By Jason Rugaard | Monday, August 30th, 2010
3 Stars
What at first seems like a new edition ‘Young Guns‘, turns out to be a decent ‘Heat‘ rip-off with a young attractive cast. Rap star T.I. has a deliciously slimy screen presence as ‘Ghost’ a recent parolee looking to pull off a big armored car heist. He seeks the help of the partners he left behind while in prison. However his ex-cohorts aren’t exactly pleased at his recent arrival. Some feel he is setting them up, others that his plan is legit. Paul Walker and Idris Elba are standouts amongst a racially and demographically diverse cast. Matt Dillion – Continue reading…
You Only Live Twice (1967) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
2 Stars
The fifth film in the James Bond series, finds 007 in Japan battling the SPECTRE Organization. This rather dull entry is most notoriously know for the first onscreen appearance of arch nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Late screen veteran Donald Pleasence, is excellent as the mad mastermind behind a scheme to steal space-crafts from the east and west; in the hopes of instigating a nuclear war between the two superpowers. The screenplay written by famed author Ronald Dahl is sub-par compared to other installments in the series, at one point Bond becomes Japanese and transforms himself into a Ninja – Continue reading…
Punisher:War Zone (2008) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
The third incarnation of the venerable Marvel Comics character is the best yet. Beautiful cinematography and a stunning color palette give the pic an exaggerated comicbook feel. Ray Stevenson is convincing as the titular character; comfortably filling the shoes of Dolph Lundgren and Thomas Jane. Both of whom appeared as Frank Castle to varying degrees of success. Unlike the gruesome 2004 film ‘The Punisher’, this pic wastes no time in getting to the action. An early sequence in which our vigilante hero lays waste to a room full of mobsters is as visually exciting as anything in – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
3 Stars
No matter how hard the ads try to suggest that Angelina Jolie’s character Evelyn Salt, in the new film of the same name, is possibly a ‘double agent’ working for Russian Intelligence no movie-goer whose ever seen a political action thriller before will be surprised to figure out that she’s really an ‘ex operative’ wrongly accused with only a limited amount of time to clear her name before all hell breaks loose. The surprise is how believable and comfortable Jolie is as an action heroine, she more than holds her own here. Especially after an extended torture sequence – Continue reading…
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Friday, July 16th, 2010
3 Stars
The latest collaboration from Mega Producer Jerry Bruckheimer , star Nicolas Cage and ‘National Treasure‘ director Jon Turteltaub is a surprisingly fun and breezy ride complete with some of the most magnificent GCI effects of the summer season. Very loosely based on a sequence from Disney’s much beloved ‘Fantasia’ cartoon, this live action-adventure cast Jay Baruchel in the ‘Mickey Mouse’ role. His off-center looks and mousey physique add to his appeal in the role of Dave, a physics major chosen to be ”the prime Merlinian” — an apprentice to Balthazar (Nicolas Cage). A former protégé of – Continue reading…
Knight and Day (2010) – Review
By Trevor Anderson | Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
3 Stars
Tom Cruise was born to play this role. Just looking at him makes you wonder if this cool, calm and collected person can really be crazy. Knight and Day uses this to great effect. Cruise plays an FBI agent who is protecting a young genius that has created a power source that never dries up. All the while the film keeps you guessing as to Cruise’s true intent as he racks up a body count and the FBI pursues him.
Cameron Diaz plays the fish out of water character very well; this coupled with Cruise’s insane coolness under pressure – Continue reading…
By Trevor Anderson | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
1 1/2 Stars
The filmmakers missed the point on this one. Ya there’s some action and a lot of people get killed, but with it’s PG-13 rating ‘Jonah Hex’ never delivers enough gore. And this is a movie that needed to. Josh Brolin isn’t bad as the title character, but the way the story portrays him is plain stupid. A bounty hunter that can talk to the dead, that’s kind of neat, but wait there are rules? Oh and the dead know everything about anyone that they ever knew, including what they’re up to now, which is great for Jonah – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
A taunt low budget western from ‘The Asylum’ films. Opening fifteen minutes in which a family is murdered and a woman viciously raped is hard to stomach. All the more compliment to director Van Dyke for creating a sense of dread during these passages. The script is a rehash of ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Hang ‘em High’ complete with the mysterious new lawman here to clean up the streets. This time played by Barry Van Dyke, a man who resembles Clint Eastwood but has the calm intensity and line delivery of Charles Bronsan. I’m not sure of his – Continue reading…
Command Performance (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
3 Stars
Action icon Dolph Lundgren’s fifth film as director is a slick ‘Die Hard’-knock off that is partly inspired by actual events. Terrorists seize a concert-hall in Russia, in attendance is the President and his daughters. Dolph is ‘Joe’ ,ex-biker bad-ass and drummer in a band that serves as the opening act for a teen pop sensation in the vein of ‘Britney Spears’. Newcomer Melissa Ann Smith is a knockout and she more than holds her own in scenes with Lundgren, deftly handling the bitchy and comedic angles of her character. Dolph looks like he’s having a blast in – Continue reading…
Princess Of Mars (2009) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
3 Stars
Prolific film producers ‘The Asylum’ pumped out this surprisingly enjoyable low-budget ‘Planet of the Apes’/’John Carter of Mars’ rip-off. Antonio Sabato Jr is the displaced American solider on a foreign planet. Enslaved by the local species he must win their respect through his skills as a warrior, and his jumping ability. Yes, his ability to leap hundreds of feet in a single hop. As with all ‘Asylum’ productions; the less questions asked the better. Sabato is great in the ‘Mark Whalberg’ role, and plays the whole thing like its a big put-on, which lets face it; it is. – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, June 17th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
An intriguing premise is wasted in this misguided blockbuster. An excellent first act gives way to an overly self-important second act that rings false. Will Smith is ideal in the role of the drunken, anti-social superhero who must atone of all the damage he’s caused by spending time in jail. Jason Bateman is an unsuccessful P.R. man, whom sells Smith on the idea that; while incarcerated the public will realize they need a savior. So far so good. Then the screenplay by Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan takes an unexpected and serious turn, in the process – Continue reading…
By Trevor Anderson | Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
All the characters are here. Hannibal, Murdock, B.A. and Face. Perfectly cast, The A-Team doesn’t miss anything from it’s original tv series. This insane team needs each other to work. And together they are a well oiled machine- but not without their problems. Every member has their strengths and weaknesses. The action is thoroughly enjoyable, even if the special effects do get cheesy and fake at times. The PG-13 rating doesn’t hurt it, in fact I think it helps. The tv show was never horribly bloody or raunchy. Let’s leave that to the more adult geared ‘The – Continue reading…
Rajan: i am sure a certain harrison ford will equal that record. Stallone becomes 1st Movie Star to Headline #1 Openings in last 5 Decades – News