Sunday, April 30, 2017

Movie review: Kill Command

 
Training on a remote island, a group of elite soldiers quickly discover their training mission is in reality training for an out of control group of lethal robots. The hunters have become the hunted.

Vanessa Kirby (Mills), Thure Lindhardt (Bukes), David Ajala (Drifter), Mike Noble (Goodwin), Bentley Kalu (Robinson), Tom McKay (Cutbill), Kelly Gough (Hackett), Osi Okerafor (Loftus), Damian Kell (Winder).

Kill Command begins well with some quick background and character introductions, followed by a brief bit of plot setup. Once the team of soldiers is on the island for training, things quickly escalate and action becomes more of a focus. As the soldiers realize the robots on the island have improved themselves and are now using humans to become better killers, suspense is added to the action with the rest of the film being a survival story.

Acting was interesting with Kirby delivering a decent performance. Ajala was enjoyable as well with nice delivery. Lindhardt was okay, as was the remainder of the cast, which fit the film well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice use of natural scenery. CGI was extensive and for the most part well done with only a few scenes that felt overdone or out of place. Action was solid with good detail. Dialogue added some depth to the film but felt a bit rough. Sound and soundtrack were reasonable.

Quite simply, Kill Command is the familiar story of robots that are so smart they begin to self-improve and determine humans should be eliminated. The film doesn't add much to the genre, but is entertaining from a sci-fi perspective, which genre fans should enjoy.

With plenty of violence and potentially disturbing scenes, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 4.12.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi Action, Sci-Fi Thrillers, Action Thriller, Action & Adventure, Military Action

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Friday, April 28, 2017

Movie review: Lights Out

 
When the lights go out Martin and his older sister Rebeccca are terrorized by an evil spirit that threatens their sanity. Struggling to set themselves free, they realize the evil spirit may be tied to their mother's mental health history.

Teresa Palmer (Rebecca), Gabriel Bateman (Martin), Alexander DiPersia (Bret), Maria Bello (Sophie), Alicia Vela-Bailey (Diana), Andi Osho (Emma), Billy Burke (Paul), Amiah Miller (Young Rebecca).

Lights Out is the full-length version born from the 2013 short with the same name from director Sandberg. The film launches right into the story and the scares, and does a good job of keeping us on the edge of our seat for the remainder of the film. Though scary with some nice BOO scenes and disturbing representation of the evil entity, the story wasn't explained well and felt like it had a couple of holes at the end.

Acting was decent with Palmer delivering quite well. Bateman was decent and played well with Palmer. DiPersia started out rough but smoothed his performance in the end. Bello was fitting and also did nicely, as did the remainder of the cast.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were primarily focused on a single home, but nicely done with a solid feel. Integration with CGI was good and effects around the evil spirit, including action scenes, were appropriately disturbing and enjoyable. Dialogue was okay but could have had better depth and added more detail to the storyline. Sound and soundtrack were solid.

When the lights are finally turned down, Lights Out reveals itself as a nicely done horror flick with decent acting and technical work. Due to the lack of depth, this one ends up as simply a solid entry-level horror flick that genre fans should enjoy.

With mild sexuality, a fair amount of violence, and plenty of disturbing images, this should actually be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 4.12.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Supernatural horror, Horror

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Movie review: War Dogs

 
Based on a true story, two Miami friends exploit a government contracts initiative encouraging bids from small businesses and become arms dealers. But the pair is out of their league when they win a $300 million contract to arm the Afghan Military and find even the U.S. Government can't be trusted.

Miles Teller (David Packouz), Jonah Hill (Efraim Diveroli), Bradley Cooper (Henry), Kevin Pollak (Ralph Slutsky), JB Blanc (Bashkim), David Packouz (Hilldale singer), Julian Sergi (Rosen), Daniel Berson (Rabbi), Ana de Armas (Iz).

War Dogs begins with a brief look at the boys lives out of high school as they lose touch, and a couple of years later when they become reacquainted. The two quickly realize they enjoy working together and have the energy to make some money. The story is amazing because it is true, and because it is a glimpse inside a world many never see. The film builds suspense well, includes some enjoyable mild action, and moves along at a nice pace.

Acting was good with Teller and Hill once again working well together and delivering nicely. Hill was particularly good in his somewhat quirky, yet controlling, role. Cooper was solid as always, as was Pollak in more subtle role. Armas was enjoyable, as was the remainder of the supporting cast including the real Packouz.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were nicely done with a solid, realistic feel and good attention to detail. Action scenes were well done and fitting. Dialogue had nice depth and focused nicely on the story with minimal distraction. Sound and soundtrack were good.

