
  • Actors in the film have mastered “speed-speaking”.
  • Bradley Cooper is brilliant.
  • Jennifer Lawrence is beautiful. More importantly she is a perfect counterpart to Bradley Cooper. They must have rehearsed for hours to get their fast (everything in this film is fast) dialog so well tuned.
  • Don’t miss the dance scenes. Is that really Bradley and Jennifer dancing or is it faked?
  • Robert Di Niro is convincing with his own Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His trying to connect with his son is touching.
  • Betting on sports is insane.
  • Betting on a dance contest is even more insane.
  • Cheers to Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher and John Ortiz for providing such great supporting roles.
  • Is the last part of the film a bit corny?

Are these observations enough to get you interested in a film that I highly recommend. DO NOT MISS!