Day 202: The Bourne Legacy (2012)

We are exactly nine days away from the release of the fifth film in the Bourne saga entitled Jason Bourne. Once again we are taking the time to watch all of the films in the saga for Ass Whoopin Wednesdays and we have The Bourne Legacy which is the first film not to feature Matt Damon. You see the government is now dealing with the after effects of the last film and they call upon Col Eric Byer, USAF, Ret. (Edward Norton) who decides to eliminate any asset that there is out there. The only problem for him is that one asset that goes by the name of Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) refuses to be a victim of that decision so he goes looking for answers and gets help from a doctor (Rachel Weisz) who was also deemed expendable. The film also stars Scott Glenn (Urban Cowboy) as Ezra Kramer, Donna Murphy (Spider-Man 2) as Dita Mandy, Stacy Keach (American History X) as Adm Mark Turso USN Ret., Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse) as Outcome # 3, Zeljko Ivanek (Donnie Brasco) as Dr. Donald Foite, Corey Stoll (This Is Where I Leave You) as Zev Vandel, Michael Chernus (Orange Is The New Black) as Arthur Ingram, and the film was directed by Tony Gilroy (Duplicity). To see the rest of the review and read the stats, please click here to go to Moshpits and Movies.

Day 160: Ride Along 2 (2016)

One of my favorite comedies back in 2014 was the dysfunctional buddy cop movie Ride Along. that featured Ice Cube (Barbershop) as rough loner cop James and Kevin Hart (Get Hard) as his annoying soon to be brother in law Ben. We all know what happens in the first film and the dysfunctional duo return for Ride Along 2. This time around, Ben is a beat cop that is still in his probational term while James has a new partner. James discovers that a potential key to solving a case lies in Miami and despite not wanting him there, the duo heads to Miami. While in Miami and in search of a hacker named AJ (Ken Jeong), they stumble open something that may be bigger than they thought that involves a very well off tycoon of sorts. Not it’s up to the brothers in law to solve the case before Ben has to get back for his wedding. The film also stars Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse) as Maya, Tika Sumpter (Ride Along) as Angela, Benjamin Bratt (Demolition Man) as Antonio Pope, Michael Rose (Unthinkable) as the Hitter, Sherri Shepherd (Precious) as Cori, Glen Powell (The Expendables III) as Troy, and the film was directed by Tim Story (Fantastic Four). To see the rest of the review and see the stats of the film, please click here to go to Moshpits and Movies.

Day 153: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

When I was growing up, I was a fan of DC especially Superman and Batman, but it was one faithful Saturday morning in the early 90’s tat changed everything. The X-Men cartoon quickly turned me from a DC to Marvel fan and that was that. So, it’s safe to say that I was super excited about today’s film X-Men: Apocalypse. The world is a lot different in the 80’s following the events of X-Men: Days Of Future Past as almost everyone has gone their separate ways. Unfortunately for mutants all over the world, the very first mutant ever En Sabah Nur (Oscar Isaac) otherwise known as Apocalypse has awoken from a deep sleep is displeased with the way the world has evolved. Apocalypse plans to destroy the world forcing the X-Men to finally reunite in order to destroy him. The film also stars James McAvoy (Wanted) as Professor Xavier, Michael Fassbender (Prometheus) as Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) as Mystique, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road) as Beast, Rose Byrne (Neighbors 2) as Moira Mactaggert, Evan Peters (American Horror Story) as Quicksilver, Sophie Turner (Game Of Thrones) as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan (Mud) as Cyclops, Lucas Till (Walk The Line) as Havok, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Paranorman) as Nightcrawler, Ben Hardy (EastEnders) as Angel, Alexandra Shipp (Straight Outta Compton) as Storm, Lana Condor as Jubilee, Olivia Munn (Magic Mike) as Psylocke, and the film was directed by Bryan Singer. 

