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The Shadow Strays (2024)
Timo Does It Again
Timo Tjahjanto is one of the best martial arts action film makers of the last thirty (30) years, maybe ever. His Headshot is fantastic. The Night Comes For Us one of the best action film's of all time. The fight scene between Joe Slim and Ike Uwais in that is one of the best one v one fight scenes of all time. This film is in a tradition of great, violent, bloody Indonesian martial arts action films. An Assassin get embroiled in a local situation in Jakarta involving a young boy and an Indonesian drug cartel. The fight choreography is great. The acting is top notch. This is a highly watchable and superior action film.
Woman of the Hour (2023)
Very Compelling
This is a very compelling fictionalization of the 1970's story of serial killer, Rodney Alcala. Rodney Alcaa was a real life photographer who became known as The Dating Game killer once caught and prosecuted because of his appearance on the highly successful Chuck Barris television show. The movie is well made. It has a great feel for the period, the 1970's. The acting is good, especially of Daniel Zovatta, as Alcala. He is really very compelling in the role. Anna Kendrick and Nicolette Robinson are very good in their roles. While the movie is about Alcala, it is centered around Kendrick's character. A good watch.
The Birds (1963)
A Hitchcock Classic
What a different take on horror for the time. Nature strikes back. Alfred Hitchcock masterfully centers this modern horror classic around his muse, Tippie Herdron. The film is ahead of its time with its stunning visual effects, despite the fact that they may appear crude by today's standards. The film really pushed the envelope into the scary and the grisly. Rod Taylor is very compelling. The entire cast is terrific. Catch Hitchcock in his signature cameo in the opening Pet Store Scene. This is a must watch in filmmaking and horror. Aside from Psycho it is Hitchcock's most memorable film, in my opinion.
Bully. Coward. Victim: The Story of Roy Cohn (2019)
A Good Look At Roy Cohn
This 2020 documentary is a terrific look at this very hated, yet very successful high society lawyer. Cohn got his teeth cut on the Ethel and Julius Rosenberg treason trial and as Counsel to the infamous Joseph McCarthy. Cohn went on to private practice representing such figures as Donald Trump, Fat Tony Salerno, The Gambinos, and the owners of Studio 54. The film is centered around the Rosenberg sham and talks about how this was the basis for the character created to be Roy Cohn, a guy who was well connected but almost universally thought of as a "evil" person. There is great footage, interviews, news clips, and more. A good documentary.
MaXXXine (2024)
A Great Addition to the Trilogy
This is a great addition to Ti West's "XXX" trilogy. I loved the first film. Pearl was a good prequel. This return of Mia Goth in the role of Maxine Minx is great. It follows the character's life and ascent to movie stardom following the incidents of the first film. Set in Hollywood in the 1980's against the backdrop of the Night Stalker killings and her own past, the film has good pacing. The 1980's is a character in and of itself in this one and it is on full display, via music, clothes, hairstyles, costumes, movies, and more, There are so many stars in this one it is fun to watch. Scary, gory, and sexy; it has all the elements of a fun October watch. You can watch as a stand alone.
The Thing (1982)
An Instant Classic
This is a Horror and Sci-fi classic in its own right. Watch it today and see that it has held up. No CGI. Good, old fashioned film making. This is a low budget remake of a low budget film. The major difference is that this one is really good. John Carpenter and the filmmakers have created an eerie and thoughtful movie that tells a great story with great characters and great visual effects. Kurt Russell leads the cast, and he is really cool in this one; however, the rest of the cast is also really great in supporting roles. Wilford Bromley is noteworthy. The music is also very good in this one.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024)
Good Bounce Back From Prior
I had zero expectations for this. The last one was so bad I am surprised I even chanced it; however, I was pleasantly surprised. It is not as good as the first two installments but it has its moments. Martin Lawrence continues to amuse in the his role as the sidekick cop. Will Smith still has box office draw as an action star-he is aging well. The story is ok. There is a formula here. The action and cinematography are ok. The cast is good. The foundation of the film, like all buddy films, is the relationship between the leads. This one still has some miles left on it, despite the aging nature of its stars.
