![]() Later, Snow White ends up in a forest filled with swarming beetles and writhing snakes, only to make her way into a fairy world full of grassy tortoises and eyeball-covered mushrooms. It's also just a lot of fun watching Wahlberg go full MacGyver, improvising everything from his silencers to IVs. ![]() So when you hear Wahlberg talking shop with a wily old gunsmith (Levon Helm) or discussing the importance of elevation, wind speed, and the Coriolis effect when making the perfect shot, it all feels incredibly authentic. In fact, the actor even went to boot camp and trained with an actual sniper to prepare for the part. In addition to the gunfights, we've got to give props to the beautiful cinematography by Peter Menzies Jr., and of course, Wahlberg is perfect as Swagger, completely inhabiting the role of a rogue American hero. There's a brutal black site showdown involving a terrifying suicide contraption, and of course, there's the mind-blowing (literally) farmhouse battle featuring liberal use of napalm, pipe bombs, and intense helicopter action. There's the opening African shootout, and then there's the wintry standoff atop a snow-covered mountain. Playing like a souped-up version of Three Days of the Condor, Shooter is a bullet-riddled cornucopia of amazing action scenes. In fact, Roger Ebert hated the violence so much that he spoiled the ending in the first paragraph of his review.īut when a shady government agent (Danny Glover) frames Swagger for an assassination he didn't commit, the sergeant grabs a rifle and goes on the run, hoping to teach the bad guys a thing or two about American values. And it's that over-the-top bloodshed that angered so many critics. The violence is shockingly hard to watch, and as a result, Super feels like we're watching a schizophrenic madman who's building towards a mass shooting. And accompanying him on his quest is Libby (Elliot Page), a comic book nerd who has way too much fun breaking legs and bashing heads.ĭisguised as the Crimson Bolt (with his kid sidekick, Boltie), Frank uses a pipe wrench to punish both child molesters and people who cut in line. But after receiving a vision from God-one involving razor blades and hentai tentacles-Frank believes it's his divine mission to become a superhero, fight crime, and rescue his wife from Kevin Bacon's clutches. The plot follows a schlubby cook named Frank (Rainn Wilson) whose wife (Liv Tyler, playing a recovering addict) has just left him for the world's sleaziest drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). In other words, despite most critics blasting the film as "low-witted" and "just plain lazy," Hot Rod will live on in the hearts of fans because it's just too legit to quit. ![]() put it, Hot Rod has "a natural balance of absolute absurdity and genuine warmth." It's sweet and strangely touching, portraying Rod as a real hero you want to see succeed so he can punch his stepdad through a wall. We also guarantee that after watching this film, you'll never hear the phrase "cool beans" the same way again, and you certainly won't ever challenge a taco to a fight.īut most importantly, the movie works so well because it's so darn sincere. Along the way, there's an amazing Footloose parody, a peaceful march that descends into anarchy, and perhaps the greatest falling-down-a-hill-scene in cinematic history. With his dedicated group of friends-nerdy half-brother Kevin (Jorma Taccone), laidback Dave (Bill Hader), and TV-snatching Rico (Danny McBride)-Rod prepares for the stunt of his life, all while trying to impress his pretty neighbor Denise (Isla Fisher). ![]() Plus, Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, and Harvey Keitel are all fun to watch as they help and hinder Cage in his quest to find the world's biggest pile of gold. "Cleverness can be overrated," wrote Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post, "but it can be underrated too, and the best thing about National Treasure is how clever it is." There's invisible ink, hidden ciphers, and glasses invented by Benjamin Franklin, not to mention conspiracies involving the Masons and the Knights Templar. Granted, Nicolas Cage is miscast as the lead, and somebody should've realized there were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence (not 55), but National Treasure really shines when our heroes are puzzling over codes and trying to piece together clues. With the Declaration in hand, Ben sets out across the stomping grounds of America's Founding Fathers, solving riddles and doing his best to avoid a barrage of bullets. Unfortunately, fellow treasure hunter Ian Howe (Sean Bean) decides to steal the Declaration, forcing Ben and his sidekick Riley (Justin Bartha) to break into the National Archives and get their hands on the document. The film follows Benjamin Franklin Gates (Cage), a historian searching for a fabled lost treasure, and during his globe-trotting quest he learns there's a treasure map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |