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Special-K88

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741 reviews in total

On the distant, ill-fated planet of Krypton a devoted scientist jettisons his newborn son across the galaxy in the desperate hope that his life will be the key to preserving the Kryptonian race. Having landed safely on Earth and been adopted by two loving parents, the boy struggles to adapt to human life while always painfully aware of the external limits of his extraordinary abilities. It's not until years later—as a man—that he begins to fully embrace his extraterrestrial heritage with the very fate of the Earth hanging in the balance. Reimagining of sorts of the iconic DC Comics character is much more serious and somber in both its tone and characterizations than previous renditions, but there's still plenty to please with fantastic visual effects, soaring action scenes, and compelling human drama. Film's unremitting climatic action sequences border on superfluous, yet remain exciting and fun to watch. Pumped-up Cavill definitely looks the part, but the real acting highlights are veterans Costner and especially Crowe as his adoptive and biological fathers. ***

The Wolfpack has come howling back for more in this unnecessary third installment which—if interested viewers remember—once began with a fresh, clever, and outrageously funny first installment. Phil, Stu, and Doug have gone on with their respected married lives, but are forced to stage an intervention when Alan—the most troublesome member of their notorious crew—has gotten completely out of control as the result of a tragic occurrence. Meanwhile, the infamous Leslie Chow has escaped from prison and has a long list of enemies, one ruthless one in particular named Marshall (Goodman) who demands the Wolfpack find Chow or else suffer dire consequences. Contrived, protracted, and barely funny, this is only likely to satisfy viewers who enjoy seeing that same zany group of characters from the first two films reunited for more strange shenanigans. A few chuckles here and there, but enough already. **

Having successfully pulled off what was thought to be their last job in Rio, the colorful crew—or family—of street racers, carjackers, et al have gone their separate ways and are living in luxury. They're unexpectedly drawn back into the past when Agent Hobbs tracks them down and offers them a deal: full pardons and a return to their home country if they can help track down Owen Shaw—an elusive mercenary/criminal mastermind/evil genius type whose skills and savvy match their own. Although initially reluctant, the crew reassembles when the job becomes personal. In this type of film it would be futile to stop and criticize the far-fetched logic, absurd action sequences, weak acting, and threadbare story which is nothing more than a ploy to pull viewers along a supercharged ride, so if you can turn your brain off for the sufficient running time then the film delivers exactly what you'd expect. Lots of high-octane action scenes, stunts, and fatal escapes, but it's been seen so many times over that it's easily forgettable. **

In a post-Avengers world, billionaire/genius/playboy/philanthropist Tony Stark is deeply troubled; the eye-opening events of New York City have left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and an obsessive, nearly uncontrollable urge to perfect his Iron Man technology. Not only does this put a strain on his blossoming relationship with Pepper Potts, it also makes him that much more vulnerable to his newest foe: The Mandarin, a wily terrorist whose reach knows no bounds. With his world slowly being torn apart, Stark must find it in himself to conquer his demons and put a stop to the latest threat. Much darker than its predecessors, both in story and in presentation, but the film's tone is a frustratingly uneven blend of broad comedy and deeply penetrating human drama. Not quite on target, but still entertaining thanks to a formidable cast, outstanding special effects, and high-octane action scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat. **½

Set toward the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War comes this gripping portrait of a beloved and iconic American President. With his second term underway, Abraham Lincoln is at a crossroads as he attempts to make history by passing the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery. Although assured of support from his own party, he struggles to procure enough votes from the opposition while also balancing out his tumultuous relationships with his wife (Field) and eldest son (Gordon-Levitt). A rich and compelling portrait of a man who sought change, with well-defined characters, an enlightening look into old American politics, and leisure, masterful direction from Spielberg allowing viewers to feel like they were there as it happened. An abundance of speechifying—as one would expect—but compensated for by a magnificently steady, serene Day-Lewis who embodies Lincoln with chilling authenticity. Jones also stands out as the fiery, principled Thaddeus Stevens, but they're both surrounded by an outstanding cast. ***

Respectable, workmanlike adaptation of the acclaimed French musical headlined by a top-notch cast bringing the all the memorable characters to the screen, with Jackman as the reformed Valjean, Crowe as the dogged Javert, Hathaway as the dispirited Fantine, Seyfried and Redmayne as the star-crossed Cosette and Marius, and Cohen and Bonham Carter as the odious Monsieur and Madame Thenardier. A grandiose visual spectacle featuring some wonderful songs, strong performances—especially Jackman and Hathaway—and a vivid sense of time and place, though some of the emotional impact is muted by the film's long running time. Imperfect, but a nice job overall. ***

Tarantino is back at it again, taking his talents to another genre and presenting this bold, brutal, and unconventional "western" set in the Deep South during the late 1850's. Django is a man on a mission—a freed slave who forms an unlikely alliance with a German dentist turned bounty hunter as he goes on a daring trek through various slave plantations to try and rescue his wife from the clutches of a cruel, eccentric Francophile. Combination western, buddy movie, and action thriller, it delivers what you'd expect with searing action scenes, appropriately incendiary dialogue, and larger-than-life characters, all presented in an anything but straightforward manner. Takes much too long to get where it's going, and has a third act that runs on violent overdrive, but like most of the director's previous efforts it's memorable and well-acted. Foxx is well-cast as the titular character, Waltz matches him as the secondary one, and DiCaprio has an especially meaty role as the vile antagonist, but no one shines more than Jackson who creates one of his most memorable characters to date. Odd, outrageous, and unsettling, but wildly good fun. ***

William "Whip" Whitaker is a hard drinker, substance abuser, wayward ex-husband, and absentee father, yet despite his shortcomings has managed to find some degree of stability with his occupation as an airline captain. One morning, what begins as an ordinary flight turns into a near-death experience when he manages to land a plane headed into steep dive, saving 96 of the 102 passengers on board in the process. Although initially hailed as a hero, a toxicology screening reveals that Whip was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, and he faces some difficult choices if he's going to avoid culpability for the incident. What initially seems like a taut suspense thriller quickly transitions into a gripping and believable character study of addiction, loss, and redemption. Keeps you slightly off-balance but still manages to make its point, and has a tense, complex performance from Washington at its core. ***

Picking up right where its predecessor left off, this monotonous sequel again chronicles the intrepid Alice and a small group of survivalists who've bound together to try and preserve the last remaining bit of humanity, only this time uneasy alliances will have to be formed in order to get the job done. Much like its immediate predecessor the film makes the most of its three-dimensional effects, and much like every other predecessor Jovovich again makes the effort, but as far as the setup, character development, or the film's execution it's pretty dreary, even on a predictably mindless video game level. Some popular characters—old and new—have been added to the mix to please the most avid fans, but the results are still underwhelming. *½

Young man travels to Spain to spend the holiday with his family, but his relationship with his father is strained to say the least. While aboard a cruise ship with his family he travels into town, returns to find them gone, then gets plunged into an espionage plot after he learns that his father actually works for the CIA. Despite the fact that the young man is a business consultant, the film would have us believe that he can conveniently follow in his father's footsteps by eluding and outsmarting experienced government agents who are on his trail. What wants to be a tense spy thriller falls flat on its face with preposterous plotting, weak acting, and zero tension. Cavill is extraordinarily dull, Willis and Weaver are wasted, and the director hangs them out to dry. What does the title even mean anyway? *½

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