Movie review: Mad Max: Fury Road

The desert wastelands remain full of crazed survivors fighting for the necessities of life in this post-apocalyptic fourth episode of the Mad Max story. Having lost his wife and child, Max wants only peace and solitude but once again is pulled into the wasteland insanity. Teaming up with Furiosa, Max and others may finally find their peace.

Tom Hardy (Max), Charlize Theron (Imperator Furiosa), Nicholas Hoult (Nux), Hugh Keays-Byrne (Immortan Joe), Josh Helman (Slit), Nathan Jones (Rictus Erectus), Zoe Kravitz (Toast the Knowing), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (Angharad), Riley Keough (Capable), Abbey Lee (Dag), Courtney Eaton (Cheedo).

Rather than a reboot, Mad Max: Fury Road is a continuation of the Mad Max saga started so many years ago. The film finds Max still in the wasteland which is still populated by insane post-apocalyptic survivors fueled by gasoline and the need to survive. Of course, it doesn't take long before Max is pulled back into the insanity. Teaming up with Furiousa, who is fighting to find her version of Eden along with a few indentured women, Max may finally find some peace as well.

Acting was pretty good in this one with Hardy doing a decent job. But, he is no Mel Gibson. Theron was an interesting choice and did well with her role. Hoult was enjoyable adding dimension to things. Byrne was a perfect choice for his part and did nicely. The remainder of the cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets and backgrounds were simply awesome in this film. Without question there is extensive CGI in the film but it is extremely well done adding nice depth and detail. Costuming was also very nicely done with the representation of Immortan Joe being exceptional. Automobiles used in the film were also very creative showing a lot of imagination. Dialogue was a bit flat in spots but pretty good. Sound and soundtrack were solid.

Mad Max: Fury Road is a nice addition to the franchise after all this time. Purists comparing this to the original films will probably complain about the plot which is thin and used purely to fuel the action. I felt the film actually did a decent job of focusing on the intent of the original; gasoline fueled post-apocalyptic insanity.

With plenty of violence and disturbing images, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 11.16.15
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy, Sci-Fi Action & Adventure, Post-apocalyptic films, Action & Adventure, Action Sci-Fi

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Avengers: Age of Ultron

The Avengers are back to once again save Earth from a lethal threat. When Tony and Bruce try to activate and use a peacekeeping program called Ultron, the program becomes self-aware threatening humanity.

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony/Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce/Hulk), Chris Evans (Steve/Capt. America), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha/Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Clint/Hawkeye), James Spader (Ultron), Samuel L. Jackson (Fury), Don Cheadle (James/War Machine), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda/Scarlet).

Avengers: Age of Ultron while being an entertaining story, is a somewhat well worn plot based on the surprising premise of a mistake. Tony finds an incredibly superior artificial intelligence program and rather than realizing the danger it presents and destroying it, as anyone would at this point in time, he simply turns it on. The remainder of the film has the Avengers fighting to fix that mistake. Though the action was fun, the premise is pretty tough to swallow.

Acting was good as always in this franchise. Downey uses his arrogance well as usual. Hemsworth delivered a bit less in this one, while Ruffalo delivered a bit more. Evans, Johansson, and Renner put forth some great energy. Spader was perfectly cast as Ultron and the CGI really brought through his personality. The rest of the cast was solid and enjoyable.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice detail and creativity but the film wouldn't be what it was without the CGI. CGI was nicely done and surprisingly realistic for a fantasy film. There were some overdone bits here and there but even they were fun. Dialogue was mild but fit the film, the cast, and moved things along well. Sound and soundtrack were nicely done.

Overall Avengers: Age of Ultron is a fun and entertaining film if you can get past the storyline and just enjoy the adventure. Younger viewers will probably enjoy this more than their parents but, this is a decent choice for family movie night that should keep everyone entertained.

With some foul language, mild sexuality, and a lot of action violence, this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 11.7.15
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Sci-Fi Action

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

Movie review: Furious 7

Returning to the United States, Dom and his crew are ready for life to settle down a bit. But that isn't about to happen when Deckard Shaw sets out after Dom to get revenge for his comatose brother.

Vin Diesel (Dom), Paul Walker (Brian), Jason Statham (Deckard Shaw), Michelle Rodriguez (Letty), Jordana Brewster (Mia), Tyrese Gibson (Roman), Ludacris (Tej), Dwayne Johnson (Hobbs), Lucas Black (Sean), Kurt Russell (Mr. Nobody), Nathalie Emmanuel (Ramsey).

