Hollywood Movie Reviews

Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham have made another remarkable movie with Wrath of Man, a bloody tale of one man's search for vengeance.

Statham stars as H, a man recruited by an armoured truck company. He barely passes his training and resumes the job only to single-handedly foil an attempted heist by unknown gunmen. This is when his co-workers start to suspect he is not who he claims to be.

Meanwhile, H has a reason for working at the truck company. He is looking to settle a personal score, one that fuels him like nothing else. Consumed by his goal, he begins to lay the groundwork for the ultimate showdown. And when it does come, it is one hell of a finale.

The fact is that the plot of Wrath of Man is nothing new. It's the way the story is told that makes it appealing. The director deliberately starts at a point where things are unclear and uses a non-linear plot for the exposition. It works beautifully as past and present collide for a memorable third act.

I've been a fan of Guy Ritchie and I'm glad to say that everything about his latest film plays a vital part to make it outstanding. As the protagonist, Statham is convincing as a man with a grudge. His cool demeanor hides his ferociousness and he is a predator on the prowl. This may not be his best performance but it is damn good to watch.

All the supporting characters play their parts well, especially Scott Eastwood. He is part of the crew that H must face. They are not known for failure and he is the most unrelenting foe they have ever met. One way or another, one side must lose.

The editing is seamless and the music perfect and foreboding. By the middle of the movie, all the jumbled pieces begin to come together for a coherent whole, with Statham doing what he does best.

Wrath of Man is another triumph from Ritchie and Statham. It is a solid action thriller that is undoubtedly one of the year's best. I will definitely be watching it again.

 

 

An intriguing movie from start to finish. Angelina Jolie and the young actor named Finn Little give riveting performances, making Taylor Sheridan's film a pulse-pounding encounter.

The action is cool, the plot suspenseful, and the cinematography stupendous. Nicolas Hoult is the genuine badass hitman; his icy cool demeanor and precision are unnervingly convincing.

The only issue I had with the film is that its biggest question is left unanswered. Besides this, the movie is great. 

Zack Snyder appears to have lost his magic touch as Army of the Dead turns out to be a disappointing film that is anything but a heist movie.

From unrealistic character choices to a plot full of holes enough to make a standard soccer goal post, this is Snyder's worst movie.

The worst thing about the film is the way the zombies are portrayed; they have a leader who has a mate and he rides a horse. Plus, these creatures keep human captives and move around with the demeanor of apes.

The film is for the most part boring and when things start to get interesting, the below par action hinders it from being outstanding. 

In all, this film isn't worth the hype and the director should figure out to win the hearts of audiences because this may not be good for his career at all.

The impressive trio of Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Guy Pierce isn't enough to save this movie from its own mediocrity.

Though based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name, Without Remorse lacks everything that readers have come to love about his stories.

The script is poorly written, the characters are uninteresting (with the exception of Jamie Bell's), and the action is nothing out of the ordinary.

I saw the trailer and foresaw something lackluster. In the end, I was proved right. If there is one lesson to learn from here it's this; not every interesting book should be adapted to the big screen.

Jordan is John Kelly, a man who was set up with his team members after a major operation. His wife and team members are murdered by unknown gunmen and injured, he is the only survivor.

Upon regaining consciousness, John decides to find answers, using any and all means necessary. His journey takes him to Russia and back to his home country in a trail that leads to the highest echelon of power.

I love watching Jordan act; he is good at it. But here, his character is nothing more than a bitter, scowling man who is happy to just fight and fight.

Smith is anything but the character she portrays. Her performance is as unconvincing as it's uninspiring; a shame considering her award-worthy turn in Queen and Slim.

As for Guy Pierce, it doesn't take a genius to predict that he is the film's antagonist. It's easy to see through his facade of pretense. I didn't even bat an eyelid when he met his waterloo; that's how minute his existence was to me.

In all, Without Remorse is a movie better forgotten and not worth recommending to film enthusiasts.

Mortal Kombat proved to be an enjoyable encounter for me, but I doubt those who aren't fans of the popular video games will say the same thing.

Real-life martial artist Lewis Tan plays Cole Young, the descendant of Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) who joins Sonya Blade, Jax, Lui Kang, Lord Raiden, and Kung Lao to fight for earth's survival in the tournament known as Mortal Kombat.

Easily outmatched, Cole and his new pals must reach down deep within themselves to find the secret to beat their evil opponents in what will be the fight of their lives.

Joe Taslim is simply amazing as the antagonistic Sub-Zero. Even though he is masked, his eyes reflect his villainy and he is a legitimate badass.

Among the heroes, for me, Kung Lao made the best impression. I loved the way his character used his hat during combat scenes; a real homage to the video games.