I am going to start this paragraph by giving you a spoiler alert because if you haven’t seen the film by now then stop reading ahead for fear of spoiling any details for you. As far as the film is concerned, I actually really liked the film. It’s not the greatest superhero movie out there, but in my opinion it was a lot of fun. It was like seeing a comic book unfold before your very eyes and how can you not love seeing them in the 80’s? I was just excited to see Jubilee finally on screen, but I sort of wish that they had done more with her if you ask me. Oscar Isaac was well he’s Oscar Isaac! The guy can go from playing the hero Poe Dameron in Star Wars to playing the villain in X-Men. He is such an amazing actor with so much talent. One of the exciting moments of the film was seeing Hugh Jackman as the Weapon X version of Wolverine in the film when they go to Strikers facility to rescue the other X-Men. I have to say that when the X-Men do a battle they do it right because the battle against Apocalypse and his horseman was pretty killer. Evan Peters and his Quicksilver was an awesome comedic relief for the film where I think I finally accepted him as Quicksilver. I left the theater in a very good mood and that is the sign of how I felt about a film. One thing I want to comment about is that I know the film is rated PG-13, but this film had to be a borderline R rated film just due to the content. Oh and stick around till the very end of the film cause they possibly set up a future film. I am going to give X-Men: Apocalypse an A- for a final grade.

Day 150: Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

For the 150TH film on the 150TH day of the year, I wanted to watch something special. I have been on an Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse) fix since I first saw him in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A friend of mine has been telling me to catch his film Inside Llewyn Davis and today the film was on so I watched it and its today’s film. Llewyn Davis (Isaac) is a folk singer who is just trying to navigate his way through life with his folk music in Greenwich Village in 1961. You see he is now a solo artist and all he wants is for his music to be heard, but there are things that get in his way from a pregnant friend, a label that isn’t doing anything for him, ignorance against folk music, losing a friend’s cat, and facing the inevitable which is his future possibly without music. The film also stars John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane) as Roland Turner, Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) as Al Cody, Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go) as Jean, Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog) as Jim, Max Casella (Ed Wood) as Pappi, Garrett Hedlund (Four Brothers) as Johnny Five, Stark Sands (11:14) as Troy Nelson, and the film was directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

This film was a perfect example of what happens to artists who try to stay true to who they are and are never willing to compromise. For Llewyn Davis, it’s one setback after another that keeps him away from seeing the big picture or accomplishing the his dreams. He is told over and over again in the film that basically folk music isn’t profitable and that there isn’t any future in it. That doesn’t stop him for a while, but after a certain amount of time he begins to believe the noise. The film is very melancholic in tone where it seems that one thing after another happens to this poor guy who sleeps on friends couches. One of the amazing things about this film of course is the music and the fact that everyone that looked like they were singing on screen in fact were singing the songs. One of my favorite songs in the film is Please Please Mr. Kennedy which is sung by Timbelake, Isaac, and Driver. The reason I love it is because the song is absolutely hilarious. It’s one of the funniest moments in the film that I think everyone should check out. Of course, it helps that the acting was amazing and Isaac’s was a real stud in the film with his performance. Of course having the great John Goodman was a definite added bonus as well as the man of few words in the film Garrett Hedlund. One of my favorite things about this film is the way that it ends. I am not going to give it away, but let’s just say that a young version of a folk legend shows up to play at a club that Llewyn Davis is walking through. The film is airing on The Movie Channel and it’s also available on the Showtime Anywhere App. I am going to give the film an A for a final grade.

Day 135: Robin Hood (2010)

I am about to go on a Oscar Isaac binge and for good reason I might add. He is an incredible actor who is slowly becoming one of my favs after roles as Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Nathan in Ex Machina, Blue in Sucker Punch, and he is about to be Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse. In today’s film, Robin Hood, he plays King John in this origin story about Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe). King Richard (Danny Huston) was killed in battle and it’s up to his most trusted friend to return the crown. The only problem is that he is killed in an ambush and Robin agrees to bring his sword back to his father. Once Robin returns the sword to Sir Walter Loxley (Max Von Sydow), he is asked to pretend to be his son while England boils away in turmoil due to a traitor to the crown. The film also stars stars Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Secret Service) as Godfrey, Cate Blanchett (The Monuments Men) as Marion Loxley, William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk) as William Marshal, Mark Addy (The Full Monty) as Friar Tuck, Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon) as Sheriff Of Nottingham, Kevin Durand (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Little John, Scott Grimes (American Dad!) as Will Scarlet, Alan Doyle (State Of Play) as Allan A’Dayle, and the film was directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator).