EuroTrip (2004)
Surprisingly Good Fun
This is a teen Romance-sex comedy that is surprisingly good fun and has held up over twenty years since its release. The basic plot, in this "stand alone" sequel to Road Trip is that the kids graduate college and are looking to memorialize their summer before college. The main character decides to go to Germany, on a whim, to meet his beautiful German penpal. There are numbers of outrageous, and not believable adventures as they trek across Europe. These are stupid, but laughable. There are numerous cameos, including Fred Armison, Rob Schneider, and Matt Damon. The cast is good. Not hilarious, but funny.
Salem's Lot (1979)
Really Holds Up
So I saw this again recently to compare to the new Max movie version, which I liked a lot. This holds up a lot. To think this was a 1970's TV mini-series is pretty incredible because of the sanitized nature of the platform. The adaptation is somewhat close to the source material. The acting is actually very good. The special effects is good for the budget and platform. The script is weak in some areas, mostly, dialogue. There are not so many horror moments considering it is Tobe Hooper's project, but the horror atmosphere is worthy. The pacing is slow at times, but that is because of the mini-series format. Worth seeing.
Salem's Lot (2024)
Very Good Version of this Classic
I read this book in 1977. I really loved it. It was a great horror novel. This Stephen King novel was so descript it felt like watching a movie. This movie adaptation is very close to the original book. It holds the 1970's time frame. While it has some modern twists and adaptations, there are no huge risks taken but that is ok. The acting is solid, especially the acting of Alfre Woodard. The cast is strong. The special effects are decent. The scares are there, but not a gorefest. This appears to be a "made for tv" version, which is mart because it isn't large enough to play in the theaters. Solid.
Ava (2020)
Some Good Stuff
There is a lot to like here, but also some not so much. This is an action thriller about an agent who ends up being the target of her own organization's assassination attempts. She is smart, resourceful, and troubled. She has an addictive past and deadly skills. The acting is decent. Jessica Chastain is good in the starring role. Malkovich and Farrell are excellent-they are the strengths of the movie. Here are the major issues. The first is that Geena Davis is just not right for the role of the mother. Her dialogue and delivery are so fake it is painful. Even worse than that is how poorly choreographed Chastain's fight scenes are. They make those parts unwatchable. I am not sure what the reason is, since the Farrell/Malkovich scene does not suffer from this issue. So, an action movie where the action is bad makes this less than desirable to watch.
Civil War (2024)
Timely and Difficult
In light of the riots of January 6th insurrection and the strife and division of the 2020 and 2024 Presidential elections this movie about a near in time Civil Wa r is interesting and timely. It is also painful and difficult to watch because, maybe, it strikes a nerve that is too hard to describe. The film is through the eyes of journalists, which provides the ability to tell the story without a slant of judgment about who is in the right. The cast is strong. It is a little long in spots, but when it gets crazy-it really moves. It is a film for thought and discussion, which makes it worth seeing in my opinion.
The Revenant (2015)
Wow
Wow- I can't believe I waited so long to see this amazing, but highly disturbing movie. Anyone who glamorizes the "Old West" should see this movie and get a sense of what the dangers and the pitfalls of living in America before it was settled and developed. This story of revenge, and struggle, is really well made. The Direction, the acting, the cinematography, the costume design, and the script are powerful and engaging. The violence is palpable and makes this hard to watch at times. DiCaprio, truly, at his finest and Tom hardy is, quite simply, Tom Hardy doing his thing. These are two of the finest actors of our generation.
Shattered (2022)
Good for what it is
This is good for what it is. This is a low budget thriller that is somewhat predictable. A rich Tech millionaire goes through divorce and decides to take a walk on the wild side that turns brutal and ugly. The acting is less than average, even by John Malkovich. The script is ok. The second half much better and less predictable than the first. Frank Grillo a great addition to any movie no matter how bad, or how small his part is. The film is extremely violent, which works in this one. I saw it on a plane so I suspect the extra nudity and sex were edited out. A fun, thrilling was to pay 90 minutes.
