Premium Rush Review

Going into Premium Rush I was a bit skeptical. The trailers made this film look silly but it had a good cast and writer/director David Koepp helming it, so I had to give it a shot. When I left this film, I realized that this is a film of a rare breed: a fun action thriller that is not meant to be taken seriously, but also does not insult the audience as a result.

One thing I really enjoyed about this film was the casting. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a great performance as Wilee, a bike-riding daredevil who has to deliver this mysterious package on time. He gives innocence to this character which instantly makes him likeable and makes you root for him to complete his mission. The real show-stealer here is Michael Shannon, who gives a corrupt cop who wants the package from Wilee. The villain Shannon plays is both goofy and terrifying, but not over the top on both accounts. This film shows Shannon can play great villains, which makes me anticipate his turn as General Zod in next year's Man of Steel even more. The rest of the actors do a fine job at playing their characters but they are ultimately one dimensional for me to care about them.

The script is very well done for an action film. Instead of telling this story in chronological order, Koepp puts certain plot points in random scenes. This makes the film move at a brisk pace and doesn't bore the audience as a result. The one issue I had with the script was a lack of character development from the other characters other than Gordon-Levitt's or Shannon's.

The action scenes are really fun to watch. The bike chase scenes are a spectacle to see, it amazes me how Koepp was able to shoot these bikers around NYC without pedestrian complaints. While the CGI can be goofy during the biker intuition scenes, it is cool and exciting to watch. It shows how dangerous these bikers' jobs can be.

What more can I say about Premium Rush? This is a action-chase thriller that could have been made in the 90's but instead is made today. It's a fun and entertaing film that doesn't want to take it self seriously nor should it. They really do not make films like this anymore especially with great actors, a smart script, and clever direction. If you want to have fun without leaving your brain at the door, Premium Rush is the film to check out.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Double Review: The Expendables 2 and Hit & Run

Note: These two reviews are not in my traditional positive and negative format, just wanted to try something different. Let me know what you think!

The Expendables 2

Leaving The Expendables 2 I wasn't too sure what I thought about it. Sure it had awesome action sequences and really clever puns throughout. However, it also contained awful acting and scenes I wasn't sure was meant to be unintentionally funny or it just happened to be unintentionally funny. Regardless, this film is still a lot of fun.

The Expendables 2 is meant to be a thrownack action film to the 80's action films. It sells well on that part. The action scenes are well done. They are explosive, bloody, and do not stop for unnecessary dialogue scenes. This is an improvement over the first film which used CGI blood, didn't have a lot of action scenes, and when they did they stopped for some really unnecessary dialogue.

This film also takes pride in making fun of itself. These action stars poke fun at each other and their respective films. They also make really ridiculous puns which work well for the most part. However, there are a lot of moments in this film which are unintentionally funny when they are supposed to be serious. I'm not sure if the script intended that or if it's a bad script with these actors trying to make it serious.

I enjoy seeing veteran actors such as Sylvester Stallone, Bruve Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger on screen. However, you can really tell that they are aging now and they seem lazy in their roles rather than trying to take it seriously. Two new actors, Liam Hemsworth and Nan Yu, are both terrible in their performances. Hemsworth tries so hard to play the innocent youngster in the team that he creates one of the most laughable performances I have ever seen. Yu, on the other hand, is a terrible actress. She can barely speak English, but she looks bored during this film and it makes her performance unworthy. The sole performance I enjoyed was Jean Claude Van Damme's. He steals the show as the villain Vilain and makes a much more charismatic and better villain than Eric Roberts' in the first film. Also, the lack of Jet Li in this film was an improvement from the first film. I am a fan of Li, but he gave one of the most embarrassing scenes in the first film that I could not take his character seriously from that moment forward.

So what did I think of this film? It's stupid, unintentionally funny, and filled with terrible performances. However, I enjoyed this more than the first film. It has better action sequences, a better villain, and a lack of unnecessary characters. The Expendables 2 is a film so bad that it is hilarious and fun to watch. In that respect, check this film out. If you want a serious film with a compelling plot, look elsewhere. It's a bad film, but a fun bad film.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Hit & Run

Hit & Run is an independent action comedy film directed by Dax Shepard and David Palmer. It contains a great comedic cast including Shepard, Kristen Bell (his real-life fling), Tom Arnold, and Bradley Cooper. It also has a simple but workable plot that should have been fun. I left this film asking, "Why was this film so lame?"

