The Marine 5: Battleground

The Miz is back again as Jake Carter, the poor beleaguered ex-Marine who can't seem to find a job where people aren't shooting at him, and I'm happy to say this is a much better installment in the franchise than the last film was. The script is simple, but was everything it needed to be for a popcorn action flick. This fifth "Marine" film was packed to the gills with WWE stars, with solid and believable performances by Heath Slater, Maryse, Naomi, and Curtis Axel. The Miz ia awesome as always, and I like how he's allowing the cumulative emotional toll from the previous two films to build up and show through his performance in subtle ways. He is a profession and very proficient actor, and I'm glad he now owns this role. However, I have to say the true star of this film is Bo Dallas. His turn as the big bad boss in this was just tremendous. His range of emotion and commitment to the character was great. I predict he could have a long career in film, if only he can get that first push (a push, I might add, that he has been long deserving of and not getting in the WWE). This was a solid installment in the "Marine" franchise and a big improvement from the last film, and I hope The Miz gets a whole slew of new sequels to come. 3.5/5

The Marine 5: Battleground on Netflix

Armed Response

I've been waiting to see this movie for a long time as one of my favorite wrestlers, Seth Rollins, made his acting debut in this Wesley Snipes action thriller. I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes, as most WWE stars have a rocky first film. Honwever, I have to give it up to the Architect, as he delivered a solid and believable performance in this. I enjoyed his work and I truly believe he will have a long and ripe acting career. So now that I've given praise where it was due, I have to talk about what didn't work... which was literally everything else in the film. Oh my gods.... this script was just atrocious. As in horridly bad across the board. The direction was just okay, and honestly the only actor besides Rollins to show up for work was Heche, who was the one other bright spot in this disaster of a film. Pretty much only watch this if you want to see Seth Rollins act, and you can believe that. /obshieldreference  2/5

Armed Response on Netflix

The Wall

There are only three people in this film, and you only ever see two of them. This is often a recipe for disaster, but I was completely entranced by this action thriller. It all came down to whether Aaron Taylor-Johnson could handle his very weighty role, and he did a spectacular job with it. Cena didn't have as meaty a role, but I was impressed with him as always. As the film develops and the plot unfolds, you learn more and more about the situation in which these characters found themselves, and the ending is a perfect wrap-up. I really enjoyed this and recommend it. 4/5

The Wall on Netflix

Ironclad

Oh wow, this was truly excellent. I always seem to forget how awesome Paul Giamatti is, and then I see him slaying in a film like this and I remember why I love him. Everything in this film is on point. The script is tight, the direction really compelling, and all the acting is excellent. It's also really violent, so be warned. An excellent film. 4.5/5

Ironclad on Netflix

Life

Okay, I'm just going to address the very mixed reviews for this right away. I see both sides of the issue. Yes, the acting is very strong. The direction was engaging and excting, and I was incredibly intrigued by the life form. I was completely into the film from minute one. However, I see the point of the naysayers. This movie really was cliche after cliche after cliche. And, ultimately, given the parameters of the film, most of the choices made were idiotic and contradicted by the way the film draws to a close. Yes, I'm being really vague here to avoid spoilers, but I think readers will get my meaning regardless. I did have to give it an extra half star for the last two minutes of the film though, because WOW. That alone was worth the price of admission. I did like this. It was enjoyable and fun in every way it needed to be, but "Alien" it was not. 3.5/5

Life on Netflix

Train to Busan

HOLY SNOT THIS IS THE BEST ZOMBIE FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. Hell, it's the best action film I've ever seen, let alone the best zombie film. And how many zombie films have you seen that will make you cry from sheer tragic gutwreching emotion on multiple occasions? I swear, a film like this could only be made in Korea. Korean directors have a unique visual and visceral style that lent itself perfectly to this film. The direction was outstanding, and the script fleshed out and perfectly told. The acting was incredible, and so was the music. I can't say a single bad thing about this film. It's just amazing. OMG, rent this. 5/5

Train to Busan on Netflix

John Wick: Chapter 2

I loved the first John Wick film, and I loved this one even more. I haven't been a Keanu fan in some time, but his gun-handling in these films is a large part of why they work so well. He's so damn good at three-gun it's ridiculous. Now, granted, his acting is as sub-par as ever, but that hardly matters here. The action is fantastic, the direction is gorgeous, the music is great, and so are most of the performances. I can't wait for the third one now! 4/5

John Wick: Chapter 2 on Netflix

Assassin's Creed

First off, sorry for the long absence, I've had a slew of life problems happening. I will try to return to my regular reviews.

