A Terminator: Genysis review is inevitable. For reference, my reviews for the other films are here and still apply (although my score for Salvation could decrease, I still don't know):
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Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
The Terminator
[Show spoiler]
Assassination and murder often makes for a thrilling story as it is, but what if the murderer happens to be a machine from the future? Unstoppable, invincible, unable to feel pain or remorse, unable to deviate from its programming. The Terminator is an inherently scary figure, partly because of the traits mentioned above, and also because it comes from a scary future ravaged by nuclear war and a robot apocalypse.
The first Terminator film delivers its premise impeccably, and does so with an agreeable amount of action. Granted that all the sequels have surpassed this film in terms of action, The Terminator still delivers plenty of thrills as the titular machines brutally hunts down its targets. Most of the movie is comrprised of chases: car chases, foot chases, with intermittent shootouts, explosions, and fights. In spite of this, the film drags very little; it's actually quite tight, as it effectively uses the space in between the action to develop the story and characters.
And the story is quite sound, partly because of its unique premise, and largely because it's told really well. It makes phenomenal use of flashbacks to reinforce the background and characters of the story. Its focus on the characters is impeccible, and you really grow to care for them by the film's end. Overall, the film shows great depth and detail to make it stand above and beyond most other sci-fi flicks.
The film looks great, with excellent photography and editing. A lot of scenes, such as the nightclub scene, leaves a great lasting impact. Acting is great: I love Linda Hamilton, Michael Beihn, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in their respective roles. Writing is pretty decent. This production has plenty of good, utilitarian sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is really weird, but very moody and appropriately industrial.
4.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Perfect | Film: Very Good)
Recommendation: Watch this film if you want to live.
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Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
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The first Terminator film presented the unique concept of a robot killer sent back through time to assassinate a specific target to affect the outcome of a futuristic war. Even though the characters overcame the Terminator, Judgment Day still beckoned. Nuclear war is coming. Robots will march over the dead and annihilate the living. They are still looking to alter the past to win over the future.
T2 hits the ground running with a similar plot structure as the first film: a Terminator appears to terminate somebody, and another figure appears to protect the target. This time, the protector is a Terminator reprogrammed to be the good guy. While there is plenty of fighting and chasing, what follows is not just another retread, and it's not all about running away from the threat. This time, the characters turn the tables with massive firepower to try and change the future. This makes for a number of impressive action setpieces: the attack on Cyberdyne Systems is a loud, explosive splurge of mass carnage. The final showdown in the steel mill is a thrilling and iconic sequence, especially when it shows the epic smackdown between the two Terminators. Various sequences here and there are just as exciting. It's all made even more memorable and innovating for featuring the T-1000: a Terminator made entirely of liquid metal, which is not only a great feat in special effects, but also one of the most menacing villains in cinema.
There is a ton of big action in the film, making it a satisfyingly badass experience. It's made even better with a solid plot structure, and a cast of deep, well-developed characters. Sarah Connor is fully fleshed-out at this point, as a heroine who is both hardened and traumatized by the events of the first film. Despite being a little annoying, John Connor shows enough heart to be relatable. Even the Terminator himself is humanized to a point. All the characters show remarkable pathos, and combined with the story, they serve to underscore key themes concerning humanity's destructiveness. By the film's end, the message is clear: the future is not written, and it's up to us to determine our own destiny.
The film looks very slick and stylish, with photography that's steady, but also moves in thrilling ways. Editing is superb. Acting is great: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton return to offer great performances, while Edward Furlong does the best he can (despite being a little annoying with his constantly-cracking voice) and Robert Patrick does his best to be menacing. Writing is good, in my opinion. This production spares no expense on the sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is pretty cool at times.
[Show spoiler]
As thrilling as the first two Terminator films were, they made up a rather complete duology. I still always dreamed that a third movie should be made, to take the franchise into thrilling new directions. About ten or eleven years after T2, this film finally came out, with surprisingly little enthusiasm.
Outside of James Cameron's hands, it's not quite the same. I can't deny that it's missing a certain charm, or perhaps a certain pathos, that makes the first two films work so well. Regardless, T3 has its share of excitement. The car chase in the opening act, featuring a crane that wrecks a huge number of cars and one whole building, is an excellent and awesome thing to watch. The film maintains really fast pacing with a frequent number of chases and fights. It's also loaded up with quite a bit of silly comedy. I could see audiences loathing the lighter tone of the film, but I think it's a real hoot. Even though these scenes make the film lightweight, it still has serious moments, especially during its final scenes.
The film starts off looking quite similar to the other two movies, with two Terminators coming into the past, one to kill and the other to protect. It quickly covers thrilling new ground, showcasing a lost and troubled John Connor who winds up literally trapped in some rather amusing situations. When the actual Judgment Day hits, it becomes a mad rush. There's not much room for character or theme development, and when there is, some of the scenes might come off as wimpy (especially in the way John Connor whines and threatens to kill himself in one scene). Regardless, it's a serviceable story with a few surprising twists, even if it doesn't have the same depth or feeling as its predecessors.
The film looks slick, with solid photography and editing. Acting is not bad: Arnold Schwarzenegger returns with a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of his iconic character. Nick Stahl does his best to match up with Edward Furlong's portrayal of John Connor; despite being a little unlikable as a character, I think his performance is admirable. Clare Danes and Kristanna Lokken are both fun to watch. Writing is okay; there are a few lines that I wish were expanded upon (chief among them, "Judgment Day is inevitable!" ). This production has plenty of good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects look great most of the time, and a little weak in other spots. Music is pretty good.
4/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Pretty Good | Film: Good)
Recommendation: A definite yes for fans and those who enjoy action and sci-fi, a rental for everybody else.
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Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange
Terminator: Salvation
[Show spoiler]
The first two Terminator films hinted at the frightening post-nuclear-war future, overrun by SkyNet and its army of machines. Terminator 3 showed how it came to pass. Finally, in 2009, Terminator: Salvation would be the first film to show the actual future wars of the franchise in full.
To be frank, my first impression was not the best. I took issue with Christian Bale's aggressive take on John Connor, and the film's focus on Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) as the main character. To say nothing of the actual plot, which seems like a mad rush to slap John, Marcus, and Kyle Reese together, just because destiny says they have to.
On repeat viewings, I learned to accept the film as it is. This is still an action-driven film, and the action does not disappoint. It does a decent job of showing planes and soldiers clashing with SkyNet's terminators, goliaths, and hunter-killers in some modestly epic war scenes. The chase scene between the tow truck, the giant terminator, the motorbike terminators, and the giant HK is a thrilling piece of work. The final confrontations in the SkyNet factory are pretty cool. The pacing is high most of the time, and the film overall is appropriately gritty, dark, and intense.
The story doesn't really progress the franchise much, aside from uniting the characters we know and love together, and showing a little more insight on the future war. Its biggest contribution is in introducing Marcus as a character, who comes to represent a larger theme that puts the movie into a thrilling new context: the film overall asks the question, what does it mean to be human? Through a series of dramatic twists, the film reaches a decently profound conclusion.
The film looks good, with solid photography and quality editing. There are a lot of great looking shots throughout. Acting is not bad at all: even though I found it hard to accept Christian Bale's performance as John Connor (thanks largely to Bale's supposed outburst during the film's shooting, and his previous portrayal as Batman), I realized that he is doing his best to match up with Edward Furlong's character in T2, and he does so with an appropriate level of nuance and aggression. Sam Worthington is surprisingly excellent in his role. Anton Yelchin is not bad as Kyle Reese, but could have used more scenes. Writing overall is pretty good. This production has decent sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is good.
4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)
Recommendation: Terminator fans should give it a try, everybody else can rent.
"Old...not obsolete." - Arnold Schwarzenegger
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For over 30 years, James Cameron's The Terminator has relentlessly entertained with its punchy visual flair and its elegant narrative. It presented an iconic franchise, and it did so telling a great story with time travel that actually made sense. With three sequels of varying quality and substance, the series became rather convoluted. With Terminator: Genysis, filmmakers decided to "hit the reset button" and set a new direction for a potential new Terminator saga.
To be honest, I expected Genysis to be a horrid mess. I expected filmmakers to throw the classic Terminator playbook out the window, say "ah f&*k it" and give us two hours of silly, messy action scenes with no coherent story. There might be some who will label Genysis as such a mess, but personally, I was pleasantly surprised by the film's earnestness.
Make no mistake though, the film does have its share of humorous banter and over-the-top action. Chief among the action setpieces, there are a lot of Terminator brawling scenes, where machines fight each other and destroy just about everything in their wake. There are car chases, and there's even a helicopter chase. The firepower is more explosive, the fights are at their most hard-hitting, and the experience as an action film is satisfying.
As with any film, it's the story that will either make it or break it. Even with a cursory glance, viewers can nitpick about plot holes and contrivances with Genysis, given the fact that all Terminator movies jack up the timeline more and more. In this case, the film takes after the first film and neglects the rest, before presenting a number of twists that splinters the plot into an alternate timeline. This time, Kyle goes back in time to find Sarah is already protected by a T-8-800, and is armed to the teeth. There are already T-1000s lurking around 1984, and everything the characters thought they knew becomes irrelevant. In spite of this, the film does one thing that the other sequels never could: it liberates itself from the original formula of The Terminator and opens up the possibilities to any number of directions. Kyle and the Connors are no longer bound to destiny and fulfilling their established roles; as they journey through a new and uncertain future, they confront threats old and new, and once again prove that anything is possible. Because of the way the film remixes aspects of the original film, it slickly utilizes a few scenes from the first film, and is loaded with references and familiar lines. The film adheres closely to ideas and concepts introduced in the first two films. Thus, it feels like a natural extension of the first film, and in all respects, it's a pretty fun alternate sequel.
If there is anything that hampers the storytelling, it would be the characters. They aren't terrible by any means - Kyle Reese and Sarah Connor are as great to watch as ever - but their relationship takes on a totally different dynamic, and the way it turns out in the end could have been refined more (the romance felt forced; I actually question if it's even necessary in the alternate timeline). More screen time for "Pops," John Connor, and O'Brien would have helped tremendously. Danny Dyson appears in just one scene, but I wish he could have had a much bigger role in the film.
The film is made with decent photography. The camera work can be a little shakey in a few scenes, but a lot of the imagery is good. Editing is not bad. Acting is fine for what it is: Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as the iconic Terminator, and he's still a blast to watch. I felt that Emilia Clarke's performance as Sarah Connor was appropriate. I can't say I like Jai Courney as an actor, but I have to admit that him playing Kyle Reese wasn't terrible; he looked the part, and was appropriately stoic. Jason Clarke is decent. Writing is okay, but I felt it could have used a lot of refinement, especially in defining the villains' intentions and fleshing out character relationships. Plenty of exposition is delivered regarding the various plot twists, and even though it often feels forced, it helps make sense of what could have been a screwed-up plotline. This production has pretty good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Some special effects are great, others not so much. The music score reprises a few of the classic themes in an elegant manner, and it is really nice.
Terminator: Genysis is not nearly as bad as I expected; it won't top the first two films, but it's certainly superior to the last two. There are a few things I wish could have been better, but the film does promise a thrilling new direction for the series' future, and it promises to be quite the explosive ride.
4/5 (Experience: Good | Story: Not Bad | Film: Pretty Good)
Recommendation: Unless you hate these types of films, it's worth seeing at least once.
THIS is how you do a sequel. Magic Mike XXL is breathlessly jubilant, scrapping the tired rise/fall narrative from the first installment and instead focusing on the euphoric ways in which this culture satisfies their audience. With sizzling direction by Gregory Jacobs and spellbinding cinematography by Peter Andrews (*cough* Soderbergh *cough*), this franchise feels like it's just getting started in spite of its "one last ride" mentality.
The "plot" is this: Set throughout the Southern US, the gang is back, on their way to a stripper convention in Myrtle Beach. That's it. Magic Mike XXL stuns because of its characters, each full of interesting traits that propel individual arcs and side stories. It's one of the greatest "hang out" films ever made, mainly because Reid Carolin's screenplay commits to their personalities and never seeks to haphazardly add in any sort of conflict. The heightened stakes come from these guys and their own troubles, trials, and tribulations.
The look of Magic Mike XXL is glorious, glorious, and you guessed it, glorious. It has this moody and erotic energy within every frame, and along with the pulsating soundtrack, the film takes on the quality of a hazy southern dream. Characters move through light in vibrant and indistinct fashion, floating through darkened hallways as Jacob's camera slowly follows behind. In a particular mansion sequence where African-American women subscribe for "worship" by male entertainers, Jada Pinkett Smith leads the audience and our main characters through a ghostly and hauntingly fuzzy maze of primary colors and feverish poise. Soderbergh for Best Cinematography please!
The main surprise in Magic Mike XXL doesn't come from its lack of conflict or from its character immediacy, but from its focus. Every character in Jacobs' film is either aiming to please a woman or actually IS a woman, portraying a "pro-woman" feel with immaculate humanism and genuine happiness. The film gives off a vibe of ecstatic respect for not just women but for men as well, showcasing tremendous discussion on relationships and how anyone should be treated within such a bond.
In many ways, Magic Mike XXL signals a revolution in respect and sexual comfort. I can't count the amount of s*men euphemisms within the film, but it's all taken with such a gleeful smile that the imagery is lifted, almost freed from the realm of sexual awkwardness. This is a playful movie, delving into childlike innocence and lively entertainment in order to speak about important cultural issues. It's simply liberating in the best possible way.
As a straight male, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I was actually enjoying the stripping sequences. Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Matt Bomer and Adam Rodriguez dance with a level of grace and lightness that it's hard not to come away impressed, but the music and the free-flowing aura meshed together into energy that resembled a loose freight train. The final sequence goes from one dance to another, checking off character arcs with such fearless audacity and pleasurable elegance that I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. Brilliant stuff.
Overall, Magic Mike XXL is a substantial improvement over its predecessor, tackling the "hang-out" sub-genre with potent finesse and mixing in scrumptious visual/aural elements to complete the bubbly package. It's probably the most fun I've had with a film so far this year, and like many cinematic Trojan horses, Jacobs' masterful work will find its true audience to be a mixture of 40 year old women and enthusiastic cinephiles.
So, the concept behind this film is kinda brilliant. Maybe it's not a 100% completely original idea, but the way it's executed is fantastic. I haven't been keeping up with Pixar much lately so I dunno what their deal is, but Inside Out is classic Pixar, the same studio that brought me so much joy (get it) as a kid. And it's some of their most adult work, from the concept itself to the many themes it deals with. But in true Pixar style, they've fashioned a movie that can be enjoyed by children and grown-ups alike.
I think the most impressive thing about the movie is just how well thought out everything is. It incorporates many ideas used in psychology that deal with the brain, and the way they're incorporated is so imaginative. The amount of creativity on display is breathtaking, and with the help of the gorgeous animation, it's a real pleasure to watch. Even better are the characters; the 5 emotions are wonderfully realized, given life by a talented group of voice actors. Joy and Sadness are one of the best on-screen duos I've seen in a long time, their chemistry is electric, and they get their fair share of hilarious and heartbreaking scenes.
Heartbreaking, of course, it's Pixar. I counted at least 3 scenes where tears were shed, and many others that are just so emotionally powerful. That's what I really loved about Inside Out, it just f**king nails emotion, it gets it so right and makes it so relatable for the audience. The greatest claim the movie makes is: suppressing sadness is worse than feeling it. We all want to be happy all the time, but sadness is good, in fact, it's inherently good for us, and it's only after sadness that we can feel true joy. The fact that this is coming from what many would consider just a "kids" movie is so amazing to me. Hands down, one of the best films of the year.
I realllyyy had to pee like 30 minutes into the movie, so it became a battle between me holding it in and trying to focus on the movie. The movie won.
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This was definitely the first MCU movie I was wary about. Something felt off about it, not to mention its various production troubles. Fortunately, it ended up being a pretty enjoyable movie, though not exactly top-tier Marvel. It benefits from a great cast, Paul Rudd is his usual charming self and is a great addition to the Marvel family, and his little group of criminals were hilarious and really shined whenever they were on screen. The villain, on the other hand, was probably the blandest and weakest villain in the MCU to date; he wasn't particulary good or bad, he was just there.
It feels weird at times, almost slapdash in a way, especially towards the start. But once Lang gets the suit, it picks up and becomes pretty damn fun. The first shrinking scene is a real highlight, and the shrinking itself makes for an interesting change from other superhero movies. I think the biggest problem is just that it's visually very bland. It doesn't stand out at all so it makes the movie feel more boring that it is. Also, it's nowhere near as epic as you'd expect from Marvel; it's actually a fairly intimate and small affair, right down to the third act, which...is appropriate given the hero in question. That's not even a knock at all, it felt like a refreshing change of pace. Despite all that, I really had a blast watching it and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Ant-Man in the future. Plus, the two credits scenes were awesome and got me real excited for what's to come.
"Do you ever look at someone and wonder, 'What is going on inside their head?'" - Amy Poehler
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The human mind is a complex labyrinth of mental processes, conscious and unconscious thoughts, emotions, memories, and more. It's a muscle that's always working in complicated ways to ensure our survival in day-to-day interactions, and for human beings in particular, this extends to emotional well-being, socializing, rationalizing, communicating, and more. Few people, if any, fully understand how the human brain fully works; it's just always there, and the voices in our heads are always there to guide us through life. With Pixar's film Inside Out, filmmakers cleverly interpret neuroscience into a whole new universe where emotions are characters, memories are objects to be stored and used, and their interactions are what cause people to act the way they do.
In spite of the premise, the film definitely employs some imaginative world-building, featuring visually fantastic scenes where a person's mind is a surreal fantasy world akin to Alice in Wonderland (which in itself could be interpreted as a mental thing anyway). Within the mind of one little girl, there are "personality islands" that represents Riley's values; there's a literal "train of thought" that appears; there's a zone where "abstract thought" turns the characters into literally abstract figures; there's a film studio that makes dreams; and so much more. It's a clever way to translate what we know of the brain into literal places that are visually impressive and sometimes funny. What brings the mental landscape to life will be the characters though - the interaction between all the emotions creates plenty of hilarious comedy between themselves, and causes people to react in funny ways too. Altogether, the movie is just as cute, funny, and imaginative as Toy Story and Monsters Inc. were.
The story has two different narratives working for it. On one level, it's the simple story about Riley, the girl who has to move from rural Minnesota to San Francisco, and has to cope with all the stress of leaving behind home and living in a new place. In her head is where the bulk of the film's adventure takes place, in which Riley's Joy and Sadness both go missing and have to find their way back to headquarters before the other emotions mess up Riley's life for good. It's a pretty lightweight story on both accounts, with subtle levels of conflict. What makes the film compelling will be the characters, both external and internal. It is consistently fun to watch the emotions, for even though they are one-dimensional, their personalities clash and react in dynamic ways. Thanks to their relationships, Riley and her family are brought to life in a perfectly lovable way as well.
This film is crafted with top-notch animation quality. It's a bright and colorful film with plenty of imaginative designs. Lighting, textures, and rendering are all great. Movements are very lively and smooth. In some areas, it is genuinely impressive as to how big in scale some of the settings and locales are. Voice-acting is great from the whole cast, the writing is good, and the music score is appropriate.
Inside Out is cute, funny, and pretty clever, much like the other films Pixar is best known for. It deserves a look.
