The Avengers

The Avengers is a study in how a successful franchise can be put together in a relatively short amount of time and pay off big time.  With Robert Downey Jr. solidifying the success of the Iron Man movies, a good investment was obviously made.  In the midst of a mega-blockbuster hit already bursting at the seems in star power and acting talent,  in no less than what essentially amounts to 6 superheroes in a single film; it is still fascinating how Downey so seemingly effortlessly seems to nearly outshine everyone in terms of dialogue and humor.  That withstanding, The Avengers, is also brilliant in terms of how balanced an approach to the storyline was given to each character, who is an integreal part of the plot.  In terms of special effects, there is nothing very spectacular that most of us haven't seen in any of the Transformer or Spiderman movies. Take note of the cool the stealth aircraft carrier/plane and the seemless panoramic sweeping of the camera during the final city action sequence that with the use of cgi brilliantly showcase the simultaneous battles of our heroes.   It is that final sequence of the team working together that is so priceless and doesn't disappoint, not to mention the almost three way battle of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor during the abduction of Loki.   The Avengers is great action on steroids tempered by a great story and cast.  It's culmination has thus far arguably taken the development of comic book films by leaps and bounds into a new standard.

The Amazing Spider-Man

A decade since the release of Toby Maguire's Spider-Man doesn't seem like a long time enough to plunge into making a reboot that, although creatively fresh and noticeably darker in certain plots and character storylines, is full of the lack luster, chemistry, and energy that made the first film a successful franchise.  The film starts off fresh enough, but quickly tries too hard to encompass the best elements of the previous movies and other comic book movies, into a rushed frenzy that weakens the story and character development.   The cast, although good and talented, seem more like generic cardboard cut-out replacements of their earlier film counterparts.  It's decent enough to watch, but premature in production to warrant it's own distinctive identity, even for a public with a short attention span.  Better luck with the sequel.

Skyfall

In my view, Daniel Craig in his 3 Bond films have so far nearly obliterated my enthusiasm for re-watching any of the other previous Bond movies, minus the Sean Connery classics.  He along with the producers continues to inject a  freshness and an authentic modern relevance in this latest Bond movie.   This time around, the entire theme of the film is finally on par with him in it's tone and story, while still very freshly and simultaneously revisiting it's character's history and brilliantly re-shedding itself as needed.   Silva (Javier Barden), a former MI6 agent and casualty of decisions made long ago by M (Judi Dench), highjack important intelligence information and identities for blackmail as part of an elaborate revenge scheme that shakes the very foundations of British Intelligence along with Bond and M.  Sound familiar?  In brief, Skyfall is great and already classic with definitely some great unexpected moments.  As I alluded to earlier, one of the best things about this particular film is how honestly it shows the arch of self-effacing to unabashed criticism of the intelligence community and it's role in today's world, including the dichotomy  and cost effectiveness of old school human intelligence on the ground and today's high tech capabilities and limitations for an ever changing shadowy enemy.   These topics are finally not so underlying anymore in this installment, and they are handled nicely by director Sam Mendes in a way that comes close to comparing with the climactic clashes of theme  and drama that The Godfather is noted for.  Not that this hasn't been done effectively in other spy movies, but the latest Bond movies, have made more leaps and bounds in catching up with Bourne movies all the while keeping and re-energizing what had been a steady decline in an identity only associated with the Cold War. Lest I not forget the great performances of Naomi Harris and Ralph Fiennes.  No spoiler alerts here, as I loved it.

The Man With the Iron Fist

Killer Clans with with bad 80's rock band wigs and animal names, lone warriors, government officials, deadly local courtesians, and others are looking  to steal or trying to protect government gold bars.  A local blacksmith (RZA) forging specialized weapons for some of these groups, becomes caught up in the confusion and ultimately must fight his way out with his newly forged iron fists.  By my own admission and as a longtime fan of kungfu flicks, the idea of rapper/producer and leader of the Wu-Tang Clan The RZA making this film was a very exciting prospect indeed.  To those who don't know, RZA and Wu-Tang Clan, as their name would indicate, are highly influenced by the old classic kungfu cinema combining many elements of it into their music.  However, to his discredit,  the directorial debut of RZA (in fact, he's the co-writer, director, and star) in The Man With The Iron Fist it is done in a very dis-jointed and heavy-handed approach most notably in the hip-hop soundtrack and his narration of a rather typical and uninspired tale that serve only to distract instead of move the story along.  Cinematography,  fight choreography, special effects, bad writing, and attempted homages to many great kungfu movies are swished around in what can only be described as a bad stir-fry with great ingredients to start with. . As much as  I admire RZA's ambition to undertake the genre even under the guidance of fellow martial art genre affictionado Quentin Tarintino, everything in this not so new homage to the martial arts genre cannot be tongue and cheeked so easily away.  I suspect RZA perhaps took on too much and wore too many caps in his endeavor and ambition.  In all honesty, the only things that I found rather exciting and not surprising at that, were the opening and closing credits credits that were more fitting for a better Hong Kong redux. He most certainly had  a  decent $15 million budget, the backing and support of notable actors and action stars Lucy Liu, Russell Crowe, Dave Bautista, Cung Le, and even martial arts veteran Gordon Liu.  Legendary fight choreographer Corey Yuen was also included. One thing I did find out after viewing it, was that the original cut for this film was at 4 hours and reduced to 95 minutes.  That would certainly explain much of my criticism, but even that doesn't account for everything like the story and dialogue.  Luckily, I didn't have to pay anything other than time to see this flick, coming straightaway from seeing Skyfall .

