Into the Sun (2005)

I am a huge Steven Seagal fan. After disappearing for decades he now has 22 B movies floating around out there. This is the best of the bunch by far. I am also a big fan of Japan and in this movie you see it through Seagal's eyes as he co wrote the story and screenplay. If you like Hard to Kill and above the Law this movie is for you. Steven Seagal is a very interesting character, and a pretty good musician, several of his songs are on this soundtrack. Rotten Tomatoes did not score it but I will give it about 75%

Three point five stars

The full movie is on You Tube check it out.

Now You See Me (2014)

A very clever plot with lots of tells. Three of four horsemen leave a lot to be desired. I found them collectively annoying. They are Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg ,Isla Fisher, the fourth Dave Franco does a respectable job.  Morgan Freeman mails it in. The other major star Mark Ruffalo is great. Melanie Lourent the French actress who lit up Inglorious Bastards also shines. Louis Leterrier who has a couple of Transporter movies under his belt directs with authority. A movie that was not magic but deserved better than the 50% Rotten Tomatoes gave it. If the horseman could had have galloped it would have been a huge hit.

Three Stars

Far Cry (2008)

How did I fail to notice this flick. The original video game released in 2004 was a mega hit and defined the modern FPS. The movie version takes place on a British Columbia Island not a tropical paradise. The plot remains the same, a dropped out special forces soldier takes a journalist by boat to the Island. Then all hell breaks loose. Uwe Boll has a terrible reputation as a director, Far Cry proves he does have and A game.  Emmanuelle Vaugier caught my eye with a superb performance as Valerie Constantine the Lois Lane type reporter who gets word of genetic super soldiers being developed in a mad scientists lair. Certainly she would have been a better choice than Amy Adams for the latest Superman. Til Schweiger is fantastic as the hero Jack.  A German actor who has done some work in Hollywood, but this should have been a breakthrough for him Chris Coppalo as the bumbling right hand was also great. Why this movie was not a major hit is a Far Cry.

Three point five Stars

Dragon Day (2013)

An extremely low budget movie with  bad acting from unknown actor. The only thing it has going for it is a cool plot. What if the Chinese foreclose on America? I would not invest any money to watch this movie. For free it just meets the bar as a timewaster.

Two point three Stars

Non Stop (2014)

Liam Neeson is the John Wayne of the 21st century. For his audience he does not make a bad movie.  He really broke through with Schindlers List, but it was Taken that made him iconic. This movie like Known has a very Taken flavor. I did not recognize any other actors in this movie. Michelle Dockery is very well known to Downton Abbey fans, in a very similar movie and role (Executive Outcome)Halle Berry was more compelling. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is no more than a placeholder here.

Jaume Collet-Serra has directed a handful of movies Known and Non-Stop amongst them. He is someone to watch. You cant take your eyes off the screen for a second in Non Stop, he keeps the atmosphere tense and suspenseful right to the end.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it sixty percent with lots of criticism for the plot. I disagree its hard to bring something new to a two hour movie that takes place at 35,000 ft. While this movie does not quite soar, it is a superior effort all round.

Four Stars

3 Days to Kill (2014)

The script is by French Icon Luc Besson.  He also had a writing credit in the very similar movie Taken. However in this movie Kevin Costner has the Liam Neeson role and his daughter is never really in danger. The movie goes awry for this reason. Sometimes the dialogue and father daughter relationship just does not fit.  I would call it Taken lite and poorly. If you like Kevin Costner, and I do, you will like this movie. But I would not invest a great deal in it. Rotten Tomatoes crushed it  but I will give it a solid pass.

two point six stars

Timebomb (1991)

A Jason Bourne type B movie starring Michael Biehn and Pasty Kensit of Lethal Weapon 2 fame. Richard Jordan is another well known face in this thriller. Also a novelty item Boom Boom Mancini has a bit part. It holds up reasonably well for a movie Rotten Tomatoes gave 35%. If your a fan of Bourne type movies its worth your time.

Two point five two stars