"The Wall" Comes Crumbling Down...

The Wall (2017)

Rated R

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, John Cena, Laith Nakli

Directed by Doug Liman

The Story:

Sniper Matthews (Cena) and his spotter Isaac (Taylor-Johnson) go to inspect a location that needed assistance. It seems everyone has been killed. When Matthews finally goes for a closer inspection, he is shot, and it's up to Isaac to try and get him to safety. However he's pinned down by a very accurate sniper (Nakli) and is forced to take refuge behind...

wait for it...

The Wall.

Doug Liman presents a stripped down war thriller with 3 characters, 2 that you see and one that's a voice of the bad guy.

He does an effective job of keeping the tension as much as he can, given the confinement that he places on the storyline.

It works to some extent, but doesn't allow the story to really get going like he's previously done with the Bourne franchise or the excellent Edge of Tomorrow.

Most of the film is cat and mouse wordplay between Isaac and the enemy sniper, and decisions that Isaac makes often reveal just how dire the situation really is.

I would have given this one a higher grade, but I really hated the ending of the film, so I'll be kind and just go with a

Final Grade: C

Unimpressed Sums It Up..."Nocturnal Animals"

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Rated R

Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer,

Directed by Tom Ford

The Story:

Susan Morrow (Adams) is a wealthy art gallery owner. She is married to Hutton (Hammer), but was previously married to Tony (Gyllenhaal). Well, Tony has sent his ex-wife a manuscript for his upcoming novel to read. It's called Nocturnal Animals. As Susan reads it, it's a very intense work that may also be an allegory to his time being married to Susan.

Cue the intrigue.

Ah yes, the old "story within a story" effect.

This time, instead of a movie or tv show taking place, it's a novel being read.

Gyllenhaal gets double duty as both flashbacks to the time with his wife, and also as the main character of the book.

Except I was bored by all of the characters within the first 10 minutes.

I was actually ready to turn it off during the opening credits.

Watching obese naked women dance on platforms is actually not my idea of a good time.

But that's art! As presented at Susan's gallery, I was already put off before the movie even begins.

Then as each new character is introduced, I really didn't see any reason to care for them, or want to see where the story was going.

Great actors, don't get me wrong.

Just put into a storyline I really had no ambition to soldier through to the end.

Then as I'm doing research on the film, it's one of those arthouse "best of the year...accolade after accolade" films.

So apparently, maybe I'm just not highbrow enough of a movie snob to appreciate what's sitting in front of me, and I would be happier watching an Adam Sandler movie.

Well, I did watch the Waterboy again a few days later, so yeah, maybe.

: )

Your mileage may vary, but this one was ejected and tossed on the scrap heap for worst of the year consideration.

Final Grade: D

There Was A Lot Of Hate Directed Towards "Avengers: Age of Ultron"

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle,

Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

The Story:

Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) enlists the aid of Bruce Banner (Ruffalo) to create a worldwide peacekeeping solution called the Ultron Program. However when the program becomes sentient and becomes Ultron (Spader), it decides that the Avengers are part of the reason why there is no peace on the planet and sets out to exterminate them.

Avengers, Assemble!

So, was Avengers 2 as good as the first Avengers film?

Absolutely not.

However, not for really a lack of trying.

Avengers was the first time that crazy concoction of teaming up all the characters had ever been done before, and it was lightning in a bottle.

But if you go back and look, you'll find glitches and plot holes abound in that one as well, fans were just eager to see the big-screen spectacle, we either didn't notice, or didn't really care.

This time around, the bar was already set too high, and it was bound to fail to reach those lofty heights, but you might as well try, right?

And they did.

And there is SOOOO much to enjoy about this film. The banter amongst the Avengers is wonderful, and it makes them human and it also foreshadows what's to come in upcoming films. There's a lot of different opinions and egos on this team, and it will come to a boiling point in the next film, and it should.

However, I happily watched this installment and walked away very happy.