Stan & Ollie (2018)
Great Performances
I believe this is based on a book. It is very well done. The sad story of the waning years of Laurel & Hardy is hard to watch at times because it is so sad. The acting is the centerpiece and the costume and make ups. These guys do a phenomenal job convincing you they are the people they play. John C Reilly's sad and pathetic portrait of a of Ollie as an overweight gambler is stunning. I grew up on these movies and the recreations and costumes and sets; particularly, of The Way Out West are hypnotic. My big issue with the movie, because the morose tone-despite being a love story- is that they seem to show that these guys were very much like the characters they played in certain aspects of their lives. Maybe that's true, but o kind of felt like I was watching a movie within a movie at times.
Stopping the Steal (2024)
Painful to Watch -A Must See
Anyone can make a film where they embolden confirmation bias by interviewing people and presenting evidence that only supports their own position. That is part of the disease of today's social media culture. The strength of this film is that it presents a hypothesis-that Donald Trump knew he lost the election, and there was no evidence to support it and proceeded anyway, from the position of pre-Trump supporters, State Officials, and Washington insiders. These people all wanted Trump to win, but they believed in truth more, The film shows how they were systemically targeted and vilified as they could not find any viable evidence to support the outrageous allegations made by the President's election team. It really is heart-wrenching to watch. Mike Pence, whom I was never a fan of, is a hero. He is a hero, for not only not overturning the election, but, as you will see, by not abandoning The Capitol while under siege, as he could have. This is a must watch.
His Three Daughters (2023)
Very Mixed Feelings
I have very mixed feelings about this. This is a pretty heavy movie about three very different sisters coping with the last days of their father as he is in home hospice care. The cast is intentionally small. It stars in co-equal roles Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon, and Natasha Lyonne. They are all quite good in their rolls. Their acting is the Strength of this movie. Their characters, aside from Olsen's (mostly) are not very likable. They are not bad people, but seriously flawed, and synergistically bad together. There is something very realistic and well done about that; however, it is hard to watch at times. The downside is that the flaws and the dialogue of them, and the the hospice worker, Angel, are very cliched. The movie is small, which is an asset. It is much more of a play than a movie, and I think, glaringly, would be better as a play than a movie. Even the dialogue seems scripted for a play setting than a movie one. Worth watching.
Napoleon (2023)
Brilliant
Ridley Scott never disappoints. His understanding of history is only surpassed by his ability to tell historical stories with clarity and excitement. He makes the stories of history great entertainment. Napoleon is a great biopic, which is so well supported by the acting of Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. There have been so many depictions of Napoleon over the years that it is hard to know if this one is definitive. It is a very human, frail, and complicated vision of a great General and historical giant in a complex time. Kirby's depth in playing Josephine is great. Direction, cinematography, costumes, music are all spectacular.
Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos (2024)
Can't Get Enough
If you are like me and can't get enough of the Sopranos this is a really great two part documentary. This conversation with David Chase and the world of the hit HBO Show in the year of the 25th Anniversary is worth watching. There is great footage from the history of the show and a ton of behind the scenes footage from the making of it. There are conversations with HBO Executives, Cast Members, Writers, and people related to the show. I loved the audition footage. The documentary takes the viewer on the journey from concept to creation and more. This is a good documentary and doesn't suffer from the disease of being too long, which many documentaries do.
The Doorman (2020)
Jean Reno is Always Good
This is a decent action adventure film with some redeeming qualities. The story of a "Doorman" with an extraordinary set of skills, and unusual past makes for a some good elements. Ruby Rose is decent in the lead role; however, she really doesn't carry the film like a Bruce Willis in Die Hard, or Charles Theron in Atomic Blonde. Simon Rhee did a good job coordinating the stunts and fights or short time and a low budget. Jean Reno is the strongest part of the movie. He has great screen presence. The problem with the film is not that it is a low budget action film, but that it looks like one too often throughout.
