Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Rush Hour 3. When Chinese Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma) is shot, Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) picks up the ambassador’s work to bring down the Triads. James Carter (Chris Tucker), a Los Angeles cop and a friend of Lee’s, takes it upon himself to help, and together the pair follow a lead to the Triads’ Paris stronghold. But the man waiting for them, Kenji (Hiroyuki Sanada), is a dangerous criminal with ties to Lee’s past.

Rush Hour 3 is an action comedy set several years after the end of Rush Hour 2. Lee and Carter have gone their separate ways after an unfortunate incident in New York, with Lee returning to work for Han and Carter relegated to traffic duty for his shoddy police work. The attack on Han forces them to reconnect and work together one more time. With a couple of familiar faces and a new city to explore, Rush Hour 3 follows closely in the footsteps of its predecessors.

Rush Hour 3 does stumble a bit in its execution. The martial arts action is still well-choreographed, and Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker still make an excellent comedic duo. But the plot does not hang together as well, the humor is coarser, and the tone undergoes odd changes compared to the previous films. Rush Hour 3 blurs the delicate line between acceptable antics and reckless actions that jeopardize the movie’s sense of levity.

The flaws are subtle, though, and at its core, Rush Hour 3 remains a solid action comedy with martial arts fight scenes and entertaining buddy cop elements. Watch Rush Hour 3 if you are in the mood for something light and fun, but check out the first two movies first if you have yet to see them.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good action and comedy hurt by tone and plot issues.

Today’s quick review: Rush Hour 2. While on vacation in Hong Kong, Los Angeles police officer James Carter (Chris Tucker) joins his friend Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) in investigating a bombing at the United States Embassy. The prime suspect is Ricky Tan (John Lone), a notorious crime boss and a former friend of Lee’s father. To bring him to justice, Lee and Carter must put their lives and careers on the line.

Rush Hour 2 is an action comedy that picks up where the original Rush Hour left off. Fresh off his trip to Los Angeles, Lee returns to his job, only to discover another crisis in the making. His investigation interrupts Carter’s vacation, dragging the Los Angeles cop kicking and screaming back to police work. Carter and Lee bring their usual brand of chaos to the case, using every resource at their disposal to track down a dangerous criminal gang.

Rush Hour 2 follows a similar formula as the first film and executes it just as well. The culture clash of the original plays out in reverse: where Lee flew to Los Angeles on a mission, James Carter flies into Hong Kong ready to party. The personal side of the plot involves Lee’s history with Ricky Tan, as well as the strain on Lee’s and Carter’s friendship. The changes are enough to make the film feel distinct without compromising on tone or quality.

Rush Hour 2 also offers better action than its predecessor. The sequel includes more fight scenes, a few more explosions, and a greater attention to fight choreography. The focus of the action is still on Jackie Chan’s skillful martial arts, but Chris Tucker gets in on the action as well. The jokes are the same sort of banter as the first film, but Lee and Carter start the film as friends rather than strangers.

Watch Rush Hour 2 when you are in the mood for a light, well-balanced, and entertaining action comedy. Fans of the first film will enjoy the second, and vice versa. Skip it if you are looking for an exceptional film rather than a well-rounded one.

6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid action and comedy.

“Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” —James Carter

Today’s quick review: Rush Hour. When Soo Yung, the 11-year-old daughter of a Chinese diplomat, is kidnapped in Los Angeles, Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan), a personal friend of the girl, travels from Hong Kong to find her. James Carter (Chris Tucker), a loudmouthed local cop, is assigned to keep Lee away from the real investigation run by the FBI. But uncontent to sit on the sidelines, Lee and Carter decide to involve themselves in the investigation anyway.

Rush Hour is a buddy cop comedy starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan plays Inspector Lee, a loyal and resourceful Hong Kong police officer who only cares about the missing girl. Chris Tucker plays James Carter, a shrill Los Angeles cop who only cares about himself. The two make a very effective comedy duo, with Lee’s focused approach to the investigation playing nicely off Carter’s more dynamic style.

Most of the comedy comes from these two strong personalities. Rush Hour is a culture clash movie at heart, with Lee emblematic of Chinese dedication and Carter of freewheeling American culture. Carter runs his mouth at every opportunity, a hilarious stream of banter that can border on the annoying for anyone unused to it. Lee and Carter trade off as the butt of jokes, and their moments of bonding and teamwork actually feel well-earned.

