Having a career in Hollywood can be very rough, especially if you have been in the movie industry for many years. You have to be able to take on all kinds of characters, and movie genres, even if you may loose cinema visitors. It is all about taking chances sometimes, and we have many great actors who have proved themselves. One of these actors i am thinking about right now, is Kevin Costner. A man who is known for many great performances in the past, especially in The Untouchables, Dancing With Wolves and JFK. I happen to enjoy his classic 90´s film Waterworld, even though i know a lot of critics always hated this film. If you look at it for what it is, i see a film that tried to mix different genres in a positive way. He have tried a lot of different film genres, and seems to be open to try anything that looks interesting. There is one film that many people don´t talk about, a film that was better then i expected. I don´t know if some of you remember a film from 2007 called Mr. Brooks ? Kevin Costner played a serial killer, and he actually did a pretty good job as a psychopathic killer. The film did not do well enough to get a sequel, when there were rumors of doing a trilogy. But i recommend you rent this film, if you want to see Kevin do a very different character. There are other films i could recommend that some of you may not have seen, like the horror film The New Daughter. Not one of the better films in Costner´s career, but nice to see him do something unexpected. One of the performances i did enjoy, where he surprised me, was in Man Of Steel, as Clark Kent´s father. I think he was the right choice, and he proved himself doing a dramatic role. In recent years Kevin keeps on working a lot, and releasing new films. To be honest, i have not seen many of these releases. I got a chance to see one of them, called Criminal. I only read a little bit about the film, and read some of the reviews. Since i always try to see a film with an open mind, and not be affected of other critics, i decided to gove Criminal a chance. Is this a surprisingly good film with Kevin Costner, or is his glory days long gone into another galaxy ?
Industrialist Xavier Heimdahl ( Jordi Mollá ) arrange for his associate Jan Strook ( Michael Pitt ), a computer hacker known as " The Dutchman ", to create a wormhole program. This program will make it possible for the owner, to bypass all computer codes protecting the world´s nuclear defence codes. " The Dutchman " panics and attend to leave over the information to the CIA. He makes contact with London-based agent Bill Pope ( Ryan Reynolds ). Bill manage to help " The Dutchman " to a safe location. But soon Bill is taken hostage and tortured to death, by Xavier Heimdahl´s men. Xavier does not get any information on where " The Dutchman " is located, so Pop´s CIA supervisor Quaker Wells ( Gary Oldman ) contacts Dr. Micah Franks ( Tommy Lee Jones ). Dr. Micah have developed a treatment that could theoretically plant the memory pattern of a dean man, into a living person. This way they might have a chance to locate " The Dutchman ". Frank request that dangerous convict Jericho Stewart will be the subject of the procedure. But the procedure eventually fails, and Jericho escape. As he goes on a rampage on the streets of London, Jericho have flashback memories, but do they have a connection with " The Dutchman ", or do they lead Jericho somewhere else ?
When you have a cast list of Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Jordi Mólla, you would expect a really good film included. This is where we find ourselves a big problem. Criminal is not a very effective action thriller, mainly because it is way too predictable. And Kevin Costner does one of the most strangest performances in his career. Really ? Yes, he clearly did this film for a paycheck, not because of the content. So what about the rest of the cast ? Gary Oldman, who usually do really good performances, does not deliver on the quality level of acting, we are used to see. This is such a shame, because he may be one of the best actors in this film, and he does at least do some acting. But it is not very strong, so if he really wanted to make us interested, he should have turned up the level much higher. Tommy Lee Jones is usually good in his choices of characters, here he feels pretty tired, and does not look very interested. Ryan Reynolds is a great actor, when he gets the right character. Not even he can save this film, from being pretty dull. One of the biggest problems i have with Criminal, is that the story is not very interesting. As many of you know, a thriller is supposed to feel intensive, or suspenseful. It all lands somewhere between an ordinary mainstream action thriller, and a typical dvd release that no one remembers. This is starting to sound like i don´t see anything positive with this film at all. There are a few good details. The London scenes look good, and some of the scenes where Kevin Costner use action, and don´t talk, is more effective. He should have skipped the dialogue, and just be violent all the time. Director Ariel Vromen directed the good thriller The Iceman in 2012, with a very good performance from Michael Shannon. Seeing his vision of Criminal, and comparing it to The Iceman, it feels like he have turned pages in the wrong direction. His latest film is not as good as it should be, with such a great cast. If you want to hear Kevin Costner speak drunk, and punch people, this is the film to see. Criminal is not completely awful, but way too boring to make you interested.
Rating: DD
tisdag 13 september 2016
Kickboxer Vengeance
The 80´s and the 90´s was a fun time for B action movies. Everything from ninja films, martial arts films to cheesy fun action films. The best part of these time periods, was that the film studios choosed to cast the right people for this genre. You had Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Billy Blanks, Don " The Dragon " Wilson, Jean-Claude Van Damme and many others. The scripts may have been terrible, but these films survived because of the characters, and the well made action scenes, considering the low budget most film had. No matter what actor you enjoyed watching, you could always be sure that you would find one film to enjoy, of all the releases that came out back in those days. Let´s talk about one actor in particular. Jean-Claude Van Damme, the legendary martial arts action superstar, made his name with Bloodsport. At the time, he became very popular, with his unique way of fighting skills. Van Damme continued his career with a film called Kickboxer. This film also became a box office success, and it proved how well Van Damme could combine action and drama. Kickboxer also had a nice concept, within the revenge genre. I especially enjoyed the performance of Michel Qissi as Tong Po, he was such a bad ass character and perfect for this type of film. Kickboxer got 3 more sequels, but none of them had Van Damme on board again, as Kurt Sloane. So these so called sequels were not any good, and did not bring anything special to the franchise. Van Damme continued his movie career instead, releasing many action films over the years, and also picked up Universal Soldier again in 2009, with a third film called Universal Soldier Regeneration. This film was much better than the awful 1999 film Universal Soldier - The Return. And just a few years after the nice comeback, Universal Soldier got an even better sequel with Universal Soldier Day Of Reckoning. This is one of those action films i highly recommend, that you should all own on blu ray ( includes an uncut version ). Let´s get back to Kickboxer. After i heard the news about a remake of Kickboxer. I found out that Van Damme would be in this remake, but not back in the lead role. This time he would be a trainer instead. Alain Moussi was chosen in the lead role, mostly known as stunt double in films like X-Men Days Of Future Past, Warcraft and Suicide Squad. This combination did sound fun, considering i did not expect to see Alain Moussi do a film like this. With a classic concept, and a classic story in their hands, does this Kickboxer remake manage to be respectful, or does it fail like other similar films have proven before ?
