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Reviews
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
Rodrigues rocks
This is pretty much a rehash of the original Sin City, with a similar black and white, film noir look. Mickey Rourke is back as a Marv, and once again he gets to kick ass and kill bad people. Jessica Alba returns as Nancy the stripper, who, unfortunately never takes her clothes off; a major disappointment for this viewer. We do get Eva Green appearing nude on a few memorable occasions. Her acting ability is not on par with the rest of the cast, but her spectacular body more than makes up for that. Bruce Willis has little screen time and Rosario Dawson is once again the leader of the killer prostitutes. The violence is comic book style and the story line not as good as the first film, but I was nevertheless entertained by the movie.
Hellboy (2004)
Had doubts but no
Had my doubts if I was going to enjoy this film and once I started viewing this film, my eyes were glued to the TV Screen. Ron Perlman,(Hellboy)"5ive Girls",'06 gave an outstanding performance growing up as a small red hell-boy with one large lobster type hand, horns and a nice long tail. Hellboy is protected by some evil forces that want to conquer the entire world, however, Hellboy changes his thinking and starts to have emotions which lead him to become very attracted to this one gal. There are very wild creatures that never seem to stop multiply and Hellboy even gets involved with an egg hunt along with a marine creature that maneuver's under the water. Great entertaining film, don't miss seeing i.
16 Blocks (2006)
A straight 7
Solid Bruce Willis action film has Bruce as a limping over-the-hill detective who finds himself asked to do a favor transporting a prisoner just sixteen blocks to the courthouse. Instead, he finds himself under siege for said sixteen blocks and caught up in a web of criminals, dirty cops, and conspiracies. For as simple and clichéd a plot here, the script seemed quite overwrought and a tad too self-serious for what is essentially an update of Clint Eastwood's "The Gauntlet," but despite a weak script, the film is solidly directed by veteran action direction Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "Superman," "Ladyhawke," "The Goonies") and Bruce gives a strong performance as always. Not a classic, but still better than the bombastic 4th and 5th "Die Hard" films.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
INCHES
Stone delivers once again in this great movie about the new adjustments in pro football today. Very energetic and reality based as I like them,Stone also gets a great cast to portray his characters. Stone really knows how to put a mirror in our faces in order for us to see ourselves from a deep point of view and from a very diverse one. This is the genius in his talent. Bravo to Jamie Fox. Diaz is miscast but fortunately does not do enough damage to ruin the film. Great soundtrack. This film is not for conservatives and close minded fools. If you are an open minded liberal who loves sports and American foootball,it is a sin to miss this great sports film......
Raging Bull (1980)
Put my robe on right !!!
I just saw Raging Bull, and to say the least, it is a revolutionary film. I always heard buzz about this film, and I have not seen many Martin Scorsese films, but this is a true American movie! The screenplay is a true force to be reckoned with. It reminded me a bit of other epic films like Citizen Kane and There Will be Blood, the way the main character plays out is similar, but this film is different, as in the character Jake La Motta is based on a real person. Martin Scorsese really commanded the screen. There are truly some amazingly written and acted scenes. This is a boxing film, but a very much human film too. Robert De Niro really gave his best, and it turns out to be one of the best performances I have ever seen! His performance ranges from his bad times, to his guilt, to his madness and anger. It is all played out perfectly. Joey La Motta, his brother, played brilliantly by Joe Pesci is also a strong supporting character, who follows Jake through a lot. Another strong character is Vicky Thailer, played by the back then unknown Cathy Moriarty. What these three characters go through is amazing. This film is a joy to watch too. Certain scenes, some sensuality between Jake and Vicky are not really sexually graphic, yet have so much pleasure in them, the way Scorsese teases us. Scenes like where Jake suspects Vicky and Joey together, and in their fight all of a sudden are so well done and acted, I could not stare away.
This film is from the 1940s through 1950s, so there are a lot of gorgeous set designs. The costumes, the cinematography are all beautiful too look at. The decision to make this film black and white really helps. There are amazing camera shots, amazing techniques that are used, and the sound in the boxing scenes is perfection.
This film is a classic for a reason. It is pure entertainment too, and it is so well done and executed no one can be disturbed. It is one of the most enjoyable, amazingly acted films I have ever seen. A film that everyone should see, if not for De Niro's amazing performance, then for the amazing writing and directing!
Creed II (2018)
Rise to fame
The sequel steps back into the ring with style rocky 4 part 2 the new director brings his one panche steve chapple brings a worth homage to rocky past with an old foe ivan drago . Adonis rise to fame is brilliant as his relationship with takes a step forward with his musician girlfriend . But as he ready for his first child ivan drago son is winning he is like a machine with his punches viktor drago . So cue the nicea tees Adonis finds out that drago is coming for him as the dragos have been thrown out in the cold in the Ukraine as national discrace they have find the will power to over come national obsercuirty to find a way to to win back their motherland thrust so we rocky not helping him he has to find his feet only to let down by an ferocious beast and the directors willness to show the punches by camera duck anyone but this fight has reprecussions and rocky one last inspiring montage think opposite of the snow in the wilderness as the training is brutal and the runs are demanding rocky shows he has the legs and speed but not on two but for Adonis to keep up and stay up that's the sprit so we see ivan wondering why there is no pictures of him in the restaurant this is an insult to him but no to rocky the characters are get a good build up the fights scenes are beautiful cherographed and the entrances built up beautiful with Adonis going to war in Moscow booing crowd with his girlfriend singing an anthem lets go to war and rocky wise words before he goes in the ring as rocky says its steps to heaven and its your time and rockys choice for change his past choices as he I gave 8out 10.
