Category Archives: Action

05.06.17
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

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It’s been three years since Guardians of the Galaxy was released and became a huge hit for Marvel, and finally the Guardians have returned to the big screen in Vol. 2. This time, the Guardians travel throughout the cosmos as they help Peter Quill learn more about his true parentage. Thankfully, James Gunn knows how to make a standout superhero film for the second time. Vol. 2 doesn’t lose the charm, heart, and humor that made the first one so great. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel are all still so brilliant and hilarious as the dysfunctional family who must save the galaxy for the second time. There’s something so refreshing about their characters that brings a smile to my face. Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, and Karen Gillan also return from the first film, and their characters are explored much more interestingly this time. I was also impressed by newcomer Pom Klementieff as Mantis, a charming new member of the Guardians.

With a great visual style, script, and action sequences, James Gunn shows he can make a Marvel film that’s special and heartfelt. Guardians Vol. 2 feels somewhat distinct from the classic MCU formula, and isn’t too caught up with setting up a universe, but with bringing the best out of its characters and visuals. If you loved Awesome Mix Vol. 1, prepare for another great soundtrack in Awesome Mix Vol. 2, which includes some great songs that are used very well in the film. It’s been a while since the first film came out, and the first one felt so fresh and new when it was released, but by now the visuals and humorous style don’t feel as new and special as they did back then, but I can’t really blame the film for that. There are a few characters that are useless and I wish did more, and there’s a twist thrown in that was foreshadowed a little too much, but it feels different than what Marvel has done before. However, Gunn’s creative style makes this movie as entertaining and awesome as it should be. He knows how to make a great soundtrack and shoot action sequences very well, and he even pays homage to Hitchcock’s North by Northwest in a certain scene. Also, stay during the credits for not one, but five post-credit scenes after the film.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is another great Marvel feature with a terrific cast, an excellent soundtrack, great action and visuals, and a script that doesn’t feel as well-realized and fresh as the first film, but this movie still demonstrates James Gunn’s great talent when it comes to making huge blockbusters, and leaves you excited for Vol. 3.

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04.15.17
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The Fate of the Furious

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In this next Fast and Furious movie, the stakes are raised as Dom (Vin Diesel) is pitted against his team by a mysterious woman named Cipher (Charlize Theron), and his crew face trials that will test them as never before.

The Fate of the Furious proves that this series will never end, as they’re always successful and the studio is always compelled to make more, but it also proves that no matter how ridiculous the plot is, it can still live up to be as entertaining as its predecessors. This isn’t the best of the series, but I still enjoyed the hell out of it. It wasn’t a great decision by the studio to continue making these films after the tragic death of Paul Walker, one of the main stars of the franchise, but this film still brings insane stunts, incredible action sequences, and tons of great humor to the screen. The film is even able to pay tribute to Walker at the end, more subtly this time. Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnon are easily the heart of the film, with Diesel bringing the best out of his character as always, and Johnson is both hilarious and badass and a much larger role in the franchise now, and I’m sure glad he is. Jason Statham’s return is also great, and Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris are once again terrific comic relief. The twist of Dom betraying his team at first concerned me when it was revealed in the trailer, but the background and reason behind it is written well and a nice surprise. However, the writing of Charlize Theron’s antagonist was horrible and her performance is beyond forgettable. The story doesn’t really explore new territory other than that, revisiting the consistent theme of family that’s been used very well throughout the series, and sometimes the story is too over-the-top or rushed, but I was still entertained by the insane action sequences, which are some of the most awesome of the series. The directing and writing aren’t some of the most memorable in the franchise, but the action and humor sure is, and despite the plot being mostly forgettable, I can’t call this film a disappointment because of how much this saga still amuses me. There’s been so many sequels in this series, but thankfully I can still have a great time with this saga, despite the story not being the best. More follow-ups may be unnecessary, but if a ninth film is released, I’ll be sure not to miss it.

Who knew that the 8th installment of a series could still hold up? The Fate of the Furious is the saga at it’s most over-the-top but it keeps all the entertainment that has made the series great. You should watch it if you’re simply looking for an incredibly fun time at the movies.

