First Blood (1982) Review!

     I was just in a mood to watch the entire Rambo saga but as I have stated on many occasions I can't watch just so I had to start with the first one.  I saw this movie many times in my life and I saw it also a very long time ago when I was only a kid.  I always liked it because when I was young I just thought it was a good action flick.  It wasn't until watching it later on that I paid attention to the dialog and the actual story.  I have a very indirect connection to the story here.  I was in the military and seen this and seen that but the young men that were forced to go fight a war in Vietnam that they had no business getting involved in gain the utmost respect from me.  These men were still teenagers and they saw things that no human should have to see and that's the reason for my indirect connection.  My father is a Vietnam veteran and when I was really little I never understood why he would do certain things or why he reacted the way he did to certain things.  After being in the military myself I understand fully why a grown man would dislike being scared from behind.  All these men including my father had to live in fear for their own and their buddies lives every waking moment in a war that could only be described as Hell in a jungle.  The highest amount of respect goes out to all Vietnam vets that are still alive, those that passed and those that never got to come home.
     Back to the movie at hand here.  Most people think that the Rambo films are just Sylvester Stallone running around killing people for no reason.  And while that may be true for all three of the sequels it was not the case for the first installment.  This one is set in a more realistic environment.  Stallone plays Rambo, a man that returned home from Vietnam that was completely disrespected and hated by all his own countrymen.  The sad thing is this is how all Vietnam vets were treated when returning home.  Stallone plays this part perfect too, as a man that has so much post traumatic stress that he is so scared but at the same time afraid of nothing.  He should of, at the very least, been nominated for best actor for this.  Brian Dennehy plays the films douchebag, I mean police chief.  But really all he is is a major douchebag that has a huge personal vendetta against Rambo.  He does play it well enough to think that he may be like that in real life, but I sincerely hope not.  There is a couple of other men that are such pieces of crap that you will be clapping when they bite it.
     This film is very realistic in most every way.  There is a part when Rambo has a cut and he has to stitch himself up and it really is very realistic, even to today's standards.  It is by far one of the best 80's action films and won't be soon forgotten.
     I strongly urge all to watch this because it isn't just an 80's action film but an almost true study of what it would be like to push a man that has seen evil in it's purest form.  It is very dramatic but also full of some incredible action set pieces.  If you have never seen it and are thinking about it then be warned that you may want to think about not having the kids around.  Lots of death and other scenes you may have to explain to them.
     I will end this one with a quote from one of my favorite bands..."What you call Hell, He calls Home!"W13 

[REC]4 - OFFICIAL FINAL TRAILER!

     Well, I have to say that I wasn't expecting this at all!

     I know I have been away for quite some time now but that's what happens when life calls and you have to do that daily thing called work.  And then you get done with work and you have to do school work.  I really wish I didn't have to work so I could concentrate fully on the classes I need to graduate but as I said a few seconds ago...Life happens!

     Before you watch this particular trailer I would recommend you go get a copy of [REC], parts 1, 2 and 3 so you can be all caught up.  Part 3 is the most inferior but I still love it!  Something you may need to know first off is the fact that the first two are hand held/lost footage type films and normally I wouldn't recommend this style to anyone but the first two films pretty much perfect the art.  Part 3 is a half found footage then turns into a real film halfway through, which is exactly what I was hoping for because I am not a found footage fan unless it is done right and none of them have done it right so far except [REC] 1 and 2.

     Needless to say though is this trailer is absolutely awesome in every way.  Bringing back the character from the first two and not making it found footage at all has made me look forward to this film more than any other I have seen so far!  Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Tony Jaa and Jeeja Yanin!