Kurt Sloane ( Alain Moussi ) is a professional trainer in muay thai fighting, for his brother Eric Sloane ( Darren Shahlavi ). Eric is a world champion, and he wants his brother Kurt to see him fight in Thailand, against the very respected fighter Tong Po ( David Bautista ). The fight is arranged, and Eric is ready to prove his skills. But the fight ends in tragedy, Tong Po kills Eric brutally, and Kurt have lost his only brother. Kurt decides to revenge his brother´s death, and try to locate Master Durand ( Jean-Claude Van Damme ), who helped Eric train for this fight. Master Durand will agree to train Kurt, but only if he follow his rules, and prepare himself for really rough training. But is Kurt strong enough, or is he doomed from the beginning to fail ?
When you do a remake of a classic action 80´s film, you better know you are doing it right. Kickboxer from 1989 may not be the best film Jean-Claude Van Damme made in his career, but it is a classic, and deservers respect. And this is where i found myself seeing problems with this remake. The main characters are nowhere near as good as the original film was. The lead role by Alain Moussi is no where near the acting level of Van Damme. He may fight well, and manage to do some nice fighting scenes, but that´s basically it. Van Damme is of course here, as the trainer Master Durand. He is the best part of this film, and holy shit he is in great shape. Just look at his kicks still today, he should be offered much more action films on his quality level. And he also knows how to act much better, than these young actors, so you know his scenes will be better with him included. The evil Tong Po, played by David Bautista, does at least give his character some power, and looks massive in the fight scenes. So he is also one of the few highlights. The story pretty much follow the same concept as the original film. Nothing wrong with that, but the original film managed to tell a story, that was put together nicely. This remake jumps in different directions, and sometimes you don´t really know what is going on. The training scenes between Alain Moussi and Van Damme, give some of the feeling of the original film. But apart from this, Kickboxer Vengeance is more of a simple martial arts action film, and not a worthy remake. Director John Stockwell is perhaps mostly known for his acting, being in films such as Stephen King´s film Christine, and Top Gun. But he have directed a lot of films, and actually managed to make a pretty good horror film called Turistas, released in 2006. I can understand why he wanted to direct this Kickboxer remake, since he have been in the film industry since the early 80´s, and must have a passion for classics. And he does manage to do some nice kicking scenes, especially with Van Damme. But the story does not feel structured, like the original film was. This is more about fighting, and i love the idea of this. But when the cast does not manage to make this work, except from Van Damme and Bautista, we have a big problem. If you are going to make an action film, with great looking fighting scenes, you better have the right cast for this. Remember how really good Skin Trade was with Tony Jaa and Dolph Lundgren ? Now that´s what we want, a combination with professionals. Kickboxer Vengeance is not completely bad, we do get well made fighting scenes, and nice to see Van Damme show his nice moves. But that´s it, when we should have had much more to be pleased about. I read that another film is on the way called Kickboxer Retaliation, let´s hope that they get it right next time. Until then, watch the original film instead.
Rating: DD
Kurt Sloane ( Alain Moussi ) is a professional trainer in muay thai fighting, for his brother Eric Sloane ( Darren Shahlavi ). Eric is a world champion, and he wants his brother Kurt to see him fight in Thailand, against the very respected fighter Tong Po ( David Bautista ). The fight is arranged, and Eric is ready to prove his skills. But the fight ends in tragedy, Tong Po kills Eric brutally, and Kurt have lost his only brother. Kurt decides to revenge his brother´s death, and try to locate Master Durand ( Jean-Claude Van Damme ), who helped Eric train for this fight. Master Durand will agree to train Kurt, but only if he follow his rules, and prepare himself for really rough training. But is Kurt strong enough, or is he doomed from the beginning to fail ?