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03.05.17
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Logan

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In the near future, mutants are nearly extinct and a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Logan takes a new turn on Hugh Jackman’s clawed superhero who he’s portrayed for the last 17 years. Instead of being the wise-cracking hero we all know and love, Logan is now depressed, lonely, and has let go of the Wolverine mantle. There is little hope left in his life and his daily routine consists of caring for his fellow mutant Professor X, and working as a limo driver. The genre is slightly switched up, feeling more like a drama with action scenes and chases rather than just a big superhero action movie. Lots of the film focuses on Logan reflecting on his decisions and his identity while trying to protect a young mutant who needs his help. Also, the rating is cranked up from the familiar PG-13 to a hard R, allowing the violence to be as bloody, gory, and insane as necessary, and Logan to curse as much as he wants. The action is directed excellently, with every shot capturing the intensity perfectly, and lots of the elements within the action are thought of very well. The R-rating allows the action to reach its true potential, which is sure to satsify audiences and fans, but younger viewers who may have enjoyed previous X-Men films should be warned about this film’s graphic content.

James Mangold, who also directed 2013’s The Wolverine, creates a completely different film here, which is unbelievable as most superhero directors, even the greatest ones like Christopher Nolan and the Russo brothers, will make similar films in concept and tone. However, Mangold even takes the same protagonist as before and alters the reality, tone, genre, and target audience to make a potent, mature, and exceptional film that’s distinct from all the other X-Men movies. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart give it their all in the roles they’ve played for so long, delivering more soul and emotion than ever before. Newcomer Dafne Keen does a great job as well, and her role is sure to launch a great career for her. The movie sometimes delivers some backstory and exposition unclearly, and it could have done a better job delivering the needed exposition at a right time and making it understandable. However, fans are still sure to love this unconventional superhero film that feels more like a mix of Western and melodrama than your typical superhero movie that you expect to be released nowadays. If you loved previous X-Men movies, even the hard-R Deadpool, this film stands outside of that genre so you should walk in with some more patience and an open mind than usual.

Logan has redefined the superhero genre with a poignant storyline and characters, that’s sure to satisfy fans of the series and action films, despite being distinct from the other films in its genre. Hugh Jackman gives it his best in his final performance as the iconic Wolverine character, and without a doubt the greatest one in the franchise.

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02.18.17
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John Wick: Chapter 2

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Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick, who, after getting his revenge in the first film, returns to his normal life outside of the hitman world, but soon must return to repay a debt, and travel to Rome to face off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.

With the release of John Wick: Chapter 2, the next film in this epic action franchise, I can already say that 2017 is a great year for action movies. Director Chad Stahelski returns from the previous film to bring us a bigger, badder, and bloodier action film with action sequences that fans only imagine of. If you loved the first film, especially for its bold and exciting action scenes, you won’t be let down by the terrific non-stop action scenes put to film. Stahelski clearly knows how to direct action, especially when it comes to the great set pieces, cinematography, and choreography he’s given. The action scenes in the first John Wick film are only a warm-up for the insanity you’ll see here. The shootouts, fist fights, knife fights, and car chases in this film are all unforgettable and are up there with the scenes from the original film. Keanu Reeves was born for this role, which I knew he was perfectly fit for since I saw John Wick. Watching him fight through henchmen is as entertaining as it gets, with as much excitement, blood, and over-the-top violence you’d expect from this franchise. There are some notable appearances from supporting cast members, including Laurence Fishburne, who just doesn’t want to part with Reeves after The Matrix, and Common, who shares a number of memorable action sequences with Reeves.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is no blockbuster, but it uses its relatively smaller budget of $40 million to create fantastic and pleasing action that audiences will definitely love. There are some ideas the first film hinted at that are explored more here, which seems like something the writer had a lot of fun with. The film doesn’t forget what made its predecessor so great, including certain plot points, characters, and ideas, and especially the uncompromising, non-stop action and gives you everything you hoped for to make this a badass and thrilling sequel. However, there are certain things in the plot that were unclear or too ambitious to me. The protagonist’s motive in the first film is clearly revenge, but here, his motive to fight never convinced me or was clear enough to satisfy what I was hoping for. I feel that the simplicity of the first film’s plot was what made it so great, and although I’m glad this sequel built on the series’ mythology more, it often stumbles with its plot where it needs it the most. That, however, did not stop me from enjoying the hell out of the action sequences in this film. I’m very glad I was able to see a great action movie in theaters again, one in which no Marvel characters have to appear in order to make the film successful.

