Movie: Lockout (2012)

Rating: D

I have a big love/hate relationship with Luc Besson movies. I love the premise, hate the execution, and love to rip on them afterwards. Lockout was no different. If you've read some of my critiques, you'll know how much I hate holes in movies. This movie just had hole after hole after hole, with poor lighting, editing, and I do believe, that somewhere in the beginning sequence, they forgot the put the finishing touches on some Special Effects (CGI).



It's almost like Mr. Besson is doing charity work. He comes up with ideas, writes the initial screenplay, then offloads it to some poor up and coming director salivating at the opportunity at having Luc Besson in his credits at the end of the movie. Lockout seems to be yet another example. Both James Mather and Stephen St. Leger just seem overwhelmed with directing this movie.

Looks like Guy Pearce has been hitting the gym and looks great as a grisly framed agent on a one man rescue mission of the president's daughter played by Maggie Grace. Their relationship is what you would expect between a wily veteran and a sassy, but doe eyed beauty, and while a romance is somewhat inevitable in this kind of movie, how it blossoms is entirely contrived and there is no chemistry whatsoever. Quite honestly, the only person that stood out in this entire movie is Joseph Gilgun who plays the crazed brother of the main villain in the movie.

~Cheers.

Movie: The Fast and the Furious 5 ... a.k.a Fast Five (2011)

Rating: B-

Who would have thought that this franchise would have lasted this long? But forget about acting, forget about character development, forget about the laws of physics and you have an action packed, edge of your seat, car crashing, testosterone induced, sweat drenching, extreme version of Ocean's Eleven.



It almost feels like Justin Lin went to the stunt team before he went to the writers...And succeeded. With barely a slow moment in the movie, each stunt performed is more outrageous than the previous. Bringing in most of the main characters from all the previous Fast and the Furious movies also allowed for the movie to fore-go the need for any character development and simply insert the characters as necessary for this film, giving him the flexibility to just focus all attention on blowing things up and mixing in generous amounts of hilarity.

Oh...and by the way, for you fans of the franchise...stick around for the credits.

~Cheers.

TV Series: Flashpoint (Season 3 Finale - Fault Lines)

Rating: A

Cuteviv & Certain Individual told me about Flashpoint a while ago, but I never really felt compelled to watch it. It's a cop show about an Strategic Response Unit (SRU - aka SWAT team). I mean, how do you take a cop show that stars the Pink Ranger (Amy Jo Johnson) seriously?! And to boot, they're headed up by Enrico Colantoni, who's probably only recognisable role is from Just Shoot Me!, a sitcom with David Spade!

(Sorry guys, couldn't find a good embeddable video - Watch Here)

But, CTV scheduled the Season 3 Finale after the Superbowl (XLV) last Sunday. And sprawled on the couch with a belly full of beer and similar libations, the only part of my body willing to move was my thumb, resulting in some serious channel surfing and ended up watching the season 3 finale of Flashpoint. I was totally blown away. It was intense, well written, gripping, and left you with a huge cliff hanger at the end. And I'm not giving it a great writeup because it's Canadian either.

Not only was the episode amazing, it's a great place to START watching Season 4 and not have to catch up and start with Season 1. It gave the characters depth, made you care about the characters, which made you care about the team. Full marks CTV for a great show that's even found success south of the 49th.

~Cheers.