When you do a remake of a classic action 80´s film, you better know you are doing it right. Kickboxer from 1989 may not be the best film Jean-Claude Van Damme made in his career, but it is a classic, and deservers respect. And this is where i found myself seeing problems with this remake. The main characters are nowhere near as good as the original film was. The lead role by Alain Moussi is no where near the acting level of Van Damme. He may fight well, and manage to do some nice fighting scenes, but that´s basically it. Van Damme is of course here, as the trainer Master Durand. He is the best part of this film, and holy shit he is in great shape. Just look at his kicks still today, he should be offered much more action films on his quality level. And he also knows how to act much better, than these young actors, so you know his scenes will be better with him included. The evil Tong Po, played by David Bautista, does at least give his character some power, and looks massive in the fight scenes. So he is also one of the few highlights. The story pretty much follow the same concept as the original film. Nothing wrong with that, but the original film managed to tell a story, that was put together nicely. This remake jumps in different directions, and sometimes you don´t really know what is going on. The training scenes between Alain Moussi and Van Damme, give some of the feeling of the original film. But apart from this, Kickboxer Vengeance is more of a simple martial arts action film, and not a worthy remake. Director John Stockwell is perhaps mostly known for his acting, being in films such as Stephen King´s film Christine, and Top Gun. But he have directed a lot of films, and actually managed to make a pretty good horror film called Turistas, released in 2006. I can understand why he wanted to direct this Kickboxer remake, since he have been in the film industry since the early 80´s, and must have a passion for classics. And he does manage to do some nice kicking scenes, especially with Van Damme. But the story does not feel structured, like the original film was. This is more about fighting, and i love the idea of this. But when the cast does not manage to make this work, except from Van Damme and Bautista, we have a big problem. If you are going to make an action film, with great looking fighting scenes, you better have the right cast for this. Remember how really good Skin Trade was with Tony Jaa and Dolph Lundgren ? Now that´s what we want, a combination with professionals. Kickboxer Vengeance is not completely bad, we do get well made fighting scenes, and nice to see Van Damme show his nice moves. But that´s it, when we should have had much more to be pleased about. I read that another film is on the way called Kickboxer Retaliation, let´s hope that they get it right next time. Until then, watch the original film instead.
Rating: DD
söndag 11 september 2016
Take Me To The River
Summer is over. At least for this year here in Sweden. And now it all begins again, everyone is back at the stressful life, with school, work and yelling at neighbors for not parking correctly. Of course i am also back to work, but when i get the time, i dance around to the song Mala Onda by the awsome band Little Jesus. It was one of those songs this summer, that made me feel so good. For many people we have different things, that make us think of summer. It could be weather, food, or just being with family. No matter what makes you love summer, it is a season where we are supposed to enjoy ourselves. Speaking of family, how many of you have big families ? My wife have, so every holiday we gather to enjoy a big dinner, talking and laughing. Especially in summer time, when you gather everyone for barbecues, or other meals. Family is important. But what if you don´t get along with your family ? When it comes to films, taking on family issues, we have a masterpiece film called Buffalo´66. Directed by Vincent Gallo, and he is also in the lead role as Billy, we follow a man who is just released from prison, with no future and no one who cares about him. Not to reveal too much, but this is one of those independent films, that you have to buy. The simple story is so well done, that you can´t deny that Vincent Gallo is one film maker who knows passion. The parents, brilliantly played by Anjelica Houston and Ben Gazzara should both have been Oscar nominated back in 1998. This is also one of the best performances i have seen Christina Ricci have ever made, simply outstanding. So take my advice, Buffalo´66 is a film everyone should buy, and i know you will love it just as much as i do. As most you of you readers knows by now, i am a very big fan on independent films. I personally think that they are mostly much better than the big Hollywood films that comes out every month. So when i get a chance to see independent films coming out, from all corners of the world, i am usually very curious to see what will be served. I just got a chance to see a independent film called Take Me To The River, a film i only heard about since the screening at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2016. I finally got a chance to see this film, hoping that it would be as good a some reviews have been positive. Do we have another independent classic in our hands, or should you wait for another one instead of seeing this one?
Ryder ( Logan Miller ) is going with his parents on a family reunion, where all relatives meet up in Nebraska to enjoy a weekend together. Most of the kids love to see Ryder draw, because he turns out to be really talented at drawing. After a while, Ryder is asked to go with Molly ( Ursula Parker ) to a barn. Everything seems calm, until Molly runs out crying as if something happened while they were alone. What did happen to Molly, or is this what it seems to be?
If you don´t enjoy a lot of dialogue, and deep issues, you are not going to enjoy Take Me To The River. This is the kind of film you want to see, if you enjoy films with more depth, than the usual Hollywood release. We have characters that you will remember, and a bizarre story that goes from one point, and take a completely different turn. I like films where you have no idea what will happen. Where you have to think for yourself, if you can figure out where the film will pick up next. And this is one of the details i enjoy about this film. This is a independent film with depth, something we don´t see in the major studio releases very often. The story is pretty simple, but that´s ok, because you soon realise that there is more than just one side of the story. And this is where it gets interesting, when the film seems to follow a certain way, a big change comes unexpected. So you have to think for a moment, are we really getting the truth ? When you are forced to think in a film, and not just figure out everything from the beginning, you have to be pleased. Films that dare to go in different paths are needed in this world, and for that i think director Matt Sobel deserves respect for trying to do something deep with his story. The film takes place mostly in the countryside, where you get to know some of the family members, after a relatives gathering. But the most interesting character in this film is actually the lead role Ryder, really well acted by Logan Miller. He seems to be a normal young man, but once you see him faced with an unexpected turn in his life, the film shows a different side of his personality. I also think that child actor Ursula Parker is really good, as the adventurous girl Molly. Her innocent look, with her view of this world, makes you think back to when we were young, and were ready to explore the world. Of course there is a more serious plot here, so it becomes a bit more complicated than the usual teen stories. Director Matt Sobel proves that there is still hope for well made independent films, he digs deep into family situations, and want us to see that every family have secrets, even if the truth may never come out. I actually enjoyed the ending also, because you don´t really get all the answers, as if you have to think what you believe is going on. Take Me To The River may not be one of the best independent films i have seen, but this is still a strong film with really good acting included. A complicated family situation can be more interesting than you would expect. The film is out on dvd now in september, and can be seen on VOD. If you like intelligent films, then i think you might enjoy this one for what it is. Knowing that this is the directorial debut film from Matt Sobel, i hope to see his next film in the future, he clearly have an eye for quality films.