     Today I was in the mood for some good martial arts action.  I wasn't thinking about any particular country's style but after some debating I figured I wanted to watch one I haven't seen before.  I noticed that a female star that I truly think is badass had two movies out that I haven't seen yet so I went searching for them.  Well, I found one of them and I can honestly say it has been a total waste of my time.  The star I am referring to is Jeeja Yanin, or sometimes Jija, from Thailand.  If anyone knows anything about martial arts films then they know who she is, but I will give you a quick rundown of her.  She is behind the fantastic film, Chocolate and the awesome, Raging Phoenix.  That's all the knowledge you need right there.  So, if you haven't seen those yet I strongly urge you to watch them now and come back to this when you're done.  But this post is not about only her.  Most people that know a little something about martial arts films has heard of the great Tony Jaa.  He is also a Thai martial artist and he is well known for films like Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong.  Those two are some of the most spectacular fighting films to ever grace the world.  Now obviously I am not just a fan of only Thailand, I also love the martial arts films of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and I am sure there are others but that's what I can think of right now.  But, this post is directed mainly at the Thai movies because I have noticed something about them that I just cannot hold in anymore.
                                                   

     First off I have to say that I love the style of Thai martial arts movies because they have a tendency to use only practical effects and really daring stunts with no ropes attached.  The martial arts they use in in the majority of their films is Muay Thai and to my eyes it is just a very cool looking form.  I do like the forms of Kung Fu and Karate and Taekwondo, among others, but I really like all the elbows and knees that get used in the Muay Thai style.  I think there are two actors that have made this style in films get famous in the western world, I am of course talking about the two I previously mentioned.

     My mind has become boggled though with this most recent one I just watched.  I kind of saw it coming but I didn't want to admit it for some time now.  It may just be me but I am pretty sure every Thai star starts out great in the first couple films then slowly, I mean quickly, releases complete crap all the way to the present!  Just take a look at Tony Jaa for instance.  His first major film was Ong Bak and it is such a spectacle to watch, the action is awesome and intense and the just an overall great flick.  He then releases Tom Yum Goong and it took the previous film and just added even more incredible awesomeness.  Then, Jaa hasn't released a good film since.  He tried with the two sequels to Ong Bak but they just so happen to have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the first one.  They even take place like over a hundred years before hand.  He now has part 2 of Tom Yum Goong out, and while I haven't seen it personally yet, it has received some very bad reviews.  Another part I am not looking forward to in this sequel is they had to go ahead and put The RZA in it.  I understand that RZA is a martial arts fan, but that is no reason for anyone to keep putting him in the films.  This man shouldn't even be a voice actor he is so talentless.  Again though, I haven't seen this movie yet, I am just preparing myself.  Onto Jeeja Yanin!  Her first film I remember is Chocolate and this picture single handedly made me pay attention to female martial artists.  She really is that good.  Just seeing her Bruce Lee impression in Chocolate is worth the price of admission.  Then she puts out another great one in Raging Phoenix and does some spectacular drunkin' Muay Thai.  Pretty awesome I have to say.  Since those two films...nothing good at all.  I just watched This Girl is Badass and I had mixed feelings about the title already because I was thinking that I agree wholeheartedly that she is badass, but the title is so terrible.  And the movie was terrible too!  Every fight scene looked choreographed.  I know that martial arts movies are choreographed just like dancing is but it isn't supposed to look like it.  Supposed to look natural and spontaneous, which this movie fails at to the maximum.
     I am not gonna even attempt to lie about the fact that I have not seen all Thai martial arts movies but I have seen well past my fair share of them.  I also know that I only brought up two actors as well, and it may be wrong of me to judge on that basis alone but the two artists happen to be the two most well known in the US, and that's where I live.  And I am not hating on either of them I am just having a strong feeling of hope that they will finally make some great films again like the first couple from each.  But until this happens I guess I will have to settle for the good ones they already have out.

Mystery, Alaska (1999) Review!

        

     I love sports movies!  I especially love underdog sports films in the style of Rocky.  This film happens to be one of those and it happens to also be my favorite one...probably.  I was in the military at the time this was released and I have watched it many times since but while I was in the Corps, for downtime at Camp Pendleton, me and a few of my fellow Marines would play hockey.  Street hockey with a puck, but hockey nonetheless.  We played alot, and sometimes for hours on end, and also sometimes while getting sloshed.  We used to have what I dubbed "National Cheapshot Day", where we played with no rules whatsoever.  This story really has no baring or effect on the film in question here but I just thought I would throw it in there.  Good memories from a long time ago.

