Security

This movie was actually surprisingly good. I had little expectations to the movie, and hadn't even heard about it prior to finding it on Netflix. Despite this, I gave it a chance because Antonio Banderas do put a good movie out there every now and again.

"Security" turned out to be one of those good movies. Luckily.

The storyline was good and nicely constructed, although a bit generic. But you will be well enough entertained throughout the course of the movie.

The movie also had some good acting from an interesting and good ensemble of cast. Aside from Antonio Banderas, the movie also has some good performances from Ben Kingsley and Cung Le.

"Security" is loaded with action, and the action sequences were quite intense and also well-executed on the screen. And the abundance of action actually does soften the blow of the movie having a generic storyline.

This movie was enjoyable - specifically the story-line, but it lost its major appeal and potential with a poor screenplay with many plot holes, sub-par directing, and the choice of some of its actors.

The only decent actors in this film were Ben Kingsley playing the odd-ball villain Charlie, of which he's done before so I'm used to him, and the little girl Jamie played by Katherine de la Rocha.

Liam McIntyre as Vance (mostly in the 1st half of the film) and Chad Lindberg as Mason where just the wrong actors for their roles, or the wrong roles for those actors. Then there was that ninja mercenary who was just really unnecessary.

Now to be clear, I am a big fan of Antonio Banderas (Eduardo "Eddie" Deacon), but this was not the role for him. Playing the Mall Cop meets Jason Bourne was very unconvincing, especially during the fight scenes. Additionally, putting him in roles that he has to whisper is a mistake, because I can barely understand his dialog with his accent.

The screenplay and directing where very confused in what they were trying to accomplish. Had this movie been serious throughout, with convincing and appropriate actors/roles, this would have been a hit. But unfortunately, having Chad Lindberg play the big baby-nerd role, and Liam McIntyre with those dumb sideburns and annoying dialog at the beginning, I couldn't take this film seriously, especially after seeing that ninja mercenary with the dual samurai swords that he never even used. Had their roles been as serious or convincing as the sniper, or Gabriella Wright (Ruby), it would have kept me in suspense and enjoyment from start to finish.

Overall, the story is what kept me interested the most, and for that, it's a 7/10 from me.

This movie might be considered a B-movie because of the budget and released straight to DVD, but honestly, it's a really good movie. Antonio Banderas is underrated, and should really be given the chance to go back to mainstream, especially action films.

The movie isn't perfect, and characters could've been fleshed out more but other than that, this is a nice movie to watch on a lazy afternoon on your day off.

The action sequences are great. Ben Kingsley, another underrated actor, was also great.

It's a well-done action movie with a simple story. If you want to be entertained for an hour and 45mins, this is not a bad choice.

SECURITY is low on originality, medium on clashing fight scenes with guns and bombs and fire and a bit maudlin in the end when the father/daughter concept finally adds some human interest. Otherwise this 'made for action lovers' film, written by Tony Mosher and John Sullivan and directed by Alain Desrochers is a sidebar t the careers of tow fine actors – Antonio Banderas (in fine shape physically) and Ben Kingsley.

An ex-special services veteran (Antonio Banderas), down on his luck and desperate for work, takes a job as a security guard at a run-down mall in a rough area of town. He is introduced to the motley crew of security guards (Liam McIntyre, Gabriella Wright, Chad Lindberg, Jiro Wang). On his first night on the job, he opens the doors up to a distraught and desperate young girl Jamie (Katherine de la Rocha) who has escaped and fled from a hijacking of the Police motorcade that was transporting her to testify as a trial witness in a briefcase. Hot on her heels is psychopathic hijacker (Ben Kingsley), alongside his resourceful henchmen, who will stop at nothing to extract and eliminate their witness.

That is the bare bones of a story that is basically one of shooting, fire, explosions, murder, and all the other derring-do that builds a story based on the chased and the chaser. It gets repetitive but Banderas and Kingsley (and Liam McIntyre) are strong enough to hold or interest.

22 October 2017. This Die Hard (1988) wannabe strays into dangerous territory in how seriously dramatic it descends. It's tone becomes darker as contemporary action movies seem to have become in general nowadays. The movie starts with a hard-hitting road battle the likes of Clear and Present Danger (1994). However whether the entertainment value goes up with this type of action thriller genre, does it reach a delicate balance between intense suspense along with heroic exhilaration or result in more disappointment, frustration in the dramatic outcomes that occur as the storyline progresses? Security almost plays out, even if it might reflect more of a rational outcome, more like a typical horror movie, with the human assassins playing the role of monsters. Think From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). Instead of using the Die Hard story formula, Security tries too hard to expand on the drama and torturous action experience, including probably the inclusion of unrealistically too many bad guys. Psychologically, the audience attachment and connection to the characters to the movie becomes fewer and fewer and a sense of frustration and disappointment increase. This movie is pretty much run of the mill action thriller that proceeds towards a rather predictable and over rather the top dramatic climax. What makes this movie a bit different is the precarious performance of the Mall boss who is both quite irritating, irascible yet somehow engaging with a good heart as well as a rather tender last few scenes. So instead of a six, this movie might be grudgingly a seven. [12/14/2018: After a second viewing, Security holds up much better and the consequential deaths don't appear to be that overly simplistic or unrealistic as first thought. The set up and the subsequent action scenes play out well. The pacing is good and the defensive actions are nicely thought up and carried through. A "solid" seven out of ten stars.] Like Die Hard, this movie apparently has repeated entertainment viewing value. The martial and lethal shooting scenes are reasonably well done, close but never actually going over the top. Even Ben Kingsley's poignant life story and later offer is quite tempting in some ways. The last few scenes of the movie are also unusually extended for most movies of this genre but in a nice, soft concluding way. Therefore, this movie is a continuing strong seven out of ten. [2/1/2019]. 7/10.