Did It Suck Movie Reviews

Archive for the ‘Action’ Category

Review:     4 Stars     Rated:     PG     Time: 1hr 53min

We all have baggage but Scotts new girl friend has 7 X’s worth, and stuff.

Plot: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 American action comedy film directed by Edgar Wright based on the comic book series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The film is about Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) meeting the girl of his dreams, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). In order to win Ramona over, Scott learns that he must defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes, who are coming to kill him.

Did It Suck? This was a semi-fast paced and inventive film.  Part comic book adventure, part video game,  and part live action cartoon rolled up into one fun movie, and stuff.   Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is more of a weird silly movie then it is cheesy, yet at the same time, it’s cute and full of laughs.  The supporting characters are quite good and everything seems to fit nicely in the way this movie works.  I really liked the character of Kim (Alison Pill), the girl who plays the drums in the band; I don’t think she blinks through the whole movie.  Overall this film was fun and I felt I got my money’s worth, and stuff.

Final thoughts… I’m sitting on the fence with this movie because even though I really enjoyed this film, the big screen brings very little to it.   I think for most it’s a probably best to Wait For The DVD.  Anyone who enjoys different and silly movies It’s Worth a Ticket.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     3 Stars     Rated 18-A

“Rambo, you’re not expendable”

Plot: The Expendables is a 2010 action movie featuring most of the action stars of the last 20 years, although some of them only make brief appearances.  The film was written by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, and directed by Stallone.  Stars of the film include: Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke, and Jet Li, as well as more recent stars such as Jason Statham, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Steve Austin.  (more info here)

Did It Suck? As you might expect, given the cast, this is meant to be purely an action movie but as with other movies it does feature quite a few comedy moments and while they are funny it really doesn’t sit well in this context.  It really seemed like the director couldn’t decide if he was making an action movie or not.

The plot was bad, the dialogue the same, and that really dragged what started off well down significantly.  The action was, as you really would expect from all these guys, exceptional with lots of booms, bangs, people losing limbs and generally getting ripped apart in all manner of gruesome ways.  The action sequences were spaced out through the movie but the intervening sequences were pretty dull, and in one case downright boring.  So, despite the cast, I don’t think I’d want to pay money to see this again, not even on DVD, for me there was nothing special seeing it on the big screen, so I’d say Don’t Bother and wait for it to come to TV.  I had hoped for much more.

- Andy Hughes

My two ¢ents … For the most part I would have to agree with my good friend Andy, however, I did have a little more fun watching the movie.  If you’re looking for an action film to fill-in some time then go for it, otherwise, I’m not recommending waisting your money.

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- Dan Kersey

Review:     4 Stars     Rated PG

Putting Salt onto a wound really makes things…explode!

- Andy Hughes

Review:     3 Stars     Rated:  PG

There’s magic in the air when Sorcerer’s due battle. It’s up to one unassuming guy to keep the world from falling into darkness and Dave (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) definitely has his work cut out for him.

Plot: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a 2010 fantasy adventure film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Jon Turteltaub, and distributed byWalt Disney Pictures, the team behind the National Treasure franchise.  Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan fighting against the forces of evil, in particular his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina), while searching for the person who will inherit Merlin’s powers. This turns out to be Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a physics student at New York University, whom Balthazar takes as a reluctant protégé.  -more here

Did It Suck? When I saw the trailers for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice I didn’t think much of it,  I also had very low expectations for the film.  The movie had different story lines that didn’t blend all that well and there was not one part of the movies story lines that took precedence over another.  This basically left the movie with very little depth or character development.  I still enjoyed watching the movie even with all its shortcomings, and overall it wasn’t too bad of film, however it wasn’t that great either.  It’s a good kids film to say the least; I’m guessing between the ages of 10 -15 will like the film, but in my opinion I can only give it the Wait For The DVD verdict.

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- Dan Kersey

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