The Expendables -
(Pick of the Week) Testosterone-fuelled badassery is on overdrive this week with the opening of this much anticipated old-school influenced action fight-fest written and directed by Sylvester Stallone (
Rocky Balboa,
Rambo). With a cast of some of the top action movie talent - Stallone, Jason Statham (
Crank), Jet Li (
Hero), Mickey Rourke (
The Wrestler), Dolph Lundgren (
Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (
The Condemned) - and cameos from a whole bunch of greats of the genre as well - Bruce Willis (
Die Hard), Terry Crews (
Gamer), and even Arnold Schwarzenegger (
The Terminator). With Eric Roberts (
The Dark Knight) as the evil island dictator bad guy. With some awesome set-pieces, gratuitous explosions, all of the actors doing their own stunts and regularly going toe-to-toe in some pretty brutal fight sequences, this is my pick for Action Film of the Year!
Going The Distance - Oh no. More insipid American Rom-com boredom. (Can you tell this is a genre I don't like much?) This time real-life on-again off-again couple Justin Long (
Drag Me To Hell) and Drew Barrymore (
Fifty First Dates) play thirty-somethings who fall for each other on a summer holiday and begin a whirlwind romance. After the vacation has ended they realise they still have feelings for each other and try to keep the flame alive from different cities. I'm not even going to say "hilarity ensues", because it probably won't, because this just looks and sounds dull and uninspiring.
Peaceful Times - "In this German comedy-drama, Irene and Dieter have fled '60s East Berlin with their three children for a better life in the West. Irene can’t shake the Eastern Bloc mindset: craving conformity and living in constant dread of catastrophe, in general, and a Russian military invasion, in particular. As seen by her two matter-of-fact little girls she’s a lovely, mesmerizing bundle of nerves – and something of a responsibility. Dad Dieter meanwhile is crazy for the swinging Western ways. Observing the growing rift, their two little girls plan the divorce – another novel freedom – they believe will make everyone happier." (Source: World Cinema Showcase).
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) - Extreme gross-out cinema really does not get any more extreme or gross than this. From the demented mind of Tom Six. Crazed reclusive mad scientist Dr Heiter (Dieter Laser) exacts revenge on the world that has shunned him by attaching three healthy humans together mouth to... uh... I'm sure you can figure it out from the picture above. Fresh from the New Zealand International Film Festival where it shocked many, this is returning for a strictly limited season across the country thanks to
Incredibly Strange and
Flicks.co.nz.
Tomorrow, When The War Began - Based on the well-known series of "kidult" novels of the same name by Australian author John Marsden, this big screen adaptation has been impressing those already familiar with the story. A bunch of underdog teens find that Australia has been invaded by a foreign power and they must fight to survive and find their families. They'd rather go down fighting than let their loved ones be taken hostage and this makes them a formidable force as a team. To be followed by several sequels as there is much ground to be covered from the world of Marsden's novels.
The Expendables - (Pick of the Week) Testosterone-fuelled badassery is on overdrive this week with the opening of this much anticipated old-school influenced action fight-fest written and directed by Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa, Rambo). With a cast of some of the top action movie talent - Stallone, Jason Statham (Crank), Jet Li (Hero), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned) - and cameos from a whole bunch of greats of the genre as well - Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Terry Crews (Gamer), and even Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator). With Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight) as the evil island dictator bad guy. With some awesome set-pieces, gratuitous explosions, all of the actors doing their own stunts and regularly going toe-to-toe in some pretty brutal fight sequences, this is my pick for Action Film of the Year!
Going The Distance - Oh no. More insipid American Rom-com boredom. (Can you tell this is a genre I don't like much?) This time real-life on-again off-again couple Justin Long (Drag Me To Hell) and Drew Barrymore (Fifty First Dates) play thirty-somethings who fall for each other on a summer holiday and begin a whirlwind romance. After the vacation has ended they realise they still have feelings for each other and try to keep the flame alive from different cities. I'm not even going to say "hilarity ensues", because it probably won't, because this just looks and sounds dull and uninspiring.
Peaceful Times - "In this German comedy-drama, Irene and Dieter have fled '60s East Berlin with their three children for a better life in the West. Irene can’t shake the Eastern Bloc mindset: craving conformity and living in constant dread of catastrophe, in general, and a Russian military invasion, in particular. As seen by her two matter-of-fact little girls she’s a lovely, mesmerizing bundle of nerves – and something of a responsibility. Dad Dieter meanwhile is crazy for the swinging Western ways. Observing the growing rift, their two little girls plan the divorce – another novel freedom – they believe will make everyone happier." (Source: World Cinema Showcase).
The Human Centipede (First Sequence) - Extreme gross-out cinema really does not get any more extreme or gross than this. From the demented mind of Tom Six. Crazed reclusive mad scientist Dr Heiter (Dieter Laser) exacts revenge on the world that has shunned him by attaching three healthy humans together mouth to... uh... I'm sure you can figure it out from the picture above. Fresh from the New Zealand International Film Festival where it shocked many, this is returning for a strictly limited season across the country thanks to Incredibly Strange and Flicks.co.nz.
Tomorrow, When The War Began - Based on the well-known series of "kidult" novels of the same name by Australian author John Marsden, this big screen adaptation has been impressing those already familiar with the story. A bunch of underdog teens find that Australia has been invaded by a foreign power and they must fight to survive and find their families. They'd rather go down fighting than let their loved ones be taken hostage and this makes them a formidable force as a team. To be followed by several sequels as there is much ground to be covered from the world of Marsden's novels.
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