     With this movie coming out in 1999, the biggest actor at the time was a tie for two people.  Those being Hank Azaria and Colm Meaney.  Yeah, so it's not a star studded cast but I should mention that Russell Crowe is the real star.  So, why did I not add him to the list of big named actors?  Well, this was the year before he had his humongous break with Gladiator.  I do suppose Burt Reynolds should be considered big named but I happen to forget about him for a bit there.  Every single actor in this movie does a great job and should be recognized for doing that.  This is a film that is not very known but the few people that have seen it, love it.  
     I feel some films are unfairly judged or received at the beginning of their life.  This movie didn't even make back half of the budget used in production.  That's just sad because as far as sports films go this is by far one of the best.  It is written well, acted well and directed well.  It is very dramatic at times and just plain laugh out loud funny at other moments.  And not to mention the spectacular hockey that is throughout the film.  The final game of the film is by far more intense than the final fight in Rocky!  I think everybody that loves sports movies can't go wrong with this one but if you like watching with your family I have to warn you of a few things.  There is a bit of language here and also some adult intimate type situations also so you know.
     If you have seen this I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) Review!

     I have been a die hard TMNT fan since the early days!  What I mean by "the early days" is the comic books not the cartoon.  There a whole lot of people claiming to be fans from the beginning and they are flat out lying cuz they think the cartoon was the beginning.  It may be true that the cartoon made it absolutely humongous but the comic books are really where it's at.  I still have a few comic books from back in the day and one happens to be a #2 of these guys and it's signed by Kevin Eastman so as you may think it has some sentimental attachment.  I remember when I was growing up I was really into art and I was always drawing something.  I loved drawing comic characters and my pets but I always fell back on the turtles because they were one of my favorites.  Then Hollywood made a live action film and I won't lie, I think it is awesome still to this day.  The sequels were good too but only from a real fans perspective. So now we get a new Ninja Turtle film and it is live action again and the Turtles themselves are motion captured CGI creations.
     The director of this film was Jonathan Liebesman and he is the guy responsible for some really bad movies.  Lets list just a couple of them shall we?  Wrath of The Titans...beyond terrible! Battle Los Angeles...had potential but they decided to not really show the aliens and stop the camera from moving around...so terrible!  Now he was given the job of directing TMNT and he didn't do as bad as he previously did during other movies but he still didn't do a very good job.  The director has the power to change some things as he sees fit because it is actually his production.  The writers were apparently sleeping when they made this one.  It is not written very well.  And it's not like I feel this way because I have been a turtle fan for most of my life.  I have learned to be open about newer interpretations of properties.  Some times though, I can't forgive when they change too much or a huge moment in the story of a character.  But, the story is pretty weak here and dialog isn't too good either.  The major thing I thought pretty wrong about this is the turtles themselves are like 8 feet tall and tower over all humans.  Shredder is completely botched and to make him even remotely menacing they made him like 9 feet tall.  I mean they could have made the turtles the same height as a normal human so they wouldn't have to make Shredder so big.  And besides, Shredder has practically no story at all...he just seems to be there.
     The special effects are pretty okay and that's all.  I was hoping after seeing the trailers that they were just not completely finished effects like so many other movies but they're not.  What you see in the trailer is what you get in the feature.  Kind of upsetting considering this is the age of computer effects in film.  Sometimes though I can admit that they look decent but overall I would say it is just too little or too much depending on the scene.  The voiceover was done really well for the turtles but I just think the voices themselves should have been changed.  With one exception and that is Michaelangelo, he was done pretty perfect and actually he was the right size too.  If they changed one voice I wouldn't even have brought it up at all.  That voice in question would be Leonardo's.  So let me get something straight here...the filmmakers wanted to have a commanding voice for the leader of the turtles so naturally they decided it should be Johnny Knoxville?  I'm sorry but I am kinda lost at who thought that was a good idea.
     I recommend this to people that like an action film with some comedy in it but be warned though most of the action scenes are CGI full scenes.  There are a few times that it is really funny like the elevator scene for one.  If you're a turtle purest then you can either watch it or just steer clear of it.  I liked it for the most part just wish they changed somethings here and there. 
     Let me know what you think in the comments below!  

Get On Up (2014) Review!

