Month: October 2020

Today’s quick review: Redemption. Joey Smith (Jason Statham), a homeless veteran on the run from a court martial, gets the chance to turn his life around when he breaks into an apartment that’s vacant for the summer. Joey cleans himself up and gets a job as an enforcer for a drug dealer (Benedict Wong). His change of fortune brings him closer to Cristina (Agata Buzek), a kindly nun who questions whether a life of crime is the redemption he needs.

Redemption is a crime drama about a disgraced veteran trying to pick up the pieces of his life. Haunted by his actions in Afghanistan and wanted by the police, Joey Smith has descended into a sickly, drunken stupor. Stumbling into the apartment of a wealthy Londoner, he takes the opportunity to sober up, earn some money, and help his fellow homeless. But the cost of his second chance is dirty work that threatens to cost Joey his humanity.

Redemption mainly focuses on Joey, his attempts to rebuild his life, and his relationship with Cristina, a nun who works with the homeless but harbors doubts of her own. The parts are nuanced and well-acted, but unusual. Joey has noble tendencies, but his self-destructive habits and willingness to turn to crime make him a less than altruistic figure. For her part, Cristina is torn between her own dreams and her duties to the Church.

But beyond its twin character portraits, Redemption has little to offer. The plot is minimal, charting the ups and downs of Joey’s summer in his borrowed apartment. There’s not much action for a Jason Statham movie, just his work as an enforcer for a criminal organization. The movie relies on its characters to carry it but doesn’t have much for them to do. The result is a drama with a few interesting ideas but only niche appeal overall.

Watch Redemption if you’re interested in a crime drama that deals in shades of grey. Redemption has enough quality to hit the emotional beats it tries to, but not quite enough to tie them all together. Skip it if you’re looking for action or escapism. For another tale of self-destruction and renewal, try Leaving Las Vegas or The Gambler. For a Jason Statham film with more action, try The Transporter, The Mechanic, or Safe.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for well-developed characters and a weak plot.

Today’s quick review: Safe. After losing his wife and home to the Russian mob, Luke Wright (Jason Statham), an ex-cop and former MMA fighter, has nothing left to live for. On the verge of suicide, he meets Mei (Catherine Chan), a young girl forced to memorize numbers for Han Jiao (James Hong), a Chinese crime boss. The secrets in Mei’s head are worth a fortune, and Luke must fight off the scores of criminals who want them to keep her safe.

Safe is an action thriller starring Jason Statham. A chance encounter puts Luke Wright at the center of a city-wide manhunt for Mei, a girl who holds the key to a multi-million dollar deal involving the Chinese mob. The film pits Luke and Mei against two rival criminal operations, crooked cops from Luke’s past, and a corrupt city official in a sprawling chase through New York. Safe’s solid execution earns it a spot near the middle of the genre.

Safe offers a nice balance of plot and action. The backstories for Mei and Luke are intricate enough to feel worthwhile. The rival factions hunting for Mei keep the plot moving at a nice clip, make its twists harder to predict, and give Luke some interesting options by playing the factions against each other. The film is also good at posing questions that keep the audience engaged, even if they lack the depth of a full-blown mystery.

Safe has plenty of action and uses it to keep the tension up. The movie isn’t big on flashy stunts, but what’s there is solidly executed and used well in service of the plot. Luke isn’t an overpowering fighter. He’s skilled enough to take down the smaller groups of thugs sent after Mei, but he has to pick his battles against larger groups of better-armed foes. He must rely as much on his wits as his fighting skill to keep Mei and himself alive.

Still, Safe doesn’t have the originality, depth, or raw spectacle of the best movies in the action genre. The movie puts more work into Luke and Mei than the typical leads for an action thriller, but their relationship doesn’t lead to much emotional payoff. The supporting cast works well for the sake of the plot but doesn’t add much in the way of character. The movie is also more original with the details of its story than the broad strokes.

