Did It Suck Movie Reviews

Archive for the ‘Action’ Category

Review:     5 Stars     Rated:     PG

It’s only a dream if you wake up from it

Plot: Inception is a 2010 American science fiction action film written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, and Cillian Murphy.  The film, essentially a caper movie, centers on Dom Cobb, a thief who enters the dreams of others to obtain/steel information that is otherwise inaccessible. His abilities have cost him his family and his nationality.

Cobb finds himself desperately seeking a way home until he is finally giving the opportunity by a wealthy and powerful man known as Saito (Ken Watanabe).  Instead of steeling information Saito wants Cobb to plant a destructive idea that will cause his victim to tear his business empire down.

Did It Suck? Not since The Matrix movies (1 and 2) has a film satisfied my craving for a good Sci-Fi action thriller like Inception.  Christopher Nolan apparently spent ten years writing his screenplay for Inception and in my opinion, it really shows. By the end of the movie my brain was still buzzing trying to process  everything that I had finished watching.  The trailers do no justice  for this movie;  they plant an idea in your mind to tease you but leave no suggestion as to what it’s really about.  Amazingly, with how deep and complex this film is,  it was still somewhat easy to follow.  I’m also happy to say I can’t think of anything bad to say about this film which now leads me to the final sentence.  I will definitely see this movie again and it is Most Definitely Worth A Ticket.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     4 Stars     Rated:     18-A

Could you survive the ultimate predator?

Plot: A group of humans find themselves parachuting into a jungle with no idea how they got there.  They quickly realise they all have one thing in common; they are soldiers of one kind or another.  They also quickly find out they are in a sort of game reserve, and they are the prey. The movie is directed by Nimród Antal, and starring Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Danny Trejo and Derek Mears.

Did It Suck? Predators is the third movie in the franchise, not counting the two Predator/Alien crossovers.  It isn’t really a sequel, having no direct continuation from the two original movies, but it does refer to the original Predator movie for background.  This is not an all out action movie, nor a Sci Fi, although it does combine aspects of both, and combines them well.  The characters were all very believable as soldiers, or mercenaries, with their distinct fighting styles and skills, and their overall ability to work together as a team, rather than alone, when needed.

I found the filmography very fluid and was impressed with how well the movie was directed and produced.  Even though it is not ‘edge of your seat’ stuff, and not fast paced throughout, I really felt connected with the characters as they found out what they were facing and I think a lot of that was due to the direction of the movie.

While it’s hard to beat Arnie in many cases, I think this is easily the best of the 3 Predator movies, and it was absolutely everything I wanted and hoped for in the movie when I first heard about it.  So often a movie fails to live up to its promise, but this one delivers.  This is absolutely Worth A Ticket.

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- Andy Hughes

Review:     4 Stars     Rated     PG

- Dan Kersey

Review:  1 Star     Reated:     PG

Plot: The Last Airbender is an American adventure fantasy film.  The film stars Noah Ringer as Aang and also stars Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, and Dev Patel.  One hundred years ago, a twelve-year-old Airbender named Aang learns he is the new Avatar, the last of his kind.  He is the only person in his generation capable of controlling and manipulating all four elements to his will and the one tasked with maintaining peace between the four nations of the world who are at war.  His task is to bring peace back to the world.

Did It Suck? I was hoping that this movie was not going to be as bad as all the critics were making it out to be; they were right. This movie sucked on all levels of the suck scale. There were very few parts I liked in this film, at the moment I can’t think of any.  Most of the movie was action-less with very bad dialog, making you think, did the director even watch the scenes after each take?  Kids 12 and under may find this movie entertaining, but for the rest of us it is a very disappointing movie that had incredible potential. Don’t Bother with this one.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:  2.5 Stars     Rated: 14-A

When the dead start talking you know that Jonah Hex is close by or making a big mess somewhere.

Plot: Jonah Hex is a 2010 American post-Civil War antihero Western film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Under Warner Bros., the film is directed by Jimmy Hayward and stars Josh Brolinas the title character, Jonah Hex, and also stars John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender, and Megan Fox.  During the American Civil War, Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) fought on the side of the Confederacy until betraying his commanding officer, Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) to save a hospital and killing Turnbull’s son in the process.  A vengeful Turnbull and his right-hand man, Burke (Michael Fassbender), burn down Jonah’s house with his wife and son still inside.  Jonah Hex is left with a disfigured face and a half dead soul.