The action sequences were well done, and the giant cast of characters seemed to share the screen and story in equal chunks so that everyone, and no one, is the absolute star of the film.

It was nice to see Hawkeye's (Renner) role fleshed out a bit more. I always enjoyed the Avengers that weren't super-humans, yet found a way to hold their own with the big boys, and Hawkeye and the Black Widow (Johansson) continue to shine in this role.

In fact, the only thing I didn't really care for was Ultron. Spader put too much personality or himself into the role, and it came across as...weird... I guess.

Ultron is a relentless program whose sole purpose is to upgrade, upgrade, upgrade in an attempt to be the best possible Ultron...and kill the Avengers...

Cracking wise... that's not Ultron.

My biggest gripe, but when he's the main villain, it starts to stand out as the film wears on.

Still, a good movie, but not the best Marvel film of the year.

Final Grade: B+

"Godzilla" Returns! (And Doesn't Suck)

Godzilla (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, and of course, Godzilla

Directed by Gareth Edwards

The Story:

Joe Brody (Cranston) discovers some dangerous seismic activity at a nuclear facility. However, before it can be shut down, an accident kills his wife (Binoche). 15 years later, the activity is starting up again, and Brody is determined to find out what killed his wife. Meanwhile his son, Ford, (Taylor-Johnson) is trying to get his dad out of trouble one more time. However when the two stumble upon giant creatures that feed off radiation, while man may be powerless to stop them, perhaps there is hope in trusting...

Godzilla!

I found two things amusing in this movie, and there may have been more (un)intentional homages as well.

Brody's vs. monster creatures. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies!

A quick shout-out to Lone Pine, California. This is heavy, Doc!

That said, for a movie that featured the title character for maybe, maybe... 15 minutes of the 2 hour running time, it really wasn't boring.

The story kept moving forward at a frenetic pace, and similar to the aforementioned Jaws, much of the monsters are kept under wraps, under water, while the destruction that they leave behind is what is on display.

Sometimes less is more, and I think that may have worked in Godzilla's best interest.

The redesign of the big guy works, for the most part.

Definitely better than the Broderick film, but call me sentimental, I miss the old Toho suit.

I actually want one just so I can wear it and step on toys and chase my kids around.

:)

So now that we've established that Godzilla is a force for good, so what happens in the sequel?

Final Grade: B... B- range.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again down the road. It wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it could have been. That said, it could have been improved here and there also.

Looking For An Over-The-Top Comic Book Movie? "Kick-Ass 2"

Kick-Ass 2
Rated R for Language and Violence

Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jim Carrey, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Faison, Morris Chestnut

Directed by Jeff Wadlow

The Story:

Inspired by the heroics of Kick-Ass (Taylor-Johnson) other citizens are now donning costumes to make a difference on the streets.  They create a group and invite Kick-Ass to join.  Hit-Girl (Moretz) is being raised by her guardian (Chestnut) and is finding a hard time adjusting to life as a vigilante being watched by an overprotective cop.  Meanwhile, The Red Mist (Mintz-Plasse) is plotting his revenge with a new name and a band of thugs all his own.  Soon all the stories will overlap, and things will hit the fan!

The adaptation of the Graphic Novel by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. continues!

The first Kick-Ass film was okay.

Over-the-top violence with some funny dialogue and characterization sprinkled throughout.

If you liked the first one, you'll like the sequel.

I Did It For The Money!

Jim Carrey is amazingly subdued as Colonel Stars and Stripes.

I'm not sure what his beef with the movie was, he knew how violent the first one was, and I'm sure he read the script for this one...

So it just struck me as odd when he refused to promote the film.

Ah well, but to each their own.

The Star Of The Show

Moretz is the real star of the franchise thus far and she should have a bright career in Hollywood as she's got the charisma to keep the audience glued to the screen when she's on.

Final Grade: B-/C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Sorry, I'll stick with the Marvel movies, I can enjoy those with my kids.