// Category Archive for: Action Movies

DVD Review: Legendary (a.k.a. Tomb Of The Dragon)

By Brad Henderson

Most of us still love our old action stars. For me, Jeff Speakman, Brandon Lee, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are my favorites and have been for many years. Throughout the course of the late ’90s and today, most of these guys passed their peak and are doing a lot of DTV stuff. Yes, they do have a film in theaters here or there but not as solid as the films they did in the ’80s. With Sly doing The Expendables franchise, it has given these guys a chance to strike gold again on the big screen, and in a corny and cheesy way they succeed.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: Anaconda, Last Action Hero, The Legend Of Billie Jean

By Brad Henderson

Mill Creek has blessed us many times with their double packs and some great Blu-Rays. Yes, they come up criminally short of special features, but they do have some decent transfers and their prices are next to perfect. Recently Mill Creek has reissued some classics and I think they look fantastic.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: The Outsider

By Brad Henderson

There are plenty of films in comedy and horror that mix in nostalgic or so-called throwback qualities and make us feel like we are watching something from the ’80s. These types of films are scarce when it comes to the action genre and I wish there were more of them because of how fun they are. Of course, we have the Expendables series, which is fun and satisfies a large audience, and there was also last year’s Homefront, which felt like it belonged in the ’80s.

Recently a film called The Outsider was released starring Craig Fairbrass (yes, he is the lead), Jason Patric, Shannon Elizabeth, and James Caan. Patric and Caan are both solid actors but it seems that they tend to portray the same characters in every single film, even though it usually does work. Kind of like how John Cusack is always John Cusack, but we still love him.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: I Come In Peace (Dark Angel)

By Brad Henderson

Just when I thought Scream Factory has outdone themselves, they have the balls to release Dark Angel (a.k.a. I Come In Peace). I honestly don’t know where to begin with a film like this. First, it has Dolph Lundgren. Second, it has Dolph Lund . . . wait. It doesn’t matter what else it has; this film is insanely badass.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: Ninja III: The Domination

By Brad Henderson

There are many words for Ninja III: The Domination but so little time to express the awesomeness of this weird piece of cinematic gold. Yes, it is the third film in a trilogy produced by Golan-Globus. No, it has nothing to do with the previous two films, but don’t let that stop you from watching this eccentric, romantic ninja flick. I said it, romantic. I imagine Scream Factory has a very long list of films that they want to release under their label, and I’m very glad that Ninja III: The Domination was part of their grand scheme.

(more…)

Movie Review: Pacific Rim

By Less Lee Moore

It’s summertime, which means some film fans are complaining that theaters are overrun with blockbusters, even though it’s a trend that’s existed since the ’90s and one that doesn’t seem to be losing any momentum. While it’s true that in many cases, Hollywood tentpoles focus more on big-budget effects than on a decent narrative, Pacific Rim is a delightful surprise that will remind you how enjoyable a truly well-done blockbuster film can be.

(more…)

Movie Review: Olympus Has Fallen

By LabSplice

In Olympus Has Fallen, Gerard Butler plays Mike Banning, a former secret service agent who has been reassigned to a desk job after the accidental death of the First Lady. It has not been an easy transition; Banning feels the loss of his extended first family and drifts through his life disconnected from those around them. However, his shot at redemption comes when a small band of terrorists take over the White House under the guise of a peace envoy from South Korea. As the only man left alive, Banner must overcome his past failures to ensure that the leaders of the country are not used as pawns in a nuclear war against the United States.

While Olympus Has Fallen received comparisons to Die Hard even before it was released, the movie is not content to draw on only one inspiration and borrows heavily from across the genre. There is no shortage of ’90s action films that pit a lone agent against a small force of terrorists who have taken over a building or installation. I lovingly refer to these films as Only Hope We’ve Got movies—they often feature a roundtable of government officials who argue over what to do with their inside agent, only to have one character pound a desk and announce that he or she is the Only Hope We’ve Got.

(more…)

Taking Aim: Is The Avengers A Chick Flick?

By Lisa Anderson

Jeremy Renner in The Avengers

As fan of comic book movies and of Joss Whedon, this is a great summer for me. I’m thoroughly enjoying all the buzz over The Avengers, which opens in the US at midnight tonight. Every once in a while though, I’ll come across something that I can’t get on board with, even though it’s essentially positive. A recent piece by Bill Gibron at Pop Matters is a good example.
(more…)

Top Ten Movies To Look For In 2011: Follow Up

By Lisa Anderson

In late 2010, I made a list of the 2011 films that I was most interested in. With many year-end retrospectives going on, I thought I’d go back over the list and report on how these movies compared to my expectations.

1. Red Riding Hood

Of all the movies on my list, this one probably disappointed me the most. The story was muddled and didn’t make use of folklore and symbolism in the way it could have. The love triangle was not as interesting as it could have been, and there were disappointing performances all around from otherwise amazing people. Last but not least, the script missed the perfect opportunity to have the wolf throw back its head and howl at the moon. Red Riding Hood had its good moments and there were things I liked about it, but overall, you’re better off watching Hanna (reviewed here) for an innovative, feminist take on fairy tales.
(more…)

A Sci-Fi Fairy Tale: Hanna

By Lisa Anderson

One of the best movies of the year has already arrived, without much fanfare. If you’ve gone to see a movie rated PG-13 or higher in the past few months, then you’ve seen the trailer for Hanna, where the thrumming score by the Chemical Brothers provides the background for a teenage girl’s acts of derring-do. What you can’t tell from the trailer is that Hanna is one of the most innovative science fiction movies to come along in a while.
(more…)