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/