For a film to be considered to be a comedy, it has to be funny. And for a film to be considered an action film, it has to have action scenes. This "action comedy" contained neither. Sure, I laughed once or twice, but other than that, this film is not funny. It relies on long dialogue that tries to be clever and funny, but instead it is boring and unfunny. There are only two action scenes in this film and both were horrible. Both are standard car chases with really terrible camera angles and nothing interesting happens in those scenes. These scenes should have been exciting, but instead they are boring.

This film also has an awful script that has no direction whatsoever. It tries to be this action comedy with an independent twist, but instead goes for the lame indie route. It has boring dialogue, uninteresting characters, and a lot of plotholes throughout. If there was more effort put towards the script, this film could have been something special.

The only reason I stayed to watch this film was because I liked the cast and their respective performances. It is not their fault that this film turned out to be lame. Shepard and Bell give wonderful romantic chemistry and the fact they are a real couple makes these performances convincing for me.

In the end, Hit & Run is a film that had so much potential that ends up being wasted. It's not an action film nor is it a comedy. It's a failed combination of the two genres that is very boring, uninteresting, and just plain awful. With more experienced writers and directors, this film could have been great. Instead, this great ensemble cast is left to star in a horrible comedy with no direction and ends up boring the audience as a result. 

Rating: 2 out of 10

Paranorman Review

Plot Summary:

Norman Babcock (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a misunderstood boy who can talk to ghosts. On the 300th anniversary of his town's historic witch execution, Norman must face zombies, ghosts, and adults to save his town from an old curse.

The Positives:

Paranorman is the second feature from animation studio Laika. Their debut feature Coraline had great stop-motion animation, funny jokes, a wonderful story, and a genuinely creepy tone. While not as strong as Coraline, Paranorman has a lot of great stuff to offer.

The stop-motion animation is unshockingly beautiful. I'd say the technology behind it has improved since Coraline. The skin and the hands look very lifelike and the characters' emotions look great too. I think more studios should invest in stop-motion instead of CGI if they want lifelike results.

The humor is very well-done here as well. While it has slapstick humor for kids, there is a lot of fun in store for the adults. There are a lot of hilarious adult jokes that cross the boundary for it being a family film at times. Paranorman takes risks here that most family films wouldn't and I strongly approve of the humor for that reason.

The voice cast is spot-on here. Smit-McPhee does a great job as Norman. It's always a pleasure to hear the voices of Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, and John Goodman. Their voices fit perfectly with the characters' personalities and I feel Laika should be commended for picking such a great voice cast.

I really enjoyed the plot. Instead of Coraline's creepy tone, Paranorman offers a nice throwback to early 70's monster films telling its story. While the humor crosses boundaries at times, the theme of diversity and acceptance is great for kids. Kids can learn a lot from this film.

The Negatives:

While I truly enjoyed Paranorman, there was a few slight problems I had with it. I said earlier that I enjoyed the film's theme of diversity. However, the last 20 or so minutes are a little overpreachy, explaining the message a few more times than necessary.

I enjoyed what they did with the story as well. However, there are a few plot points that could have been great twists, but instead turned out to be predictable. This did not get in the way of me enjoying the film though, as there are a lot of twists to be shown throughout.

Conclusion:

It's not as good as Coraline nor should it be compared to. Paranorman is a lot of fun for the whole family. Its incredible stop-motion animation, great voice cast, clever humor, and wonderful story differentiate this film from other current family films. In a year of disappointing animated films, Paranorman shines and I am confident to say that this is the first safe bet for a Best Animated Feature nomination.

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Bourne Legacy Review

Plot Summary:
Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) experiences life-or-death stakes that have been triggered by events caused by the search for Jason Bourne.

The Positives:
I am a huge fan of the Bourne trilogy. I was very excited to hear that the series would be continued with a new character played by Jeremy Renner. I was curious on how they would expand the Bourne universe I love. The end result is disappointing, but for the most part it works.