Watch Safe when you’re in the mood for a well-crafted action thriller that sticks to the basics but does them right. Safe doesn’t offer anything too novel, but its minor variations and solid craftsmanship make it a good pick for fans of the genre. For an action thriller with a similar premise and even heavier drama, try 16 Blocks. For a Jason Statham movie with more over-the-top action, try The Transporter and its sequels.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a tidy plot with the action to back it up.

Today’s quick review: Revenger. For taking revenge on the criminals who killed his family, Interpol agent Yul Kim (Bruce Khan) is sentenced to death and sent to a prison island in the Indian Ocean. There he saves the lives of Maly (Yoon Jin-seo) and her daughter Jin (Kim Na-yeon) in exchange for the location of Kuhn (Park Hee-soon), the prisoner who rules the island. With Jin in tow, Yul sets out to kill Kuhn and finish avenging his family.

Revenger is a violent Korean action movie about an ex-cop on a single-minded quest for revenge. Set on a jungle island where Asia’s worst criminals have been left to fend for themselves, Revenger pits the unlikely trio of Yul, Maly, and Jin against a sadistic drug kingpin and his men. Sharp action, decent acting, and a tight plot make Revenger a worthwhile entry into the action genre. However, the movie never ventures beyond the basics.

Revenger gets its action right. Yul Kim has a distinctive fighting style that relies on firm footing and swift kicks, letting him dispatch swarms of foes with ease. The early fights are skewed a little too heavily in his favor, but the later ones give him more of a challenge. Revenger also suffers from a lack of variety—the fights all have roughly the same setup—but Maly’s bow, a few knives, and Yul’s later foes keep the action just fresh enough.

Revenger’s story is not as satisfying. At its core, the plot is a straight shot from Yul’s arrival on the island to his confrontation with Kuhn. The film attempts to flesh out this skeleton with the trouble Jin gets into along the way, Maly’s reluctance to accept Yul as an ally, and the antics of the other survivors. But none of these efforts are enough; the story remains shallow, linear, and lacking in terms of emotional connection and payoff.

Watch Revenger when you’re in the mood for uncomplicated action on the darker side of the genre. Its solid stunt work makes it a serviceable entry into the genre, but its weak story and lack of variety keep it from being anything more. Skip it if you’re looking for an engrossing story, likable characters, or bigger stunts. For a revenge story with sharper martial arts and more heart, try The Protector.

5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 out of 10 for basic but effective action, let down by a mediocre plot.

Today’s quick review: I Am Vengeance. John Gold (Stu Bennett), an elite soldier, travels to the small British town of Devotion to investigate the murder of Dan Mason (Kevin Leslie), an old Army buddy. With the help of Sandra (Anna Shaffer), a local drug addict, Gold soon pins the murder on Sgt. George Hatcher (Gary Daniels) and team of ex-special forces soldiers, who have taken over Devotion’s drug market and are terrorizing its citizens.

I Am Vengeance is a budget action movie about one soldier’s rampage through a crime-ridden British town. I Am Vengeance aims to be a dramatic confrontation between a lone hero and a team of highly trained foes. However, its low budget and lack of vision keep it from realizing its ambitions. Flimsy acting, a generic plot, and mediocre stunt work conspire to make I Am Vengeance an unsatisfying and forgettable watch.

I Am Vengeance struggles to make its plot feel worthwhile. The bulk of the movie is spent on Gold’s investigation into Hatcher, but there’s no actual mystery for him to investigate. Gold knows who the murderers are from almost the beginning, so it’s mainly an academic exercise for him to track down the details of Mason’s death. Yet that’s where the movie spends its time: having Gold hassle the locals rather than confront Hatcher’s men.

On the action side of things, I Am Vengeance is similarly disappointing. There are some fights to be had once Gold starts picking off enemies, and by budget standards they’re adequate. But there’s not that much to make them exciting, either in terms of fighting skill or creativity. The biggest issue is that Stu Bennett lacks presence; slight tweaks to the script and presentation could have made him into the imposing figure he should have been.

