David Leitch

Film Review: FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW (USA 2019)

festreviews 2019 Movies, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , , , ,
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Poster
Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.

Director:

David Leitch

Writers:

Chris Morgan (story by), Chris Morgan (screenplay by) |2 more credits »

Stars:

Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba

There is the recent debate in Hollywood whether they now make a product or a film.  From this film’s title, what comes out is clearly a product.  HOBBS & SHAW is a product from the FAST & THE FURIOUS franchise.  And this is not a good thing.

From the makers of THE FAST AND FURIOUS films, HOBBS & SHAW is as much a  film about fast cars than human beings.  Any chance the script gets for an excuse for a vehicle chase, there comes one.  If that is not enough, anytime there is anything to do with skyscrapers (the last FAST & FURIOUS film had an unbelievable stunt where a car drove from then top of one skyscraper to another), there is one.

When the film opens, a crew of MI6 agents attempt to retrieve a virus, Snowflake, which can be programmed to decimate millions of people, from terrorist organization Eteon. Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), an Eteon operative with advanced cybernetic implants that allow him to perform superhuman feats, arrives and kills all agents except for their leader, Hattie Shaw (Vanessa Kirby), who injects Snowflake into herself as a dormant carrier and escapes. Brixton frames Hattie as a traitor who killed her team and stole Snowflake, forcing her to go on the run.

Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) are both informed of the missing virus and are assigned to work together reluctantly to track it down.  The trio locate Professor Andreiko (Eddie Marson) who brings a bit of life into the picture.  The arguing duo save the world in a midst of fast and furious car chases.

The film takes quite a while to get its footing, and when it does, it does not stay focused.  To give the director credit, Leitch (DEADPOOL 2) achieves quite the feat with his action set pieces.  The one with Hobbs and Shaw racing down the skyscraper in pursuit of the kidnappers captures both the humour and excitement of the moment.  The climatic chase and tugging of the helicopter and cars at the edge of the mountains are impressive and almost saves the movie.  The villain Idris Elba is too invincible to excite any suspense in the fight scenes.  The buddy or enmity between Hobbss and Shaw that is supposed to be key in the move is average at best, eliciting a few laughs at most – nothing that is not already done in other buddy cop movies.  

Statham and Johnson deliver average performances – what audiences expect from them.  The film contains quite a few surprise cameos, that will not be disclosed in the review.  These are tactically spread out throughout the film.

The script goes at lengths to bring in more human element to the story.  The introduction of Hobb’s 9-year old daughter does not do much to enhance the film but his extended family with his mother in Samoa, Hawaii stirs up the much needed boost in the story.

HOBBS & SHAW is so forgettable that it is doubtful many would remember who played Shaw and who played Hobbs in the movie.  Apart from the excellent action set-pieces HOBBS & SHAW is a total bore!

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W–71iLZ0g

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Film Review: ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL (USA 2018)

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,
Deadpool 2 Poster
Trailer

Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg, Cable.

Director:

David Leitch

Writers:

Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin

One has to know what this film is all about as well as what DEADPOOL2 is all about before heading out to watch ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL is a PG-13 version of DEADPOOL2  with no ‘fuck’ word used though other ‘f’ words (that could substitute for the fuck’ word) are allowed.  When the film opens the action anti-hero DEADPOOL is in Fred Savage’s bedroom explaining the story of the film to him.  Fred Savage is one of the most famous child actors in America with his TV series “The Wonder Years’ aired for a long time.  Non-Americans might not be that familiar with Fred Savage.  This segment is intercut with DEADPOOL2 the film.

With DEADPOOL2 too released less than a year ago, watching ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL becomes too familiar.  The story, jokes and surprises in the plot are no longer effective.  DEADPOOL2 was great (see review of DEADPOOL2 attached below) but watching ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL was boring and a chore.  After all the original was supposed to be R-rated so removing the adult portions of the movie is undermining the original’s purpose.

ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL is close to 15 minutes longer with all the additional scenes put in.  The Fred Savage segments are not that funny either.  It is my Christmas wish that no other major studio will re-issue a super-action hero hit film with additional footage.  ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL does not do it for me.  It might be different if one has not seen the original.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCf03KXyzIg

(Film Review of Deadpool2)

DEADPOOL 2 arrives 2 years after the first DEADPOOL, the 11th film in the X-Men film series.  The important question on everyone’s lips is how this film fares with regards to the first DEADPOOL and the recent Marvel films like BLACK PANTHER and AVENGERS INFINITIY WAR.  Well, it is different and notably raucously hilarious. Co-written by star Ryan Reynolds himself who did a bit on his own character’s dialogue, there are lots of swearing, so be prepared to be hearing lots of vulgarities like “fuckshit”.

