Tag: Action

The Old Guard: A Thoughtful Action Film

A picture of the five stars of The Old Guard

The Old Guard

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Written by Greg Rucka

The review:

I like an action film with some conundrums* and The Old Guard served up a good story along with its fight scenes. The camaraderie of the four main characters was great,** as was KiKi Layne as she worked through her complex feelings about joining the group.*** The action scenes are well done, and I think the depiction of the motivation of pharmaceutical companies was spot on.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*That are something other than: How will this particular fight end? (I’m looking at you, Extraction.)
**Especially good were Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli
***”She’s just a baby,” Theron says, when she first sees a glimpse of her, and there is a quiet innocence on her face. It was also on display in the very good in If Beale Street Could Talk. Though she got a BFA in 2014, so she’s probably in her late twenties.
****I published a Facebook rant about their price-gouging practices right before I turned on this movie. Also, I’m enjoying Henry Melling (the former Dudley Dursley) turning up now and then in things. He was great as the head of the pharmaceutical company and also quite excellent in the Coen Brother’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

Questions:

  • I get how we’re supposed to feel about the Old Guard by the end of the film, but I kept wondering if all those faceless mercenary soldiers might also matter? What are you feelings on this topic?
  • That end-credits stinger, does it excite you, or did you roll your eyes?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The airplane fighting scene between Andy (Charlize Theron) and Nile (KiKi Layne) was the first sequence shot. Theron was nervous because it was the first week of shooting, the character was new and things were still being adjusted, and Layne because she had never done anything like that. Theron explained to Variety that it was done on purpose because the whole scene would set the tone for the whole relationship between both characters.

Other reviews of The Old Guard:

Text reads: You're a child, an infant, Your mocking is thus infantile. He's not my boyfriend. The Old Guard. Read the three sentence movie review 3SMReviews.com

See You Yesterday is a Balance

See You Yesterday

See You Yesterday

Directed by Stefon Bristol
Written by Fredrica Bailey & Stefon Bristol

The review:

It’s a delicate balancing act, this movie, what with trying to have a fun caper (two teenagers build time machines!) and also addressing police shootings (they are trying to save a family member).* It succeeds at this task, managing to balance the wonder of time travel with the horrors unnecessary death.** Plus, it’s always good to see a determined girl who loves science on screen.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*This week has been an heightened one for watching depictions of police interactions on screen.
**While watching, I was cataloging the number of swears, because this would be a good film to show in school. The level of swearing sunk that, but in hindsight, I’m guessing most schools wouldn’t show a movie depicting police shooting and unarmed man, no matter how much fun the science stuff is.
***There’s a fun cameo in this film too!

Questions:

  • How would you end this film?
  • What did you think of the clothing choices of C.J. and Sebastian?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In the school scene, Mr. Lockhart is reading Kindred by Octavia Butler, a book about an African-American woman who travels back in time to pre-Civil War America and has to deal with the injustice and oppression of slavery.

I have read Kindred and it’s great! Highly recommended!

Other reviews of See You Yesterday:

See You Yesterday

The Lovebirds is Packed with Laughs

The Lovebirds

The Lovebirds

  • Directed by: Michael Showalter
  • Written by: Aaron Abram, Brendan Gall

The review:

The Lovebirds pairs Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in a hilarious movie that pushes all the comedic buttons. I think the key to this film is that Rae and Nanjiani play a couple that isn’t in sync any longer, but hasn’t moved to full-on hatred.* There are a lot of amusing fish-out-of-water setups, and the two really shine when they are improving how to be tough guys, rather than the advertising exec and documentary filmmaker that they are.**

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home.

Consider also watching:

Further sentences

*This is important. Tuning in for 90 minutes of angry people snapping at each other, no thanks. But 90 minutes of two people who disagree about a variety of things yet still respect each other leaves room for a lot of laughter.
**I laughed so very hard at this film from the first disagreement (We would win the Amazing Race) to the last one. I laughed all alone in my house the first night, and then all over again the next night when the boyfriend and I watched it together.

Questions:

  • Which of the outfits Rae and Nanjiani wore do you think provided the most humor per scene?
  • What’s another out-of-sync-couple captured on film that you enjoy?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

(also the only IMDB trivia item)
Paramount had originally planned to released the film theatrically on April 3, 2020, but decided to release it on Netflix due to the Coronavirus pandemic and widespread theater closings.