I Am Vengeance is only worth a watch for fans of the thinner side of the budget action genre. It manages to tell a story, and it offers some passable action, but there’s really not much to make it stand out. And in the few areas where it does try to carve out a niche for itself—Gold’s investigation, his fighting prowess, and his relationship with Sandra—the execution falls short. Most viewers would be better off skipping it.

For a budget action movie of similar caliber, try The Hard Way, Kill Ratio, or Silencer. For an action thriller with a similar crew of villains and much better execution, try The Rock. For an action movie with similar military trappings and better fights, try Killer Elite.

4.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 4.0 for poor execution all the way around.

Today’s quick review: Silencer. Once a hitman known as the Silencer, Army veteran Frank Harris (Johnny Messner) has retired to live a quiet life with his girlfriend Cass (Nikki Leigh) and her daughter Shannon (Kai Scarlett Williams). But when Frank turns down a job for drug kingpin Leonard Ochoa (Danny Trejo), Ochoa’s goons kidnap Cass. To save her, Frank will have to return to the violent life he gave up.

Silencer is a budget crime drama and action movie from director Timothy Woodward, Jr. The movie follows a typical action template: a violent hero is forced to kill again to save a loved one. Silencer offers little in the way of plot, action, or originality. The low budget shows in little ways, although the film makes a credible effort at working with what it has. The result is a passable execution of a story without much meat on its bones.

Silencer is incongruously slow-paced. The movie spends nearly half of its short run time on setup, with only a dash of action at the end. This proves to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, Silencer clearly drags its feet. On the other hand, the slower pacing, subdued tone, and focus on characters help compensate for the movie’s weaknesses. Silencer manages a much more straight-faced delivery than similar films, in part because it takes its time.

But Silencer’s relative merits aren’t enough to make it an interesting watch. The movie makes Frank out to be a fearsome killer, but he never does anything remarkable. Johnny Messner handles the steely side of the character well but never makes him notable. The plot is coherent but has very few twists. The action scenes are unremarkable and come late in the game. Overall, Silencer does nothing that other movies frequently do better.

Watch Silencer only if you’re a budget action fan looking for something short and straightforward. Silencer steers clear of the worst pitfalls of the genre, but it has little to offer in return. Most viewers would be better off with one of the many other action films out there. For rougher work from the same director, try Checkmate or 4Got10. For a budget action movie that makes more out of a similarly sparse premise, try The Debt Collector.

3.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 4.5 for marginal execution of a thin story.

“I am inevitable.” —Thanos

Today’s quick review: Avengers: Endgame. In the aftermath of Thanos’ (Josh Brolin) devastating victory, the surviving Avengers attempt to pick up the pieces. On Earth, Captain America (Chris Evans) leads the effort to track down Thanos, reclaim the Infinity Stones, and undo the damage he caused. In space, Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) floats stranded with dwindling supplies. To stand a chance, they will need help from an unexpected source.

Avengers: Endgame is a superhero movie that wraps up the first overarching story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame picks up where Avengers: Infinity War left off: in the wake of the Avengers’ disastrous confrontation with Thanos. Much like its predecessor, Endgame features an enormous ensemble cast, outstanding action, an epic story, and a dramatic tone leavened with just the right amount of classic Marvel humor.

Endgame is a fitting sendoff for the Avengers. The film revisits themes, characters, and relationships from throughout the team’s history, providing closure for nearly every major plot thread and rewarding long-time fans for investing in the characters. Remarkably, Endgame weaves its nostalgia into the story with grace and finesse. The team’s past motivates their choices in the present; none of the trips down memory lane feel unnecessary or forced.

Endgame has a story that’s worth every bit of build-up that went into it. The plot is grand in scope yet almost impossible to predict, and it switches between sweeping, high-stakes conflict and tender, personal moments with ease. The movie does a masterful job of manipulating the audience’s emotions and playing on their expectations. The plot structure may seem haphazard at first, but the pieces prove to be assembled with remarkable precision.

