Bruce Willis Needs "Extraction" From The Direct To DVD Movie Realm

Extraction (2015)

Rated R

Starring Kellan Lutz, Gina Carano, Bruce Willis, D.B. Sweeney

Directed by Steven Miller

The Story:

Harry Turner (Lutz) has been training to be the best C.I.A. field operative since his dad, Leonard (Willis). He keeps getting denied because his dad keeps calling in favors to keep his son safe. When Leonard is kidnapped, Harry goes rogue to save him. Victoria (Carano) an ex-flame and current agent is assigned to bring Harry in, but they both will need to work together to find Leonard's kidnappers and stop something much, much bigger than they realize.

It's a movie about spies, so you need to be brief and vague on the review.

To its benefit, this movie is brief, clocking in under 90 minutes and it's not bad, so not a total waste of your time.

Contrary to movie posters and billing, Bruce Willis is not the star, it's Kellan Lutz who is being groomed to be part of the next generation of action heroes.

We were spoiled with our 80s and 90s action stars. They were often many things, but rarely wooden.

Most of the actors that are getting handed these franchises have little personality or charisma.

Lutz carried most of the Hercules movie a few years back.

No, not the one that was overshadowed by The Rock a few months later.

:)

He just doesn't do anything to stand out in the generic leading action star department.

Films like this aren't helping him much either.

So again, not bad, but probably a million other action films you can get to before you need to watch this one.

Final Grade:  C

The Man...The Myth..."The Legend Of Hercules"

The Legend of Hercules (2014)

Rated PG-13 for violence

Starring Kellan Lutz, Scott Adkins, Roxanne McKee

Directed by Renny Harlin

The Story:

The Queen (McKee) doesn't care much for the bloodthirsty King (Adkins) anymore, so she prays that she could have a child that could bring peace to the world.  Enter Zeus... pun fully intended.  As the young prince grows, he is hated by his father, and sent to die in a foreign land.  But when asked his name, he gives them the name that his mother said he was to be called: Hercules (Lutz)  Hercules works his way back to his homeland to save himself, and his people from the tyranny of his father.

Eh... it wasn't too bad.

Hercules: Year One.

Not a whole lot of Herculean Tasks or feats are performed.  Heck, the big guy doesn't even get his power until the movie is nearing the conclusion.

Think of it as Gladiator, with superpowers.

Again, it's not a horrible film by any stretch of the imagination.

Renny Harlin is at the helm, and Renny Harlin does know how to direct a competent action flick, which he once again proves here.

My hope... the one coming out this summer with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, will be much, much better.

Final Grade: C... maybe even a C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Wouldn't own it, wouldn't have a problem watching it again.