Rating: DDD
Ryder ( Logan Miller ) is going with his parents on a family reunion, where all relatives meet up in Nebraska to enjoy a weekend together. Most of the kids love to see Ryder draw, because he turns out to be really talented at drawing. After a while, Ryder is asked to go with Molly ( Ursula Parker ) to a barn. Everything seems calm, until Molly runs out crying as if something happened while they were alone. What did happen to Molly, or is this what it seems to be?
If you don´t enjoy a lot of dialogue, and deep issues, you are not going to enjoy Take Me To The River. This is the kind of film you want to see, if you enjoy films with more depth, than the usual Hollywood release. We have characters that you will remember, and a bizarre story that goes from one point, and take a completely different turn. I like films where you have no idea what will happen. Where you have to think for yourself, if you can figure out where the film will pick up next. And this is one of the details i enjoy about this film. This is a independent film with depth, something we don´t see in the major studio releases very often. The story is pretty simple, but that´s ok, because you soon realise that there is more than just one side of the story. And this is where it gets interesting, when the film seems to follow a certain way, a big change comes unexpected. So you have to think for a moment, are we really getting the truth ? When you are forced to think in a film, and not just figure out everything from the beginning, you have to be pleased. Films that dare to go in different paths are needed in this world, and for that i think director Matt Sobel deserves respect for trying to do something deep with his story. The film takes place mostly in the countryside, where you get to know some of the family members, after a relatives gathering. But the most interesting character in this film is actually the lead role Ryder, really well acted by Logan Miller. He seems to be a normal young man, but once you see him faced with an unexpected turn in his life, the film shows a different side of his personality. I also think that child actor Ursula Parker is really good, as the adventurous girl Molly. Her innocent look, with her view of this world, makes you think back to when we were young, and were ready to explore the world. Of course there is a more serious plot here, so it becomes a bit more complicated than the usual teen stories. Director Matt Sobel proves that there is still hope for well made independent films, he digs deep into family situations, and want us to see that every family have secrets, even if the truth may never come out. I actually enjoyed the ending also, because you don´t really get all the answers, as if you have to think what you believe is going on. Take Me To The River may not be one of the best independent films i have seen, but this is still a strong film with really good acting included. A complicated family situation can be more interesting than you would expect. The film is out on dvd now in september, and can be seen on VOD. If you like intelligent films, then i think you might enjoy this one for what it is. Knowing that this is the directorial debut film from Matt Sobel, i hope to see his next film in the future, he clearly have an eye for quality films.
Rating: DDD
onsdag 31 augusti 2016
The Legend Of Tarzan
As children, we all love to look up to different role models. Some kids look up to their parents, or a celebrity like Vince Neil ( the perfect role model ), or they simply get their role model after watching Danny McBride in action on the dancefloor. By the way, if you don´t own Eastbound & Down on dvd or blu ray, all seasons, you need to buy them right now. One of my biggest childhood role models was without a doubt Rutger Hauer. Loved his action films from the 80´s and 90´s. Flesh & Blood, The Hitcher, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Salute Of The Jugger, and many more. I still have some of the VHS tapes i bought with his films, but in recent years i got them on dvd and blu rays instead, because the film quality is much brighter. One of the films i do think you should see, that not many people talk about, is the 1987 film Wanted Dead Or Alive. Rutger Hauer as a bounty hunter, tracking down a muslim terrorist, played by Kiss member Gene Simmons. It may not be as good as The Hitcher, but i still see this film as an 80´s classic. There is an extended version on VHS, and i have myself a bought copy ( i must have bought this one back in the middle of the 90´s. So if you do get a chance to see the extended version, i suggest you do see it. Speaking of role models, don´t we all have our view on how a hero should be, or look like. If you ask a lot of older people, they will most likely mention Errol Flynn, or perhaps the Tarzan films as the perfect example. Tarzan ? Yeah, you know that muscle guy with the Fabio hair, flying around the jungle with apes ? The first film adaptation of Tarzan was released in 1918, a film called Tarzan Of The Apes, with Elmo Lincoln doing the lead role as Tarzan. He actually played Tarzan in 3 films, the last one was released in 1921. As films have not developed completely back in those days, a more modern take of Tarzan was made in 1932, with the film Tarzan The Ape Man. This time the role of Tarzan was given to actor Johnny Weissmuller, and he did a lot of Tarzan films, 12 of them, if i counted correctly. From the year 1955, to the year 1960, actor Gordon Scott did his portrait of Tarzan in cinema films. One of the best film adaptations of Tarzan, is in my mind Greystoke from 1984. Christopher Lambert in the lead role, as Tarzan, was simply one of the best performances of his acting career. And the film was really good also. This is one of those 80´s classics, that not many people talk about these days. But i suggest you get the blu ray, or the dvd, as long as you get yourself a copy. When i heard rumors that they were going to bring back Tarzan in a new film adaptation, i was not really surprised. What did surprise me was that they choosed swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård in the lead role. This was not the first actor i would have thought of doing this role. But in some ways, it did sound like fun. I decided to give this new film version a chance, and watch the 3D version in cinemas. Is Tarzan still a solid classic adventure even today, or should they have left the character alone instead ?
