Movie Review - Sin City: A Dame To Kill For

Sin City: A Dame To Kill For

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis, Eva Green, Powers Boothe, Dennis Haysberth, Ray Liotta, Christopher Meloni, Jeremy Piven, Christopher Lloyd, Jamie King, Juno Temple, and more.

Directed by: Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez Written by: Frank Miller Based on the Graphic Novels by: Frank Miller Cinematography by: Robert Rodriguez Music by: Robert Rodriguez and Carl Thiel

Premise: Sin City means different things to different people, but they all have a story to tell - the dancer trying to shore her courage to get revenge on the man who killed the only one who ever tried to protect her; the young buck trying to make a name for himself and ends up getting in too deep; the old lover drawn back by the femme fatale who broke his heart when she comes asking for his help. And all the stories tied together by the one man who knows the city best, except when his mind forgets - he has a condition. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Many familiar faces grace the screen -- several reprising roles from the original "Sin City" film, while other make their mark in the city for the first time. Mickey Rourke is still a total hoot as "Marv". Bruce Willis reprises his role as Hartigan, back from the grave. Jessica Alba definitely proves the nine years between films have not slowed her down, and she gives a great performance on multiple levels as Nancy. Josh Brolin is "noir" to his core. Eva Green, though, steals the show, proving once more her tremendous and hypnotic range.

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: As in the original "Sin City" there's a lot of play with black and white and flashes of vivid colors or flip flopping contrasts -- they all looked great. Some subtle storytelling also went on with the colors, which added some nice flavor to the tales. The women were being their true selves when their hair, eyes, lips, or face had color, otherwise...

The characters with the larger than life faces or bodies were expertly done. The power player Ava talks to during her party looked so realistic I couldn't believe she wanted to be that close to him. And the few shots of Dwight's face after some of his troubles, and of Johnny's hand, had me twitching in sympathy in my seat.

The visuals and sweeps during Nancy's nightmare scene were very nice.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: It's been nine years between films, but "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For" picks up not far from the end of the original, so those who've not seen the first movie either recently or ever, will have a hard time connecting with the characters. While they do give information on what has gone before it's not enough to deepen the experience. (So be sure to watch/rewatch the first one before seeing this one!)

There's three stories, all of which connect through Marv or the bar. You see a piece of each one in turn, the middle one running on through to its end, then back to the others in reverse order. Because they don't have much to do with each other, and the Dwight storyline was so involving and long, by the time they got to the other two, I'd totally forgotten about them - so it was almost a jolt to realize there was more.

There were also a couple of bits they threw in at the beginning with Marv that were never actually resolved - you knew to whom Marv's jacket and gloves belonged to, but not how he got them. So that made things seem a little disjointed, especially after so specifically drawing the audience's attention to them.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Gun battles, car chases, knives, jumping and being thrown through windows, and lots of fists totally fit the films "noir" feel. Add in some crossbows, samurai swords, and tough girls, and there's plenty of stunt fun to be had by all.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Real or imagined, the locations for the different scenes worked beautifully. Merging reality and CGI as well as playing with shadows and moonlight made for some lovely cinematography.

Conclusion: I'd definitely recommend making sure to see the original "Sin City" before venturing to see "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For" - this should definitely fill in some of the gaps to make the film have more impact and get you as the audience more vested in what's going on. There's lots of lovely visuals and plenty of fist action. The R Rating should be taken seriously for younger viewers - this is not for kids. But the adults should have an entertaining time.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)  

Movie Review - RED 2

RED 2

Starring: Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins, Byung-hun Lee, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Neal McDonough, Brian Cox, David Thewlis, and more.

Directed by: Dean Parisot Written by: Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber Based on Characters Created by: Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner Cinematography by: Enrique Chediak Original Music by: Alan Silvestri

Premise: Retired CIA agent Frank Moses is enjoying 'normal' life, though his relationship with Sarah has come into some trouble. Her exposure to the thrills and dangers of being pursued have left her wanting more, but all Frank wants is for her to be safe - from everything. So when Marvin shows up with portents of doom, Frank isn't thrilled. But when Marvin's car explodes, and Frank confirms at the funeral that his odd friend really might not be faking it this time - he hits the start of an emotional rollercoaster. To make matters worse, agents show up outside the funeral to take Frank into custody to grill him over a project he's never heard of - Project Nightingale. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: If you enjoyed "RED" back in 2010, you'll be thrilled to know all those wonderful retired agents are back! Bruce Willis is just too much fun as the emotionally repressed, relationship bumbling, retired CIA agent Frank Moses. John Malkovich is a riot as Marvin. And yes, Marvin is still crazy, but now even dispenses love and relationship advice! Helen Mirren reprises her role as Victoria, more deadly and fun than ever. Catherine Zeta-Jones brought the heat up as Katja, Frank's one and only weakness. Mary-Louise Parker was hilarious as Sarah, craving the adrenaline and vying to prove she can be a better spy than the rival Russian hottie.

You'll have to wait a bit, but Brian Cox also returned as the ever romantic Ivan. He is well worth the wait!

Three other newcomers complete the headliners of this fun puzzle - Byung-hun Lee, who plays Han, a super cool assassin (at least until someone steals his plane), Anthony Hopkins as the somewhat unhinged Dr. Bailey (he's so good!), and Neal McDonough as the heartless Jack Horton. So there's tons of awesome talent for viewers to enjoy!

2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: "RED 2" is full of great pyrotechnics. From the explosion of Marvin's car to the fantastic visuals used for a large sky detonation, everything looked wonderful. Throw in the gun battles, car chases, and especially the escape from the Fed holding facility, and your action quota will reach maximum.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: The comedy for "RED 2", much like in "RED," is very low key. It's much like reading the great works of Terry Pratchett - serious topics presented with just a bit of ridicule to make them that much more poignant. The characters are all contradictions of themselves, amazing in their element, but almost clueless when dealing with the mundane. Frank Moses is the focal point of most of the odd duality - on the one hand he's a retired yet still incredibly competent superspy, on the other he's a poor fool who can't even tell his overprotectiveness is driving away the very woman/companion he's craved his whole life for.

There are lots of great twists and turns as Frank, Sarah, Marvin and their friends try to unravel the mystery of Project Nightingale. Sarah's jealousy of Katja and how far she's willing to go to try to prove she's better were hilarious just from her undaunted drive to succeed.

Loved the way they tied "RED 2" back to "RED" with little mentions or tidbits that while not hurting the film if you didn't catch them, added a lot for those who did. We caught several of them after the fact, as we had so much fun with this one, we went and watched the original again - and then loved them both that much more.

The only real weak point in the plot was the fact something about Bailey was not mentioned or made clearer earlier (though I could have conceivably stepped out when they mentioned it, so it could be that I just missed it). But on the same vein, hours after seeing the film - I realized the bit about Bailey's pipe and where he finally found it actually singled out a profound and chilling statement of what he was feeling and really doing at that particular time thirty two years before. (And no, I can't tell you what it was! You'll have to see the film and figure it out for yourselves...)  

A couple of recurring jokes also peppered the film. I loved the one about the airplane. The one with "I didn't see that coming" has been used in other films before, so didn't work quite as well, in my opinion, though it was still fun.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: Spies, governments, and exposed secrets means we get a ton of action and a ton of stunts as well. Two beautifully filmed and choreographed car sequences tied right back to the original film in their orchestration as well as look and feel. Scene after great scene of gun play and hand to hand combat. Han's introduction to the story was marvelous - and all the scenes with hand to hand combat with Byung-hun Lee were just fantastic.  

The long chase scene through Paris was a great deal of fun.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: While the first "RED" film took us to all sorts of locals in the US, "RED 2" is international. (I did miss seeing the whole postcard motif from the first film, but the red slashes worked pretty well too.) Great shots of places like London, Paris, Moscow. The long chase scene I mentioned before took great advantage of the locale with great shots of the area.

6) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: Great work by the makeup department, especially as the story goes along and some of the characters get into scuffles without much time to recover.

Conclusion: If you liked/loved "RED" you will like/love "RED2"! All the great, quirky characters are back and getting into even more trouble. The film is full of action, quirky humor, and great stunts.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)

Movie Review - A Good Day To Die Hard

A Good Day To Die Hard

Starring: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Yuliya Snigir, Radivoje Bukvik, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco, and more.

Directed by: John Moore Written by: Skip Woods Based on Characters Created by: Roderick Thorp Cinematography by: Jonathan Sela Original Music by: Marco Beltrami

Premise: When he thinks his estranged son is in trouble for shooting a man, John McClane flies to Russia to try to help him. He isn't there long, however, before everything takes an unexpected turn for the worse. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Bruce Willis is as fun as ever in his latest incarnation as John McClane. Jai Courtney was quite convincing as John's estranged son, especially when he slowly realizes he's more like his father than he ever thought. The two actors shared some great father and son 'not going to share our feelings' moments. Sevastian Koch was full of all sorts of surprises in the film.

2)  Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Bullets and explosions filled the screen almost constantly. The film will definitely fill everyone's mass destruction quota. That being said, the spots were CGI was used to enhance or pull off some of the scenes involving the two McClanes were somewhat obvious.

3) Story - Thumbs Up: Though the previews held a few hints, the film started in such a way as to mislead viewers on what was happening at the beginning. Like McClane, we start noticing that things aren't exactly as we've been led to believe. The father and son problem story line was predictable, but with some of the other surprises in store, it mattered little.

The biggest nitpick for me was the fact that for a straight twenty minutes John seems incapable of saying anything by the "J" word. Then later his son picks it up. A little more imagination would have gone a long way with regards to the dialogue here. It also felt a little forced that as a cop, John wasn't at all concerned about causing collateral damage, foreign country or not.

4) Stunts - Total Thumbs Up: The many stuntmen and women in this film should definitely receive a ton of accolades. I don't think I've ever seen such mayhem and destruction as in the long car chase scene close to the film's beginning. If there weren't actual injuries incurred during the whole 'gag', I'd be very surprised.

5) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Filmed mostly in Budapest, Hungary, the film possessed a great foreign flavor. The amount of trouble the cinematographer went to to take sweeping shots of the courthouse area, the closed restaurant floor, and other locations right before they were totally destroyed by soon to occur events was almost humorous. Each sweep was like a giant hint that things were about to get messy.

Conclusion: "A Good Day to Die Hard" is a wild ride with almost constant action. There is so much action, in fact, it might leave you a little numb. A couple of mostly unexpected surprises helped take away 'the sting' of the predictable plot. The male bonding between father and son and their continuous attempts not to talk about their feelings were very amusing.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission.)

Movie Review - Looper

Looper

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Pierce Gagnon, Garrett Dillahunt, Noah Segan, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano, Piper Perabo, and more.

Directed by: Rian Johnson Written by: Rian Johnson Cinematography by: Steve Yedlin Original Music by: Nathan Johnson

Premise: In the year 2044, Joe is Looper, an assassin for the mob who shows up at a preassigned location and time and kills the person sent back from thirty years in the future then disposes of the body. As part of their contract, Loopers know that if they're still alive in thirty years, their older selves will at some point be sent back and they must execute them when they do. Joe is totally okay with that, until one of his kills doesn't show up on time and when it does, he has no hood and is partially free. Now Joe needs to find Older Joe and kill him as contracted, before his bosses find Joe and do horrible things to him to bring the loop to a close. (Rated R)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a phenomenal job as Joe. Not only did he let them change his features so he might more closely resemble Bruce Willis for the role, but he also picked up some of his mannerism and manner of speech as well. Bruce Willis is well known for his dry wit deliveries and performed to his usual high standards. Old Joe resonated with the lessons he'd learned and the things he'd experienced later in life. And Bruce pulled the audience along as he was tortured by some of the decision he now felt he had to make. Emily Blunt was also very convincing as Cid's angst ridden mom.

