Category Archives: Action Film

2013, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Action Film, Action Hero, Based on a Book, Good digital effects, Mediocre, Nothing special, Violent

Oblivion (2013)

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From Netflix:

High above a war-torn future Earth, Cmdr. Jack Harper is maintaining the planet’s defensive drones when a crippled starship enters his territory. Its sole occupant, a mysterious woman, leads Harper to shocking truths about humankind’s legacy.

Good digital graphics, plausible plot and the usual really bad guy (a machine named TET) versus some nice survivors make this nothing-special sci-fi film bearable. Fortunately Tom Cruise does not try to act, pulling instead that old trick of keeping a perfectly straight face and letting you supply appropriate emotions on his behalf.

If the ending confuses you, you might try believing the plot description in Wikepedia.

If you have nothing better to do, then the adventure may not be a total loss.

2013, Abduction, Action Film, Action Hero, Chase film, Clever Plot, Could Be Hard To Watch, Creepy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Kidnapping, Prison, Sadism, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller, Violent

The Prey (2013)

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From Netflix:

This thriller follows the ups and downs of thief Franck Adrien, who’s serving prison time for a job whose proceeds he’s safely stashed away. But when the hidden loot and his family are compromised, Franck has no choice but to bust out early.

When you start to watch this film you get a choice of the original French version or the Americanized (i.e. dubbed) version. In addition with the English version you can select subtitles.

Brace yourselves because this is a very exciting, tense, well-done and violent French film. According to IMDB Albert Dupontel (the prison escapee Franck Adrien) has an impressive acting resumé. What does strain credibility is the actor’s superman ability to run, fight, leap from tall heights, recover from wounds and escape the police over and over. But then American movies are full of unbelievable superheroes.

In some sense the real star of the film is Stéphane Debac who plays Jean-Louis Maurel, a really creepy, clever, manipulative, charming serial killer of young girls. He kidnaps Franck Adrien’s little girl. Originally Franck escaped prison because he thought his $2 million stash was in danger. But most of the film concerns his efforts to rescue his daughter.

Suspense lasts till the last moment. If you like a really tight, tense plot then DO NOT MISS!

2013, Action Film, Amusing banter, Car Chase, CIA, Complicated, Conspiracy, Corruption, Crime, Cynical, Flirting, Gangs, Mayhem, Military, Navy, Nudity, Plot Twist, Violent, Witty dialog

2 Guns (2013)

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From Netflix:

Two special agents — one Naval intelligence, one DEA — partner for an undercover sting against a drug cartel that takes a serious wrong turn. Disavowed by their agencies, the pair goes on the run while trying to find out who set them up.

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg make a fun team in this twisting and turning romp. According to the film’s philosophy just about everybody is a crook. Just start off by thinking the pair are just a couple of crooks aiming to rob a bank and let the plot take you by surprise. Many of today’s action films feature clever repartee between characters and this film is no exception. Needless to say the film is violent. As for sex, Paula Patton is slightly naked in just one scene.

Only in our cynical age could such plots be possible. Just because in fact the CIA installed our Pinochet in Chile after murdering Allende is no reason to think that CIA agents might be dishonest.

Have fun!

Acceptable Trash, Action Film, Action Hero, Digital Effects, Fantasy, Gangs, Mayhem, Mixed Martial Arts, Ninja Warriors, Revenge, Violent

The Wolverine (2013)

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From Netflix:

Wolverine travels to modern-day Japan in this kaleidoscopic epic based on the Marvel Comics character. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his limits, Logan confronts lethal samurai steel and his inner struggle against his own immortality.

Some digital effect films are really stupid (e.g. “R.I.P.D.”) but sometimes the effects fit so well into the story in an unexaggerated way that they are fun to watch.

Hugh Jackman does just what he supposed to do: be muscular, be really angry most of the time, and get into a lot of steel-claw-ripping fights. Why else would you watch this film?

If you can get past the lovely woman with the serpent’s tongue, then there is enough sensible plot to get you through at least two bags of popcorn. It also helps if you are a fan of ninja warriors.

Some few details are not really explained: Hugh seems to lose and then regain his steel claws several times.

There is even somewhat of a surprise twist in the last fight sequence. At least I did not see it coming.

Why do these action films include our hero falling in love? Somehow, it just does not work.

Well-done digital kid stuff! Enjoy the popcorn.

2013, Action Film, Good digital effects, Love Story, Medical Theme, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

Elysium (2013)

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From Netflix:

In this dystopian thriller set in 2159, the wealthiest humans move to a fabulous private space station, while life on Earth grows ever more grim. With no other options, an ex-con agrees to join a risky mission to bring balance to the two worlds.

