Movie: Predators (2010)

Rating: C

After the past few attempts of futility at trying to keep the Predator franchise alive, I didn't think that I'd have anything good to say about this rendition. Let's not kid ourselves, it's still a Predator movie and you're only watching it for one reason. And for that, Nimrod Antal does an admirable job.



Sometimes I wonder if Danny Trejo would find work without Robert Rodriguez. Sorry... A little non sequitur perhaps, but a random thought from this movie. Haha. Anyway, it's a little hard to get over some of the choice of actors; in particular, Adrien Brody as a Merc, but if you get over that, get over the gutteral cliche one liners and stop trying to make sense of the whole thing, Predators does have its moments.

For one, I never figured Alice Braga to be a military woman, but she's actually a pleasant surprise in this role. For another, the story does attempt to throw you a few surprises. And for a few fleeting moments, you get Lawrence Fishburne. Why? I have no idea. But there he is. Haha. It has its share of gun fights and fight scenes, trying not to be too repetitive, but let's face it. It's got nothing on the original.



~Cheers.

Movie: Hanna (2011)

Rating: B-

2011 has been rather slow. I've had to wait until NOW (April 16th) to finally find a movie that's really intrigued me enough to want to watch it. I never thought however, that a young actress that I never heard of...scratch that...a young actress whose name I can't even pronounce....scratch that... well, BOTH statements are correct...I never thought of a young actress whose name I can't pronounce and that I've never heard of would be so charismatic and captivating.



Saorise Ronan, whom apparently was in was in Atonement with Kiera Knightley (among other films), stars in this coming-of-age thriller. An fairly interesting concept that dances around a Grimm theme, the movie moves along at a fairly good clip, but I really wish that they would have found more depth in the characters and the stories. Hanna only grazes the surface of a story that could be so much more, but instead leaves too many loose ends and unanswered questions.

While the performances of Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett give gleaming performances, there's just simply not enough depth in the characters for us to care about either of them. I really think that if Joe Wright would have less attention to spinning cameras and more attention to scratching more than just the surface, this would have been a MUCH better movie.

Despite fight scenes that were too slow for the post-Jason Bourne era; Hanna is fairly delicious from start to finish, but leaves you hungry for more substance.

~Cheers.

Movie: 127 Hours (2010)

Rating: B+

When you only have 1 actor for the bulk of a movie that runs 93min long, you better cross your fingers, beg and pray that he can act and carry your vision. I would never have guessed that James Franco would be the one to pull it off.



I think I would have enjoyed the movie a little bit better if Kate Mara had a bigger role. Haha. Personal preference. Despite this, I was floored by Franco's performance. What a difference from the spoiled rich brat he played in the Spiderman series! I can't quite decide if I want to take Franco seriously as an actor yet, but this film certainly doesn't hurt.

This is a based on true events movie about a guy whose arm is trapped under a boulder for 127 hours. Don't expect a whole lot to happen in these 93 minutes. Instead, you're watching Franco's performance as he deteriorates and becomes more and more desperate. And does the job quite well.

~Cheers.