Rebel Ridge (2024)
Suprisingly Good
This is a surprisingly good drama and action movie that really pleasantly surprised me. This is a story of small town police corruption, racism, and power. Don Johnson is spectacular as the corrupt police chief. He plays it just right. I never heard of Aaron Pierre before this one but I hope to see more of him. He is like a blend of Will Smith and Idris Elba in this, and he is good. The story has elements of Rambo and other films but is still very original. The Direction and cinematography are good. The acting from the whole cast, including James Cromwell is really solid. The action and stunt choreography are terrific. The movie could lose about 15 minutes,m but aside from that it is very solid.
Dojo (2023)
Dojo is a Bold and Worthy Project
DOJO (2024), is a bold independent martial arts movie project that is really making waves in the independent film industry.
This short film propels us into the world a traditional artist, played adeptly by Jon Paul, in 1985, as he prepares to do battle with, what appears to be, more than just competitive opponents in the martial arts arena. This conflict is the basis of the film.
As the story unfolds we learn that there is much more going on here than a dispute between neighboring martial arts studios. The film, in very efficient and effective ways, paints a picture of a back story that is far more complex and nefarious than meets the eye. I applaud the filmmakers, and the cast, in being able to provide such rich background and context in such a tight package.
The highlight of the film for martial arts and action fans is the fight choreography. The fight choreography is extremely well done. It is realistic. It is gritty and it is entertaining. Christofer Aguero, as the head of the oppressive Yakuza gang seeking retribution, is very compelling and menacing. These fight scenes rival any big budget martial arts film.
This is a low budget film; however, it does not have the trappings of other low budget films. The filmmaking here is top quality-from script to editing, and in between. This short film could easily be the foray into a full length feature based upon the same subject matter; one where we get filled in on the details of the backstory that we are only teased with in this truncated version.
The film has won more than 485 awards for filmmaking and content and these accolades are well deserved.
The film is highly engaging and well done.
We recommend it. The martial arts community, in particular, should support this passion project.
Mechanic: Resurrection (2016)
Really 5 Stars, But Jason Statham..
This is a really not believable action film that deserves 5 stars at most but Jason Stathmam carried it to more. This is a sequel; however, you do not need to have seen the original to follow it. It is a silly act adventure film that's biggest issue is how poorly it is directed. The budget appears to be low Jessica Alba is okay in the movie but the Direction even fails to make the love scenes and romance between the two stars to be fun to watch. The villain is ok. The heart of the movie is Statham's sarcastic demeanor and his kick-ass style. The fighting and fight choreography exceed the film. A bit of James Bond homage in this one in a few scenes. Watchable fun.
The Wolverine (2013)
Very Cool Movie
This is a very cool and interesting movie on so many levels. I am not sure how it fits into the X-Men universe because I am not so dialed in, but as an action, adventure, fantasy this is very good. From the inception of the film, taking place during the bombing of Nagasaki during World War II to the future, the movie is really action packed. I love the characters and the setting. Hugh Jackman brings real depth and character to this portrayal. He is very pained in this portrayal of a real anti-hero. There are pangs of the original Bruce Banner/Incredible Hulk here to me. The fight sequences and action are good. This is an adults film. Not for little kids.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Ambitious and Heartfelt
This is an ambitious installment in the series, post Disney acquisition. I was one who was worried the content would be watered down and the Franchise ruined. While this installment is more family friendly, and tamer, than its trilogy it has not be ruined, for sure. The biggest absence in this film is the absence of Andy Serkis. He was the heart of the trilogy. The movie does a good job carrying the story forward, of sorts, and addressing issues of the quest for absolute power that seems inevitable if you re human, or human like. I did love some of the stark call back imagery to the first installment of the Original films. There are several scenes brilliantly constructed to mirror those from Heston's version, but not be too campy. It is good and watchable. You can watch as a stand alone.