Tag: ian mcshane

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Movie Review: John Wick (2014) – An Action Movie by Guys who Really Know Action

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Keanu Reeves as John Wick holding up a dog

While revenge fantasies have been well covered in the theater, there’s still something about them that sucks us all in. Produced by two former stuntmen, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, this is a movie made for people who like action, by a couple of guys who really know action.

Keanu Reeves plays the title character, John Wick. When we meet Mr. Wick, he’s living the quiet life in New Jersey, happily spending time with a puppy bought for him by his dead wife. Then, enter some Russian mobsters, who see his flashy car decide to break into his house and beat the stuffing out of him, as well as murder his dog. What these mobsters didn’t know was that Wick is a retired assassin and apparently, a very passionate dog lover. What follows is Wick leaving a trail of bodies from New Jersey to New York, with no plan to stop until just about everyone is dead.

My biggest gripe? Puppy murder. I really can’t handle that. When a dog dies in a movie, I get so upset, it’s usually pretty hard to concentrate on anything else. On the upside, because it’s a revenge flick, I was able to get behind Wick’s killing spree. Still, I wish they had made it a cat instead.

John Wick Movie Still fight scene

Reeves doesn’t have much range. Let’s admit that. But in stylish action, he knows how to shine. He’s pretty much played the same character since the Matrix, but he plays it well. He’s a one man killing machine.

The movie isn’t all about the big explosions. Instead, it follows the slow escalation. Wick’s initially going after some street thugs, and then eventually he’s taking on the entire Russian mob.

Another problem occurred towards the end, when Wick has finally been caught by the Russians. Despite knowing that Wick is just about the deadliest assassin who ever existed, the head of the family decides to talk to him for ten minutes and then leave the room, sure that his henchmen will be able to carry out the murder. Of course, that doesn’t happen.

John-Wick gun shooting Keanu Reeves movie scene

This is a good effort for a revenge movie and I liked what he was getting revenge for; puppy murder. Who can’t get behind a guy going after a bunch of pricks who would murder a puppy? I know John Wick is my personal hero for that reason alone. Has anyone considered giving him Michael Vick’s address?

I like it when action doesn’t go over the top in ways of huge explosion and hour long fights, and this movie does well in that. The build up does come to a pretty satisfying conclusion, but you’re not going to go deaf from listening to explosions every twelve seconds.

It’s a unique twist on a revenge movie and the plot is well driven, unfolding at an even pace. It’s entertaining, but not over the top. This is not an action movie that tries too hard. Instead, it’s a stylish movie with a bad guy you can really hate (puppy murderer) and a good guy you can get behind. While not all the plot points meet up, it’s still worth the watch.

WE GAVE IT: 4 Stars – Watch the Official Trailer and Official Movie Poster below!

4 stars

 

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Keanu Reeves Looks Better Than Ever In First “John Wick” Trailer

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A week ago, most people didn’t even know Keanu Reeves was starring in a new movie. John Wick, which is directed by David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, hasn’t really had a lot of promotion. And they don’t have much time to get the ball of gimmicks rolling because the film will be released nationwide October 24!

The film stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane and Adrienne Palicki. Reeves plays an ex-hitman who comes out of retirement when he finds out an old friend has been contracted by a crime boss to kill him.

While no one expects this film to take home any awards, it does look like it will be entertaining. That’s pretty much the story of Keanu Reeves’ career. He might not be the best actor in Hollywood, but he sure does like to have fun.

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Okay, we didn’t say he liked to have fun all the time. Anyway, go out and support this film. Keanu Reeves is a good dude, and there are probably worse ways to spend a Friday night.

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Movie Review: Hercules (2014) – Dwayne Johnson was better than the film he was in.

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HERCULES

Thanks to all the hype from Hercules, I didn’t volunteer to see it. I was required to see it. Two government agents dropped by my house, put me in a car and delivered me to the movie theater. Currently sitting at number 2 in the box office, Hercules was beat out by Lucy but still seems to be appealing to fans.

This Hercules boasts a new swing on an old premise. In this version, Hercules (played by Dwayne Johnson in a bad wig) isn’t the son of Zeus. He’s an orphan. He’s simply been cashing in on his reputation over the years in order to make more money as a mercenary. This is an ongoing conflict throughout the movie. When Lord Cotys of Thrace (John Hurt) is about to fight a civil war with a sorcerer, Hercules, along with 5 friends, is quick to take on the task. Then, massive battle scenes ensue and Dwayne Johnson grunts and yells a lot.

First, I love the premise because it’s the most believable version of Hercules I’ve ever seen. It really is an interesting take, regulating the character Hercules to nothing more than a Jersey Shore cast member. Hercules was famous for being famous and cashing in on that fame. Unfortunately, this clever premise is never really examined and instead, the move focuses on CGI and epic battle scenes.

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As it goes on, it gets more and more improbable. Usually, I wouldn’t have a problem with this in a Hercules movie; after all, the whole story of Hercules is completely improbable. But this movie promised a realistic premise at the beginning and didn’t deliver in the end.