Making the film R-rated was the best decision as the gore was an apt nod to the source material and worked well in depicting the brutalities and fatalities.

I was expecting more from Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) and Shang Tsung (Chin Han) but was disappointed that I didn't get to see them engage in a duel.

The action is commendable most of the time; only a few times was it less enjoyable as a result of the movement of the camera and the uneven editing.

The special effects also worked as well, but the CGI used to bring the gigantic Goro to life wasn't as realistic as expected. Despite the budget concerns, a lot more attention should have been paid to his character.

The score isn't bad at all but there were times I felt the music was too loud and distracting.

As I said earlier, those who are lovers of the action genre will have fun watching this reboot. Movie critics on the other hand will most likely pan it.

If you're expecting more than just entertainment and fun, then look elsewhere because I assure you that this movie will not give you that. But if you want to have a blast watching people engage in brutal fights then this is for you.

Lest I forget, the actor who played Kano (Josh Lawson) stole every scene he appeared in. The banter between him and every other character (especially that of Jessica McNamee's Sonya Blade) was just wonderfully humorous.

A lot of effort went into making this film and I commend the director and the cast and crew for giving it their all. Did the movie live up to expectations? In some areas, yes. In others, no.

In the end, Mortal Kombat packs a bloody punch but it's definitely not for everyone.

This film blew my mind, defying expectations and making a bold statement on the importance of staying together to battle seemingly insurmountable odds.

The Mitchells are a family only in name; they can't seem to get along and the patriarch's relationship with his teenage daughter is the film's major conflict.

When robots created to help humanity unexpectedly stage an uprising, capturing every human (except the titular family of course) in the world, it falls on the dysfunctional heroes to brace up, put their differences aside, and save the day.

I wasn't particularly thrilled with the character designs but midway through this visually delightful movie, I forgot all about that and was lost in the plot.

The humour is rib-cracking, the action engaging, and the characters totally relatable. The actors give mesmerizing vocal performances and the director, Rianda makes one heck of a fun movie in his directorial debut.

I love the various artistic illustrations used to depict the moods at different points, and even though the villain is cheesy in a predictable way, it doesn't stop the film from being awesome.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of the best animated comedies ever made and I urge all fans of the genre to see it if they haven't.

 

 

This movie is an unconventional look at a seemingly conventional man whose unconventional way of doing things leads to an unpredictably bizarre outcome.

The talented Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) is Hutch, a man who is far more than his boring demeanor suggests. To his family, he is mediocrity personified, and to his teenage son, in particular, he is a coward who amounts to nothing.

Everything in Hutch's life points to him being an underachiever and a big-time loser, that is until his family is threatened by some Russian mobsters. Then Mr. Nobody becomes an unstoppable force of nature!

The fight scenes will keep you at the edge of your seat because you never know what will happen next. The protagonist is the kind of dude who will face an army of gunmen empty-handed, beat the crap out of them, get bloodied in the process, and walk away from the scene calmly.

Hutch is not the kind of guy anyone would want to tangle with. There is no method to his madness, he just keeps throwing kicks and punches, using anything in sight as a weapon.

I confess that I made the mistake of underestimating the film such that I didn't bother watching the trailer. What made me change my mind was when those who saw it refused to stop talking about it. I'm so glad I watched it cos it was a thrilling encounter from start to finish!

As the eponymous character, Odenkirk is phenomenally brilliant! He plays Hutch with so much gusto and perfection that the viewer becomes lost in the character. 

The fight scenes, gunplay and gore add to the overall appeal of a movie that doesn't need your approval in any way. It is awesome in every ramification.

More than just a guy who kicks some major ass, Hutch has a code and abides by that code. He is not a mindless killing machine, just a killing machine with a mind.

The final showdown is definitely the highlight of the film (as it should be). While the protagonist is battling the baddies, he gets help from two unexpected sources; dudes so crazy that they could all be the trio of wacky lunatics!

Nobody is, in my opinion, one of the best action movies 2021 has produced so far. I look forward to a sequel and can't wait to see Odenkirk blow my mind again!

 

Finally, Natasha Romanoff's solo story arrives on the big screen, and it is a fitting farewell to a founding avenger who gave her life in the fight to save the world.

Black Widow is set after the events of Captain America: Civil War and sees Natasha travel to Budapest to be reunited with her foster sister, Yelena (Florence Pugh). Together, the ladies break the Red Guardian out of a maximum-security prison and trail Melina to her new life.

Reconnecting with her long-lost 'family' comes with confronting the ghosts of her past; something which leads Natasha all the way back to the Red Room (the secret place where all the 'Widows' are trained) and the master puppeteer who is behind it all.

