Category Archives: Some exaggerated violence

2019, Acceptable Trash, Action sequences, Amazon Prime, Bloody scenes, Bullying, Controlling personality, Corny at times, Corrupt Pharmaceutical Firm, Ending demands sequel, Explicit sex, Extremely Violent, Fantasy, Father-son relations, Fist Fight, Flashbacks, Greed vs Common Good, Invincible villain, Lesbian Theme, Love Story, Martial Arts, Mayhem, Mother-son relations, Narcissist, Nudity, Outrageous Behavior, Political references, Pornographic Scenes, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Some exaggerated violence, Somewhat ridiculous plot, Super Hero, Violent, Vulgar

The Boys (2019)

From Amazon Prime:

THE BOYS is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians and as revered as Gods, abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. It’s the powerless against the super powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose the truth about “The Seven,” and their formidable Vought backing.

With the help of Amazon Prime you might be willing to waste your idle time streaming 3 seasons of this super romp.  Each season consists of 8 episodes. Each episode lasts about 1 hour.

Calling all “adolescents at heart.”  There is very little point in being serious about this endless 24-episode mindless fantasy,  although I am forced to admit that despite all the nonsense, the acting is at times (but only at times) in the ranges acceptable to good.  Moreover, if you are interested in pornographic nudity, you will not be disappointed in this often raunchy farce.

1999, Action Film, Bloody scenes, Brother-Brother relations, Bumbling Detective, Coarse manners, Cross Dressing, Detective, Eccentric Detective, Ethical struggles, Exaggeration Comedy, Extreme Violence as Comedy, Fist Fight, Gangs, Gay theme, Kanopy streaming, Mayhem, Murder, Physical fighting, Police Culture, Religious Nonsense, Russian Gang, Some exaggerated violence, Suspense, Uncategorized, Violent

The Boondock Saints (1999)

From IMDB:

Fraternal twins Murphy (Norman Reedus, THE WALKING DEAD) and Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery, POWDER) become vigilantes after killing two members of the Russian Mafia in self-defense. After both experience an epiphany, the brothers set out to rid Boston of evil while being tracked down by FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe, SPIDERMAN, PLATOON, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE) in this stylish and violent crowd-pleaser. “Willem Dafoe’s portrayal of the conflicted homosexual FBI agent is overacted to such an extent that it is hilarious, amazing and entertaining. His is an unforgettable character.” – Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 48 minute complete film.

As irreverent and violent as this film is, it is Willem Dafoe’s eccentric  performance that makes the story “a real hoot (i.e. funny)”.  He is described as a “conflicted homosexual” detective.  “Conflicted” means he has to choose between arresting both Connor and Murphy MacManus or allowing them to continue murdering untouchable gang members and their gang leaders.  But I’ll never tell, just watch the farce.

“Violent” here means that kind of exaggerated, murderous violence that is so extreme that it is a comically orchestrated dance. Other such films include “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”.

More guilty, violent pleasure.

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.

2005, Action Film, Action Hero, Bloody scenes, British, Conspiracy, Corny at times, Dancing, Dystopia, Lesbian Theme, Mild Torture, Prison, Revenge, Some exaggerated violence, Unscrupulous drive to power, Violent

V for Vendetta (2005)

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From NetFlix:

A masked freedom fighter known as “V” takes up arms against the totalitarian government in a futuristic Britain. Finding an unlikely ally in a young woman named Evey Hammond, V urges the citizenry to fight the oppression of the state.

Who doesn’t get involved when it’s really nasty, mean bad guys against all us good guys? Add to this a huge movie set (which happens to be London) where lots of buildings get blown up, plenty of blood is spilled, and good triumphs over evil in a fireworks filled finale. What kind of digital photographic magic was used to show the population of London converging on Trafalgar Square all dressed like V himself? Kid stuff maybe, but I was glued to my seat. Just plain old revenge is always fulfilling.

Natalie Portman is beautiful, even without hair. Best of all was “THE VOICE” of V brought to you by Hugo Weaving whose biography stresses his “deep dramatic, rich yet flawless voice characterized by a calm, reserved delivery of his lines.” And there are a zillion other well-known British actors all doing their part to bring us 132 minutes of mindless entertainment.

Just pretend you are ten years old, sit back, and enjoy.

2013, Gangs, Love Story, Revenge, Some exaggerated violence, Suspense, Violent

Dead Man Down (2013)

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From Netflix:

This taut crime thriller stars Colin Farrell as a brutal gang enforcer who falls for a woman bent on exacting revenge on his boss. Via seduction and blackmail, the woman persuades the gangster to help her achieve a bloody payback.

Do not be put off by the opening violence that makes the film look like every other shoot-em-up Hollywood knockoff. Only at the end is there another explosion of exaggerated destruction. In between, the largest segment of the film by far, the interplay between Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace (Oh my gosh! It’s the Swedish Lisbeth Salander of the Millenium trilogy!) is downright poignant. What makes the give and take so appealing is the silence and hesitancy. As part of that, Colin Farrell says very little. My cynical comment here is that a clever acting trick is to keep your mouth shut and let the audience think for the character. So let’s just say that Farrell’s tortured facial expressions effectively substitute for a lot that goes unsaid.

Colin Farrell grabbed a very suitable script for himself. Not bad!