What was the last movie you saw...? Part IV

[Typhon]

The Long Riders (1980)

This is an excellent portrayal of the origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the James gang. 

Every detail of this film is realistic.  The western towns, the country settings, the people from all walks of life all done perfectly.  The film intentionally used a cast of real life brothers to play this famous gang. 

Frank and Jesse James are played by Stacy and James Keach.
Cole, Jim and Bob Younger are played by David, Kieth and Robert Carradine.
Ed and Clell Miller are played by Dennis and Randy Quaid.

There have been a lot of films made about the James gang, but this one is by far the best.  10/10

[Zzzptm]

That's one of the classics, there.

[Charger]

^^^
I have not seen that one! 




INVASION U.S.A


A mad russian terrorist Rostov begins an attack on American soil with a useage of a private army. First he goes after his old CIA foe Matt Hunter but sadly for him he fails and Hunter begins a one man fight against his army of brutal invaders.

One of the all time 80s classics! I had not seen this in about 30 years and was pondering had it lost any of it's touch over the years...the answer is not really. Sure some of the action sequences might look bit dated for today's standards but that means absolutely nothing.

Chuck Norris shines in the role of Hunter, a man with few words but many bullets. But the show is almost stolen from him by Richard Lynch whose preformance of Rostov is just mad enough.

This is somewhat of an underrated 80s classic, that stands its own against the likes of Commando, Rambo II and Above The Law.


*  *  *  * ½

[Typhon]

Criminal (2016)

A CIA Agent (Ryan Reynolds) is on a mission to track down a hacker named 'The Dutchman'.  When he gets mysteriously killed, his boss (Gary Oldman) is persuaded to try an experimental procedure which transfers the memories of the Agent into the mind a dangerous ex-convict (Kevin Costner).  When he wakes up the Agent's memories, his mission is to eliminate The Dutchman before the hacker launches ICBMs and starts World War III.

Good bit of action with a fine supporting cast.  8/10

[Charger]

^^^
Have not seen that! Need to add it to the ever growing list of films I need to watch!



THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY

A gentleman thief partners with a safe cracking expert in mid 19th century England to rob a large ammount of gold from a moving train.

Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland star in this slow paced but very well acted and written historical heist thriller and their charisma carries the movie with ease.

Director/Writer Michael Crichton based the movie on his own book which he based on actual events. And there is a certain grounded realism present through out. The plot carries on well and there are few rather comical moments as well which add another layer to the film.

This isn't the most flashy heist movie you'll ever see but what it loses in the action department it makes up in the charisma department.

Another lost gem that I had not seen before!

*  *  *  *

[Charger]

DEN OF THIEVES (courtesy of Typhon)

A tough Los Angeles Sheriff's Department team goes face to face with a bank robberer crew of ex soldiers. The crew tries to do the impossible and rob the Federal Reserve.

Gerald Butler and Pablo Schreiber do their best Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro impressions in this heist movie that borrows quite a bit from the Michael Mann classic Heat.

The cast is pretty good but the movie kind of drags on a bit in the middle, but once the heist begins speed begins to pick up. The final shoot out is almost directly stolen from Heat which is bit on the annoying side...the ending reveal again takes a bit from Usual Suspects.

It's clear that Writer/Director Christian Gudegast wanted to pay tribute to those two classics in his debut but I think a bit more orginal approach would have been a better option.
 
Still decent enough action thriller even with its flaws.


*  *  *

[Typhon]

I always wanted to own this film sense my favorite band used its title.  Hope to be watching this nice blu-ray edition soon.   


 

[Charger]

^^^
It's not a very good movie though... But it's worth the watch just because of the name!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I failed to get to the end of that one when I rented it! But, yes, it was for the same reason that I tried it!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Just to catch up on a few recent films...

Shelter

A Jason Statham vehicle, where he does the 1 man army routine. As a former special ops expert he crosses the wrong people. For many years he's hidden in a derelict lighthouse on a remote Scottish island with just his dog and getting supplies from a trusted fisherman and his daughter. Anyway, after a storm kills his friend as the boat sinks, and strands him with the daughter (ca 13). He has to get her back to civilisation, but he gets spotted on CCTV cameras and bad people come after him.

It's a by-the-numbers action flick, and Statham has done much better. But it was enjoyable enough if very predictable. 7/10


Coming up, The Bride, Project Hail Mary and maybe Hoppers.

[Typhon]

Truth (2015)

While George W. Bush is running for his secind term, Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) believes she’s broken the biggest story of the 2004 election concerning the sitting President’s military service.  After Dan Rather (Robert Redford) reports this news, allegations pour in and sources (Stacy Keach) change their stories.  Now Mary and her colleagues (Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss, Topher Grace) are investigated.

A great presentation of a national controversy that I remember very well.  9/10

[Charger]

THE LAIR

A British Air Force pilot is shot down somewhere over Afghanistan by the Taliban and while running from them she stumbles onto an old soviet bunker that houses something far more dangerous than the Taliban with their AK-47s.

Genre director Neil Marshall returns with Charlotte Kirk with an action horror comedy that is a whole lot of fun and something not to be taken too seriously.

Marshall (ever since Dog Soldiers) knows how to make fun and entertaining movies on a budget...also he likes to rely on strong female leads which Kirk delivers again.

A good solid b-movie fun! Don't think too much just enjoy.

*  *  *  ½

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
That film is listed as Horror and Action, with no reference to comedy.  Perhaps you found some humor in it because it is so bad. 

[Charger]

There's always comedy in Marshall's films. It's his trademark.

[Typhon]

View from the Top (2003)

A small town girl (Gwyneth Paltrow) has dreams of becoming a first-class international flight attendant.  After inspiration from her highly successful idle (Candice Bergen), she goes after her dream.  Her journey is complicated by a new boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo) and an envious stewardess (Christina Applegate).  There are some good laughs in the film, especially from her flight attendant instructor (Mike Myers).  Very enjoyable.  9/10