Did It Suck? Okay, yes, this was a horrible, cheesy, badly directed film with a story that leaves you going, huh?  But …. it was still entertaining enough that  I still enjoyed  it.  I will say for sure that this is defiantly a Wait For The DVD film.  I’m also going to say that anyone around 20 and under will probably like this film just for the big explosions and Megan Fox.  Who BTW was constantly filmed under a soft-light/filtered lens, that was so obvious,  it was laughable.  I’m not exactly sure why I like this movie because there was not a lot to like;  in fact it really underachieved almost every aspect.  The acting was okay, the try-hard comedy was bad, but the pace of the film was good and kept my interest enough to enjoy it even amongst its downfalls.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     5 Stars     Rated:     G

Pixar Studios brings back the original cast of toys (Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear; Tom Hanks as Woody; Joan Cusack as Jessie, and of course, Pixar’s ever-present John Ratzenberger as Hamm the Piggy Bank) for a new chapter that asks, “What happens to beloved toys when their owner grows up?”

Plot: Woody and the gang have been relegated to the toy trunk and only rarely catch glimpses of their much-loved owner, Andy, who is now seventeen and ready to go off to college. When the garbage bag full of toys Andy intends for the attic end up at the curb by mistake, some quick thinking lands Woody and the gang in a box of donations headed for Sunnyside Daycare. Initially thinking they have landed in paradise (kids who actually play with toys!), they soon realize they have ended up in a terrifying place ruled by the nasty Lots-o-Huggin’ Bear, who is bitter after being replaced by his owner long ago. Woody, who was headed back to Andy’s to go to college with him, realizes his friends are in trouble and comes up with a plan to rescue them.

Did It Suck? Considering how amazing the first two Toy Story movies were (and how ground-breaking they were in the area of computer animation), I went into the third installment of Woody and Buzz’s story with a strange combination of trepidation and anticipation. My two main questions were: Is this movie going to be as good as the first two? and Is the 3D effect going to actually add anything to the film?

The answer to the first question is a resounding YES…this movie made me laugh hysterically, cry at moments, and is definitely Worth a Ticket. As for the second, I would say that the price of the 3D effect did not add anything in the least. Even my 8-year-old son said he didn’t really notice it, and the glasses are darn uncomfortable, so I wish it had a 2D option, but even the inflated 3D price was worth it for this well-done and definitely not disappointing movie.

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- Lisa Michelle Grace

Review:      3 Stars     Rated:     PG

Flying feet and fists of fury have a new look in this remake of The Karate Kid

Plot: 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mother (Taraji P. Henson) arrive in Beijing from Detroit to start a new life. Dre develops a crush on a young violinist, Mei Ying, who reciprocates his attention, but Cheng, a kung fu prodigy whose family is close to Mei Ying’s, attempts to keep them apart by beating up Dre, and later harassing and humiliating him in and around school. During a particularly brutal beating by Cheng and his bully friends, the kindly maintenance man of Dre’s building, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), comes to Dre’s aid, revealing himself as a kung fu master who adeptly dispatches Dre’s tormentors.

Review:     4 Stars     Rated:     PG

Covering how the A-team originally met, the mission that got them arrested, their escape from prison, and subsequent attempt to clear their names this movie has it all.  The cast includes Liam Neeson (Hannibal), Bradley Cooper (Face), Quinton Jackson (B.A.) and Sharlto Copley (Murdock).

Plot: The movie starts a few years before the fateful mission that saw the team imprisoned for a crime they did not commit, and shows how they came to be The A-Team.  Following a mission into Baghdad (not Vietnam, the times they have a-changed) they are framed for a theft, imprisoned, escape, and then try to track down the people that framed them to earn their freedom.  This is the essence of the original series and is captured well in the movie.

Did It Suck? From start to finish the movie doesn’t let you down, and has bangs, booms, thrills, spills, and even a whole lot of laughs.  I had not expected the movie to contain humour at all, but it was there throughout, and blended in perfectly with the action.  Each of the main cast members played their parts well and were spot on in filling the roles of Hannibal, Face, B.A., and Murdock.  I can’t think of anything really negative to say about this movie, which is pretty odd, usually something detracts, but this one was just great.  The only real different between this movie and the series; people die!  In my opinion, this is definitely Worth a Ticket to see the action on the big screen.