DEADPOOL (Reynolds reprising his original role) is the wisecracking Marvel Comics mercenary with accelerated healing but severe scarring over his body after undergoing an experimental regenerative mutation.   He forms the X-Force, a team of mutants, most of which hilariously die while unsuccessfully parachute landing in an attempt on the job to rescue Russell (Julian Dennison), a boy Deadpool befriended while in prison.  Foremost in the story is the character of Cable (Josh Brolin) a time travelling cybernetic mutant soldier who wishes to kill Russell.  It should be noted that DEADPOOL 2’s humour is in the extreme, from fake opening credits to ridiculous subplots to senseless dialogue.  To the credit of everyone making this movie, it actually works.  It took me a while to get into the film’s groove, admittedly a full 15 minutes or so (I initially hated it, thinking it all too silly, but the tactic grows into you quickly and the effort is soon appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed.)  The laugh-out loud jokes are too many to innumerate but there are prize one like the inside joke on Disney’s Frozen (since Disney has recently bought over Fox) and a running joke that makes no sense on the progress of dubstep.  The soundtrack that includes two new songs: “Ashes” by Céline Dion and “Welcome to the Party” by Diplo, French Montana and Lil Pump are especially inventive.  Those who have seen/heard “Ashes”, released as the lead single on May 3, 2018, along with a music video of the vocalist singing the song will still be laughing.

Star Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the hilarious Deadpool.  He makes the character including the dialogue he wrote.  He was given large creative control over this film after the success of the first one that resulted in the leaving of the original’s director Tim Miller due to artistic differences.  Josh Brolin plays Cable marvellously, as Brolin does in all his roles.  Brolin was also in the last recent Marvel film AVENGERS INFINITY WAR playing the main villain Thanos.  Fortunately, the makeup of Thanos results in Brolin hardly recognizable or that would have been a problem with Brolin being in two Marvel stories.  Familiar characters from the first DEADPOOL like Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Karan Soni as Dopinder, the taxi driver, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al (the fake opening credits has her listed as the film’s cinematographer) and T.J. Miller as Weasel, Daedpool’s best buddy bartender who has absolutely no loyalties are in the sequel.  Miller is good in this movie but was almost removed from the film due to alleged sexual misconduct and calling in a fake bomb threat during the movie filming.

DEADPOOL 2’s looks very expensive with great CGI and special effects.  The fight scenes are particularly stunning with humour always present.  Action and hilarity mix well in the funniest of the Marvel franchise.

Make sure to stay for the closing credits as they include a few extra scenes including surprises such as who is listed playing “Vanishing Man.”  The film also sets up for the next continuing film X-FORCE which may or may not be a direct sequel to DEADPOOL 2.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA

Film Review: DEADPOOL 2 (USA 2018) ****

festreviews 2018 movies, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

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Deadpool 2 Poster
Trailer

Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (AKA. Deadpool), brings together a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling mutant, Cable.

Director:

David Leitch

Writers:

Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick | 3 more credits »

Stars:

Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Zazie Beetz

 

DEADPOOL 2 arrives 2 years after the first DEADPOOL, the 11th film in the X-Men film series.  The important question on everyone’s lips is how this film fares with regards to the first DEADPOOL and the recent Marvel films like BLACK PANTHER and AVENGERS INFINITIY WAR.  Well, it is different and notably raucously hilarious. Co-written by star Ryan Reynolds himself who did a bit on his own character’s dialogue, there are lots of swearing, so be prepared to be hearing lots of vulgarities like “fuckshit”.

DEADPOOL (Reynolds reprising his original role) is the wisecracking Marvel Comics mercenary with accelerated healing but severe scarring over his body after undergoing an experimental regenerative mutation.   He forms the X-Force, a team of mutants, most of which hilariously die while unsuccessfully parachute landing in an attempt on the job to rescue Russell (Julian Dennison), a boy Deadpool befriended while in prison.  Foremost in the story is the character of Cable (Josh Brolin) a time travelling cybernetic mutant soldier who wishes to kill Russell.  It should be noted that DEADPOOL 2’s humour is in the extreme, from fake opening credits to ridiculous subplots to senseless dialogue.  To the credit of everyone making this movie, it actually works.  It took me a while to get into the film’s groove, admittedly a full 15 minutes or so (I initially hated it, thinking it all too silly, but the tactic grows into you quickly and the effort is soon appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed.)  The laugh-out loud jokes are too many to innumerate but there are prize one like the inside joke on Disney’s Frozen (since Disney has recently bought over Fox) and a running joke that makes no sense on the progress of dubstep.  The soundtrack that includes two new songs: “Ashes” by Céline Dion and “Welcome to the Party” by Diplo, French Montana and Lil Pump are especially inventive.  Those who have seen/heard “Ashes”, released as the lead single on May 3, 2018, along with a music video of the vocalist singing the song will still be laughing.