Dom and his team are ready for some downtime in the U.S. after defeating an international terrorist. But the vacation is short when Deckard starts hunting Dom to avenge his brother. Complicating things is a new software program that can track anyone anywhere, which is desperately sought after by Mr. Nobody, a government official. Competing for the software is a ruthless terrorist who will happily eliminate Dom and his team if necessary.

Acting was decent once again though Diesel is starting to show his age, as are a few others. Walker, who will be missed greatly, did a nice job once again. Statham is an enjoyable addition who brought a bit more energy to this episode. Rodriguez felt a bit off in this one, and Johnson seemed underused. Russell was an interesting addition, that almost worked, and he did pretty well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were solid as they have been in this series but CGI is definitely becoming more of the film. Several scenes in this one were completely, absolutely ridiculous and obviously impossible without CGI. Bluntly, the CGI was ridiculously over the top leading us to compare this to a Transformers movie. Dialogue was okay, as were sound and soundtrack.

Overall if you are a fan of the franchise you will likely enjoy at least parts of this one. If you are watching for the hot cars, hot girls, or incredible action you may still be entertained. Likewise if you crave intense CGI. But if you want anything at all based in reality, move along.

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

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 11.4.15
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Action & Adventure, Action Thrillers, Crime Action, Crime Thrillers, Heist Films

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

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Movie review: The Divergent Series: Insurgent

The factions are uneasy and it appears war may be on the horizon but Tris hasn't lost hope yet, continuing to resist with others. But Jeanine believes she may have found a solution that will avoid war. The problem is, it requires a special Divergent leading to Tris once again being hunted.

Kate Winslet (Jeanine), Jai Courtney (Eric), Shailene Woodley (Tris), Mekhi Phifer (Max), Theo James (Four), Ansel Elgort (Caleb), Miles Teller (Peter), Zoe Kravitz (Christina), Tony Goldwyn (Andrew), Ashley Judd (Natalie), Naomi Watts (Evelyn).

Tris and the team are back, struggling still against the social design which defines them all. Except for Divergents of course. Gearing up for war, Tris suddenly finds herself, and all other Divergents, hunted when Jeanine discovers an object she believes may be able to end the faction conflicts. The rest of the film is a lot of action, and some drama, along with slow plot development of the easily expected storyline. There just aren't a lot of surprises here and without much plot, things slow down despite the action.

Acting was decent with Winslet once again doing a fine job as antagonist. Courtney stirs things up well and plays a thug quite nicely. Woodley has an updated look, but her talent hasn't changed much and continues to feel a bit out of character at times. James was solid, as was Teller who brought some good depth to things. Judd was very good, as was Watts.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds are good but really what you are watching here is a lot of CGI. Thankfully, it is pretty well done despite several beyond belief scenes. That said, the CGI fit incredibly well with dream sequences and exhibited very good quality. Dialogue was good, though quite serious through the whole film. Sound and soundtrack were nicely done.

Overall The Divergent Series: Insurgent is a flick teens will probably enjoy. The film has action, suspense, romance, and violence but for more mature viewers this may not be enough. The plot doesn't have a lot of depth and takes its sweet time presenting. Fans of the books may enjoy this one but those who are watching the film expecting a lot to happen may be disappointed.

With plenty of violence and some brief sexuality this should be fine for teens and above.

Released: 2015
Reviewed: 11.4.15
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Sci-Fi Adventure, Fantasy, Adventure

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

Movie review: The Wolf of Wall Street

Based on the memoirs of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, Martin Scorcese brings to the big screen the life of a Wall Street high-roller whose career ended with a stint in federal prison.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Jordan), Jonah Hill (Donnie), Margot Robbie (Naomi), Matthew McConaughey (Mark), Kyle Chandler (Agent Denham), Rob Reiner (Max), Jon Bernthal (Brad), Jon Favreau (Manny), Jean Dujardin (Jean).

The Wolf of Wall Street launches with some mild background, slips quietly into character development, then slaps us upside the head as the main storyline is ignited. The film continues to build momentum and pace as Jordan's life comes unhinged in an avalanche of drugs, money, and excess. Finally tamed a bit when the government begins to question things, the film wraps nicely with a reasonable ending. Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, this is a roller-coaster ride from start to finish.

Acting was very well done here with DiCaprio and Robbie delivering lovely performances and working well together. Hill and Reiner also did nicely with solid emotion. Chandler was good but felt a bit disconnected at times. The remainder of the cast was enjoyable and did well.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were good with nice use of natural scenery. Detail and fit were well done. Physical stunts were nicely done throughout. Dialogue was enjoyable with a nice mix of intelligence and sarcasm. Narrative moments by DiCaprio were enjoyable as well. Sound and soundtrack were both good.