The Berlin Congress make the decision to divide Congo, between Belgium and the United Kingdom. The belgian government is on the verge of bankruptcy, and have gone into heavy debt. One of the biggest reasons, is because of the building of a national railway. King Leopold II decides to extract the Congo´s rich mineral deposits, sending his envoy Léon Rom ( Christoph Walz ) to take care of the fabled diamonds of Opal. A tribe attacks Léon´s crew, and kill everyone except for Léon. Tribal leader Chief Mbonga ( Djimon Honsou ) is ready to make an offer to Léon, he can have his diamonds, if Léon make sure to kill John Clayton III / Tarzan ( Alexander Skarsgård ). John have not lived in the jungle for many years, and is nowdays located in London. Here he settled down with his wife Jane Porter ( Margot Robbie ). John is trying to focus on his life in the ordinary world of humans, and leave his jungle years behind him in the past. One day, american envoy George Washington Williams ( Samuel L. Jackson ) is suspecting that the Belgians are enslaving the Congolese population. George convince John to go with him to Africa, knowing that he grew up in the jungle, that he could be the one to handle this mission. John is about to deal with his past, and continue his legacy in the jungle, and restore order in Congo.
If you were hoping for a romantic adventure, with less violence, this may not be the Tarzan film you should see. This is actually a pretty violent Tarzan film in some ways, and i think that was a good choice. If you are going to release a Tarzan film in 2016, better make sure you have action and fighting included. Why ? Because we don´t need a soft version, with sunset scenes and a lot of kissing. We already got that from Zac Efron in The Lucky One, and i felt asleep very quickly. So what do we have apart from action scenes ? We have Alexander Skarsgård as Tarzan, and i have to say he is not that bad. Also, he must have worked very hard to get those muscles. Remember how the frontman in the metal band Thor used to look like ? Now you know we are talking bad boys. Alexander´s version of Tarzan matches the story, and even though we know this story from many times before, i will say that it works thanks to the new adaptation ideas brought to us. The fighting scenes looks great, the CGI looks good ( except in a few scenes ), and the dialogue is not all bad. If you have seen other films, based on the story of Tarzan, you will still recognize yourself. We have the classic elements of apes, the jungle, and Tarzan flying around in the trees. Samuel L Jackson is here also, as George Washington Williams. Not one of his best performances, but still functional. The biggest strength of this film, is without a doubt the performance of legendary actor Christoph Walz. His evil performance as Captain Léon Rom, could be the best part of this film. The atmosphere of the late 1800´s, is captured well, including the costumes. So is there anything to complain about ? Some details, but i think most of all i would have liked a stronger plot. It feels way too simple, and that´s why i love the 1984 film Greystoke, it felt more majestic, where Christopher Lambert did one of his best performances in his career. Alexander Skarsgård can´t reach that high, so he have to deliver more in the action scenes instead. Director David Yates is perhaps mostly known for directing 4 Harry Potter films, and you can tell he have an eye for the adventure genre. He have done a pretty good job with The Legend Of Tarzan, it is not as bad as i thought it would be. Some details could have been improved, but if you just want a classic adventure story delivered, this one should work. If you can survive a pretty weak story, and just enjoy a action adventure, then i suggest you run down to your local cinema. One thing is for sure, i need to get myself some apes at home. That way i will train them to get rid of Jehova´s Witnesses at my door step, do they never stop ? I guess not.
Rating: DDD
The Berlin Congress make the decision to divide Congo, between Belgium and the United Kingdom. The belgian government is on the verge of bankruptcy, and have gone into heavy debt. One of the biggest reasons, is because of the building of a national railway. King Leopold II decides to extract the Congo´s rich mineral deposits, sending his envoy Léon Rom ( Christoph Walz ) to take care of the fabled diamonds of Opal. A tribe attacks Léon´s crew, and kill everyone except for Léon. Tribal leader Chief Mbonga ( Djimon Honsou ) is ready to make an offer to Léon, he can have his diamonds, if Léon make sure to kill John Clayton III / Tarzan ( Alexander Skarsgård ). John have not lived in the jungle for many years, and is nowdays located in London. Here he settled down with his wife Jane Porter ( Margot Robbie ). John is trying to focus on his life in the ordinary world of humans, and leave his jungle years behind him in the past. One day, american envoy George Washington Williams ( Samuel L. Jackson ) is suspecting that the Belgians are enslaving the Congolese population. George convince John to go with him to Africa, knowing that he grew up in the jungle, that he could be the one to handle this mission. John is about to deal with his past, and continue his legacy in the jungle, and restore order in Congo.
If you were hoping for a romantic adventure, with less violence, this may not be the Tarzan film you should see. This is actually a pretty violent Tarzan film in some ways, and i think that was a good choice. If you are going to release a Tarzan film in 2016, better make sure you have action and fighting included. Why ? Because we don´t need a soft version, with sunset scenes and a lot of kissing. We already got that from Zac Efron in The Lucky One, and i felt asleep very quickly. So what do we have apart from action scenes ? We have Alexander Skarsgård as Tarzan, and i have to say he is not that bad. Also, he must have worked very hard to get those muscles. Remember how the frontman in the metal band Thor used to look like ? Now you know we are talking bad boys. Alexander´s version of Tarzan matches the story, and even though we know this story from many times before, i will say that it works thanks to the new adaptation ideas brought to us. The fighting scenes looks great, the CGI looks good ( except in a few scenes ), and the dialogue is not all bad. If you have seen other films, based on the story of Tarzan, you will still recognize yourself. We have the classic elements of apes, the jungle, and Tarzan flying around in the trees. Samuel L Jackson is here also, as George Washington Williams. Not one of his best performances, but still functional. The biggest strength of this film, is without a doubt the performance of legendary actor Christoph Walz. His evil performance as Captain Léon Rom, could be the best part of this film. The atmosphere of the late 1800´s, is captured well, including the costumes. So is there anything to complain about ? Some details, but i think most of all i would have liked a stronger plot. It feels way too simple, and that´s why i love the 1984 film Greystoke, it felt more majestic, where Christopher Lambert did one of his best performances in his career. Alexander Skarsgård can´t reach that high, so he have to deliver more in the action scenes instead. Director David Yates is perhaps mostly known for directing 4 Harry Potter films, and you can tell he have an eye for the adventure genre. He have done a pretty good job with The Legend Of Tarzan, it is not as bad as i thought it would be. Some details could have been improved, but if you just want a classic adventure story delivered, this one should work. If you can survive a pretty weak story, and just enjoy a action adventure, then i suggest you run down to your local cinema. One thing is for sure, i need to get myself some apes at home. That way i will train them to get rid of Jehova´s Witnesses at my door step, do they never stop ? I guess not.