You should know going into a film like this that you can guarantee that it’s going to be well made when it’s Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. A team that looked to repeat the success of Gladiator some ten years or so before it. As I said above, this is the origin story so it’s pre-steal from the rich and give to the poor Robin Hood. It explains how he became who he would eventually become in the story we loved as children. One of my favorite things about period pieces like this (because it is after all) are the sets, costumes, and the cinematography. You know that the costumes are going be done very well leading you to believe that you are in the 14th century or whenever this takes place. The sets are going to be showing you a time you were like where are the streets, Chipotle, and the shopping malls? Oh yeah because this takes place in the medieval times so those didn’t exist yet and not for a heck of a long time. The cinematography was absolutely amazing showing you the lush green of England and some of the shots of the ocean when the French are coming. Oh yeah, then there’s that thing called acting and it’s pretty phenomenal in this film especially Oscar Isaac as the mad and immature King John. The film may not be as amazing as Gladiator, but it’s hard to repeat the exact magic of a film and so there is no point in fretting over it and just watch the film. I am going to give Robin Hood, an A for a final grade.

Day 82: Sucker Punch (2011)

For today’s challenge film, I wanted to watch a certain film from Emily Browning that I have been waiting to see for five years now. The name of the film is Sucker Punch which was directed by Zack Snyder (300, Man Of Steel) and it stars Emily Browning as the distraught and recently institutionalized Babydoll. Due to the fact that she bi-accidentally killed her little sister, her step father has her locked away in a mental institution where she is to get a lobotomy in five days. In order to cope with the fact that she is institutionalized, she creates a fantasy world that she can completely roam free in and do as she pleases, but she wants to escape. So, she enlists the help of four other girls at the institution in Sweat Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens), and Amber (Jamie Chung) as they try to collect some key items to help them escape. The film also stars Oscar Issac (X-Men: Apocalypse) as Blue, Carla Gugino (Watchmen) as Dr. Gorski, Jon Hamm (The Town) as High Roller/Doctor, Scott Glenn (Urban Cowboy) as wise man, Richard Cetrone (Iron Man) as CJ, Malcolm Scott (Man Of Steel) as the Cook, and A.C. Peterson (Narc) as The Mayor.

Even if you didn’t know that this was a Zack Snyder film, you would instantly recognize that it was his just by the style and look of the film. It has the look and feel of 300 as far as bad ass looking landscapes, imagery, and characters. One of my favorite segments of the film when Babydoll goes into dancing mode is her battle with the Samurai in the beginning of the film. While I don’t agree with some of their weapon choices, you can’t deny how amazing it looked on screen. It also helps that you ave five incredibly sexy women as your heroins in the film and that Snyder makes them just as bad ass as any character in any film he has ever made. I truly loved the story and how they bounced right from reality to fantasy to even more of a fantasy world and then back to the start. It was clever and very well done by the writers and everyone involved. One of the other things about this film that I enjoyed was the soundtrack to the film. The film features an incredible cover of Sweet Dreams by actress Emily Browning as well as some other cool tracks.  When it came to the imagery and the fantasy scenes, Snyder talked about them saying, “On the other hand, though it’s fetishistic and personal, I like to think that my fetishes aren’t that obscure. Who doesn’t want to see girls running down the trenches of World War One wreaking havoc? I’d always had an interest in those worlds – comic books, fantasy art, animated films. I’d like to see this, that’s how I approach everything, and then keep pushing it from there.” I completely agree with him and thought it was awesome as well. A film any Snyder fan should check out if they haven’t yet. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.