John Wick: Chapter 2 is sure to satisfy fans of action movies and of its predecessor, including myself. I had a great time watching this film, especially due to its unforgettable and thrilling action sequences, and although it’s not one of the greatest action films this decade, it’s one of the better ones as this generation doesn’t have too many great action movies left to offer. So overall, if you’re looking for an awesome and insane action film, you’ll leave John Wick 2 more than satisfied.

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02.13.17
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The Lego Batman Movie

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Batman is back in action in his latest feature film, The Lego Batman Movie. This time around, he must defend Gotham City from the Joker, while trying to raise his adopted son and face the demons of his past.

When all hope seems lost for Batman in any future media whatsoever, Warner Bros. Animation comes to the rescue with an entertaining and satisfactory action flick. This follow-up to The Lego Movie holds on to what made the first one so successful, but also brings in a new tone, and that’s mostly due to its protagonist, who steals the screen once again. From the moment the film begins, I could tell how self-aware and clever the humor in the film would be, with Batman spoofing everything from other Warner Bros. media to other incarnations of himself. Will Arnett is a hilarious and terrific pick for the caped crusader. I don’t remember ever seeing Arnett actually do well on the big screen besides in these films. He truly embraces the character and what makes him great, and he delivers lots of humor very well. Michael Cera joins the cast of Lego superheroes as Batman’s young sidekick, Robin. Cera is quirky but oddly lovable and fun, and I’ve seen Cera play live-action roles like this in the past, so he was definitely a great choice to play the character. Zach Galifianakis is outrageously hysterical and amusing as The Joker, with his portrayal of the iconic villain being different but amusing for the sake of a family audience. Ralph Fiennes was a great choice to voice Alfred, and Rosario Dawson, who isn’t new to playing sidekicks to superheroes, also gives it her all in her role as Gotham police commissioner Barbara Gordon.

One thing that made me so delighted by the film’s humorous approach was the way it poked fun at itself and all of media out there, from Suicide Squad to Harry Potter to even Jerry Maguire. Whenever the humor wasn’t aimed to get laughs from kids, it was always finding ways to reference and spoof films and shows we all know, and it almost felt like a family edition of last year’s Deadpool. Another noteworthy point about the film is its great message for kids, about family and teamwork. It embraces a lot of what hasn’t been explored too much about Batman and uses it for great themes that could inspire viewers, especially younger ones. However, as the film started to throw more at you and advance further into its runtime, it became easier to predict how everything would go at the end. It borrows some overused cliches from other animated films that nothing feels like a surprise by the end. Some of the action feels very empty and unengaging, just because nothing about it feels original and new. Kids will most likely be intrigued by everything that happens in this movie, but I felt like some of it was too familiar and similar to what we’ve seen in family films before. If you take your kids or a younger audience to watch this movie, you’ll probably have a great time seeing it with them. However, some of the predictable elements in this movie bothered me at one point in the runtime. Also, there were some ideas thrown out there by The Lego Movie that could have been explored more in this one, but instead it chose to stick to being a Batman film, which I was mostly fine with because it’s trying to be its own film. Don’t expect this to be the exact same experience as The Lego Movie, since there’s a reason this is a spin-off and not a sequel.

The Lego Batman Movie is guaranteed to be a great time for families, with a great cast, humor, and themes, but some of it feels too predictable and recycled to the point that it becomes slightly uninteresting. It doesn’t have as much to offer as The Lego Movie, but it’s a fun time for families and especially younger audiences.

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12.19.16
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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

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Set before the events of the original Star Wars, Rogue One follows Jyn Erso, whose past connects her to the Empire and the construction of the Death Star, as she joins a team of Rebels on a seemingly hopeless mission to steal the plans to the Death Star and stop the Empire from using it to take over the galaxy.