Rating: DDD
måndag 29 augusti 2016
In Memory Of Gene Wilder
Its always a tragedy to hear that a legend have left us. In recent years we have lost a lot of fantastic actors.
Today i heard the news, that Gene Wilder is no longer with us. He was an actor who gave us a lot of wonderful films. Ever since the 60's up until the 90's, Gene Wilder knew how to entertain his audiences worldwide. I would like to mention some of the films i remember mostly from his wonderful film career.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
A classic film where Gene Wilder did a wonderful performance as Willy Wonka, the chocolate factory boss. A funny and twisted comedy musical, with a lot of crazy characters.
Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks classic comedy, based on the story of Frankenstein,is one of the most funny comedies of the 70's. Gene Wilder did a really funny performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein.
Blazing Saddles
Perhaps the greatest western comedy, directed by Mel Brooks. A crazy mix of classic western elements and black comedy satire. Gene Wilder played Jim " Waco Kid " where his comedy timing worked excellent.
Silver Streak
A really funny mix of thriller and comedy, where Gene Wilder got together with legendary comedian Richard Pryor, on a crazy train ride where anything can happen. A lot of great actors were also seen here such as Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Fred Willard and many more.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
The comedy duo of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor returned, in a film that might be one of the best comedies of the 80's. Lots of funny dialogue between a blind man and a man who cant hear anything. When they get involved in a murder, nothing goes as planned. One of those comedies you should own on dvd.
Thank you Gene Wilder for everything that you did for comedy in cinemas. Your portraits will be remembered forever, and help many actors find their own way. A true legend in Hollywood, and all across the world.
Today i heard the news, that Gene Wilder is no longer with us. He was an actor who gave us a lot of wonderful films. Ever since the 60's up until the 90's, Gene Wilder knew how to entertain his audiences worldwide. I would like to mention some of the films i remember mostly from his wonderful film career.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
A classic film where Gene Wilder did a wonderful performance as Willy Wonka, the chocolate factory boss. A funny and twisted comedy musical, with a lot of crazy characters.
Young Frankenstein
Mel Brooks classic comedy, based on the story of Frankenstein,is one of the most funny comedies of the 70's. Gene Wilder did a really funny performance as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein.
Blazing Saddles
Perhaps the greatest western comedy, directed by Mel Brooks. A crazy mix of classic western elements and black comedy satire. Gene Wilder played Jim " Waco Kid " where his comedy timing worked excellent.
Silver Streak
A really funny mix of thriller and comedy, where Gene Wilder got together with legendary comedian Richard Pryor, on a crazy train ride where anything can happen. A lot of great actors were also seen here such as Ned Beatty, Clifton James, Fred Willard and many more.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
The comedy duo of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor returned, in a film that might be one of the best comedies of the 80's. Lots of funny dialogue between a blind man and a man who cant hear anything. When they get involved in a murder, nothing goes as planned. One of those comedies you should own on dvd.
Thank you Gene Wilder for everything that you did for comedy in cinemas. Your portraits will be remembered forever, and help many actors find their own way. A true legend in Hollywood, and all across the world.
onsdag 24 augusti 2016
Sharknado 4 - The 4th Awakens
It is important to live life. Do the things you want to do, explore the world, and meet different cultures. And no matter what you like to do, there is one thing i believe we all need to experience at one point in our lives.
The one thing we all need to experience, to let our souls be filled with love and passion, is to watch Sharknado. Ever since i started watching the Sharknado films, i became a better husband, i felt more joy in my heart, i understood what life is all about. Sharknado have changed million of peoples lives. It is one of the greatest experiences we can all be a part of. From the first film, and the sequels, i have noticed that i am more spiritual than ever. Forget about Yoga, meditation, just go for Sharknado to feel relaxed. Sharknade became a phenomenon back in 2013, when a small film called Sharknado was shown at SyFy Channel. The film exploded on social media, and everyone talked about Sharknado. No matter where you went online, no matter what bus you were on, everyone all ages loved talking about Sharknado. With the lead actors Ian Ziering and Tara Reid, as the heroic shark killers, fighting against tornados with sharks, you know that the concept was brilliant. The second film Sharknado 2 - The Second One, became even bigger, with a lot more viewers and also exploded on social media. The cast was bigger, the cameos became even larger, and the film was even better than the first film. SyFy Channel knew they had to keep the fans pleased, so of course there was a third film released, simply called Sharknado 3 - Oh Hell No!. This third film continued to bring more shark tornados, more action and a lot of great cameos. We were also introduced to the new character Colonel Gilbert, played by wonderful David Hasselhoff. Since the third film did really well with the viewer numbers on SyFy Channel, and was loved by fans worldwide, we all knew that we would see the gang back. And here we are, Sharknado 4 is here, and the cameos is one again incredible. The director of the previous Sharknado films, Anthony C. Ferrante, is back as the director and the main characters Fin and April are also back. For every film so far, you know there will always be some surprises to be found. So i was really hoping that this fourth film would please me, as the previous film have done. Is this the greatest sequel of all time, or is is time to let the Sharknado film series end for good ?