4/5 (Experience: Good | Content: Good | Film: Good)
As we reached double figures in the early 2000s decade there seemed to be a little influx of off-kilter superhero flicks. In 2009 we saw 'Defendor' and then in 2010 we got both 'Kick-Ass' (by far the biggest and most successful) and this little gem starring Rainn Wilson...apparently named after a weather condition but they added an extra 'N' to make it not look too stupid.
The plot isn't too unfamiliar, in fact its hella predictable really. Frank is a plain and simple, unfit, kinda ugly blue collar guy who works in some dingy diner as the cook. Somehow he is married to a pretty sexy girl Sarah, (Liv Tyler). Unfortunately Sarah becomes a druggie early in their relationship and (somehow) gets involved with the sleazy strip club owner Jacques (Kevin Bacon). This causes Frank to spiral into depression behaving recklessly and stupidly, he challenges Jacques and his goons (he has his own strip club goons), tries to get the police to arrest Jacques for stealing his wife and...almost buys a pet rabbit. Eventually his madness leads to supernatural/spiritual visions where he thinks God tells him to become a superhero, so that's just what he does, become a crazy violent vigilante superhero of the people.
So yeah I think you get the gist of this right, the lonely, kinda chubby loser, thinks he's a superhero, makes his own silly costume and runs around the town trying to foil crime. Of course the twist being the movie is grounded in reality and of course Frank isn't a superhero at all and he doesn't live within a comicbook world. You do get all the usual quirks you'd expect in a real origins comicbook flick, the design and creation of his trademark costume, his superhero name, the help he receives from his future sidekick (another lonely blue collar worker who just happens to be a cute as buttons female), his weapon acquirement and his early missions.
Naturally being based in reality you can guess what happens, yes its an easy guess but it is rewarding none the less. Frank confronts typical street drug pushers and such only to find its not as easy as he thinks. Yeah you could say the baddies he confronts are racial stereotypes but the movie is only being honest here, I'm sure they did their research. Anyway it is funny how he dives into action only to have the shit kicked out of himself, it then dawns on him to get a weapon. The following night he does it all over again with the same guy, but now he has a wrench which he uses to beat the guy half to death. Yes it sounds awful but it is actually quite amusing because of the fact its so horrific, and the way he thinks he's doing a good thing. Yeah sure he's stopping a perp selling drugs on the street, but he pretty much kills the guy with a big metal wrench!
As things progress and he half kills more bad guys, he gains a reputation as a nasty vigilante...naturally. This is highlighted in one sequence where he, yet again, half kills a man and woman for cutting in line to a nightclub. The quick cut of him walking off to his car to change into his outfit, which is clearly suppose to take at least 10 minutes and shows him struggling in the backseat with his white Y-fronts on, is brilliant. There are other such superhero mockery moments like Frank waiting around all night behind a dumpster for a crime to occur. A very sweet little scene which shows him talking to himself, keeping a little superhero audio diary, kinda reminds me of the comicbook The Tick. Its moments like these that make the film work on so many levels as it mocks the typical superhero format we all know.
Is the film dark? why yes it is, not quite at first, but it sure does get emotional towards the finale. For starters Frank is clearly in his late 30's maybe early 40's, whilst his sidekick Libby, played by Ellen Page, is around 22 I think it was. Now this isn't an issue at first, Frank doesn't really want her to become his sidekick but she talks him into it, but when she kinda rapes him one night...well that's a bit questionable don't ya think. Talk about gender role reversal! I wonder what the feminists thought about that. Other dark and weird moments involve Franks visions which turn out to be a blend of religion, spiritual and alien abduction. I guess it shows how warped and delusional Frank must be to have these visions which come across as something from 'Hellraiser' mixed with a Holy intervention, and he sees it as positive.
Most of the other dark moments obviously revolve around the violence which is pretty darn bloody at times, this isn't a tame comicbook parody. There isn't anything outrageously over the top like 'Kick-Ass' though, its all quite acceptable and believable stuff, but graphic. Yet we do still get funny superhero mockery in the form of Frank turning up to fight bad guys only armed with his wrench and fists, he brings a wrench to a gun fight, and has to run away sharpish. I think the hardest and most gut wrenching moment is the ending for Libby, I won't ruin it but its actually heart-breaking, horrendously graphic and shocking...did I give that away? Its at that moment the movie really does shift up a gear into serious territory and becomes quite the adrenaline rush, its also where Rainn really shows us his talents.
It certainly fits the bill of a dark comicbook, at times highly amusing, at times highly violent and sick, and at times very emotional. The ending is odd because Frank manages to achieve his goal but at what cost?? it doesn't really seem like a happy ending, especially after the slap to the face revelation about Sarah at the very end, huh! Its a very well acted movie and very engaging I must say, didn't think it would be but it certainly is, you feel for Frank and Libby, and you want them to succeed. Alas you kinda forget all about Sarah even though she is the main target and goal for Frank. You really want him to ride off into the sunset with Libby, the film confuses you there, toys with your emotions. Still its a solid makeshift superhero/vigilante movie with a heart of gold? Well shocking depressing nastiness aside I guess it is, but its more like a rollercoaster for your emotions and moral compass...but still fun.
In the 90s, there was a pretty decent wave of spy movies; it started with a bang with 1994's explosive True Lies, which was shortly followed by the Brosnan era of James Bond, The Saint, Sneakers, and more. In the middle of this wave, Mission: Impossible burst into the blockbuster scene in '96, offering a flashier update on the classic TV series, complete with a prolific cast, some thrilling and memorable setpieces, and of course, action.
There are some great moment in this film. One of the most famous scenes is watching Ethan infiltrating a high-tech vault on wires, dangling over a pressure-sensitive floor while hacking into a secure computer; it's still quite the tense scene. On top of that, the bullet train scene is pretty awesome. There is a good amount of fights, chases, and explosions. There is plenty of tech on display, which all seemed really cool in the 90s (to include self-destructing video tapes, glasses with cameras, explosive gum, computer stuff, and more). There's political intrigue abound, causing the plot to twist around with themes of deception and counter-deception. For a spy movie, Mission: Impossible offers plenty to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the experience is hampered a bit by an overall feeling of dryness, causing some drag in between the more exciting scenes. This happens because the characters themselves are dry and fairly shallow caricatures; Ethan Hunt is a pretty standard action hero in this film, who watches his team fall apart and he's forced to go out on his own to find answers. This would be a great premise, but there's nothing much to Ethan's character to make us care for him. Without any personal stakes, the plot comes off as dry and shallow. There are neat ideas behind it, such as using a digital list of undercover agents as a MacGuffin, but on its own this is all rather dry and stuffy. On top of that, the film distances itself greatly from the source material; even though some names, some gadgets, and some aspects (like the use of masks) remain the same, the intrigue of the original show is ultimately replaced by pure spectacle. The original cast of the show hated this film, and if you're a fan of the original, chances are that you may not care for it (or its sequels) either.
Fortunately, the film looks good and professional, with fantastic photography and solid editing. Tom Cruise does his usual schtick in his role; Jon Voight does the same. The smaller roles by Jean Reno and Emilio Estevez are great. Other actors aren't bad. Writing could use more personality and color, but it's fine as it is. This production uses some really nice-looking locales, and some decent-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Danny Elfman's music score is a pretty standard variation on the classic TV show's theme.
Mission: Impossible has a lot of cool parts, but the sum of those parts aren't quite as endearing. The various sequels, especially the third film, would properly align the series with a greater level of heart and ambition. As it is though, this first film is a pretty neat thriller, especially for its time.
3.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)
Recommendation: Rental.
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On Blu-Ray (2006 edition), the video is a bit soft and there's a faint level of noise to it, but sharpness and detail are still pretty impressive at times, and the color/contrast is good. The film overall looks better than I remember. Sound quality is lacking.
PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 2.5/5
Last edited by Al_The_Strange; 07-27-2015 at 12:18 AM.
Mission: Impossible has a lot of cool parts, but the sum of those parts aren't quite as endearing. The various sequels, especially the third film, would properly align the series with a greater level of heart and ambition. As it is though, this first film is a pretty neat thriller, especially for its time.
Perfect sum up of the film Al
I'll be watching M:I3 and Ghost Protocol some time in the next week and catching Rogue Nation either Saturday morning or Tuesday night.
[Show spoiler]In the 90s, there was a pretty decent wave of spy movies; it started with a bang with 1994's explosive True Lies, which was shortly followed by the Brosnan era of James Bond, The Saint, Sneakers, and more. In the middle of this wave, Mission: Impossible burst into the blockbuster scene in '96, offering a flashier update on the classic TV series, complete with a prolific cast, some thrilling and memorable setpieces, and of course, action.
There are some great moment in this film. One of the most famous scenes is watching Ethan infiltrating a high-tech vault on wires, dangling over a pressure-sensitive floor while hacking into a secure computer; it's still quite the tense scene. On top of that, the bullet train scene is pretty awesome. There is a good amount of fights, chases, and explosions. There is plenty of tech on display, which all seemed really cool in the 90s (to include self-destructing video tapes, glasses with cameras, explosive gum, computer stuff, and more). There's political intrigue abound, causing the plot to twist around with themes of deception and counter-deception. For a spy movie, Mission: Impossible offers plenty to enjoy.
Unfortunately, the experience is hampered a bit by an overall feeling of dryness, causing some drag in between the more exciting scenes. This happens because the characters themselves are dry and fairly shallow caricatures; Ethan Hunt is a pretty standard action hero in this film, who watches his team fall apart and he's forced to go out on his own to find answers. This would be a great premise, but there's nothing much to Ethan's character to make us care for him. Without any personal stakes, the plot comes off as dry and shallow. There are neat ideas behind it, such as using a digital list of undercover agents as a MacGuffin, but on its own this is all rather dry and stuffy. On top of that, the film distances itself greatly from the source material; even though some names, some gadgets, and some aspects (like the use of masks) remain the same, the intrigue of the original show is ultimately replaced by pure spectacle. The original cast of the show hated this film, and if you're a fan of the original, chances are that you may not care for it (or its sequels) either.
Fortunately, the film looks good and professional, with fantastic photography and solid editing. Tom Cruise does his usual schtick in his role; Jon Voight does the same. The smaller roles by Jean Reno and Emilio Estevez are great. Other actors aren't bad. Writing could use more personality and color, but it's fine as it is. This production uses some really nice-looking locales, and some decent-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Danny Elfman's music score is a pretty standard variation on the classic TV show's theme.
Mission: Impossible has a lot of cool parts, but the sum of those parts aren't quite as endearing. The various sequels, especially the third film, would properly align the series with a greater level of heart and ambition. As it is though, this first film is a pretty neat thriller, especially for its time.
3.5/5 (Entertainment: Pretty Good | Story: Average | Film: Good)
Recommendation: Rental.
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On Blu-Ray (2006 edition), the video is a bit soft and there's a faint level of noise to it, but sharpness and detail are still pretty impressive at times, and the color/contrast is good. The film overall looks better than I remember. Sound quality is lacking.
PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 2.5/5
Pretty much agree with your review as well. While it's probably my least favorite of the series, it's still entertaining and well made.
If you're a big enough fan of the series, I would suggest seeking out one of the several fairly recent Nordic releases of the first three movies (I picked Denmark for my collection on here since I think that's where I got mine from). They are encoded with MPEG-4 video and DTS-HD Master Audio, although I still have the US release of the third movie too for the special features disc.
Ethan Hunt returns for another mission. This time it's far more extreme and far more impossible. Riding the wave of insane action movies of the 2000s - utterly ridiculous films like Charlie's Angels, Die Another Day, xXx, and more - MI:2 is an adrenaline shot full of flash and style.
Much unlike the first film, which was more interested in being a spy thriller, MI:2 comes off as a pretty silly and trashy action flick. Much of the story revolves around a biochemical weapon, so the film takes some time to set up the characters with some deception and counter-deception games. When the last hour hits, it becomes an all-out bombardment of over-the-top setpieces, featuring lots of explosive gunplay, dramatic fistfights, and vehicular carnage. There are some bizarre motorcycle stunts, including a scene where Ethan pops a wheelie on the front tire, that I'm pretty sure defy the laws of physics. A lot of these scenes are ordained with dramatic slow-motion flames...and doves! Lots of freaking doves everywhere for no apparent reason!
The experience of this film is a weird one; the action can be pretty enthralling in its own right, but the build-up to it drags at times, and then when it all goes into overdrive, it's almost overbearing. A lot of scenes require a huge suspension of disbelief. Above all though, the film feels like it follows in the footsteps of so many other action films before it, such as The Rock, GoldenEye, and John Woo's own films like Hard Boiled and Broken Arrow. In the end, it feels like an "all style no substance" show.
A lot of this is because the whole plot around the Chimera virus doesn't really break new ground, and combined with the ridiculous action and style, the film feels shallow and senseless. There are a few redeeming qualities, however. Inspired by Hitchcock's Notorious, MI:2 does handle its characters well enough; the romance between Ethan and Nyah is pretty nice, the villain is a good bad guy we can love to hate, and their interactions overall gives the plot enough weight to make it work.
This film is made with some very flashy photography and editing; there are a few transitions I find gaudy, but most of the film is pretty stylish and good-looking. Tom Cruise still does his usual schtick, but it is pretty fun to watch Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames, and Dougray Scott in their roles. Brendan Gleeson and Anthony Hopkins are respectable in their small roles. Didn't care much for John Polson. Writing is not particularly great, but some of the lines are pretty amusing. This production uses some very exotic locales, sets, props, costumes, and special effects. I love Hans Zimmer's music score for this - a pretty wild blend of operatic and metal cues - and the film does use a few excellent heavy metal songs (for better or for worse).
This is a pretty odd film for the series; it's not much of a Mission: Impossible film, but it is pretty entertaining as a mindless action flick, and it does represent the height of John Woo's stylistic excesses. Genre and franchise fans should give it a try once.
Recommendation: Rental.
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On Blu-Ray (2006 edition), this picture looks pretty sharp and clear, but is prone to some light levels of noise and what appears to be a significant level of EE. Color and contrast is decent. Sound quality is so-so.
PQ: 3.5/5, AQ: 2.5/5
Last edited by Al_The_Strange; 07-27-2015 at 04:43 AM.
I'll be watching M:I3 and Ghost Protocol some time in the next week and catching Rogue Nation either Saturday morning or Tuesday night.
Sounds good, can't wait to see your thoughts.
I'm not sure when I'll see RN, but I will assuredly see it soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KilloWertz
Pretty much agree with your review as well. While it's probably my least favorite of the series, it's still entertaining and well made.
If you're a big enough fan of the series, I would suggest seeking out one of the several fairly recent Nordic releases of the first three movies (I picked Denmark for my collection on here since I think that's where I got mine from). They are encoded with MPEG-4 video and DTS-HD Master Audio, although I still have the US release of the third movie too for the special features disc.