     I have been waiting for this movie ever since I first heard of it.  Then I saw the trailer a while back and I knew I had to see it.  Well, I finally did!  I would like to say that I like James Brown's music, but I wouldn't be called a hardcore fan or anything like that.  I just happened to enjoy his music when it comes up in the rotation of my mp3 player.  And on kinda the same note I really love biopic films and well, this is one of them.  I will even watch biopics of people I have never heard of before.  I suppose I should rephrase that a bit.  I love biopic films that are based on musicians and sports figures.
     The movie here was directed by Tate Taylor and as I have never seen a film by him before I think alot of people out there should remember him from directing The Help a few years back.  Apparently that movie is pretty good but I can't say for my point of view.  I can tell you that for this movie I think he did a rather weird job.  I think overall this movie is done incredibly well but something I have a bit of a problem with is the jumping timeline thing.  It starts in the 1980's when James Brown had his famous cop chase and mug shot.  Next scene is somewhere in the 1940's, then after that the 1930's, back to the 60's, 50's, 70's and then back to the 30's.  It also has a weird way of showing a scene.  We get one scene started then it cuts to a different era altogether and at some point later in the film it goes back to that same scene it started awhile back so it takes the dramatic impact right out of it.  I think it would have been way more effective if they had just film it in sequential order.
     There is one very bright sparkling ray of sunshine in this flick and I don't think I will soon forget it.  Chadwick Boseman plays the Godfather of Soul and I thought he was gonna do okay from seeing the trailers but I wasn't ready for just how good he did.  He really does become the man.  Everytime he spoke I was just blown away by how much he sounded just like him.  The singing was done with voice over or lip syncing, whatever you want to call it, but the musical sequences are pretty spectacular to watch even though Boseman isn't the one singing.  But I think we can all be in agreement in saying that in all honesty noone alive can really sing like James Brown.  I also thought it was impossible for anybody to do the footwork of the legend but Mr. Boseman does a great job.  I think he is about as good as anyone could be following in James' footsteps. 
     Recommendations I can give for this are anyone that likes a movie with some great live performances and some excellent acting all the way through.  There is some really good comedic relief and it will make you laugh out loud, well it did for me anyway.  Now would be a good time to bring up the racism that is in it but it goes with the time frame the movie takes place in and the place this country was in at the time.  There is also some domestic violence type stuff as well for anyone that doesn't want to see that.  This is a great dramatic film and definitely worth the time and but it has the odd time jumping thing but if you can handle that then no harm done.
     Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Guardians of The Galaxy (2014) Review!

