Tag Archives: Four-Stars

Real Steel (Blu-Ray 2011)

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The first thing that came to mind after watching Real Steel was the film Over the Top followed of course by the original Rocky. Pretty ironic that Sylvester Stallone starred in both films, but who can blame me right? I’m a huge fan of both movies and in my video library both rank right up there in the upper echelon of story lines that depict an underdog against all odds.

I’ll easily admit that the plot was absolutely predictable, but I really enjoyed the overall feel of the movie. There was just the right amount of action and drama in this film, and I was at the edge of my seat each and every time “ATOM” stepped in that ring. Definitely a perfect feel good film that the whole family will enjoy. Screw the critics, watch this film and be the judge yourself!

Brooklyn’s Finest (Theaters)

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Brooklyn’s Finest is the latest film from acclaimed director Antoine Fuqua. The movie follows the lives of three New York cops all at different stages of their careers. When watching this film I couldn’t help but think about the movie Avatar. Both movies take familiar and somewhat recycled plot elements, yet they present them in a way that is so engaging that it almost makes them seem fresh. Brooklyn’s Finest is filled with cop cliches but it is so well executed that you can almost overlook many of these familiar elements and appreciate the movie as a whole.

BF follows the lives of three New York cops. Sal (Ethan Hawke) is a family man struggling to make ends meet in his household. When things get tough, he finds himself down a road of corruption from whihc there is not turning back. Eddie (Richard Gere) is the grizzled old veteran cop a week away from retirement who is saddled with a rookie partner for his remaining time on the force. Then there is Tango (Don Cheadle) who has been undercover so long he is losing his sense of identity and the line between who he is and who he is pretending to be is becoming increasingly blurred. Masterfully, all three of these plots intertwine at the end for the film’s climax.

While we’ve all seen similar characters to those mentioned here, the way they are portrayed by the actors is what really makes them so effective in this film. The entire cast does a great job making their roles believable. Another bright spot in the cast is the return of Wesley Snipes as Caz, a former drug dealer who was just released from prison. This is Snipes first role on the big screen since…Blade Trinity. It is nice to see him back in a major movie flexing his acting chops. Snipes is one of those rare actors who is an excellent physical presence as well as a commanding personallity. My only gripe is that his role in this film is fairly limited, but his interactions with Don Cheadle are some of the more interesting scenes of the entire film.

Overall, this is a pretty good flick. It doesn’t really break any new ground in terms of originality, but it is a well written and well acted film that is entertaining throughout.

Law Abiding Citizen (DVD)

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I’m glad to see Gerard Butler making more action oriented movies. After starring in a few yawn inducing chick flicks and a some mediocre kiddie movies, it looks like King Leonidas is starting to return to form. After watching the trailers for Law Abiding Citizen, I knew I had to see it. I wasn’t sure if it would be a good movie or not, but the film is clearly built on the exchanges between Jamie Foxx and Butler, which looked more than intense enough to capture my attention.

Make no mistake, Foxx and Butler are what make this movie work. Form the beginning, the plot seems like a standard revenge flick. Butler plays Clyde Shelton, whose wife and child are beaten and murdered in front of him by a group of men while his home was being broken into. Foxx is the attorney prosecuting the case, Nick Rice, who winds up cutting a deal with the leader of the group in exchange for his testimony against another, less involved group member. Shelton of course, sees Rice as corrupt and vows to have his revenge on not only Rice, but the entire judicial system.

After murdering the gang leader responsible for the death of his family, Shelton is arrested and placed in jail. However, he still continues to target and kill anyone involved with his case. It is up to Rice to figure out a way to stop him before it is too late.

The plot of the film is actually pretty good and will keep most people guessing for most of the movie. About two thirds of the way into the film, there is a huge plot twist that feels like it was lifted straight out of a cartoon. The twist is so obvious and almost insulting. Any other movie would have been destroyed by this revealation. It is a testament to the excellent acting of Foxx and Butler, however, that this movie survives. The interplay between the two actors and the tension generated between them in each scene is clearly the driving force of this film.

I know that not everyone will appreciate this movie, but it is fairly entertaining throughout. Up until the big revealation near the end, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what would happen next. This movie is definitely worth renting, although not quite as good as the expectations I had for it.