Upcoming Tai Chi Zero

Machine Gun Preacher

This movie explores the life of preacher-activist Sam Childers (played by Gerard Butler) and how he turned his life around from an outlaw biker and became a rescuer of children in war torn Sudan. First off, I'm very glad that a film like this can shed much needed light on the plight of children and the very real genocide that has been going on in these regions of Africa.  In fact, it's a shame that often times, it's only films like this and Hotel Rwanda that bring a certain consciousness to the problems that have existed there.  Butler's performance and that of the supporting cast was very good.  It is quite amazing to see Butler portray Childers and how his adopted cause to save young lives was his redemption. The most memorable and moving performance was how a young boy forced to murder his mother, connected with Childers and his attempt to dispel his growing anger and disillusion at the cost losing his family and his cause. The only issue I have was toward the beginning of the film, leading up to his crusade into Sudan.  This was very much not developed at all.  How Childers went from a life of crime and self-loathing to born again Christian and saver of children thousands of miles away, was choppy at best.  Admittedly, his life story is unique and unorthodox to say the least, but cinematically this omission into his character's transitional arc does nothing to invest in the theme of the story.  That fact early on and coupled with the movie's title (as appropriately accurate as it was) would probably leave the average moviegoer scratching their head a bit more than usual in their anticipation of what they were in for.  But, overall, Machine Gun Preacher, is a must watch with an exceptional performance by Butler about something that should matter to all of us.

The Raid: Redemption

If you like just straight up raw martial arts action and brutality, than this is the film for you.  It's a shame that it didn't get mainstream release in the states, but not surprising as many a great martial arts films haven't.  I managed to see this earlier in the year at an art theater.  What's it about?  A SWAT team is charged with apprehending a criminal network embedded in a large, criminal infested apartment complex in Jakarta, Indonesia.  In the last few years, from little the little known countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Burma, etc. have been really rejuvenating the whole martial arts genre showcasing their native arts. The fight choreography and camera work here are incredible.  The sheer no no nonsense style of the fighting here is quite different than the similar, but more stylized fighting of Tony Jaa's films.   Here, we get to see the art of pencak silat on display, as displayed by lead actor Iko Uwais.  By the way, look for this talented guy to star alongside Keanu Reeves in Reeves' directorial debut - Man Of Tai Chi.  The visceral action packed pace throughout the film doesn't let up for a moment.  By the time it's over, you feel like you've been through an adrenaline soaked battle yourself.  

Michael Clarke Duncan - 1957 - 2012

We all remember him from many film and television roles, particularly for his Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for The Green Mile.  He always seemed to be a very nice and humble guy in interviews.  Fortunately, he managed to complete 2 films before his passing.  Rest in peace, brother.

Lockout

I guess I made the repeated mistake of having too much anticipation for this movie.  Well, I would argue who wouldn't after seeing the impressive trailer with it's comparisons to classics like Blade Runner and The Fifth Element, having a great actor like Guy Pearce in the lead, and the talented Luc Besson as the executive producer. Pearce plays a sentenced CIA operative given the chance to rescue the President's daughter held hostage on a space station prison.  This film is not to be taken too seriously, and indeed it doesn't take itself too seriously as demonstrated throughout with the rapid fire, typical action, one-liners of Pearce.  It resembles Blade Runner only in the futuristic noir setting, not in any larger themes running through it.  Indeed, there are so many pieces of many action films stitched together in Lockout, that it becomes hard to discern if the filmmakers were giving homage or making fun of the whole genre.  Salvaging that whole ambiguity is Pearce, who has been transformed into a seemingly authentic action hero and really seemed to be having fun at doing something different.  I would imagine that Lockout would be disappointing on the big screen, as it's green screen effects have been done better before in other films, but with only a $20 million budget, I suppose they were necessary.  Perhaps Besson should have personally taken the reigns of directing this with a better script and production.

How To Live Forever

Filmmaker Mark Wexler's documentary is an insightful must see for all that explores the many different ways human beings approach life and what it means to live to our maximum chronological potential in terms of  physiology, health, happiness, and quality of life.  I found it to be sobering, inspirational, revealing, fair-minded,  light-hearted, warm, and balanced in it's approach, as Wexler took 3 years to personally explore the subject that we all simultaneously wonder about and dread.  I would also highly encourage viewing the extra deleted scenes on the dvd.  Good food for thought and a good docudrama.  http://www.liveforevermovie.com/