I really enjoyed the acting in this film. Jeremy Renner does a great job playing the Bourne counterpart Aaron Cross, he has the charisma and quick wit that makes him a great action hero. He also shows a new side to the action hero, by portraying him as a drug addict. Rachel Weisz does a great job playing a doctor who helps Cross on his mission. Edward Norton, while not in the film as much as Renner and Weisz, plays a great villain and one to look forward to in future installments.

I liked the visual aspect of the film a lot. The cinematography here doesn't go for the handheld camera movements that the original two do. Instead it goes for smooth, tripod controlled camera movements that are easier on the eyes and is refreshing to see in this series.

The action scenes, the few that there are, are really well-done. The suspense and set-up for these scenes is done perfectly. The payoff for each action scene is not only entertaining, but it captivates you and puts you on the edge of your seat.

The Negatives:
The Bourne Legacy, while entertaining, had a number of flaws. The main problem is the fact that a lot of the plot elements felt too forced. There is a love connection in the film I felt was not only unnecessary, it felt unnatural and fake. Also, the film tries to connect itself with the previous installment. It doesn't need the connection at all, it feels awkward and the film would have been better without the many news reports showing Bourne and scenes from The Bourne Ultimatum. 

I also felt this film had a lot of missed opportunities that could have made this film better. An example is the beginning of the film when Cross meets another agent at a cabin. So much opportunity to explore the characters. Instead, it turns into a short meeting leading up to a generic explosion sequence.

I enjoyed Edward Norton in this film. However, I feel the film wasted his character. He's barely in it, and not to mention he's hardly developed to make him a worthwhile character. He does his best in what he is given, but I hope the next installment really explores his character more.

Conclusion:
I really wanted to love The Bourne Legacy, but the weak script prevents this film from being more than it can be. The end result is not a bad film, but easily my least favorite in the series. The film is worth watching for its acting, action scenes, and the visuals. If you wanted a captivating story, unfortunately you'll have to look elsewhere. All in all, it's an alright film that should have been great.

Rating: 6 out of 10 

Total Recall Review

Plot Summary:

Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) begins to think he is a spy after visiting Rekall, a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories. After his experience at Rekall goes horribly wrong, he finds himself on the run.

The Positives:

The original 1990 Total Recall is one of my favorite cult classic films. This one is different from the original, but it has some good things to offer. The special effects and the world Len Wiseman created are very good. In some scenes, it doesn't even look like CGI, it looks like it was filmed on location.

The acting was very good in this remake. Colin Farrell does a great job playing Arnold Schwarzenegger's original character, he has a lot of charisma and brings a lot to the character. Kate Beckinsale, Bryan Cranston, and others do great in this film as well. 

For the most part, the action scenes are really well-put together. Each action scene is very entertaining. Not to mention, they flow with the film very nicely.

The Negatives:

There were several issues I had with this remake. First off, while the original had a story, this one lacks a coherent story. It doesn't make sense at times and tries to be smarter than it is. It has plot twists that are predictable and not mind-bending like they want it to be.

I mentioned earlier that the acting was very good. There was one exception to that-Jessica Biel. She did an awful job with her performance, she lacked emotion and looked bored the entire time. I felt bored and laughed at her unintentionally a few times.

It is obvious that this film went for the generic action film route rather than the campy, original route that the 1990 film was. It steals so many plot points from many sci-fi films such as The Matrix and I, Robot. This is obvious that the studio had a lot of say with this film and it doesn't feel like a natural director's film.

The action scenes are well put together. However, there are many moments where there are lens flares and camers angles that make the action hard to watch. It is very distracting and dizzying during these moments to watch.

The script is a mess. The first 20 minutes showed a lot of potential for this film and it went south from there. The dialogue points out the obvious and is very cliche. There are so many plotholes as well that make the film more confusing than it needs to be.

Conclusion:

Total Recall is basically a generic action remake of a wonderful sci-fi classic. It lacks well-developed characters, a clever story, and fun (all are elements that the original had). This feels like a genric studio film that did not deserve to be made this soon. It's mindless entertainment, but if you are a fan of the original, stay away.

Rating: 4 out of 10