But the actor who stole the show was Pierce Gagnon as the young boy Cid. He gave an excellent and unexpectedly deep performance. He'll be one to watch in the future.

2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: The bulk of the story occurs in a near future, so it's a lot of the little touches that make this feel real. Old and new tech mix together, people picking and choosing depending on what they can afford.

The most impressive special effects were during a sequence close to the beginning and one towards the end. But it is the first one which will stick with you because of its impact. Seth's fate is one watchers will not soon forget.

3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: There is so many fun directions that can be taken with time travel stories, and this film makes definite use of a few of those. What was truly enjoyable was some of the inventiveness that went along with the film. There were several threads running concurrently and many will link back on one another. I don't want to say too much or I might give something away, but the story will not exactly go in the direction you expect.

Only one scene in the film seemed out of place. Almost like they wanted to play the old multiple timelines game, but didn't exactly go through with it, but yet they didn't get rid of the scene, so things didn't quite fit. However, there was so much going on around that same time, that most audience members will forget the momentary confusion as they get carried along by the rest.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: There were several lovely sweeping views of the 2044 cityscape as seen from the direction of Joe's killing field. Cane fields and farms filled the zone outside the city and they played an important part as backdrops in several scenes.

Conclusion: A fun time travel romp filled with action and unexpected bits of humor and angst. Definitely worth a watch.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission and Would See Again For Matinee)

Movie Review - Moonrise Kingdom

Moonrise Kingdom

Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Kara Hayward, Jared Gilman, Francis McDormand, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel, Bob Balaban, and more.

Directed by: Wes Anderson Written by: Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola Cinematography by: Robert D Yeoman Original Music by: Alexandre Desplat

Premise: In 1965, on an island off the coast of New England, two 12 year olds run away together to follow the migrations of the original Indian inhabitants. Their disappearance and the subsequent search stir up hidden, unspoken issues with the adults. Unbeknownst to all, a huge, deadly storm is brewing and coming their way. (Rated PG-13)

Review:

1) Acting - Total Thumbs Up: The kids in this film steal the show. Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman delivered their lines with total deadpan accuracy. It was very clear that Sam and Suzy weren't your typical children - they were more responsible and grown up than most of the adults in the film! With the added fun performances from Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Francis McDormand, Tilda Swinton, and others, it made the film that much more fun.

2) Special Effects - Thumbs Up: My impression was that they wanted the film to have a feel and nostalgia for times past. A lot of the more flashy moments were very reminiscent of old style, low budget special effects. Yet those effects used in the background and not as easily noticeable were produced with all the tools and finesse available in modern times.

3) Plot/Story - Total Thumbs Up: It's a simple tale with unexpected depth. What made it even more interesting was the fact the kids get found and brought back, only to then gain unexpected allies and escape again, causing even more chaos.

It had the feel of a domino effect - one action, causing another, which caused another and so on. It was also a lesson on matters taken for granted and the pitfalls of not communicating even when there's someone right next to you. Deeper still, it showed that those we choose to lead us aren't always the ones we should be listening to.

The use of maps on screen, the narrator, and the old fashioned telephone calls with split screen to show all parties even as they bumbled to connect with one another were used to great effect. For older audiences this movie will resonate and bring boughts of nostalgia.

4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: The locations were great and very reminiscent of the period. There were lovely vistas of the ocean, the woods, the fields, and the building storm.

The introductory footage when the film begins was innovative and gripping in its oddness. Also spoke well of the vast distances between the children and the parents. You knew right away "Moonrise Kingdom" would be a different experience from other films.

Conclusion: A quirky, quietly funny, yet deep film. Enough odd ball goings on that even kids would enjoy it. It was also really amusing that all of Suzy's fantasy ya book covers were done by people in the production.

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission)