Bad Boys for Life (2020) - January 17, 2020

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Well honestly, is Martin Lawrence doing anything else? Is Michael Bay so busy he can't crank out one more? The main reason I want a third film is so we finally get the polarizing second film on BD, I like it more than the first.

I thought Bad Boys II was terrible. The script was completely unfocused, it was all over the place, and the "plot", if you can call it that, was just an excuse to string together a series of action sequences that really didn't serve the story. It was more like a demo reel of sorts. Plus, the dynamics between Marcus and Mike weren't really interesting for the most part, their relationship was full of anger and resentment, and for me, that takes away all the fun.

Sure, there was tension in the first one, but you could also feel how the two of them really loved each other. In the second film, their feelings are all over the place. They're angry at each other one second, and then a minute later, we're supposed to believe they're unconditional friends, but the script never takes us there, we're just supposed to assume what the characters are feeling.

Then, there are the completely illogical characters played by Jordi Molla and Peter Stormare, both fantastic actors, but the script is so poor, that it doesn't matter how talented they are, their characters make strange decisions and there's not enough backstory to support those decisions. Why? Because Michael Bay spends most of the film's running time blowing shit up and setting up cool scenes. Ok, granted, no one watches a Michael Bay film looking for prime examples of character development, but the original Bad Boys and The Rock were spectacular in that regard! So they guy can pull it off. It's just that his priorities obviously changed.

I will always prefer the original film. It was fun, it had a solid story and it was exciting in an honest way. None of those show-off proceedings that would come a few years later in Michael Bay's career, in my opinion.

[DoubleDownAgain]

Ugh, S*** got real in BB2.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by aoife

I thought Bad Boys II was terrible. The script was completely unfocused, it was all over the place, and the "plot", if you can call it that, was just an excuse to string together a series of action sequences that really didn't serve the story. It was more like a demo reel of sorts. Plus, the dynamics between Marcus and Mike weren't really interesting for the most part, their relationship was full of anger and resentment, and for me, that takes away all the fun.

Sure, there was tension in the first one, but you could also feel how the two of them really loved each other. In the second film, their feelings are all over the place. They're angry at each other one second, and then a minute later, we're supposed to believe they're unconditional friends, but the script never takes us there, we're just supposed to assume what the characters are feeling.

Then, there are the completely illogical characters played by Jordi Molla and Peter Stormare, both fantastic actors, but the script is so poor, that it doesn't matter how talented they are, their characters make strange decisions and there's not enough backstory to support those decisions. Why? Because Michael Bay spends most of the film's running time blowing shit up and setting up cool scenes. Ok, granted, no one watches a Michael Bay film looking for prime examples of character development, but the original Bad Boys and The Rock were spectacular in that regard! So they guy can pull it off. It's just that his priorities obviously changed.

I will always prefer the original film. It was fun, it had a solid story and it was exciting in an honest way. None of those show-off proceedings that would come a few years later in Michael Bay's career, in my opinion.

An excellent critique! I agree and would go further: Bad Boys II is ugly (in every way), homophobic, sexist and racist. It's vile, tasteless and disgusting: jiggling boobs of a dead woman excite the necrophiliacs in the audience, corpses being thrown onto the freeway during a chase, the way Smith and Lawrence treat a boy who wants to take Lawrence's daughter on a date, etc. How is any of this "fun"?

An argument could be made that there are worse movies Michael Bay has made but this witless, bloated, nihilistic piece of shit certainly set a new low for him back in 2003. I can't believe I watched it in the theatre.

[tigertron]

I like Bad Boys II, but I think the first film is clearly superior.

[legendarymatt92]

Originally Posted by tigertron

I like Bad Boys II, but I think the first film is clearly superior.

Funnily enough, I watched the second one last night and completely agree with you here. Bad Boys II is this big, overblown, in-your-face sequel that tries to just outdo the first at every turn and fails, but is still enjoyable.

However, with the recent revelation that Bay can direct subtly and emotionally at times, it might be interesting to see if he puts another slant on this.

[DreamVillain]

Originally Posted by Gate

An excellent critique! I agree and would go further: Bad Boys II is ugly (in every way), homophobic, sexist and racist. It's vile, tasteless and disgusting: jiggling boobs of a dead woman excite the necrophiliacs in the audience, corpses being thrown onto the freeway during a chase, the way Smith and Lawrence treat a boy who wants to take Lawrence's daughter on a date, etc. How is any of this "fun"?

An argument could be made that there are worse movies Michael Bay has made but this witless, bloated, nihilistic piece of shit certainly set a new low for him back in 2003. I can't believe I watched it in the theatre.

I feel... like... you don't like this movie? lol

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Gate

An excellent critique! I agree and would go further: Bad Boys II is ugly (in every way), homophobic, sexist and racist. It's vile, tasteless and disgusting: jiggling boobs of a dead woman excite the necrophiliacs in the audience, corpses being thrown onto the freeway during a chase, the way Smith and Lawrence treat a boy who wants to take Lawrence's daughter on a date, etc. How is any of this "fun"?

you've just described some of the funniest scenes in the whole movie (among many others)! I love both films.

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

you've just described some of the funniest scenes in the whole movie (among many others)! I love both films.

Well, in a solid script (sort of like the one from the first film) I would have thought all of those scenes were hilarious. But as I said, the whole thing feels disjointed, just a series of gags and action sequences that don't serve the "story", if you can call it that.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think Michael Bay can do some epic action sequences, but it would be so much better if he added those sequences to an already solid script. Kinda like what he did in The Island (which I consider his last great film, though I haven't seen Pain & Gain yet).

In Bad Boys II, we have this spectacular shootout and chase sequence that goes on for about 8 or 9 minutes and yes, the production values of such a sequence are amazing, but I find it dull and repetitive because it doesn't really add to the story. It's almost as if Michael Bay felt the movie needed an action sequence there and he went like, "well, let's blow some shit up". And that's it. The problem is, the script was too poor and the lack of substance becomes more evident when you focus on the style.

It's not like the chase sequence in The Rock, which I know Bay also included to speed up the pace, but since it is actually connected to the story, it's exciting and fun! The script was so solid, it could hold more than a few gratuitous action sequences.

I don't know why Michael Bay went all crazy like he did after The Rock... I haven't read that much about him. Maybe if Don Simpson hadn't died, the Simpson/Bruckheimer formula could have kept him under certain restraint? That could explain the stellar work he did in the first Bad Boys and The Rock. Maybe that could explain it. Jerry Bruckheimer is not the most discriminating producer out there, and with Simpson out of the picture, Bruckheimer and Bay made that mess called Armageddon. Bad Boys II feels like a product of that disease in its later stages.

Or who knows? Maybe I'm crazy and it's a masterpiece.

My point is... I'm not too fond of Bad Boys II, and maybe not getting a Bad Boys III is more a blessing than a curse. God forbids Will Smith comes up with a character for his son, or Michael Bay manages to outdo himself and delivers an even worse movie that will make The Godfather Part III look like The Godfather Part II.

We will always have the first Bad Boys.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by aoife

Well, in a solid script (sort of like the one from the first film) I would have thought all of those scenes were hilarious. But as I said, the whole thing feels disjointed, just a series of gags and action sequences that don't serve the "story", if you can call it that.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think Michael Bay can do some epic action sequences, but it would be so much better if he added those sequences to an already solid script. Kinda like what he did in The Island (which I consider his last great film, though I haven't seen Pain & Gain yet).

In Bad Boys II, we have this spectacular shootout and chase sequence that goes on for about 8 or 9 minutes and yes, the production values of such a sequence are amazing, but I find it dull and repetitive because it doesn't really add to the story. It's almost as if Michael Bay felt the movie needed an action sequence there and he went like, "well, let's blow some shit up". And that's it. The problem is, the script was too poor and the lack of substance becomes more evident when you focus on the style.

It's not like the chase sequence in The Rock, which I know Bay also included to speed up the pace, but since it is actually connected to the story, it's exciting and fun! The script was so solid, it could hold more than a few gratuitous action sequences.

I don't know why Michael Bay went all crazy like he did after The Rock... I haven't read that much about him. Maybe if Don Simpson hadn't died, the Simpson/Bruckheimer formula could have kept him under certain restraint? That could explain the stellar work he did in the first Bad Boys and The Rock. Maybe that could explain it. Jerry Bruckheimer is not the most discriminating producer out there, and with Simpson out of the picture, Bruckheimer and Bay made that mess called Armageddon. Bad Boys II feels like a product of that disease in its later stages.

Or who knows? Maybe I'm crazy and it's a masterpiece.

My point is... I'm not too fond of Bad Boys II, and maybe not getting a Bad Boys III is more a blessing than a curse. God forbids Will Smith comes up with a character for his son, or Michael Bay manages to outdo himself and delivers an even worse movie that will make The Godfather Part III look like The Godfather Part II.

We will always have the first Bad Boys.