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- Andy Hughes

Review:    2.5 Stars     Rated:    PG

Sometimes the man you’ve been waiting for to step into your life can make things more complicated then your parents.

Plot: Killers is a 2010 action comedy film starring Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, and Catherine O’Hara.  After a break-up with a spontaneous boyfriend, an overly cautious Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl) travels to Nice France with her parents (Tom Selleck, and Catherine O’Hara) where she meets Spencer (Ashton Kutcher).  Spencer, after meeting Jen, decides to leave his job as a hired killer for a secret government agency.  Three years later Spencer’s old boss contacts him, as only spy’s do, and then bullets start to fly.

Did It Suck? Not a great movie but not horrible either.  The chemistry between Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher was more-less, for a lack of a better word, okay.  Though it was still good enough to make me smile or chuckle throughout the movie.   By far this is a date movie and both guys and girls will probably like it as just that.   It’s a cute and funny movie even though the story is ridiculous and has endless holes and things just happen without regard to why.  Over all I liked this movie because it was fun and I also didn’t feel too bad paying for the ticket, however, as I mentioned this is primarily a date movie so for the rest;  Wait For The DVD.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:    4 Stars     Rated:     14-A

There’s a new kid on the block and she’s a little different then most kids we know because, Dren, is a scientific experiment.

Plot: Splice is a  science fiction horror film directed by Vincenzo Natali and starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, who portray two young scientists and lovers who begin involving human DNA in their splicing of animal genes.  These two genetic engineers Clive Nicoli (Adrien Brody) and Elsa Kast (Sarah Polley) achieve fame by successfully splicing together the DNA of different animals, to create incredible new hybrid animals. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments in the pursuit of even greater scientific discovery.

Did It Suck? This movie is extremely interesting, weird, and messed-up all at the same time.  The film is acted and directed quite well though there were a few parts that never fit together or not explained well.

- As a general rule I try not to pull movies apart looking for every flaw,  I look at each movie for it’s entertainment value.

The movie moves along well even though it is quite slow and far from suspenseful.  It does however have some jump moments and fright scenes but nothing too unexpected.  A very good movie to see and Worth a Ticket for those Sci-Fi and horror fans, but nothing will be missed seeing it on a smaller screen.  So … For everyone else, Wait for the DVD.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     3.5 Stars     Rated:  14-A

If you have no one left and nothing to loose, and if your Harry Brown, it doesn’t mater how old you are, you can still bring the storm.

Plot: Harry Brown is a 2009 British vigilante crime thriller film directed by Daniel Barber and starring Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Jack O’Connell, and Liam Cunningham
The story follows Harry Brown, a widowed Northern Ireland veteran living on an Elephant and Castle housing estate that is rapidly descending into youth crime. Harry takes up violent methods to curb crime after a friend is murdered.

Did It Suck? This is one of those movies that has had only a little publicity and most people will know very little about it.  Harry Brown is an impressive movie that digs deep into a lonely mans soul.  A terrific performance by Caine and well directed.  The movie is slow paced but always keeps you interested as to what is going on.  The violence in this film hits the realism side of  movie making and done for a reason.  I felt I got my money’s worth however the big screen brings nothing to the movie and could be watched at home without loosing any effect.  Most people will want to Wait For The DVD.  Michael Caine fans will undoubtedly want to see this on the big screen.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:   3.5     Stars     Rated:     PG

If you take;  Aladdin and Indiana Jones, some Tomb Raider, National Treasure and lots of  Parkour, mix them together you’d get Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

Plot: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a 2010 fantasy–adventure film written by Jordan Mechner, Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro, and Carlo Bernard; directed by Mike Newell and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.  The film is loosely based on the 2003 video game of the same name, developed and released by Ubisoft Montreal.