Rogue One is definitely the movie that all Star Wars fans, including myself, have been waiting to watch this year. I was excited to watch this movie like any fan would be, but I was slightly skeptical as this is Lucasfilm’s first Star Wars spin-off. I was mostly satisfied with what I got. By no means does it reach the heights of The Force Awakens, but my inner Star Wars fan had a blast watching Rogue One. The impressive action sequences, terrific cast, and gorgeous visual effects make this film a treat to watch on the big screen. The style feels somewhat different than what we’ve received in previous films of the saga, and the action doesn’t feel too similar or borrowed, either. There’s a different approach to the violence and buildup because of this movie’s efforts to feel like a grounded war film, which it succeeds at very well. The fight scenes which include the classic X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter battles, Stormtrooper-filled shootouts, and other nostalgic callbacks are all shot and directed very well by Godzilla director Gareth Edwards, whose ambition for this story and franchise mostly pays off. Felicity Jones plays a strong female lead with a great backstory and lots of reasons to root for her. She and costar Diego Luna both bring lots of fun to their characters and carried the film very well, although Luna’s Captain Cassian Andor could have used more development. Ben Mendelsohn stars as an antagonist who opposes Jones and brought a great new character to life through his interesting performance. The supporting cast, including Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, and Alan Tudyk are all phenomenal, although some of the heroes we are rooting for aren’t fully realized and lacked some of the development that I wanted from them. You’ll definitely also recognize Forest Whitaker in an over-the-top but fun and key role in the film.

Although Rogue One‘s visual appeal and high enjoyment level make this a must for all fans of the series, it fell slightly below my expectations. Like I said before, not many of the characters are fully developed and although they’re all awesome to watch on screen, some of the writing for their backstories and motivations were missing. The opening act is too rushed and passes by a lot, with editing that could have been stretched out a little longer and scenes that could have been made more memorable and meaningful. The film just kept getting better as the run-time went on, though, with the themes soon becoming more powerful and relevant and the style becoming more distinct than the previous films. The final act of the film is when I was really convinced that this was the Star Wars film we deserved – the last 45 minutes alone are worth the ticket price, perfectly setting up the original movies and giving us a great touch of what we love from ’70’s and ’80’s sci-fi. Rogue One also features tons of memorable cameos from our favorite characters from 1977 and onward, which is guaranteed to be nostalgic for all audiences. With its surprisingly thoughtful and interesting themes that younger viewers will enjoy as well, and a spirit that brings us back to the golden age of sci-fi cinema, Rogue One will not disappoint Star Wars fans looking for a serviceable spin-off with a satisfying plot, cast ensemble, and jaw-dropping nostalgia.

Packed with great action and visual effects, as well as a strong cast and themes, Rogue One is the prequel all Star Wars fans have wanted since 1999. It’s not as great as I think it could have been, as some characters are underdeveloped and the editing and pacing could have been more effective in the first act, but overall, Rogue One is a must-see for all fans of the saga and one of the most entertaining action films this year.

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11.20.16
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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In the next film in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe, set 70 years earlier in New York City, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows writer Newt Scamander as he must recapture the creatures that have escaped from has magical suitcase, and prevent war between wizards and humans at the same time.

It’s not hard to expect another Harry Potter film to be released after the series “concluded” with such success, but what I didn’t expect was mediocrity below what director David Yates has brought to the saga before. It’s not the lacking of the presence of Hogwarts and all our favorite characters from the previous films, but of the magic that made them all so memorable. Fantastic Beasts rushes into the adventure way too quickly and early on in the film, rather than taking it’s time to introduce you to everything that’s going on. Bear in mind, Warner Bros., you have five films in this series, not just one. By the time the movie stops to actually explain things, everything is different for our characters from when the film starts. The exposition isn’t given in the correct places and sometimes not at all. And there isn’t very much you need to know about Harry Potter to understand whatever’s happening – Hogwarts is merely mentioned once, in case you thought you’d be reminded of the saga as much as you’d be of The Lord of the Rings when you saw the Hobbit movies. Easily the most fast-paced movie I’ve seen this year, there is too much exposition and too many events happening one after another that it felt like the movie couldn’t have a larger budget and couldn’t be a minute longer. This movie would have been a lot better if its length was stretched out to three hours instead of being crammed down into two.