War Dogs is a story based on real life that is funny, amazing, and quite entertaining. Fans of crime drama or mild comedy should enjoy this one. Those looking for a larger than life action flick should pass on this one.

With some mild sexuality and nudity, foul language, and mild violence, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2016
Reviewed: 4.8.17
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Crime, Crime Drama, Comedy, Drama, True Story films

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Monday, April 24, 2017

Movie review: The Last Chase

 
In the future oil has been depleted and the only form of transportation allowed in the U.S. is public and the government has ordered all personal vehicles impounded. But former race car drive Franklyn has an increasing dislike for the ban on driving and a secret; his race car hidden for years from confiscation.

Lee Majors (Franklyn), Burgess Meredith (Williams), Chris Makepeace (Ring), Alexandra Stewart (Eudora), George Touliatos (Hawkins), Diane D'Aquila (Santana), Harvey Atkin (Jud), Ben Gordon (Morely), Hugh Webster (Fetch), Deborah Burgess (Miss Rawlston), Trudy Young (Mrs. Hart).

The Last Chase begins slowly with some background, character introductions, and background before smoothly shifting to the main plot. With the smell of exhaust still in the air, Franklyn encounters Ring, a teen who encourages him to rebel and then tags along for the adventure. The two then race across the country with California, a free driving state, as their goal.

Acting was dry but decent with Majors delivering solidly. Meredith was amusing and enjoyable as always, and Makepeace brought some depth to the film. The remainder of the supporting cast while decent, was still pretty dry.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are pure 1981 with slightly washed out coloring, natural scenery, and low quality props. Action scenes were overly simplistic and elementary, but fit the film. Dialogue was somewhat dry and plodding. Sound and soundtrack are surprisingly good.

For some reason this film has always held a place in my heart and made me think of the song Red Barchetta from Rush. I enjoy this one, but many will not. The film is slow, dry, and at this point seriously outdated. If you are an 80's movie fan, check it out if you can find it. You just might enjoy it.

Nothing here to limit audience age.

Released: 1981
Reviewed: 4.5.17
Star rating: 2 out of 5
Genre: Action, Action Adventure, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Action

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Movie review: Evil Dead 2 (Dead by Dawn)

 
After breaking into a deserted cabin in the woods, the home of an occult professor, Ash and his girlfriend accidentally release an evil spirit and demons from the Book of the Dead. When the professor's daughter arrives to see her father, she and Ash must fight the demons until dawn to survive.

Bruce Campbell (Ash), Sarah Berry (Annie), Dan Hicks (Jake), Kassie DePaiva (Bobby Joe), Ted Raimi (Possessed Henrietta), Denise Bixler (Linda), Richard Domeier (Ed), John Peakes (Prof. Knowby), Lou Hancock (Henrietta).

The Evil Dead franchise is some silly, campy fun and Evil Dead 2 (Dead by Dawn) is no exception. Ash is enough bumbling fool to get himself in trouble, and just enough of a survivor to live through the insanity. Evil Dead 2 does a lot to move the franchise storyline forward, setting things up well for the next film. In the meantime, we are treated to silly one-liners and ridiculous action scenes with plenty of fake blood.

Acting was immature, but fit the film well. Campbell was appropriately campy and corny, fitting the film perfectly. Berry was weak but had a few sparks of energy. Hicks and DePaiva added to the comedy element, and Raimi was amusing.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were rough, less than authentic looking, and fit the film perfectly. Stop-motion animation, and possible claymation, were ridiculous enough to add to the comedy element of the film. Dialogue was pure B-movie and infrequently funny. Sound and soundtrack were a nightmare of poor volume control.

If you have seen any of the Evil Dead films and enjoyed them, watch this one! Definitely watch this before you see Army of Darkness to give you some background and setup. Those who don't enjoy B-movies or campy cult horror probably won't enjoy this one much.

Including mild horror nudity, blood, gore, more blood, foul language, a ridiculous amount of blood almost like a blood flood, and disturbing images would suggest this one is just fine for teens and above.

Released: 1987
Reviewed: 4.5.17
Star rating: 4 out of 6
Genre: Horror, Comedy, Cult Comedy, Supernatural Horror, Zombies

copyright ©2017 Dave Riedel

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