My husband is an avid gamer, and I have watched him play the Assassin's Creed games many times over. The game is so stylized in its look and action that I thought no movie could ever capture that. I was wrong. This movie lives so well in the Assassin's Creed world it could be a game itself. The direction, sets, and motion of everything was so spot on it was eerie. The acting was far better than what you normally see in video game films, especially Fassbender, who is quite good. The ending was a bit too open and got a little off track, but I know they did that to leave place for a sequel. I was surprised at how good this was. If you know the game, it's worth a watch. 4/5

Assassin's Creed on Netflix

Deepwater Horizon

Have the team of Berg and Wahlberg made a bad movie yet? I really don't think so, at least none that I've seen yet. This chronicle of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy was told well, with rounded characters, solid acting, and stunning direction that really throws the viewer into the midst of the story. It was well paced and not overly long, and I was happy not to see it turn into a political tirade, although it does make a powerful statement. Another great film, highly recommended. 4.5/5

Deepwater Horizon on Netflix

Rampage

I never thought I would write these words in a review, but this is a Uwe Boll film that is actually really good. I've never been a Boll fan, but he really surprised me with this action thriller, which is so markedly different from the rest of his past catalog that it's unrecognizable as his work. I'm also stunned because he wrote this as well, and the plot is actually good, engaging, and interesting. The acting was solid, and I loved the ending. I'm stunned, but I highly recommend this for action fans who don't mind a bit of the ultra-violence. 4/5

Rampage on Netflix

Doctor Strange

While I have always been a Marvel girl, I was mostly an X-Man fan and never knew anything at all about Doctor Strange. Because of this, I have to say right at the start that I have no idea whatsoever if this film is true to the books, so I can't base any part of my review on that. What I can say is that this is a spectacular film with some of the best effects I've maybe ever seen. It's like an incredible update to things I remember from "Inception", only far better with the advances technology has made. The acting was mostly strong, and I was happy to see a superhero film coming in at only an hour and forty-five minutes. I really enjoyed this and am curious to see how this film and its characters will integrate with the rest of the Marvel Universe. 4/5

Doctor Strange on Netflix

Passengers

I'm struggling to find words here to express how angry I am at this movie. From a purely filmmaking standpoint, this is a good film. The acting is strong, the script fairly well written, the direction tight and cohesive. But the story. Oh, gods, this story. I'm stunned this script made it past studio executives and test audiences without someone screaming how utterly, terribly, horridly violating and rapine this story truly is. I really don't think I've ever seen a movie that more glorified rape culture, or forced us to sympathize with a criminal, disturbed male oppressor and require us to thus thoroughly shame his victim. Pratt's character violates Lawrence's in pretty much every way possible, and yet he is portrayed as the hero and she the clumsy, harpy, shrill woman who doesn't appreciate her partner's abuse. It's like watching a cut of "Room" where Brie Larson's character was portrayed as a nasty, sullen, uncaring witch who just doesn't appreciate how wonderful she has it in this garden shed made for her by the man who "loves" her so much. I feel sick after seeing this, I really do. I normally forgive far more than I really should when it comes to the glorification of rape culture, but I can't condone this. Not this. 2.5/5

Passengers on Netflix

Embrace of the Serpent

This was a fascinating film in many ways. I feel like it lives in the same world as Aronofsky's "The Fountain", in that it addresses questions about the nature of time and how relationships can weave their ways through different time streams. It was strikingly directed, and I was impressed by the acting. This film made me think, and I appreciate a film that can do that. 3.5/5