I like you. lol

Another nicely written rebuttal. So I take it that even though I hated Bad Boys II, the first movie is worth watching? I've never seen it, based on my reaction to the sequel.

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by Gate

I like you. lol

Another nicely written rebuttal. So I take it that even though I hated Bad Boys II, the first movie is worth watching? I've never seen it, based on my reaction to the sequel.

Yeah, I recommend it, if you like action movies!

It's a very modest film, compared to Michael Bay's current standards, especially because it was his first film and probably his only shot at getting into the film industry. So you can actually feel Michael Bay was trying to make the best possible film with what he had.

The story is pretty simple and that's actually a compliment in this case. Basically, it's about Mike and Marcus trying to save their jobs by solving a case, while at the same time trying to protect a witness, to whom they have lied (they're actually pretending to be each other whenever she's around) and since Mike is a womanizer and Marcus is a family man, it leads to some genuinely funny situations.

It feels like a Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer film at all times, and unlike the sequel, Mark Mancina composed the score, so the whole movie feels very 1990s. (Think of the score from Speed or Money Train, for example). That should give you a general idea of the movie.

Yeah, give it a shot. You might like it and it might take away the bad taste you got from watching the sequel.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by aoife

Yeah, I recommend it, if you like action movies!

It's a very modest film, compared to Michael Bay's current standards, especially because it was his first film and probably his only shot at getting into the film industry. So you can actually feel Michael Bay was trying to make the best possible film with what he had.

The story is pretty simple and that's actually a compliment in this case. Basically, it's about Mike and Marcus trying to save their jobs by solving a case, while at the same time trying to protect a witness, to whom they have lied (they're actually pretending to be each other whenever she's around) and since Mike is a womanizer and Marcus is a family man, it leads to some genuinely funny situations.

It feels like a Don Simpson / Jerry Bruckheimer film at all times, and unlike the sequel, Mark Mancina composed the score, so the whole movie feels very 1990s. (Think of the score from Speed or Money Train, for example). That should give you a general idea of the movie.

Yeah, give it a shot. You might like it and it might take away the bad taste you got from watching the sequel.

All right, you've sold me! Just added it to the top of my Netflix queue. Sounds like something I'd enjoy, especially since I believe the 90s are the 2nd best decade for action movies (after the 80s, of course). The Rock has always been one of my absolute favorites and the best Michael Bay film that I've seen. Of course, I skipped the Transformers sequels but I'm pretty sure I didn't miss much.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

I liked that the second film was bigger and more over the top.

[DreamVillain]

Originally Posted by Michael Bay Fan

I liked that the second film was bigger and more over the top.

+1

That Ferrari chase scene on the highway was insane! Not to mention the whole fight in Cuba with the house exploding.

I found BB2 to be the best one... with dead boobs jingling for the necrophiliacs and all

[jd_from_da_80s]

Originally Posted by DreamVillain

+1

That Ferrari chase scene on the highway was insane! Not to mention the whole fight in Cuba with the house exploding.

I found BB2 to be the best one... with dead boobs jingling for the necrophiliacs and all

When it first came out I hated it, but I saw it a couple of weeks ago on Netflix (the Mrs wanted to watch it) & I really enjoyed it. I popped in Bad Boys to compare & I liked 2 a lot more.

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by DreamVillain

+1

That Ferrari chase scene on the highway was insane! Not to mention the whole fight in Cuba with the house exploding.

I found BB2 to be the best one... with dead boobs jingling for the necrophiliacs and all

I guess I need more in a movie than chase scenes and explosions in order to enjoy it. I love action movies.

I just prefer them when they have a solid script.

[pmac]

Originally Posted by Gate

An excellent critique! I agree and would go further: Bad Boys II is ugly (in every way), homophobic, sexist and racist. It's vile, tasteless and disgusting: jiggling boobs of a dead woman excite the necrophiliacs in the audience, corpses being thrown onto the freeway during a chase, the way Smith and Lawrence treat a boy who wants to take Lawrence's daughter on a date, etc. How is any of this "fun"?

Go read a bible.

[Show spoiler]It's just as bad.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by pmac

Go read a bible.

[Show spoiler]It's just as bad.

I'm not religious.

[olivasauce]

I for one liked Bad Boys 2 better than part one, in fact it is also my favorite Will Smith movie. lol. Its been a while since I've seen it but I thought it was a great action movie.

Also, I don't dislike Bay per say. Armageddon is a classic blockbuster too. I like his stuff and don't take it at all seriously. Some of it is really too shallow but I can overlook a lot of that and see the fun in his movies. Though the last of his movies I have seen in theatres was Transformers 1.