Is science fiction pessimistic or realistic? First read a newspaper and then tell me the gap between rich and poor is not widening. As a limit to this widening gap we have “Blade Runner” and “Elysium”. In both cases planet Earth is a real mess. Enter Matt Damon who tries to lead an honest life inside this earthly mess. Eventually industry mismanagement accidentally dooms him to death by radiation exposure. To save his own life he undergoes a painful physical operation to become a bit robot-like. What carries the film along is not Damon’s merely acceptable acting, but rather the plot.

As far as acting goes, Jodie Foster can be one real hard-hearted woman. Sit back and watch her make nasty “management” decisions.

Every successful sci-fi film needs some “gimmick”. In this case households in Elysium each have a machine that can cure any human illness. Sign me up!

2013, Acceptable for children, Action Film, B-movie, Bullying, Corny, Could be boring, Fantasy, FBI, Good digital effects, Mayhem, Sci-Fi, Violent

Man of Steel (2013)

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From Netflix:

In another revival of the Superman legend, reporter Clark Kent must keep his alien origins and fantastic powers hidden from the world at large. But when the Kryptonian General Zod plans to destroy Earth, the Man of Steel springs into heroic action.

No amount of digital eye-candy can turn a B-movie into an A-movie. Kids (some of whom are in their 70’s) will enjoy the visuals. However, if you are looking for anything but corny dialog and bathos, look elsewhere.

How does it happen so often that such an extravaganza features as actors a long list of well-known personalities? Look for Michael Shannon, Diane Lane, Russell Crowe, Richard Schiff, Christopher Meloni, Kevin Costner, Lawrence Fishburne. And the list goes on. Assumedly they were each paid a great deal of money.

To be sure, the bullies never win. But it might be almost boring fun watching them try. For awhile my money was on the evil General Zod and his evolutionarily advanced buddies.

2010, Acceptable Trash, Action Film, British, Car Chase, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, Explicit sex, International thriler, Kidnapping, Marital Infidelity, Military, Mixed Martial Arts, Nudity, Revenge, Spy Theme, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Thriller, Torture, TV Series, Violent

Strike Back (2010)

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From Netflix:

Two members of an elite, secret branch of MI6 — a British sergeant and former U.S. Delta Force operative — track an international terrorist around the globe to thwart his plans to use weapons of mass destruction for a deadly attack.

Let’s suppose you read detective novels. Isn’t one novel similar to the next in many ways? But still you read the novels because you enjoy them.

Let’s suppose you love basketball. Isn’t one game similar to the next is many ways” But still you watch basketball.

In like manner “Strike Back” is a clone of, for example, “MI-5“. But still I continue to get an adolescent kick out of watching the good guys shoot the bad guys. However, the distinction between good guys and bad guys is ever more blurred in TV series such as “Strike Back” and others. Indeed a recurring theme is that of morally ambivalent choices directors make to achieve the “greater good”. “Collateral damage” anyone?

On a personal level this series features a competitive bromance between Philip Winchester (Sgt. Michael Stonebridge) and Sullivan Stapleton (Sgt. Damien Scott).

As an added bonus you are guaranteed in each episode to see (a usually naked) Sullivan Stapleton having sex with some (almost certainly naked) attractive and amply endowed woman. We call this bonus feature “Great Expectations”.

OK kids, have fun watching all the violence. Who do you suppose pays for all those exploded automobiles?

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, Action Film, Father-son relations, Good digital effects, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Wonderful photography

After Earth (2013)

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From NetFlix:

A thousand years in the future, Gen. Cypher Raige and his young son, Kitai, crash-land their crippled ship on the long-abandoned, desolate Earth. With his father near death, Kitai sets out to find a beacon that will save them from certain doom.

If nothing else, the visual effects and scenery are worth watching. Although Avatar was more fantastic (in the literal sense), still this film reminds me of Avatar. Digital artistry just gets better and better. Hopefully, the other aspects of a film will keep pace: story, acting, and something in the plot that connects to the human experience.

Up to now Will Smith has had mostly comedy roles and never seemed destined for anything deeper. Here he is a much more serious actor, although it is still science fiction, after all. If anything the story revolves completely around his relation as a Ranger General with his son who aspires to also be a Ranger.

Imaginative and realistic suspense is ever present as the son fights the savage nature of a now-primitive Earth in order to save both his life and that of his injured father.

If you liked “Avatar” or if you are a sci-fi fan, then this well constructed film is for you. (Could be scary for young children).