Yates directs some exciting and visually appealing action sequences that managed to keep me entertained, and the sets of 1920’s New York look great as well. Newt and the rest of the protagonists are well-written and likable enough for me to see them followed in four future films, but Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne in the leading role and Dan Fogler as Newt’s Muggle friend are the only actors in the film that didn’t look like they’d rather be anywhere else. Even acclaimed actors like Colin Farrell and Carmen Ejogo hardly bring any life to their characters. The villains are incredibly flat and uninteresting, and I found myself getting slightly pulled out of the story whenever something was going on with them. The movie relies too much on an overuse of CGI (not all of which is as good as I hoped) to keep the audience engaged, as well as bits of humor here and there that didn’t always make me laugh. There are some plot points that would be interesting to see explored more broadly in future films, including appearances from a few familiar actors, one of which you’ll definitely recognize and will catch you by surprise. Otherwise, there’s not much to look forward to in the future of this series, although Yates hasn’t completely blown his opportunity of making a good spin-off series just yet.

You may want to give Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them a watch in theaters if you enjoy fantasy movies, but there’s not much to find here otherwise that will require you to rush to the theaters and buy a ticket. Besides some entertaining action and great leading characters, Fantastic Beasts is an overabundance of exposition and CGI that’s disappointing for whoever’s expecting it to be as great as its predecessors in Rowling’s  universe of magic.

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11.05.16
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Doctor Strange

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An arrogant yet skilled former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

Has Marvel or any superhero film ever created something as visually spectacular as Doctor Strange? The answer is no. Doctor Strange is immersive, breathtaking, and more visually impressive than almost any film this year, nearly on par with Disney’s The Jungle Book. As our hero, Stephen Strange, explores vast dimensions in our universe, we are presented some marvelous effects, like nothing I thought I’d ever see in a superhero movie. From a visual standpoint, this movie is so different than what you’d usually expect from a Marvel movie, as buildings change their physical form and sorcerers travel from one continent to another in the blink of an eye. The visual concepts in this movie even feel like nods to dimensional sci-fi films such as The Matrix, Inception, and Interstellar. Doctor Strange introduces the world of magic into the Marvel universe, expanding limitations of what to expect in future films. As well as tie-ins with previous films, Doctor Strange is interesting to watch as its own story, as our protagonist goes from selfish and conceited to protective and selfless. Speaking of Dr. Strange himself, Benedict Cumberbatch does a phenomenal job playing him, witty and fun as the cocky and brilliant surgeon who reminded me so much of the actor’s titular role in Sherlock. He brings so much life and personality to the role and I think he was cast perfectly to play him. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character definitely has one of the more complex character arcs in the MCU, and his performance is quite interesting as well. Rachel McAdams plays a less formulaic female character who felt more like an actual person than a typical superhero female lead, as the marketing hinted she would be. Another remarkable cast member was Benedict Wong as a no-nonsense but I expected Tilda Swinton’s role to be one of the most interesting characters in the film, but instead she’s hardly given anything to do, and her connection to the main villain was borrowed and cliched. The villain is unfortunately not as memorable and well-developed as I hoped he would be, and his writing and plot are the weakest part of the film. Some of the plot points feel too predictable and borrowed to be acknowledged, but the story is overall intriguing and the visual payoff is beautiful. It’s definitely worth paying for to watch in 3D. Also, there are two post-credit scenes that tease what Marvel will bring next, that you should definitely stay for.

Doctor Strange is an epic, mind-blowing adventure that isn’t like anything Marvel has brought to us before. The story has some minor problems, but the visual quality alone makes this movie worth seeing and enjoying on the big screen.

Doctor Strange, wearing his traditional costume, coming out from a flowing energetic portal, and around him the world and New York turning around itself with the film's cast names above him and the film's title, credits and billing are underneath.

10.30.16
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The Accountant

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An autistic but brilliant young boy grows up to be a skilled accountant – whose clients work for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations.