Other reviews of The Lovebirds:

The Lovebirds

Inception Goes a Few Levels Too Deep

Inception

The review:

Christopher Nolan’s Inception is a movie with a highly original concept that makes the choice to go just a few levels too deep.* It remains as visually stunning as it was in 2010,** and I enjoy the commitment everyone has to their sometimes bananas dialog.*** It did wear on me that Ellen Paige’s character existed only to ask questions so the audience could be informed, but this was balanced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s focused work in zero gravity.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: Neflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I enjoy puzzling through things while watching movies, but the layers after the snowbound assault are too much. Though props for finding a way to include a James Bond-esque action sequence that reminds me why I don’t watch James Bond movies. How in the world am I supposed to tell who is who when they are all wearing the same outfit?
**It was more of a marvel then—I mean, we’ve all seen Thanos snap his fingers and have half of the universe’s population blow away—but it still looks good ten years on.
***Example: You’re waiting for a train. A train that’ll take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you. But you can’t know for sure. Yet it doesn’t matter. Now, tell me why?
****If there is one thing I’ve learned from my Nolan oeuvre-view, it’s that I need more JGL in my movie-going life. That voiceover work he did for Knives Out didn’t cut it.

Questions:

  • What do you think the ending means?
  • Who is your favorite extractor?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, writer, producer, and director Christopher Nolan explained that he based roles of the Inception team on filmmaking roles. Cobb is the director, Arthur is the producer, Ariadne is the production designer, Eames is the actor, Saito is the studio, and Fischer is the audience. “In trying to write a team-based creative process, I wrote the one I know,” said Nolan.

Other reviews of Inception:

Inception

The Dark Knight Rises: The Best of the Trilogy

The Dark Knight Rises

The review:

Having given us the Batman movie everyone else loves,* Christopher Nolan gave us the Batman movie that I love with The Dark Knight Rises.** In some ways, it’s an origin story all over again, what with Bruce Wayne having to be coaxed out of retirement. And it’s one last chance for Gary Oldman”s Commissioner Gordon to be the moral center.***

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: $3.99 via Redbox on demand
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*The Dark Knight
**You know why? This one is fun. And it has two women in it! I know! Plus Tom Hardy, whom everyone loves. And they got the Bane voice just right.
***Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in this. And he’s great!

Questions:

  • What would you say is the definitive Nolan stamp on this franchise?
  • How did Bane’s mask work, anyway?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Writer, producer, and director Christopher Nolan said that this movie’s theme deals with “pain”. For Batman Begins (2005), it was “fear”, while The Dark Knight (2008) dealt with “chaos”.

(Clearly I’m a “pain” girl.)

Other reviews:

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight: Still Nope

The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight features and masterful performance by Heath Ledger and is a nihilistic movie I despise.* While every actor involved is excellent** I do not think that plot points hold up.*** Again, Gotham looks great**** though the cool monorail has disappeared and the Wayne building is entirely different than in the first movie.

The verdict: Skip

Read the Wikipedia summary and you can move right on to the next in the series.

Cost: free because Matt owns two DVD copies of this film.
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*Psychopaths with no plan who want to cause only chaos do not make for an interesting film. There’s a bleak worldview that runs through this that only gets bleaker as the film wears on. It’s like everyone involved making this movie was going through a divorce, declaring bankruptcy, and their dog, wife, or child died while filming. I gave it a second viewing because everyone loves this film, but I do not like it, not at all.
**Maggie Gyllenhaal was a particularly good addition to the cast.
***”Where is he getting all his weapons?” I asked as the Joker picked up a bazooka/big gun thing and started firing. The Joker says that explosives are cheap, but they aren’t that cheap. I don’t buy that someone who aspires to be an agent of chaos would have this much discipline to coordinate the details of his nefarious scheme.
****Though again, where are the women? That entire police funeral was 95% dudes.

Questions:

  • If you are a person who likes this film, what makes it great for you?
  • What’s your favorite version of Batman?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

While filming a chase scene on Lake Street, the Chicago Police Department received several calls from concerned citizens stating that the police were involved in a vehicle pursuit with a dark vehicle of unknown make or model.

Other reviews:

The Dark Knight

Batman Begins: a Good Start to the Trilogy

Batman Begins

The review:

Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins is a good superhero origin story that takes place in a world where women are just not around.* I enjoy Christian Bale’s journey from kid who wanders the world, to interested potential hero of Gotham, to hero of Gotham. I also enjoy the depictions of Gotham presenting as sufficiently grungy, but with that very cool monorail.

The verdict: Good

Cost: free because Matt owns a DVD copy (that is unfortunately pan-and-scan and shows it!)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I mean really, where are they? There’s Bruce Wayne’s mom, who has maybe one line. There’s Rachel’s mom, who also has one line. And there’s Rachel who does get to speak on a regular basis, but she’s the only one. Oh yeah, and the arm candy. But other women? Nope. Women police officers? None. Women board members who speak? Nope. Women scientists, police commissioners, mayors? Nope, nope, nope. In fact, Christopher Nolan seems to have a pretty strict one-woman-per-movie quota. (See: Following, Memento, Insomnia, this)

Random note: normally, we would have watched a superhero movie for our anniversary. This year, it looked like it would be Black Widow, which would have been our first every anniversary celebration superhero movie starring a woman. But nope. This was our #coronavirusalternative

Questions:

  • Could the lack of women present in this film be an example of sexism? Why or why not?
  • Do you think that Wayne Enterprises would have filed patents on all that cool gear they developed?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Christian Bale’s active dislike of his uncomfortable Batman outfit helped his performance as the Dark Knight as he was perpetually in a foul mood when wearing it.

