Every now and then I find it enjoyable to see things done in bright colors and with well-drawn characters or personalities with motivations (good or bad) that are unmistakable.
All in Action
Matthew Vaughan’s KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
Check it out and prepare to crank up the sound; the bigger the screen the better. Be prepared to be amazed.
Kevin Costner's OPEN RANGE
This is a magnificent movie. It looks great, the acting is terrific, and it presents us with a classic confrontation between good and evil that culminates in a spectacular small—town all-guns-blazing gunfight.
Ron Howard's THE MISSING
If you need a “western” fix (as I do occasionally) this one might do the trick.
Ridley Scott's "THE MARTIAN"
All in all The Martian is enjoyable film that promotes science and exploration but on a human and recognizable scale in a way that any audience can enjoy.
Brad Bird’s TOMORROWLAND
The ending is convoluted and prolonged — does the world really need another giant robot fight? — but Tomorrowland is different and definitely worth reviewing, if only for the amazing sets, visuals, and ideas.
Christopher McQuarrie's MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION
This is a great summer movie and I think this matches and in some ways exceeds the recent Bond films. But let’s not get too serious here. This is a popcorn film of the highest order. We have learned to expect no less from that crazy guy Cruise.
The Wachowskis’ JUPITER ASCENDING
This review will not be popular. I really enjoyed Jupiter Ascending. I had a similar reaction to another movie I also enjoyed immensely, John Carter.
Kevin MacDonald's BLACK SEA
I’m a sucker for submarine movies and books. BLACK SEA delivers.
This is not just one more big city with skyscrapers being torn apart by Marvel or Transformer characters fighting. This is a human scale small town surrounded by cornfields getting smashed by Mother Nature in scenes that are becoming depressingly more common as our climate continues to change for the worse.
David Ayer's “FURY”
Inglourious Basterds, except for its opening sequence, is a cartoon compared with Fury.
George Miller's “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD”
Speaking of stunts, it is interesting to compare what’s on display here with a Buster Keaton movie like The General which was released on February 5, 1927. That movie involved an extended locomotive chase along with amazing stunt work that still make one’s jaw drop.
I wonder what Keaton would think about this movie?
Julius Avery's "SON OF A GUN"
A lot of thought and planning went into the production and editing and it shows.
Ridley Scott's “EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS”
Having heard all the negative press about this movie I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Stupidity and evil lurk beneath the surface here and become increasingly intertwined as the movie progresses.
Chad Stahelski & David Leitch’s JOHN WICK
If your weakness is revenge porn this is the movie for you!
Anthony & Joe Russo's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
For me the saving grace of this movie were the lead characters: Chris Evans of Snowpiercer fame as Capt. America, and Scarlett Johansson (Her, Lucy, Under the Skin, Chef) as Black Widow.
Luc Besson's LUCY
Still, the movie is worth a watch especially for the first half or so. But eventually the silliness overwhelms the acting, editing, and wonderful production values. Lucy at the end reaches for spectacular profundity but lands with the thud. We’ve seen it all before.
Peter Jackson's “THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES”
Peter Jackson and crew should be proud of what they and WETA have created.