The Wolf of Wall Street is a somewhat over-the-top film showcasing the over-the-top life of Belfort, and it is a nice success. Good technical work, well done acting, along with a good pace and high energy make this one entertaining film. Those who enjoy a good crime drama should like this a lot.

With plenty of strong sexual content, graphic nudity and explicit sexuality, persistent drug use and foul langue, and violence, save this for the oldest teens and above.

Released: 2013
Reviewed: 1.4.15
Star rating: 4 out of 5
Genre: Dramas based on Books, Crime Dramas, Biographical Dramas, Dramas, Dramas based on real life

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

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Movie review: The Damned (Gallows Hill)

Their car washed off the road during a flash flood, a family finds shelter in a nearby home that used to be an Inn. But when they get nosey and ignore the owner's rules they find a terrible secret is being hidden.

Peter Facinelli (David), Sophia Myles (Lauren), Nathalia Ramos (Jill), Carolina Guerra (Gina), Sebastian Martinez (Ramon), Gustavo Angarita (Felipe), Julieta Salazar (Ana Maria), Tatiana Renteria (Marcela).

The Damned begins well enough with some character introduction and development along with plot setup. Once the family begins nosing around the Inn, things get more interesting when they release a young girl from a locked box in the basement, not realizing she is an ancient evil spirit. This ratchets up the pace and suspense nicely through to a fairly well done ending with some BOO moments and spooky events along the way.

Acting was reasonably well done with Facinelli and Myles putting forth decent performances. Ramos, Guerra, and the remainder of the supporting cast did fairly well with good delivery and apparent comfort.

Camera work, sets, and backgrounds were pretty good though dark scenes in the basement, and around the box, were difficult. Physical effects and stunt work were mild but nicely done with good attention to detail. CGI creature effects were very nice, delivering a spooky effect without driving the film. Dialogue was challenging with heavy accents and subtitles throughout. Sound and soundtrack were both good.

The Damned ends up being a fairly well done horror flick with a nice balance between visual, physical, and psychological horror. Though not an entirely original plot, horror fans should enjoy this one.

With mild nudity, foul language, blood, violence, and disturbing images this should be fine for mature teens and above.

Released: 2013
Reviewed: 1.4.15
Star rating: 3 out of 5
Genre: Horror Movies, Supernatural Horror Movies

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

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Movie review: Dead Country

A deadly alien virus has infected a small rural town, turning people into flesh-eating zombies. The alien responsible works diligently with a few locals to keep the virus from spreading even further.

Andrew Merkelbach (Orion), Christopher Shen (Shen Lee), William Butler (Narrator), Janet Keijser (Janis), Lloyd Kaufman (Lloyd), Jacqueline Lovell (Teri), William Malone (William), Ted Mikels (Minister for Defence).

Dead Country is a zombie flick that may just turn you into a zombie! There was no plot, though it may have been eaten by zombies. There were no character introductions or even names given for characters, and only a ridiculous attempt at creating a setting for the film. Using subtitles to make main plot points is a good indicator that a film has problems, and this one had more than we can list. Topless females, regardless how cute or beautiful, do not make up for poor quality from every other aspect of the film.

Acting was absent here. Merkelback was unconvincing in every way. Shen was mildly better but again, failed as an action hero. Slowing down fight scenes for overweight actors does not make them better. Missed cues, bad timing, poor delivery, lack of emotion, obvious lack of familiarity with the script, and these are only a few of the problems. The dog might have been the best actor in the film, though we do have to give kudos to the topless ladies in the film.

Camera work was horrendous. Do NOT point the camera at the sun, nor at a spider-web for more than 3 seconds no matter how cool it is. Switching filters on every scene makes a film hard to watch, stop it, and the incessant shaking as well. Sets were bland and boring. Makeup was almost interesting however, sausages are not entrails and CGI blood will never, ever look realistic. Dialogue was so bad to almost be offensive. Soundtrack was bad enough the Mute button was required to maintain sanity.

Dead Country is dead to us. If we never run into this film again, it will be to soon. If you are into horrible, no-budget lame excuses to get your friends in a film and women to go topless then you will love this one. For anyone else wanting actual entertainment find something, anything, else and forget this one exists.

With plenty of lame gratuitous nudity, foul language, blood, gore, and violence all done in the worst way possible, this should be fine for older teens and above.

Released: 2008
Reviewed: 1.4.15
Star rating: 1 out of 5
Genre: Horror, Zombies, Sci-Fi Horror, Alien Sci-Fi, B-Movie Horror

copyright ©2015 Dave Riedel

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