Embrace of the Serpent on Netflix

Criminal

Honestly, I have never in my life seen Kevin Costner act this well. I didn't even know he had this kind of performance in him. And, given that this movie lives or dies on how much we believe and feel for his character, I'm so glad he did the job he did. This action thriller has a "Flowers for Algernon" flavor to it, and it's really well executed. All the supporting actors were quite good, and the direction was tight and well paced. I am really surprised I liked this so much - hats off to Costner for this great performance. 4/5

Criminal on Netflix

Mechanic: Resurrection

I don't know why this film is billed as a sequel to "The Mechanic", as it bears very little resemblance to the first film. "Mechanic" was a great action film because it was grounded in a reality you could believe and feel yourself in. The characters were rich and well rounded, and Ben Foster brought his always incredible presence to life perfectly in it. This sequel is far more like a bad chapter of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. It's dull, there are no decent characters to speak of, the logic of the world makes no sense, and the globe trotting never allowed the viewer to settle into the story. I'm very disappointed in this, it could have been so much more. 2.5/5

Mechanic: Resurrection on Netflix

Suicide Squad (The Extended Cut)

Wow, where to start. I held out on seeing this until I could see this extended cut that restored several minutes of the cut Joker footage. However, I was still massively disappointed. I don't think there ever was a good movie here. I say that because the very words that came out of everyone's mouths were trite. The plot was barely existent, and the over stylization did nothing to serve the story. Most of the acting was average at best. I got really annoyed at Margot Robbie pretty quickly for her in-and-out bad Snooki impression of a Jersey accent. The only thing I found interesting was Leto's Joker, and even that was a mixed blessing. I've never seen the Joker done quite like this. It's far more faithful to what I just saw in the animated "Killing Joke" than anything I've seen in live action yet. There was no trace of Leto on screen - he wholly became the role, and it was thrilling. That is, when you could tell he was improving and not being forced to deliver banal lines that didn't make sense with the character. Add in that many of the restored scenes show his utter brutality and contradicted the added "love story" with Harley, and it became a mess. I long to see what Leto will do when given a meaty script - I think that will be something amazing to see. As is, this movie is sad to me. It could have been so much more. 2.5/5

Suicide Squad on Netflix

Star Trek Into Darkness

I'm really struggling with a rating for this film. There was a lot that was good. The acting was good as always, the first two-thirds of the story was good, and I actually really enjoyed Cumberbatch's version of Khan. What I find utterly unforgivable, however, was the last third of the film. How can Abrams get "Star Wars" so right and this film so badly wrong? Without spoiling anything, the changes he made to the end of this story I felt betrayed the characters he is attempting to honor with these films. I so strongly disagree with these choices that I have to condemn this film. And, as a bonus, Abrams' lens flare penchant was worse than I've ever seen it before. It's not a bad movie, but it's a terrible Star Trek movie. I'm going to give it three stars and call it a day. 3/5

Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix

The Lovers

I wasn't really sure about the gimmick of this adventure flick but I ended up liking it in thew end. Pretty decent acting, good flow to the script, and stunning scenery made this an enjoyable watch, if a little hokey. 3/5

The Lovers on Netflix

400 Days

I was worried about watching this sci fi thriller right on the heels of "Approaching the Unknown", which I felt was a very successful and impactful movie, and I was right. This film was overshadowed in every way by "Approaching", and I think my opinion of it suffered because of it. I felt the acting was weak, the plot stale, and the last half hour of the film very strange. I did like the ambiguity of the ending - that much was done right, but not much else. All in all, this really didn't work for me. 2/5

400 Days on Netflix

Independence Day: Resurgence

I don't know about the rest of the world, but I liked this. It had a more cohesive plot than the original (not hard to do) and the acting was very solid. The effects were really outstanding, and the flow of the film was solid and strong. It's a better film than the first one, and it had enough nostalgia factors that I really liked it. A strong showing, and it certainly opened the way for a third film in the future. 4/5

Independence Day: Resurgence on Netflix