We follow Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal), a street urchin in the Persian Empire in the sixth century.  After standing up to some royal guards, he is adopted by the king as his third son.  The two older brothers are Tus (Richard Coyle) and Garsiv (Toby Kebbell).  He grows up as part of the royal family and then finds himself on an adventure like no other… (more here)

Did It Suck? I really liked this movie despite all the negative reviews.  This is a fun movie with lots of action, sword play, and Parkour.  The acting was generally good throughout, though some of the dialog might have been a little goofy.  It was a little tiresome watching the constant lovey-dovey eyes between the two main characters and some of the the comedy relief  was really not needed.  Overall this was a good movie and probably the best movie yet that has been based on a video game; definitely Worth a Ticket.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     2.5 Stars     Rated:     14-A

Revenge in the hands of MacGruber is a nasty story and if you’re the bad guy,  I’d be worried.

MacGruber is a recurring sketch on the NBC television series Saturday Night Live, first appearing on the show in January 2007. .. (more here)
The cast includes: Will Forte, Val Kilmer, Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph.

Plot: Will Forte brings Saturday Night Live’s clueless soldier of fortune to the big screen in the action comedy MacGruber.  In the 10 years since his fiancée was killed, special op MacGruber has sworn off a life of fighting crime with his bare hands. But when he learns that his country needs him to find a nuclear warhead that’s been stolen by his sworn enemy, Dieter Von Cunth (Val Kilmer), MacGruber figures he’s the only one tough enough for the job. more here

Did It Suck? I’m not going to make this a long review because it’s really not worth my time. MacGruber has a few genuinely funny parts, but for the most part it pushed the toilet humor envelope too far in trying to get a laugh.  I found myself laughing at the stupidity rather than laughing because it was supposed to be funny. Don’t get me wrong, far-fetched reality and toilet humor comedies have their place, but MacGruber just doesn’t have my vote as a good comedy.  MacGruber’s Saturday Night Live fans will probably want to see this film, however I encourage  you to Wait For The DVD.

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- Paul Holmes

Review:     3.5 Stars     Rated:     14-A

A bow and arrow is a good weapon of choice  for a soldier in 1199 and Robin Longstride (Russel Crowe) is one of those soldiers.  Robin Hood is directed by Ridley Scott telling a story before the legend of Robin Hood begins.  The cast also includes Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow and William Hurt.  See full cast here

Plot: It is late 12th century England and Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is a common archer in the Third Crusade. Following the death of Richard the Lionheart in battle, Robin and three other common soldiers attempt to return to their homeland, having spent ten years fighting abroad. -More

Did it Suck? I was expecting something different from this film but it was an unexpected surprise.  This movie is like a history story of the beginnings of the legend of Robin Hood.

The bigger battle sequences were good for the most part however the camera angles were up close and shaky to add effect, but, it really seemed to take away from the battle and the ability to see the full scale of what was going on.  The main story is easy to follow but the inner stories are a little obscure and don’t really explain themselves.  Overall the movie was really good and I was happy to pay to see it on the big screen.  If you’re looking to go see an epic adventure with Robin (action) Hood you will be disappointed.  This is an interesting film with depth surrounding a legends beginnings.  Worth a Ticket but it will also be a Great Renter as there is nothing you will miss seeing it on a smaller screen.

- Dan Kersey

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Review:     4 Stars     Rated:     PG

Iron Man is back in this highly anticipated sequel.  Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke and Gwyneth Paltrow star in Iron Man 2

Plot: It is the sequel to 2008′s Iron Man, and the second film in the planned trilogy, all of which are, or will be, directed by Jon Favreau.  The first Iron Man finished off with Stark (Robert Downey Jr) revealing his identity as the “Iron Man”.  Currently… Stark is now resisting calls by the United States Government to hand over the technology. The Villain Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has duplicated the technology and has built weapons of his own.

Did It Suck? Back in 2008 Iron Man set the bar for Super Hero movies.  Iron Man 2 is fantastic and is an excellent follow-up to the first movie, however, it still sits in the shadow of the first one.  Iron Man 2 is a fast paced action adventure Super Hero flick that never lets up, at all.   The movie is like the Energizer Bunny, it never stops moving, the film keeps you from wanting a bathroom break because you just might miss something.

Iron Man 2 is more story then action, however, it never gets dull.  I would have liked to have seen the movie spread out a little better with more action sequences.   I also felt there were a few stupid director decisions  in some of the scenes but they didn’t take away from the movie as a whole.  Over all it was a very good sequel and a most excellent movie.   Worth a Ticket in my book.

- Dan Kersey

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