5 years have passed, and Fin ( Ian Ziering ) is now living in a farm in Kansas named " April´s Acres ". Here he is living with his mother Raye ( Cheryl Tiegs ) and his young son Gil ( Anthony Rogers ). April is believed to be dead, after being crushed by the wreckage of a space shuttle. Tech mogul Aston Reynolds ( Tommy Davidsson ) have developed a new type of high-speed space travel, with his company Astro-X. April´s father Colonel Gilbert ( David Hasselhoff ) was saved from space, thanks to Astro-X. With technology from Astro-X, radio waves can be used to defuse any tornado. Fin decide to travel to Las Vegas with his cousin Gemini ( Masiela Lushi ), to meet up with his son Matt ( Cody Linley ), who have returned home, after being away in Iraq. When a sandstorm tornado go towards Las Vegas, Astro-X can not stop it, because it is a completely different tornado. Sharks are picked up into the tornado, from a shark themed hotel nearby. Chaos have just broken out, and Fin have to find a way to fight against these beasts once more. April ( Tara Reid ) is not dead, because her father Wilford Wexler ( Gary Busey ) brought her back, and reconstructed her into a cyborg. Fin and April team up once again, to fight against the Sharknado storms coming their way.
5 years have passed, and Fin ( Ian Ziering ) is now living in a farm in Kansas named " April´s Acres ". Here he is living with his mother Raye ( Cheryl Tiegs ) and his young son Gil ( Anthony Rogers ). April is believed to be dead, after being crushed by the wreckage of a space shuttle. Tech mogul Aston Reynolds ( Tommy Davidsson ) have developed a new type of high-speed space travel, with his company Astro-X. April´s father Colonel Gilbert ( David Hasselhoff ) was saved from space, thanks to Astro-X. With technology from Astro-X, radio waves can be used to defuse any tornado. Fin decide to travel to Las Vegas with his cousin Gemini ( Masiela Lushi ), to meet up with his son Matt ( Cody Linley ), who have returned home, after being away in Iraq. When a sandstorm tornado go towards Las Vegas, Astro-X can not stop it, because it is a completely different tornado. Sharks are picked up into the tornado, from a shark themed hotel nearby. Chaos have just broken out, and Fin have to find a way to fight against these beasts once more. April ( Tara Reid ) is not dead, because her father Wilford Wexler ( Gary Busey ) brought her back, and reconstructed her into a cyborg. Fin and April team up once again, to fight against the Sharknado storms coming their way.
If you have seen the previous Sharknado films, you know there will be lots of action, bad dialogue, bad special effects, and a hell of a lot of cameos from legendary stars. I won´t go into this too much, because i think it is more fun to see the cameos for yourself. But it is one of the things i really enjoy about the Sharknado franchise, every film brings Hollywood stars we all have seen on tv, in films, or even as musicians. The most important detail, why i love the Sharknado films, is because they are completely insane. And you got to admit that sharks in tornados might be the greatest idea, since electricity was discovered in the 18th century. The main actors Ian Ziering and Tara Reid, returning as Fin Shepard and April Shepard. There is something special, seeing these 2 legendary actors coming back, fighting sharks. For every film, it seems that there are still many wonderful ideas, how to fight Sharknados, with all kinds of weapons and gadgets. You also get to see different kinds of tornados with sharks this time, as these Sharknados develope and become more complicated. David Hasselhoff is also back as Colonel Gilbert, making another wonderful performance. He truly is one of the greatest actors of Hollywood. One of the biggest surprises is to see Gary Busey here, one of the most intelligent men on this planet. His role as April´s father Willie, is a must see. Gary always deliver, no matter what he does. You already know that the plot does not matter, or how bad some special effects are, because all you care about is to be entertained. And this is why i love the Sharknado franchise. It is all about having fun, and making fun of insane ideas. If you can´t see the point with Sharknado, you wont change your mind about this 4th one. This time we get more action, and plenty of sharks attacks, with a list of cameos, just as long as Anders Timell´s curly hair. Sharknado 4 is a film that is made for the love of the fans. Without the fans worldwide, the love for these films would not be as big as it is now. No matter how many sequels that will come out, i have to thank director Anthony C. Ferrante for doing these films. He is the main key to why we have the Sharknado films, and he should have his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame. In fact, i also think Ian Ziering and Tara Reid should both be nominated at The Golden Globe Awards for their performances. Sharknado 4 is an action feast for B movie lovers, and for all of those who loves insane shark action. If you loved the previous films, you are going to love this one also. Buy all the Sharknado films for your family this christmas, because everyone knows, Santa Clause loves Sharknado more than the christmas spirit. Ok, he loves the chainsaw also, but that´s another story.