Endgame ties with Infinity War as the darkest Marvel movie. It deals soberly with the consequences of the Avengers’ loss and follows the heroes through their darkest hour. Artful dramatic writing and a spate of excellent performances make Endgame’s story moving and laden with meaning. Much of the drama comes from the characters themselves. Their interactions are among the richest and most rewarding the Marvel movies have to offer.

Yet even the story’s bleakest moments are not utterly hopeless. The film’s heavy drama is balanced out by top-notch humor that perfects Marvel’s fun, character-driven style. The sheer breadth of the cast gives Endgame plenty of material to work with, and nearly every joke hits the mark. Moreover, the jokes are delivered in ways that stave off despair without undermining the gravity of the situation, a perfect seasoning for the film’s drama.

As for its action, Endgame is everything a superhero fan could hope for. The conflict is massive in scope, the cast contains virtually every surviving Marvel hero, and the top-tier special effects make the fights an absolute delight to watch. Even more impressive is the way Endgame innovates with its action. New pairings of characters, new uses of their powers, and a handful of brilliant reversals make its action among the best in the genre.

Avengers: Endgame is an incredible feat of cinema that will please anyone even remotely invested in its characters. Its superb craftsmanship, sprawling scope, and subtle character work place it at the pinnacle of the superhero genre, while its fantastic plot and enormous fan appeal make it a worthy finale for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame is a must-see for even casual Marvel fans. Just make sure you’ve seen Infinity War first.

9.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 9.0 for outstanding quality from start to finish.

Today’s quick review: Wonder Woman. In the centuries since the war to stop Ares (Alfred Molina), Queen Hippolyta (Virginia Madsen) and her Amazons have lived secluded from humanity on the hidden island of Themyscira. But when Ares escapes from his prison, Hippolyta’s daughter Diana (Keri Russell) must venture into the human world alongside American fighter pilot Steve Trevor (Nathan Fillion) to recapture the god before he can reclaim his full power.

Wonder Woman is an animated superhero movie based on the DC Comics character. The movie follows Princess Diana of Themyscira, one of the Amazons’ most talented warriors, on her mission to locate the escaped God of War. Wonder Woman features a focused plot, a fair amount of superhero action, and a quick tour through DC’s version of Greek mythology. Decent execution makes it a fine pick for fans of the genre but isn’t enough to make it stand out.

Wonder Woman sticks to the basics of the superhero genre but executes them cleanly. The action ranges from one-on-one fights between Diana and Ares’ minions to larger-scale battles with the Amazons. The setting’s ties to Greek mythology give it a nice variety of weapons, characters, and monsters to draw on. The plot itself is fairly linear, but Diana’s introduction to the outside world and a wide supporting cast of Amazons help flesh it out.

Still, Wonder Woman doesn’t have as much to offer as DC’s later animated films. The animation is serviceable but not as rich or fluid as it could be. The plot is a straight shot from Ares’ escape to the final confrontation, and the minor tangents along the way have no real effect on the central thread. Diana and Steve’s relationship never clicks the way it’s meant to; the skeleton of their arc is there, but the gradations are hard to capture.

Watch Wonder Woman if you’re a fan of the superhero genre looking for something short, well-constructed, and to the point. Wonder Woman has just enough in the way of action, setting, and characters to be an entertaining watch, but it’s slightly outclassed by DC’s best offerings. Superhero fans may want to give it a try. Those who aren’t already fans of the genre will probably want to give it a pass.

For a more expansive adaptation of the same source material, try the live-action Wonder Woman. For a DC animated movie of similar quality, try Superman vs. the Elite. For another animated version of Wonder Woman, this time as part of the Justice League, try Justice League: War.

7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid action and a simple but effective plot.