This film is a Marvel film you would expect and at the same time, something different in that it leans more on the heroine's internal struggles than the spectacle or action.

This is Scarlett Johansson at her best in the MCU and newcomer Florence Pugh is simply amazing. I was intrigued by her unending quips and sarcasm.

David Harbour as the Red Guardian is also a welcome comic distraction but when it comes down to doing some damage, he is all talk and no show.

Rachel Weisz doesn't contribute much and Ray Winstone as the villain is just your typical bad guy who enjoys hearing himself talk.

For the most part, the action is good but I was slightly disappointed that the major showdown between Natasha and the Taskmaster never happens.

Black Widow doesn't measure up to some of the MCU's best films but it sure doesn't disappoint on many levels. I look forward to seeing more of Pugh's Yelena in future MCU movies.

Thunder Force is a piece of laughable mess laced with cheap special effects, a horrible script, and a waste of two talented lead actresses.

I don't know much about the director, Ben Falcone, but I do recognize garbage when I see it, and that's exactly what Thunder Force is at the end of the day.

Adding a major spin to the superhero genre, the movie sees two childhood friends (Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer) reunite after many years, with ensuing events leading to them getting superpowers.

In a world overrun by villainous metahumans called Miscreants (what an awful name to give them!), the new heroes must fight to defend the city as they try to figure out how to live up to expectations and adjust to their new status.

I was giddy with excitement when I saw the official trailer. Seeing middle-aged plus-size women as superheroes was a new and welcome development for me. Add McCarthy's comedic genius and Spencer's good track record to that, and I thought I was in for something awesome.

Thunder Force fails in almost every major way; from the lame action to the stupid dialogue, crappy costumes to the ridiculous special effects, it ends up being a big bore!

The story is riddled with countless plot holes, one of the two friends makes a major decision that is against everything being a hero stands for, and when she is discovered, all her partner does is make a joke about it?

This is the first film I saw Spencer reduced to sheer ridicule. Even her acting here is so unconvincing that I felt embarrassed for her at some point. McCarthy does light up the screen at times but majorly comes across as a jackass.

They say a hero is only as good as the villain he/she faces. Well, in this case, both so-called heroes suck so what you get is an equally senseless villain who enjoys killing off members of his own crew at every opportunity he gets.

Jason Bateman... I don't even know what to say about him except this; a good actor who was unfortunate enough to accept one of the lamest roles in the history of lame roles. I expected better from the guy.

I'm just going to end my review here because Thunder Force doesn't deserve any more words from me. The concept was creative and brilliant, but the execution was totally stupid! The only good thing about the movie is that it has an ending!

Though Ricky Staub's movie is full of cliches, it manages to go beyond its shortcomings, thanks to some character development and the natural advancement of the plot.

Concrete Cowboy stars Caleb McLaughlin as a headstrong teenager forced to live with his estranged father following his mother's frustration with his constant fights at school.

Cole (McLaughlin) hates his father, Harp (Idris Elba), and wants nothing to do with him. His father, on the other hand, barely knows the son who has become his responsibility.

Cole reconnects with a childhood pal, Smush (Jharrel Jerome) and the latter introduces him into a life of petty crime. Harp detests this friendship and warns his son to stay clear of Smush but Cole doesn't listen.

As Cole spends more time in the little town where his father and a few others rear horses, he begins to develop an affinity for the creatures, and after he manages to perform the herculean task of 'breaking' the most stubborn one, he must decide the path to take to shape his life. For him, the choice is obvious but it will most likely not end well.

Concrete Cowboy marks McLaughlin's feature film debut and he gives it his all (and succeeds in the role). The range of emotions we see from him here shows some promise for his acting career and I for one was glad to see him play another character besides the one he portrayed in Netflix's Stranger Things.

Elba's charisma is unmistakable and his performance too is commendable. But I feel he should have been given more to do. Also, there were times when I didn't really buy into the accent of his character.

As the story of Concrete Cowboy unfolds, it dawns on the viewer that he/she knows where it's going. The ending is quite cheesy but the journey to that makes it worth it.

I love the relationship between the horse riders and the horses. It wasn't just a master and slave thing, but more of a bond. Unlike most riders, the Black folks believe that a horse doesn't need to be subdued. It only needs to be 'set free'.

A subtle message in this film is the importance of knowing one's heritage and fighting to preserve it, no matter what. That is something everyone can relate to.

In all, Concrete Cowboy works as it accomplishes what it sets out to do. I look forward to seeing McLaughlin in more feature film roles as we all await what his character will be up to in the upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things.