Battleship

Ok, first the good.  Well, the trailer turned out to be very good after many months of development.  In fact, the trailer deserves its own special award. I applaud them for hyping me up to see it.  It did in its tacky way try to honor veterans. There was eye candy action and good special effects, as it should have been for such a big budget Hollywood production supported by the military.  However, many better made action movies have had those necessary qualities such as Armaggedon, Top Gun, Independence Day, The Transformers, etc.  Don’t get me wrong.  I really wanted to like this movie and had always enjoyed naval war films.  But I also knew to expect sacrificing a certain level of things like storyline, logic, believability, and character development.  In this case, that expected sacrifice was far too much to ask for.  Seagall and Van Damme movies have had more character development and for way less production budget than this atrocity.  Liam Neeson, the only real actor in the film, should have been embarassed at taking on this project.  Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna were just “pretty” people doing laughably, impossible things. Speaking of Rihanna, what kind of skunky, beaver weave was she wearing? Typical, predictable, and nonsensical cheeziness are taken to new heights by Battleship.  Small reference to the actual board game that this movie was based on, was made to seem like a rocket science solution to defeating the aliens.  Lest I forget the empty plot that the trailer does a better job of summarizing, aliens conveniently come to invade the earth in Hawaii and the U.S. Navy and it’s old dry-docked battleship is somehow conveniently the only force that can save the world under the leadership of rebel bad boy and fast tracked naval officer (Kitsch) and WW2 veterans.  Save your money and wait for the movie to come to your cable network or free at your library, because it should have been merely titled an extended Navy recruiting film or what I prefer - Battleshit.

Greatest Female Action Stars

  Criteria varies but may include -

• Actual physical ability on-screen
• Great acting or conveyance of strong character
• Kicking ass and sexy
• It may be a film or television role
• It may be just from one memorable role

My Candidates

  

Angela Bassett - she may not be considered an action star per se, but her many roles exemplify how strong, sexy, and capable she is.  Check her out in Strange Days.

Angelina Jolie -  always smart, sexy, and lethal in many roles like Laura Croft Tomb Raider, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Salt.

Anne Parillaud - she changed the whole contemporary game for women in Luc Besson's  La Femme Nikita as she morphed from wild criminal to trained and refined assassin.

Carrie-Anne Moss -  because her character of Trinity in The Matrix rocked.  She's definitely one you'd want on your team and it's no wonder Neo fell for her.

Cynthia Rothrock - when female action stars were few, if any in America, this champion martial artist went to China first to become one. Check her out in Yes, Madam. 

Franka Potente - ever since seeing her in Run Lola Run, I've been hooked and she didn't let down in The Bourne Identity.

Gena Davis - her fabulous transformations in both Thelma & Louise and The Long Kiss Goodnight are magical.

Gina Carano - an actual MMA fighter who's film debut in Haywire showed how women can tangle with the big boys in all levels of combat.

Halle Berry - she gave 007 a run for his money in Die Another Day and dazzled us in the X-Men movies.  I forgave her for Catwoman.

JeeJa Yanin - the female Tony Jaa.  This girl kicks serious ass in Chocolate.

Jennifer Garner - though she hit the big screen portraying Elektra, it was her portrayal of agent Sydney Bristow on the television show Alias that cemented her position here as one of the best female action stars.

Kate Beckinsale - has there ever been a sexier vampire hero?  See Underworld.

Keira Knightley -  how she can seamlessly go from classic period films to straight, no chaser action films like Domino, is no joke.

Kimberly Elise - she can go from innocent to steely intensity in a flash, if you remember Set It Off.

Linda Hamilton -  buffed, tough, and no-nonsense in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Maggie Cheung - this talented beauty can do it all in any genre.  She would have made the list even before her great performance in Hero as Flying Snow.

Maria Bello - her character of Detective Jane Timony of the Prime Suspect show is one of the best strong female characters I've seen on television.  NBC had to be on crack for canceling the show. 

Meiko Kaji -  if you think Lucy Liu was cool in the Kill Bill movies, then check out
this Japanese actress in the 1973 classic Lady Snowblood, part of the inspiration for her role.

 

Michelle Yeoh - the queen of Asian action, this former Miss Malaysia has 25 years worth of hard hitting films including the classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

 

Milla Jovovich - beautiful and hardcore in the Resident Evil films.

Natalie Portman - her debut in The Professional was outstanding.

Noomi Rapace -  nothing against Rooney Mara's performance in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but there's nothing like the original Swedish actress.

Pam Grier - the superbad and superfine queen of 70's action.

Regina King - she's come along way since 227 and is one of the best things about the TV show Southland.

Salma Hayek - smoking hot and sultry in Desperado.

Sigourney Weaver - her character of Ripley in the Aliens films is the epitome of female action star and Sigourney is a veteran champ of that.

Thandie Newton -  she gets a bit overshadowed in Mission Impossible 2 with all the great action, but she fired it up pretty nice in that role.

Uma Thurman - she will forever be a classic action star, getting down and dirty in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2.

Vivica A. Fox - a memorable performance in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 going toe to toe with Uma Thurman leads me to include her.

Ziyi Zhang - she came out the gate swinging with youthful energy in groundbreaking martial arts classics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House Of Flying Daggers.

Zoe Saldana - her lead debut in Colombiana, but let's not forget her as the new Uhura in Star Trek or that sexy blue alien in Avatar.