“You woke the baby!” —Hellboy

Today’s quick review: Hellboy II: The Golden Army. As agents of the B.P.R.D., Hellboy (Ron Perlman), Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), and Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) are humanity’s first line of defense against paranormal threats. When Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) sets out to reignite an ancient war between humans and elves, the agents must join forces with his sister Nuala (Anna Walton) to keep him from claiming control over the indestructible Golden Army.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army is an action horror movie based on the comics by Mike Mignola and directed by Guillermo del Toro. Hellboy II sees the return of Hellboy, Liz, and Abe, the B.P.R.D.’s motley group of monster-fighting specialists. The sequel offers the same blend of action, comedy, and inventive fantasy as the first film, but with an even greater focus on character development. The result is a worthy successor for fans of the series.

Hellboy II continues to expand the world established in the first film. On the character side, Hellboy and Liz try to iron out the kinks in their relationship, while Abe finds a kindred spirit in Nuala. Newcomer Johann Strauss (Seth MacFarlane) slots nicely into the cast, while Jeffrey Tambor returns as Tom Manning, the bureaucratic head of the B.P.R.D. The characters aren’t masterpieces, but they’re relatable, earnest, and easy to like.

On the setting side, Hellboy II picks up right where the first film left off. Hellboy’s world is mysterious and brimming with life, an incongruous mix of the beautiful and disgusting. The new creatures sport the same sorts of gorgeous, gruesome, and goofy designs del Toro is known, brought to life by a mixture of practical and digital effects. The special effects aren’t perfect, but they’re frequently impressive and always used intelligently.

Hellboy II is also a solid hit when it comes to story, comedy, and action. The skeleton of the plot sticks closely to the fantasy action formula, but the film invests enough in its characters and its individual story beats that it doesn’t feel generic. The action is nicely varied and makes good use of the cast’s special abilities. The whole thing is topped off by some enjoyable humor, courtesy of Hellboy and his childish personality.

Watch Hellboy II: The Golden Army when you’re in the mood for a well-balanced adventure that delivers what it promises. Hellboy II is just strange enough in terms of premise, visuals, and genre that not everyone will find it appealing. But those who like action movies that are creative, skillfully crafted, and unabashedly fun would do well to give it a try.

For more in the same vein from Guillermo del Toro, try the first Hellboy or Blade II. For a dark, haunting fairy tale with similar creature designs, also from del Toro, try Pan’s Labyrinth. For a more violent, action-oriented take on the same source material, try the Hellboy remake. For the sci-fi equivalent, try Men in Black.

7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a great mixture of creatures, characters, and plot that’s on par with the original.

“I’d appreciate a prophecy with smaller and more relatable stakes.” —Hellboy

Today’s quick review: Hellboy. For decades, Hellboy (David Harbour), a demon adopted by Professor Broom (Ian McShane), has fought evil alongside the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. But when a prophecy claims that he will usher in the Apocalypse, Hellboy must join forces with Alice Monaghan (Sasha Lane), a young medium, to stop the ancient witch Nimue (Milla Jovovich) from unleashing a plague that will wipe out all life on Earth.

Hellboy is an action horror movie based on the comics by Mike Mignola. Hellboy is a mash-up between epic fantasy and comedic romp. The stakes of the story and the world it takes place in skew towards the dramatic: ghoulish creatures, dire prophecies, and world-ending plagues. But the title character is more comedic, prone to misadventures, complaints, and getting stuck with the dirty work. The result is a patchy, polarzing blend of the two styles.

Hellboy’s distinguishing feature is its attitude. The movie comes out of the gate swinging, packing in as much action, violence, swearing, and humor as it can in the time available. The fights are energetic, CGI-fueled brawls between the nigh-indestructible Hellboy and his monstrous foes. The gags riff off the absurd situations he finds himself in. The plot is a whirlwind tour of his origins, his world, and the variety of beings who inhabit it.

For the right viewer, this adds up to a lot of fun. Hellboy embraces the over-the-top, ridiculous side of the supernatural, as well as the more serious side of things. There are plenty of details that fans of the comics will enjoy, though the overarching story is cut from whole cloth. Ian McShane is the standout among the cast as Hellboy’s brusque, ornery adoptive father, while David Harbour captures the beleaguered side of his character well.