Star Ryan Reynolds is perfect as the hilarious Deadpool.  He makes the character including the dialogue he wrote.  He was given large creative control over this film after the success of the first one that resulted in the leaving of the original’s director Tim Miller due to artistic differences.  Josh Brolin plays Cable marvellously, as Brolin does in all his roles.  Brolin was also in the last recent Marvel film AVENGERS INFINITY WAR playing the main villain Thanos.  Fortunately, the makeup of Thanos results in Brolin hardly recognizable or that would have been a problem with Brolin being in two Marvel stories.  Familiar characters from the first DEADPOOL like Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Karan Soni as Dopinder, the taxi driver, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al (the fake opening credits has her listed as the film’s cinematographer) and T.J. Miller as Weasel, Daedpool’s best buddy bartender who has absolutely no loyalties are in the sequel.  Miller is good in this movie but was almost removed from the film due to alleged sexual misconduct and calling in a fake bomb threat during the movie filming.

DEADPOOL 2’s looks very expensive with great CGI and special effects.  The fight scenes are particularly stunning with humour always present.  Action and hilarity mix well in the funniest of the Marvel franchise.

Make sure to stay for the closing credits as they include a few extra scenes including surprises such as who is listed playing “Vanishing Man.”  The film also sets up for the next continuing film X-FORCE which may or may not be a direct sequel to DEADPOOL 2.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D86RtevtfrA

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Film Review: ATOMIC BLONDE (USA 2017) ***

festreviews 2017 movies, movie, Movie Review, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

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atomic blonde.jpgAn undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.

Director: David Leitch
Writers: Kurt Johnstad (screenplay), Antony Johnston (based on the Oni Press graphic novel series “The Coldest City” written by)
Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Review by Gilbert Seah

 Advertised as a female James Bond film with Charlize Theron as a top ass-kicking M16 spy, ATOMIC BLONDE tries its best to assume a British setting though Theron and most of the cast speak with an unchanged American accent. Who really cares, as the film delivers senseless action with dazzling visual and choreographed fight scenes courtesy of director David Leitch in his first solo directorial debut, himself a stunt coordinator and stuntman for stars like Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.

The film is written by Kurt Johnstad, based on Antony Johnston and Sam Hart’s 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City, published by Oni Press. The film opens with a commentary of how the cold war has ended in 1989 flowing the collapse of the Berlin Wall and then goes on to say that the film is not about this subject. The film is about the cold war revolving the good guys, the British M16 and the Americans in this case trying to retrieve a list of double agents that if fallen into the wrong hands would…..It does not really matter as Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock says. The point is that top level female spy, Lorraine Broughton (Theron) has been assigned to aid fellow spy and wild card David Percival (James McAvoy) with this mission. As it turns out Percival has supposedly got the list from Spyglass, a Starsi agent (Eddie Marsan) and he is to be escorted out of Berlin. Not so easy, as every Russian and German spy is also out to get the list.

With the film setting in the 80’s, one can expect a solid 80’s soundtrack. And the film has a great one at that, and not surprising as the music is by Tyler Bates who has put together similar memorable soundtracks for films like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 1 and 2 and the two John Wick Films. The song are also appropriately chosen to fit the plot for example with Depeche Mode’s ‘Behind the Wheel’ during the defection segment and Queen’s ‘Under Pressure’ at the film’s climax.

The film’s excellent cast includes McAvoy (SPLIT), always good in portraying crazies. Eddie Marsan who plays Spyglass steals the show with a dead serious performance amidst the over-the-top action. German veteran actress Barbara Sukowa has a cameo as the coroner who delivers a key line: “In Germany, we do not make little mistakes.”

The film’s best action sequence lasts a full 10 minutes as Lorraine fights off multiple attackers in ultra-violent hand-to-hand combat on a staircase while protecting Spyglass. If this is not enough, an exciting car chase follows right after where villains in cars appear out of nowhere to chse the two. Director Leitch dishes sexiness to the limit with same sex scenes between Lorraine and a French spy (Sofia Boutella).

The plot of ATOMIC BLONDE is quite difficult to follow and there is no use trying as the plot is pointless. The story’s twist in the end of who is the double agent makes little sense either. But cold war spy films in the 70’s were often difficult to follow. ATOMIC BLONDE delivers dazzling senseless action, that is the point of the film and that it succeeds.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI7HVnZlleo

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