Thanks, I might consider upgrading these copies. Been wondering about the MI:III disc too, because of all the complaints about lossy audio; I'm not really a huge audiophile though.
Thanks, I might consider upgrading these copies. Been wondering about the MI:III disc too, because of all the complaints about lossy audio; I'm not really a huge audiophile though.
You're welcome.
I'm not an audiophile either, but I figured I might as well just in case I ever upgrade my equipment someday (and I do like DTS better than Dolby), and they really weren't that much money. Plus, even though I doubt it's a huge upgrade in PQ (I never bothered to compare), I figured I might as well have the best available even though none of them were given real remasters or anything like that.
Like I mentioned before, even if you do end up "upgrading", at least keep the second disc for the third movie since none of the special features for that movie are available on Blu-ray anymore besides the commentary since that disc is no longer packaged with the movie.
This is a pretty odd film for the series; it's not much of a Mission: Impossible film, but it is pretty entertaining as a mindless action flick, and it does represent the height of John Woo's stylistic excesses. Genre and franchise fans should give it a try once.
Yeah, I have a really difficult time with this one. Mostly because I really like all the others and have them in my collection. I'm also excited for the latest installment. MI:II really gives me trouble though. I'll go years without seeing it and then rent it to give it a chance again and then am reminded fairly early on why I don't have it and don't like it. It must be the script and or Woo's style or something. It just feels too hammy and like you mentioned, asks me to suspend too much of my disbelief. I border on hate for this movie because I enjoy the series so much otherwise and can't bring myself to stomach a whole sit through. 2/5 is the best I can give.
Main Stars: Jude Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Tobias Menzies
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Robinson (Law) is a gruff submariner who's spent more of his life under water than on land. His life is turned upside down when some corporate shill half his age tells him the ocean salvage company he's worked for all those years no longer needs his services. Back home he ponders a future with no prospects until one day while drowning his sorrows he hears of the discovery of a Nazi U-boat found at the bottom of the Black Sea, rumored to be filled with gold. It’s his for the taking if he can manage to keep his hastily assembled crew of misfits from killing each other while avoiding the Soviet navy above their heads. Think Ocean's Eleven meets Das Boot. I found the concept intriguing and despite some plot contrivances and a complete disregard for physics at the end it managed to thoroughly engage me from beginning to end. Filmed inside a real Soviet submarine, the claustrophobic setting enhances the non-stop tension. With not much else to look at, the focus is on the performances and the actors do a good job conveying the fear and paranoia they face. McNairy is especially great as the slimy corporate minder and one can't help but compare him to the equally reprehensible Carter Burke in Aliens. But, some clichés are present, and character development takes a bit of a back seat in order to move the story along. Not the best thriller out there, but effectively entertaining with a great cast and unique setting.
I like how Tom Cruise decided at some point during production, "I need to ride a f**king motorcycle", so they just added that in.
I'm starting to think the Mission: Impossible series is somewhat underrated. Seems like a crazy thought considering the critical and commercial success of pretty much every entry, but the series seems to fly under the radar when talking about great action franchises. You got your Bourne, your Bond, even the Fast and Furious series made a comeback and became a sort of spy thriller/action movie hybrid. But M:I is right there in the background, delivering some of the most consistently entertaining action movies for almost 20 years now.
A lot of that is probably due to Cruise, who treats this series with the upmost respect and care, and his determination to deliver high-quality entertainment to the masses clearly shows with every film. Rogue Nation is no different, it's an exceptionally entertaining blockbuster, basically gathering all the best things about the previous films and throwing them together to create some sort of tasty Mission: Impossible stew.
The movie was heavily marketed around Cruise's plane stunt, hanging of the side of a giant plane at 5000 feet. And as impressive as that is, it's not even the best sequence in the film. You've probably seen them mentioned already (opera house, underwater), so needless to say the movie is filled with awesome set-pieces. It was also nice to see Ving Rhames back on the team, and I gotta say, Pegg and Renner's comedic timing was on point. They garner some of the biggest laughs in the movie. And I sincerely hope we'll be seeing more of Rebecca Ferguson in the future. Looking badass next to Tom Cruise is no easy feat, and she pulls it off with ease.
Why did I write so much? This is longer than I wanted. It's a great movie. Go watch it. Now.
Enjoyed Rogue Nation but did not drink the Kool-Aid as much as a lot of people seem to be doing.
It was a solid, entertaining movie with a few laughs here and there but nothing more in my opinion
I did not find the villain super creepy/intimidating like many did, most of the jokes either fell flat or were just chuckle worthy (there was one or two moments) and just generally less entertaining than the previous film.
I'm going to go 4/5 for the film as, like I said, I did enjoy it but I don't think it is one that I will end up purchasing.
Personally thought Ghost Protocol did just about everything superior to this film.
All countries
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). This production has plenty of good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects look great most of the time, and a little weak in other spots. Music is pretty good.
moments) and just generally less entertaining than the previous film.
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