But for all that it gets right, Hellboy is an uneven watch. The jokes miss as often as they hit, usually due to their delivery or placement within a scene. The tone shifts between comedy and drama at inopportune moments, undercutting the tension and robbing the humor of its impact. The action relies too heavily on CGI to carry much weight. The mechanics of the plot come across as a clunky attempt to tie together the film’s disparate parts.

These acute strengths and weaknesses are what separate this adaption of Hellboy from the Guillermo del Toro version. Where the del Toro films focus as much on story, setting, and character as on action and comedy, this adaptation sacrifices everything else to put attitude front and center. It delivers on action and, to some extent, humor, but at the cost of plot cohesion, grounding, and heart. This drastic tradeoff will make the film very hit-or-miss.

Hellboy makes for a fun, popcorn watch for viewers who enjoy schlocky action, reckless violence, and gruesome monsters. The film has plenty of strong moments, from its better gags to its sprawling action sequences to the wilder side of its fantasy world. But it lacks the consistency to win over skeptical viewers, the heart to ground its story, or the plot needed to hold its ideas together. Interested viewers should approach it with caution.

For a take on the character with more heart, try the original Hellboy or its sequel. For monster-hunting action in a similar vein, try Van Helsing, Constantine, or The Last Witch Hunter.

5.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for over-the-top action, energy, and plenty of creativity, hurt badly by its weak plot and inconsistent delivery; your score will vary according to taste.

Today’s quick review: Brotherhood of the Wolf. In 1765, famed naturalist Gregoire de Fronsac (Samuel Le Bihan) and his partner Mani (Mark Dacascos) travel to a French province to investigate reports of a wolf-like beast that has been terrorizing the countryside. The two men begin gathering evidence to determine just what type of beast it is, but they soon find that the situation is more complicated—and more dangerous—than they accounted for.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is an action movie, adventure, and mystery set in France two decades before the revolution. The movie revolves around Gregoire de Fronsac’s investigation into a rash of killings alleged to have been perpetrated by an enormous wolf. De Fronsac must separate fact from fiction and navigate a delicate political maze to get to the truth of the matter and determine whether the culprit is man, animal, or something more.

Brotherhood of the Wolf handles its mystery well. Gregoire and Mani are capable hunters with keen minds, and their methodical investigation soon shows that not all is as it seems. The politics of the hunt, the conflicting evidence from the beast’s attacks, and the various opinions and ulterior motives of the local nobles turn what could have been a simple monster hunt into a complex and satisfying mystery that keeps the viewer guessing.

Brotherhood of the Wolf supplements its mystery with some solid action. Gregoire and Mani are both accomplished fighters, using martial arts to fend off trouble whenever they need to. Their acrobatic fighting style can be an odd fit within the otherwise sober, grounded story, but the quality of the choreography makes it worthwhile. The action scenes inject just the right amount of danger into the investigation and give it some good payoff.

Brotherhood of the Wolf does an excellent job of bringing 1760s France to life, with a keen eye for detail in its costumes, sets, and background information. The world is populated by a broad supporting cast, including Jean-Francois (Vincent Cassel), a one-armed ex-hunter; Sylvia (Monica Bellucci), a beguiling courtesan; Marquise d’Apcher (Hans Meyer), an eager young noble; and Marianne (Emilie Dequenne), Gregoire’s love interest.

Watch Brotherhood of the Wolf when you’re in the mood for a well-played mystery with a hint of the supernatural or an action movie with an unusual amount of meat on its bones. Solid craftsmanship and a fine balance between plot and spectacle make Brotherhood of the Wolf a strong pick for anyone willing to invest in its story. Skip it if you’re looking for an action movie with a simpler plot or a purely intellectual mystery.

For a suspenseful mystery with a similar premise, try The Village. For a schlockier take on monster hunting, try Van Helsing. For another story in the same vein with more overt fantasy, a more morbid tone, and Monica Bellucci, try The Brothers Grimm.

7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for satisfying mix of mystery and action.