Rating: DDDD
Rating: DDDD
Weiner
Politics can be both interesting, but also filled with a lot of hard issues. I can honestly say i can never be a politician, simply because i would not take any bribes, or get myself involved with dangerous people. So i will continue, working in health care instead, because i am very good at what i do, helping people. I have followed american politics for many years, maybe not every week, but at least listened to debates, discussions, and suggestions by politicians. There is actually a european scandal in politics in Europe, that i read a lot about. The wild life of Silvio Berlusconi, and all his affairs with women, business, and his crazy lifestyle. You would think that it is all a fairytale when you read about everything he did in Italy, but he did things no one expected him to do. At least not in the beginning, but once he became more popular, he never stopped. Not until he got himself in trouble, when a very young woman claimed he had sex with her, and she was under 18. We all know what happened. Silvio was forced to quit his position and was punished for his acts. There is a documentary film called Videocrazy, that takes a look at the empire that Berlusconi built for Italy, and himself. You find out many interesting details there, i suggest you watch it. Politicians seem to have a way to find themselves in tricky situations. Not long ago, a man here in Sweden named Stefan Carlsson, a governor, resigned after he was caught having phone sex in work time, dialing to a phone sex line service. My reaction to this was, did he actually think it was a good idea ? If he wanted to jerk off, he could have done that to his computer screen at home, and no one would care. Let´s go back to american politicians for a moment. Have anyone of you heard the name Anthony Weiner ? He was a very respected congressman, who stood up for many people with problems, while many politicians tried to cover it all up. Anthony got praised for his actions, until one day, when a picture of his underwear was posted on his twitter account. This became the downhill for Anthony, and he was forced to resign, after a lot of pressure from all corners. I took the time to see the new documentary film, simply called Weiner, to find out more about Anthony himself, and hear his version of what happened. Since i heard a lot of positive feedback since this documentary film screened at festivals, i got even more excited. With such a personal story, that leaked out infront of millions of people, is Weiner a very powerful documentary film, or is the story more interesting than the film itself ?
Congressman Anthony Weiner is loved by the american people. He speaks very open in Congress, about what he feels is wrong in politics. People love him on the streets, news networks praise Anthony for his brave approach towards leaders. But then, one day, a picture of Anthony´s underwear is posted online, showing forms of a very private part. At first Anthony denies that he posted the picture. Eventually he confess, and leave Congress. 2 years have passed and Anthony is ready to run for Major of New York City. He is positive, and people seem to be forgiving his mistake. Until new information is leaked online, about other secret issues. Can Anthony save his marriage, and his campaign ?
There is no doubt that the story of Anthony Weiner is very fascinating, because you can tell he really wanted to make things right. Not every politician would go as far as Anthony did in Congress, and you have to appreciate what he tried to do. Was his decision wrong to post his picture ? Considering his position as a congressman, i would say that he should not have done that. 2 years later he runs for major in New York, and he have to prove to everyone, that he wants a second chance. The film really digs deep into the political life of Anthony Weiner, and Anthony himself seems very honest about what happened, how he tries to come back. One of the details i love about this documentary film, is how well made it is. The editing, the sound, as well as the quality of the film is off very high standards. You feel engaged into the story, and the further we dig into the truth, you just want to know more. Of course the other scandals effect his career, his marriage, and his future. The most interesting part of the story, that surrounds Anthony Weiner, is to see how he handle the pressure, to still become major of New York, no matter what he have to do to make people believe in him. You can tell by his facial expressions that he is not happy about all the decisions he made. I also enjoy the conversations between Anthony and his staff, who don´t know how to handle everything, when more scandals turn up. Do you just follow the rules, or do you break some just to get the campaign going ? Weiner is without a doubt the best documentary film i have seen in recent years. Directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg both prove how good they are to make a scandal, feel very honest and uncovered in this film. All the interviews, footage, pictures, are used very well in a very positive way. Especially a big thank you to Anthony Weiner himself, for being so open about this story on camera. I honestly hope that Weiner is going to be a winner at festivals for best documentary film, this is a worthy winner with a lot to say. Not only on a personal level, but also in politics in general. Are you one of those who can´t wait for the 50 Shades Of Another Grey Sequel in the beginning of 2017 ? You need to focus on seeing Weiner instead, because this is the quality film we all needed.
Rating: DDDD
Congressman Anthony Weiner is loved by the american people. He speaks very open in Congress, about what he feels is wrong in politics. People love him on the streets, news networks praise Anthony for his brave approach towards leaders. But then, one day, a picture of Anthony´s underwear is posted online, showing forms of a very private part. At first Anthony denies that he posted the picture. Eventually he confess, and leave Congress. 2 years have passed and Anthony is ready to run for Major of New York City. He is positive, and people seem to be forgiving his mistake. Until new information is leaked online, about other secret issues. Can Anthony save his marriage, and his campaign ?
There is no doubt that the story of Anthony Weiner is very fascinating, because you can tell he really wanted to make things right. Not every politician would go as far as Anthony did in Congress, and you have to appreciate what he tried to do. Was his decision wrong to post his picture ? Considering his position as a congressman, i would say that he should not have done that. 2 years later he runs for major in New York, and he have to prove to everyone, that he wants a second chance. The film really digs deep into the political life of Anthony Weiner, and Anthony himself seems very honest about what happened, how he tries to come back. One of the details i love about this documentary film, is how well made it is. The editing, the sound, as well as the quality of the film is off very high standards. You feel engaged into the story, and the further we dig into the truth, you just want to know more. Of course the other scandals effect his career, his marriage, and his future. The most interesting part of the story, that surrounds Anthony Weiner, is to see how he handle the pressure, to still become major of New York, no matter what he have to do to make people believe in him. You can tell by his facial expressions that he is not happy about all the decisions he made. I also enjoy the conversations between Anthony and his staff, who don´t know how to handle everything, when more scandals turn up. Do you just follow the rules, or do you break some just to get the campaign going ? Weiner is without a doubt the best documentary film i have seen in recent years. Directors Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg both prove how good they are to make a scandal, feel very honest and uncovered in this film. All the interviews, footage, pictures, are used very well in a very positive way. Especially a big thank you to Anthony Weiner himself, for being so open about this story on camera. I honestly hope that Weiner is going to be a winner at festivals for best documentary film, this is a worthy winner with a lot to say. Not only on a personal level, but also in politics in general. Are you one of those who can´t wait for the 50 Shades Of Another Grey Sequel in the beginning of 2017 ? You need to focus on seeing Weiner instead, because this is the quality film we all needed.
Rating: DDDD
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