On the upside, Dwayne Johnson can act. I will say that I think he’s one of the best Hercules’ I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen a lot. What can I say? I like a muscular man running around with his shirt off. Johnson gives a new depth to a character that most actors tend to play as a one dimensional golden boy. Johnson was better than the film he was in.

The problem with this film is that instead of exploring an excellent premise, which even give a decent back story, it instead dissolved into self-empowerment psychobabble. At one point, Hercules proudly declares , “you just have to believe you’re a hero.” Oh good lord, insert eye roll.

If anyone should have been conflicted over whether he was a hero, it should have been Hercules himself. Is it weird that I think the screenwriter missed the point of their own script?

The battle scenes and CGI are well done. It’s not silly, like the previous bomb involving the legendary hero, The Legend of Hercules, released this past January. The special effects department was clearly working overtime on this one. The battle scenes are bloody and pretty conventional, with lots of death and lots of people getting hacked up.

I will say Hercules is an entertaining movie. It’s enjoyable to watch and Dwayne Johnson is just as charismatic as he’s always been. My big problem it that this movie could have been so much better if they had focused on the premise of legend over fact, rather than tried to turn the story into an inspirational self help book.

WE GAVE IT: 3.5  Stars: Official Movie Trailer and Movie Poster Below

 

3.5 stars

 

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Movie Review: Cuban Fury (2014)

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Cuban-Fury-2013-Movie-PosterIt’s been done worse, and it’s been done better.

stars

Cuban Fury teaches us one thing; white people dancing are funny. While the movie is hardly going to set the world on fire, Cuban Fury does have some redeeming values.

We meet Bruce (Nick Frost), a former salsa dancer from the heyday in the 90s when white people still did it. His tragic back-story includes being a chubby down on his luck everyman who was once forced to eat his own sequins by a group of bullies. Twenty-five years after the sequin incident, he meets his new boss, Julia (Rashida Jones), who just happens to be crazy about the salsa. Complicating matters is his arch nemesis (Chris O’Dowd) playing Bruce’s snide co-worker who vies for Julia’s attentions.

Frost is the perfect lovable loser and he charms in this film, because it’s not your standard ‘fat guy falling down’ gag. Instead, he’s oddly graceful and oddly pitiable, commanding both ridicule and respect. Weirdly, the movie actually treats chubby guys pretty well, which is strange for a comedy.

It doesn’t treat woman quiet as well. Rashida Jones charms as Julia, but you don’t really understand her motivations. First, she’s the boss of these guys and they’re fighting over her, despite the fact that she’s never even seemed remotely interested. Then, all the sudden, she’d picking one? Are they the only two guys left on the planet?

I mean, the premise is sweet, but I’ve never had a man dance his way into my heart.

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The movie does have a few good laughs in it, and it doesn’t rely on the lead getting beat up all the time to do it. There’s interesting pacing to the movie, in that one moment the main character is commanding respect, and the next he’s making a fool of himself.

This is not a never been done before premise. It’s another movie featuring an out of shape loser, who meets a pretty girl, cleans up his act, and defeats an inexplicably mean bad guy. The character gets in shape with the help of a montage, the underdog wins and the guy gets the girl. It’s been done worse, and it’s been done better. Cuban Fury is no stand out, but it’s not the worst movie I’ve ever seen.

cuban fury 2

 

cuban fury

 

The majority of the movie focuses on the love interests, as opposed to the salsa dancing, despite the fact that the two don’t have any real chemistry. When the inevitable love match comes, the audience is left thinking “I give it a week’ rather than “hooray!”.

This is a less classy version of Strictly Ballroom and a much less funny version of the Wedding Singer. There wasn’t enough chemistry between the two leads to turn it into a viable rom-com, but there wasn’t enough humor to turn it into straight up comedy. It fell strictly in the middle.

While Cuban Fury will hardly get you dancing, it will help you remember those embarrassing days at Salsa class in the 90s. It might be worth the watch if you catch it on video, but I wouldn’t make the trip to the theater for it.  Watch the Cuban Fury Official Trailer below:

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The Rock Shows us What Hercules Should Look like in new Official Trailer!

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Here we go. After all of the tweeting and Instagram from The Rock, we now have an official trailer.  If this trailer is any indication on how good the movie is going to be then I’m in.  Boy O’Boy am I in!!

The Rock’s version of Hercules is based on the graphic novel “Hercules: The Thracian Wars”.  When you see the words “Graphic Novel” then you should immediacy dispel any Disney Hercules comparisons and after you watch this trailer you will see that this is clearly much more graphic much darker and possibly a whole lot awesome-er then any of the past Hercules movies or TV series.

After Twightlight Star, Kellan Lutz poo-pooed all over “The Legend of Hercules” earlier this year, The Rock’s version promises to deliver on the title.  In the trailer you will see Hercules go toe to toe with some insanely well done mythical creatures.  The Rock is larger than life, the creatures are captivating and the love interest appears to be Russian super model Irina Shayk.  If this movie had a plot it would be a bonus.

The film is scheduled to be released on July 25th.  Watch the Official trailer below.

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