Creed (2015)
Trainer
"Creed" is a Drama movie in which we watch Rocky Balboa training the son of his old friend and former rival Apollo Creed. The former World Heavyweight Champion now has a different role as a trainer and he understands that this is also a difficult task for him.
I have to admit that liked this movie a lot because of the plot which I found very interesting and a repetition of all the previous Rocky. This movie combines very well drama with sport and also the connection with the previous movies and the story of Rocky Balboa is equally good. At this point it has to be mentioned that the interpretation of Sylvester Stallone in this movie was outstanding. Michael B. Jordan made also a good interpretation but not something extraordinary.
Finally I believe that "Creed" is a very good movie to watch and I really recommend it to everyone. I believe that in this movie Sylvester Stallone remind me his first interpretations in the first movies of Rocky where everything started.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Hero of the people
T seemed that we had truly at last come to the end of the 'ROCKY SAGA' with the release of Rocky V. Who would bring the series up to the high level of Box Office Apeal and ,yes, Cinematic Artistry. Well we were wrong! Stallone went to the well just once more and succeeded in breathing some new life into the series by going back to the basics. In the story's opening, we find Mr. Balboa is back in the old neighborhood, running a restaurant (looked like a pretty nice place, no greasy spoon or hash house it!) The bar/cabaret bore the name 'Adrian', after Rock's wife. We also find out that she has passed on, leaving a huge gap in both Mr. Balboa's life and that of their son.
Rocky finds that he misses the sweet science and slowly gets re-involved in training and, after some very typical Stallone/Rocky musical interlude training montages, we arrive at the point of a big fight, this time being billed as an "exhibition". The fight was a natural for what locale? Why it would be great in Las Vegas, of course.
As in all of the Rocky series, the fight scenes are first rate and truly exciting, especially when they're viewed with a good sized, theatre audience. Director Stallone gives touch of extra authenticity by having the bout covered by real fight announcing personnel and by framing the the visuals by real HBO TV screen titles. Real life former Champ, Mike Tyson is on hand for some trash talking with the new Champ. The total effect is that of being a feast for the senses, visually and in the original incidental music.
All of what has been described up to now is mainly what we all expected in a Rocky film. What is it that elevated this installment of the saga above the previous episodes? Maybe Sly has developed a new perspective on life, both Rocky's and his own. He seemed to approach the screenplay with both a rejuvenated attitude and a respect and affection for the early days of the story.
It may be the return of characters from the early days such as now all grown up Neighborhood girl Marie, and old opponent Spider Ricco and Apollo Creed's old Trainer Tony that provide us with a link to the original concept of Mr. Balboa as a true man of many contradictions. He was a club fighter and a collector for local juice loan man Garza (the late Mr. Joe Spinnell). He was at once brutally crude and yet he was a picture of innocence.
No doubt that screen writer Stallone's ability to paint us a picture that is realistic enough, yet providing us with enough laughs via his subplot incidents and a good handle on some comic relief. I mean what other author could have pulled off such a literary pun as naming the new (fictional) undisputed World's Heavyweight Champ 'Mason "the Line" Dixon'.
Sly says that this is the end of the line the Italian Stallion. If so, it's great that he's going bout on top of his game.! But on the other hand,if Mr. Stallone returns to the well just one more time, well.......... who knows.
Vengeance Is Mine (2021)
Slow burn, vicious
Apart from a few forgivable imperfections (remember, this is a low budget affair film), Vengeance is Mine is an excellent Indie drama/thriller.
I disagree with another reviewer who referred to this as a movie with multiple and constant plot twists - what you get in Vengeance is Mine aren't actually plot twists, instead they are merely plot developments presented in a story that is told in a fashion that is not strictly linear or real but more surreal.
This is a well shot (some creative use of visual techniques and shot selections in this film), well written, engaging film that draws you in and keeps you watching right to the very end, despite the fact that it deliberately takes in time in various places.
I couldn't help but think of Take Shelter when I watched this film - both movies have a similar stylistic sensibility, where things are not overplayed, and the lead protagonist has an eccentricity and vulnerability about them that you just can't look away from.
A great film, well worthy of the tight 80 minutes it takes to get through, and a clear sign that this filmmaker has a very successful future ahead of him.
American History X (1998)
Edward Norton steals the show really
I love that Norton is so versatile with any character in any film. The transformation from bad guy to good guy is amazing, and I'm pretty sure based on many people's real life events.
The younger Edward (who plays Norton's younger brother in the film) plays an excellent 2nd fiddle to Norton, and the performances from both are really touching.
Without giving the ending away, I felt as though something like that was always going to happen. It wasn't too obvious, but a great ending to the film.
Beware of the curb biting scene though, it gave a shudder down my spine.