Out of the two films Ben Affleck has starred in this year, I’d only look forward to a sequel to one of them, and that’s this one. The Accountant is one of not very many movies to come out this year that keeps you on the edge of your seat without constantly featuring loud gunshots, screeching cars, and a large body count, although there’s a mix of all of that in the film’s touch of action sequences. Affleck is spot-on as a protagonist who’s personality is quite complicated due to his condition – friendly to some but dangerous to others. His character’s complexity is what makes him so fascinating and sympathetic. Affleck is incredibly committed and mentally balanced in the way he portrays his character, leading to his character to feel very real and deep in the way he was developed. I can definitely say his role in this film is up there among his other excellent work this decade in The Town, Argo, and Gone Girl. Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, and Jon Bernthal lead a decent yet interesting ensemble of supporting characters and all play their parts remarkably well. There’s a lot to their characters that you don’t know by only watching the trailers, which is something that helps keep the thrills going throughout. There’s a compelling aspect of the film in the way it examines its characters, revealing things to you one by one, and even though it one point it gets about too complicated and you wish it just wasn’t, there’s a gripping aspect to every big character in the film, even themes that are similar to those in director Gavin O’Connor’s previous films. Speaking of O’Connor, he directs the film very well, notably the film’s action sequences, with excellent sound editing and choreography, making it feel less like a Hollywood-style action scene and more like a scene featuring action that advances the plot. Even though there aren’t many throughout the movie, I like that it was constructed as if it were an action movie, although it’s hard to put it under the action genre, I’d rather say it’s a drama thriller with some mystery thrown in there, too.

The Accountant plays out as if it’s an episode of Daredevil, crossed with the Jason Bourne franchise and with a little bit of Rain Man in there as well. It’s somewhat a vigilante thriller but at the same time, it’s a deep character drama that features an autistic protagonist. I really liked the mix of the two genres. Although this movie is far from perfect, I can’t say critics have been praising it enough with its underwhelming reviews. I feel like most critics were let down by their expectations rather by their films, as the trailer advertised the film as one thing and instead it was something much bigger. The Accountant turned out to be very different than I expected, and I was alright with that. It gets over-complicated at one point and some of the plot points and the tone aren’t balanced like they should be. However, I was still very entertained by The Accountant, and I appreciate the cast and directing. You may be let down if you’re looking for just an action movie or just a drama, as this movie is a mix of many great things, but I’d recommend this film for movie-goers looking for a great movie to keep them on the edge of their seat.

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10.16.16
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The Magnificent Seven (2016)

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The past few years have been packed with remakes and reboots of all sorts of classics, and not many of them have turned out to be very original. The Magnificent Seven, unfortunately, is lacking of the originality I expected from a similar yet distinct remake. This film feels a lot more like a re-imagination than a remake, as the only thing kept from the original is the concept. In The Magnificent Seven, a group of seven men (as the title suggests) are hired by a woman to avenge her husband’s death, so they set out against a corrupt industrialist and his ruthless army. Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Ethan Hawke lead the cast as mercenaries fighting for righteousness. Having seen the original Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brynner, I can say I am satisfied in terms of a remake like this one. The directing is mostly on-point, with impressive cinematography and entertaining action. The score from the late James Horner, who was tragically killed last year in a plane crash, is a great one for his last. My main problem with the film is that despite the film’s efforts to take its concept to a new place, new isn’t the right word to describe this film. Everything feels to familiar and tacked on. The story feels cliched but it also loses itself in the third act. One thing I noticed was how over-the-top everything was, from the dialogue to the story to the performances. The dialogue is too obvious and the humor unsuccessful, and none of the jokes seem to hit their mark. Denzel Washington doesn’t get much to work with besides a handful of guns loaded with bullets. Chris Pratt delivers an underwhelming performance as a constantly joking character who seems to be the most over-the-top of the cast, as well as Vincent D’Onofrio and Ethan Hawke who make jokes out of their performances. Some of the characters could have been more interesting, if only they had more development. One thing that isn’t surprising, as a film released in the 21st century, is that everything is too over-dramatized and it doesn’t flow as well as it did in the ’60s when it was directed by John Sturges. The final battle is an epic shootout between armies of heroes and villains but ultimately drags for too long. I’ve come to love the Western genre more every time I watch a Western film. Get a good story and script, and you can even make a perfect one today (see True Grit, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight). However, it’s difficult to work with one that lacks originality and reliability on anything but lengthy action sequences. Perhaps this film would have been better if it wasn’t limited to a strong PG-13 rating, and was written by someone more reliable in the world of Hollywood (yes, I’m thinking about Tarantino, even though he wouldn’t ever sign up for something even twice as original as this).

The Magnificent Seven is a fun Western action film directed solidly by Antoine Fuqua, but not much more. It tends to slow down, the attempts at comedy always miss, and everything feels way too over-the-top and out of place. I wouldn’t recommend this one for a watch in theaters, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it for most of its runtime, despite its major problems.

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