The action is a natural fusion of cop movie shootouts and martial arts fight scenes. Jackie Chan is as skillful as ever, unleashing a flurry of seemingly-improvised stunts to get the better of foes larger and more numerous than him. The fight scenes are not the main focus of the film, but they are well-choreographed, entertaining, and an excellent fit for the movie’s tone. There are few jaw-dropping stunts, but a fair number of impressive ones.

Watch Rush Hour if you are in the mood for a light action comedy with solid execution. No particular quality distinguishes Rush Hour from other entries in the genre, but the combination of humor, story, action, and heart make Rush Hour pleasant and enjoyable. Skip it if you are annoyed by Chris Tucker’s voice.

6.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a good blend of comedy and action.

Today’s quick review: John Wick: Chapter 2. Legendary assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) only wants to retire. But when his old associate Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) calls in a favor, John is unable to refuse. His task is to eliminate Santino’s sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini) so Santino can claim her seat at the High Table, a ring of underworld elites. But to complete the mission, John must risk becoming tangled even deeper in the life he tried to leave.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is a stylish, well-paced action movie with an intriguing world and inventive combat. Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick, a hitman who left the business for his wife, now dead of cancer. His brief return to killing in the first movie was driven by revenge, cutting a bloody swath through the Russian mob and causing ripples that continue into the second installment. John was lucky to get out the first time, and the second time may prove impossible.

The second John Wick film continues to innovate in the action department. John plows through his enemies using a unique mixture of grappling and close-quarters gunplay. The combat is crisp and efficient, perfectly matching the detached, professional tone of the world. The stunts are subtly clever, from John’s elaborate takedowns to his improvised weaponry. This steady drip of creativity sets the action apart from the typical fare for the genre.

The setting of John Wick: Chapter 2 continues to impress. The world of John Wick exists parallel to and separate from everyday life. The assassins have a culture of their own, built on old-world rules and style as well as a healthy dose of professionalism. They enjoy a rich, underground network of resources centered around the Continental, a luxurious hotel chain that offers accommodation and neutral ground to its shadowy clientele.

Against this backdrop, John Wick himself stands out as a near-mythical figure. John Wick is treated as a harbinger of death by the other characters in the movie, and he lives up to this lofty reputation by routinely pulling off the impossible with tenacity and aplomb. The John Wick movies are rare ones that can actually back their hype with execution. John Wick achieves the aura of coolness that other action movies dream of and makes it look effortless.

As with the first movie, John Wick: Chapter 2 makes a few tradeoffs. The sequel scraps the slow, deliberate build-up of the first film in favor of an action-packed introduction that wraps up a few loose ends from the previous movie. The plot is personal but less emotional, more a particularly grueling job than a tale of revenge. The sequel’s additions to the universe are all perfectly welcome, while the combat is even more impressive than the first’s.

Watch John Wick: Chapter 2 if you are any sort of action fan. The sleek, stylish, and violent side of the action genre has rarely been executed so cleanly. The first film is recommended but not required viewing; the sequel stands on its own but spoils the events of the first movie at a high level.

8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 to 8.5 for crisp, stylish action and excellent atmosphere.

Today’s quick review: The Great Wall. William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are the last survivors of a mercenary expedition to China to find the legendary black powder. What they find instead is a colossal wall guarded by the soldiers of the Nameless Order against the Tao Tei, a horde of monsters that threaten to overrun China. Caught in the middle of the conflict, the duo hatch a desperate plan to escape with the black powder and their lives.

The Great Wall is a historical fantasy action movie that tells of the secret purpose behind the Great Wall of China. The plot is simple enough: a pair of mercenaries are given the chance to become heroes by helping to defeat an army of deadly monsters. The script is uninspired, but its jokes hit more often than they miss. The special effects show signs of budget and polish, giving the action the visual support it needs.

The Great Wall excels in a few unexpected areas. The Chinese soldiers’ ornately detailed and richly colored armor makes for a striking visual spectacle. The siege weaponry used along the Wall is impressive in its scope, intricacy, and creativity, from the massive catapults to the pulley systems used to lower warriors into the fray. The soundtrack, while not particularly memorable, complements the action sequences well, particularly once the war drums start up.

As for the action itself, The Great Wall opts for slow motion combat, complex interactions, and a healthy dose of William’s archery. While hardly realistic, the action sequences have an excellent flow to them. The fights with the Tao Tei en masse are somewhat less exciting, but the one-on-one fights are interestingly choreographed, well-rendered, and competently presented.