Other reviews:

Batman Begins

Men in Black: International Delivers

Men in Black: International

The review:

F. Gary Gray continues the entertaining series with Men in Black: International.* Aside from getting to see Chris Hemsworth on screen,** I totally went for the setup of this film and Molly/Agent M’s story.*** There are aliens and fight scenes and cool hardware and all the things one would expect from the franchise.

The verdict: Good

Cost: $1.80 via Redbox
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*I’d had a hard day, and I wanted only to be entertained. My expectations were low, and this film easily cleared that bar.
**Always a treat, and even more so when the movie makes fun of his eye-candy status with in-movie jokes plus a winking Thor reference.
***I like someone who is a striver, and Tessa Thompson captured the excitement and uncertainty of being the new person at the dream job.
****I think I’ve only seen this third one. But you don’t have to watch them in order or anything. Another plus.

Questions:

  • What’s your favorite thing about the MIB franchise?
  • Is it a good use of your time to watch a movie that you will mostly forget a week later?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The MiB Agents have been wearing the same standard issue Hamilton Ventura watch since the beginning. The iconic Ventura watch was first released in 1957.

(I googled. It’s about $875 for that watch.)

Other reviews:

Men in Black: International

Extraction Delivers on its Promise

Extraction

The review:

Sam Hargrave’s Extraction is a great opportunity for Chris Hemsworth to show off his action fight scene skills (plus emoting)* and educated me that in Bangladesh the cars are driven on the left side. The cast is sufficiently international, with Rudhraksh Jaiswal (Ovi) and Randeep Hooda (Saju) giving outstanding performances as the kidnapped boy, and the factotum tasked with recovering him. While it does seem for a while to be one very long fight scene, things do eventually slow down for some character growth before picking back up again.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*This is a bloody film, with many red shirts sacrificed. “Oh for Hemsworth to have chosen a quiet, indie drama,” was a thought I had more than once.

Questions:

  • What do you think that last image was leaving us with?
  • Which of the many fight scenes was your favorite?
  • What do you think the lives of the many, many (many) now-departed Red Shirts were like?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The child you see in the flashbacks on the beach is Chris Hemsworth’s real-life son.

Other reviews of Extraction:

Extraction

Ford v Ferrari Zooms and Drags

(The cars make that zooming sound repeatedly. The plot drags.)

Ford v Ferrari

The review:

James Mangold gives us a male gaze turned inward* with Ford v Ferrari and also spends a lot time filmsplaining.** If you can get past the very long plot*** it might be worth watching for Matt Damon’s controlled Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale’s puckish Ken Miles, plus Noah Jupe’s second very good performance in 2019.**** I found this to be overly tedious and exactly the film I was not at all interested in, but because it got a best picture nomination, I did my due diligence.

The Verdict: Skip

(Unless racing floats your boat in which case you’ve probably already seen this.)

Cost: $9.25 (but free due to gift card)
Where watched: Regal Cascade (a new theater for me!)

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*While the male gaze tends to objectify women, the male gaze turned inward seems to think that everything men does is incredibly fascinating. Which is not the case.
**Flimsplaining. When a movie does this:
—-Character 1: I’m going to run the Quarter 30 in August
—-Character 2: But 500 men tried to run the Quarter 30 in August last year and all of them have failed! For you to do so would set a world record, bring you fame and fortune, and it would mean you can finally marry Lucille! You’re amazing, man, but I don’t know if it can be done.
—-Next scene: Character 1 runs the Quarter 30 in August.
***The cast of characters has to be assembled, the car has to be built, men in suits must be argued with, the qualifying race has to be won, the actual race has to be raced, and then instead of being over, the film keeps going.
****The first was in Honey Boy. This movie required him to pretend to watch a lot of things and he wasn’t the greatest at that acting task. But when interacting with people, he was great.

Questions:

  • Would you ever take a ride in a race car, as Henry Ford II did?
  • Can you think of a female-focused car racing movie?
  • What worked well for you in this film?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Matt Damon and Christian Bale agreed that the brawl between their respective characters was the most fun scene to film. Both have experience with extensively choreographed fight scenes that take weeks to learn so it was a positive change that they only had to rehearse the brawl for twenty minutes and weren’t required to look lethal while doing it.

Other reviews:

Ford v Ferrari