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smokyowl
Reviews
Killer Elite (2011)
MUCH better than I expected
I sensed what the movie-making powers that be were thinking when they made this movie: Take 3 action stars + 1 super hot blonde = money. Simple enough of a formula to get people in the theaters. My expectations were not that high for this film. But what I found reminded me of a "Bourne Identity" feel for some odd reason, but with more action and less suspense. Injecting the film with reality was Yvonne Strahovski, who made the story believable. I did like the whole 1980 thing the movie had going on as well, which some of these reviews might've missed when they watched the film.
There are many memorable moments, none of which I'm going to tell you.
One of two issues I had with the film is the distance I felt with the characters. They felt close to each other on screen, but not close to me(if that makes any sense). I could've used 5 or 10 minutes getting to know the characters a bit better. Halfway through the film I realized I had forgotten all the character's names, and it was all facial recognition. Secondly, I could have used a bit more humor. I guess when making movies on real events it's hard to get a good laugh without coming off corny. I think they missed an opportunity there with Yvonne Strahovski's character.
I would've given this movie 7 stars, but it didn't seem right considering just how much enjoyment I got out of it and such a solid performance of the actors.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
Wait for the DVD.....and rent it.
The first 40 minutes were so boring I left to get a refill of popcorn. I don't usually do that, but the plot was so predictable I figured I wouldn't miss anything...and I didn't. I only laughed once during the movie, and there was only one shot that would make me go to the theater to watch it, and the shot lasted 3 full seconds. The first half of the movie gets off to a sluggish start full of predictable outcomes and exposition. Then there's the mermaid part, then the conclusion....big deal. Then there's the whole sub-plot with a guy falling in love with the mermaid....and during the movie I kept asking to myself: "what's this guy's name?" The movie as a whole just isn't entertaining enough to warrant seeing it in theaters. A few parts are okay, but overall I'd definitely suggest waiting for the DVD and rent it. Die hard fans of the series will probably love this movie because they are die hard fans, and they'll hail it as being great because they are emotionally invested in it already.
Chuck (2007)
An Original Show By NBC
This show caught my attention right away. It was the 2nd spy show (the first being "Burn Notice") I'd seen, and the reason I watch it is because it's ORIGINAL! Let's face it, "The Event" is a photocopy of that "Lost" show, and it seems everybody's doin' the same stuff, comedies with identical punchlines, cop drama, medical drama, drama, drama, drama....HEY! It's CHUCK! A show that defines itself by not copying something.
Chuck is someone I think many young men can identify with, Sarah's a strong-willed agent torn between the life she's led as a spy and a future with Chuck, and Casey's a seasoned military man that struggles with his emotions (or "girlie feelings", as he would say) The comedy is VERY original, with excellent moments of outbursts of laughter from myself and my friends. The acting is very good throughout the entire cast (know it sounds cliché, but it's absolutely true). The drama that is there is well thought out and carries a few sub-plots along nicely. Fight scenes are memorable as well, all have a specific feel for the situation.
The shows only real weakness for me at least is some of the special effects explosions. Some of them just don't work and they're clearly CG. This doesn't happen too often though.