     I have to start this one off with a little tiny bit of background, I guess I do that with all of them but this one really needs it.  What we are really talking about here is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, right?  So with that being mentioned I have to say I have been pretty let down in this arena for quite some time now with the exception of the Captain America films.  Those two are spectacular and the second one was even better than the awesome first one, which is more than I can say for the Iron Man series.  Right there is where I lost some people because most people I have run into love that series.  I love the first one, it was so well done that I am not surprised that Marvel started this universe with that one.  Too bad the next two were so bad and I can't get my money back for those.  The Thor movies were both good, not great but just good.  I don't even like the character of Loki but Tom Hiddleston made him such a great one that the films are in the good arena.  I really wish they would make more Hulk films because he is my favorite and I have loved all things with him in it and everybody needs to face this small simple fact...without the Hulk in The Avengers movie than the movie would have been shit, he stole the show.  Now Marvel wants to branch out and continue this cinematic universe they began by giving some more less known characters their day in the sunshine, so we are given Guardians of The Galaxy!  Why they chose this I will never know but I can tell you this...That was the greatest idea they ever had.
     The movie stars Chris Pratt as the infamous Star Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, David Bautista as Drax, The Destroyer, Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot.  That's only the good guys I just named.  There are a slew of other characters that have just been introduced here but the film doesn't even seem like it is bulging at all.  Most of the time when filmmakers put this many characters in a picture it bombs hardcore!  This film has some great acting in it and the comedy relief is so perfect for a film this intense.  Every actor seems incredibly genuine I only have one semi-dislike and that is Lee Pace who plays Ronan, The Accuser.  I think the character would have been done much better by someone else.  I have noone in mind just someone else.  He just seems to go a bit too much over the top.  I was really happy to finally see Thanos in all his cosmic awesomeness!
     GOTG is directed by James Gunn.  He is the guy behind a film I really enjoyed called Slither back in 2006.  What's that you ask?  Exactly!  About five other people have seen the movie other than myself.  It was wicked good though to say the least.  Other than that he did a bunch of smaller even more less known films than that one.  He did an absolute knockout with Guardians.  Gunn was also the writer of the film and even that was done so well that when the comedy relief shows itself it doesn't take you right out of the movie, you just laugh and go to the next scene.  I personally loved all the 1980's pop culture references. Kevin Bacon! Priceless!
     The real spectacle here has got to be the effects as it takes place on Earth for about five seconds so the rest is all on fictional planets or in space ships.  You really can't tell that alot of it is fake, it is that good.  One of the better Sci-fi looking films I have ever seen in my days on this planet.  I want to see it again already!
     The are a few more things I would like to add to this and that is I am so glad that this movie made an ass ton of money in the theater on opening weekend because I would like to see a sequel and it appears we will get one in 2017 and then eventually they will get together with the Avengers.  That movie should be about four hours long or at least two movies in a series because that will be alot of character to try and smash together in a two hour film.  Another thing I can say is, and I will be very truthful here, this movie is what the prequel Star Wars film should have been like.  Complete and utter epicness!  I know epicness isn't even a word but it fits here so I am using it.
     I can recommend this to people that like good old fashioned action/sci-fi films of the old days.  If you really love the Marvel movies than watch this too but be warned that the only thing connecting this to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a short scene with Thanos, whom we all saw during the end credits scene of Avengers.  Guardians is better then most other films in the MCU though, and I really mean that.  You do not want to miss this movie!

Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014) Review!

     So I have a bit of a confession to make...No not one of those pervert type of confessions, This one is a given for me because I have said on many occasions I love crappy films!  Now part one of Sharknado had so much publicity surrounding it that I was just forced to watch it.  The problem with me watching it was...I loved it.  Absolutely atrocious in every way but entertaining as all hell nonetheless.  Really though, who would have thought that a tornado full of sharks would be a hit and be the kind of movie you just can't stop watching.  So now we finally have a sequel and I am really hoping for another crappy one but we shall see.  I am starting it right now so I will be back in a jiff!
     Okay so I didn't make it that far into this but I have to mention something during my epic watching of this epic movie.  This opening scene is so worth the price of admission,  and it's not in the theater so you can just watch it so double the value right there!  A plane getting attacked by sharks from a tornado! Awesome!  Oh yeah and I can't get far without saying something about the spectacular effects that I am witnessing right now.  I think the SYFY channel uses Photoshop to do their effects.  And I think I just saw Downtown Julie Brown from MTV back in the day when they used to play videos.  Not only did I see her but I am seeing alot more famous people this time around and they're not even actors.  But I guess the first one was so good that everyone wanted to be part of it.  So the list is as follows; Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Vivica Fox, Mark Mcgrath, Kari Wuhrer, Judd Hirsch, Kurt Angle, Billy Ray Cyrus, Andy Dick, Biz Markie, Matt Lauer, Kelly Ripa, Kelly Osbourne and Al Roker!  So a small cast is what we are in store for here.  There is actually more than what I mentioned but as you can see already we have a who's who of "B" movies.
     Now that I have watched it I can honestly say that it has...not improved over the other installment.  This film has some of the worst acting known to film ever!  Some of the worst effects to ever grace a T.V. screen!  And one of the poorest written films ever! But in its defense, I couldn't stop watching it.  It is entertaining if nothing else.  I was hooked to my screen eagerly awaiting what happens next to these characters.  I loved it, so I can now add a new film to my best of the worst movies ever list.
     So I will recommend this to anyone that has absolutely no standards in the films they watch or someone who just wants to be entertained for an hour and a half.  Just be warned though because I think this movie is even too bad to win a Razzie!
     Oh yeah, one last thing, it does answer the question of the alligators in the sewer of New York City.