Saturday, 24 January 2015

Movie Fans Taken 3 (2014)


Taken 3 has accomplished its primary goal of sucking the last dollar out of Liam Neeson fans. We should feel good because he got $20 million of the $45 million dollar budget. We should feel bad because its a ridiculous movie. Saying that about a movie in the Taken tradition means its way out there in disbelief la la land. Mills never tells the bad guys about his skill set, he does not even kill that many people. This movie relied on explosions and car chases over use of special skills. 

There is a baby in this movie, the plot should have been the baby has been eaten by dingos. Rotten Tomatos gave it 10%.  If you liked Taken 2 which I did, this movie is about as big a drop off as it was from Taken One.

Two point one stars

Tuesday, 13 January 2015

American Sniper (2014)


This movie directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood  starring Bradly Cooper should have hit a bulls eye. It missed the target. Eastwood's direction lacks energy and Cooper is a cardboard action hero. Its not Eastwood's fault that the mess that was Iraq and the new chaos of ISIS are a strong counterpoint to the unquestioning patriotism profiled in the movie. Portraying the Iraqi people as savages was also over the top.

If it had not been a true story I might have flunked it. The Hurt Locker, Lone Survivor and Zero Dark Thirty all cover the same ground with more authenticity and emotional connection.

Rotten Tomatoes saw a completely differant film and gave it 75%. Out of respect more than merit I will give it 60%. It may be this movie resonates better with Americans than Canadians.
Three Stars

Clint Eastwood is firing back at critics like me. He makes a valid point. This movie is the Snipers story. It was written that way and thats how he filmed it. No grey zones in the American fighting mans mind.

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