The Great Wall’s merits stop there, however. The plot is predictable and short, and while it is executed well enough, it lacks a real sense of progression or escalation. The second half of the movie offers only one or two surprises over the first. The monster designs seem unique at first, but when several thousand of them are on screen at once, they quickly begin to feel generic.

The Great Wall is a fairly entertaining action movie that fails to build on its strengths. Fans of schlocky action could do worse than to give it a try. Between its action and its visuals, The Great Wall does bring something new to the table. But without the follow-through, The Great Wall offers little beyond the action basics. Anyone looking for a story or a memorable action classic should look elsewhere.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for entertaining action and visual spectacle held back by poor escalation and a weak plot.

Today’s quick review: Last Action Hero. Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien), a boy who lives with his mother in a poor part of New York City, spends his time watching action movies at the local theater. But when Frank (Art Carney), the owner of the theater, offers Danny a magic movie ticket, the boy finds himself transported into the world of the latest Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger) flick.

Last Action Hero is an action comedy that parodies the excesses of 80s and 90s action films. Last Action Hero indulges itself as much as it is possible for an action movie to, with unrealistic action, an unrealistic plot, and nearly every action convention in the book. At the same time, Last Action Hero offers a multifaceted look at the action genre itself, from the jokes at its expense to almost-touching musings on what it would be like to be a fictional character.

Last Action Hero is far more effective a parody than it has any right to be. In addition to its more overt jokes, Last Action Hero slips in some surprisingly smart and subtle gags, from tame-looking attack dogs dubbed with ferocious barks to the uniform contents of an action hero’s closet. Fans of the cheesy parts of the action genre will enjoy the way the movie embraces, parodies, and pays tribute to them, from its preposterous explosions to its superb one-liners.

But the backbone of the film is a kids’ adventure that never deviates too far from convention. Danny Madigan makes for a fine protagonist, but he could be swapped for any other child hero without any serious loss. All the dramatic or meaningful parts of the movie have the logic and idealism of a kids’ film, a step down from the subversive action movie they are wrapped around. The kid half of the movie is watchable, but the action half is superior.

Watch Last Action Hero if you are a fan of 80s- and 90s-style action. The kids’ movie plot can be something of a turn-off, a charming but uninteresting framework for the core of the film. But apart from this, Last Action Hero is an unexpectedly sharp and entertaining parody. Skip it if you dislike the quirks of the action genre.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for the kids’ movie aspects, a 7.5 for its action parody, and a 6.5 to 7.0 overall.

Today’s quick review: Clue. Six strangers (Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren) are invited to a New England mansion for a dinner party. The butler Wadsworth (Tim Curry) informs them that they have been brought there by Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), who has been blackmailing each of them. But when Mr. Boddy is murdered, everyone becomes a suspect.

Clue is a “dinner and a murder” whodunit with a comedic twist. Based on the classic board game, Clue sees a cast of colorful characters navigate their way through a tangled web of means, motive, and opportunity to find the identity of the killer. The movie is a faithful adaptation of the board game, plausibly working in its characters, its weapons, its mansion, its premise, and its ambiguity.

Tim Curry as Wadsworth holds the movie together, acting as host and de facto leader of the group. His performance as the polite, sarcastic, and resourceful butler is the high point of the movie. His costars are a talented crop of actors and comedians in their own right, including Eileen Brennan, Christopher Lloyd, and Madeline Kahn. The characters bounce off each other well, and enough are always onscreen at a time to keep the dialogue rolling.

Clue’s greatest weakness is its devotion to its premise. The movie has three different endings, each shown in a different group of theaters during the film’s initial release. To make sure that each of its endings makes sense, Clue has to jump through hoops, withholding information and working to give each character motive and opportunity. Combined with its long setup, these decisions make the plot of Clue feel messy and arbitrary.

Still, Clue funnels these efforts into a chaotic, entertaining second half with an excellent sense of comedic rhythm. Watch it if you are a fan of eccentric comedies. The humor is hit-or-miss, so those with a different taste in comedy should not expect too much. For a very similar movie with an all-star cast of comedians, check out Murder by Death.

7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for good comedy and an unusual premise.

Today’s quick review: Moon. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), a technician for Lunar Industries, is nearing the end of his three-year stint at a Helium-3 harvesting station on the far side of the Moon. His only companion is Gerty (Kevin Spacey), his doting robotic assistant. But the solitude is beginning to affect his mind, manifesting as disorientation and strange visions. To make it back to his family on Earth, Sam just has to keep himself together for three more weeks.

Moon is a minimalistic science fiction drama with psychological thriller elements. With a simple sci-fi premise and an excellent twist early in the film, Moon shows off the dramatic potential of the science fiction genre. The movie captures the eeriness of being alone and offers up a tantalizing mystery, all without descending into horror. The writing exhibits focus, attention to character, and rock-solid progression, eliminating the need for much action.

Sam Rockwell pulls off a difficult feat with his performance as Sam Bell, carrying the movie almost entirely by himself. Everything from the way Sam talks to the way he spends his free time paints a picture of an ordinary man doing his best under taxing circumstances. Sam comes across as a person, not an archetype, a feat all the more impressive given that the movie does not focus on emotional drama.

Watch Moon if you are in the mood for realistic science fiction with a well-developed mystery. Fans of the story side of sci-fi should go out of their way to see Moon, particularly fans of The Martian, Interstellar, and Oblivion. Skip it if you dislike sci-fi or prefer the action side of the genre.

7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for minimalistic, engaging science fiction.

Today’s quick review: Surrogates. In the near future, remote-controlled robotic duplicates called Surrogates have all but eliminated face-to-face interaction. But when the son of Dr. Lionel Canter (James Cromwell), the inventor of Surrogates, is murdered, FBI agent Tom Greer (Bruce Willis) is faced with a terrifying prospect: a weapon that can kill humans remotely through their Surrogates.

Surrogates is a science fiction action movie with a strong concept and moderate execution. The premise of Surrogates is quintessential sci-fi: the extrapolation of the effects of a hypothetical technology on society. The safety and convenience of robotic doubles have turned the world into addicts and shut-ins, robbing society of its soul even as crime and disease rates plummet.

Tom Greer makes for a useful perspective character, a law enforcement officer who comes to view Surrogates with skepticism as a result of his investigation. On one side is his wife Maggie (Rosamund Pike), who mourns the death of their son with pills and a shallow, Surrogate-fueled lifestyle. On the other hand is the Prophet (Ving Rhames), the leader of an aggressive faction of anti-Surrogate protesters. With neither extreme appealing, Tom must make up his own mind.

Surrogates’ main failing is its length. Clocking in at barely an hour and a half, Surrogates hits the plot points it wants to and then wraps up. The result is a complete but not very deep murder mystery. What character development there is gets handled well but offers no surprises. The action sequences are fast-paced and take advantage of the superhuman Surrogates, but are limited in frequency and scope. As such, Surrogates reaches only some of its potential.

Watch Surrogates if you are an action sci-fi fan looking for a short, decent watch. For a more entertaining, action-packed take on a similar premise, check out I, Robot instead.

6.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for the framework of a good sci-fi film with only some of the execution.

Today’s quick review: U.S. Marshals. After the crash of his prison transport plane, prisoner Mark Roberts (Wesley Snipes) escapes from custody. Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), a respected U.S. Marshal who was on the plane when it crashed, calls in his team to hunt Roberts down. But the situation gets complicated when the State Department takes an interest in the case and assigns Agent John Royce (Robert Downey, Jr.) to keep an eye on Gerard.

U.S. Marshals is an action thriller and an indirect sequel to The Fugitive. Tommy Lee Jones returns as Samuel Gerard, along with the rest of his team of Marshals. His task this time around is to catch Mark Roberts, a dangerous, highly-trained man accused of murder. With tight pacing, decent star power, and a healthy dose of action, U.S. Marshals makes for an entertaining if somewhat shallow watch.

Fans of action movies will find U.S. Marshals to be a worthy sequel. Samuel Gerard receives more character development than in the first film, an opportunity that Tommy Lee Jones makes the most of. The action receives a boost in flash and quantity, swapping the realistic, desperate chase scenes of the original with more typical action fare. The main plot kicks in earlier, a competent spy mystery that goes well with the actual chase.

Fans of the personal side of The Fugitive will be disappointed. The premise of U.S. Marshals is lifted almost directly from its predecessor. But where Richard Kimble is a sympathetic, resourceful man, Mark Roberts has little in the way of character. The action lacks the realism of the original, opting instead for Hollywood stunts and shootouts.

Watch U.S. Marshals if you are an action fan looking for a solid entry into the genre. Though not as nuanced as The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals remains an entertaining watch in the typical action thriller mold.

6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for being an entertaining if conventional action thriller.