Last Action Hero - 5 stars out of 10

Last Action Hero - 5 stars out of 10

“Last Action Hero” is an interesting play (and partial spoof) on the stereotypical action film.  It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside a young movie fan who is transported into an action film to help him bust the bad guys.  It is full of great movie references including “Amadeus,” E.T.” a black-and-white Humphrey Bogart, and even “Terminator 2”!  While the film isn’t anything amazing, it is worth watching for the movie jokes and is a must for movie buffs.  Seriously, the whole Salieri thing is hysterical.  In a sense, it becomes the ultimate action film because they purposefully filled it with every sort of shootout and chase scene imaginable.  Even though it is tongue-in-cheek, the action is still awesome.  Things go a bit south toward the end.  When you’re using a gimmick, 2+ hours becomes way too long and they just couldn’t keep it fresh.  “Last Action Hero” probably won’t appear on most people’s list of favorite action films (including mine), but it’s definitely worth watching for the action sequences, movie references, and unique concept.

[Pictured: Everything that you expect from Schwarzenegger and more!]

The Rocketeer - 6 stars out of 10

The Rocketeer - 6 stars out of 10

“The Rocketeer” could have easily been a forgettable movie.  The special effects pale in comparison with modern superhero movies (or even “Terminator 2,” which came out the same year) and the origin story isn’t too thought-provoking.  But the setting is what makes this movie memorable. The 1930's gangster culture and the contrast between Hollywood society and aviators make for several interesting dynamics.  There is just something magical about a man with a jet pack flying through Golden Age Hollywood.  Or perhaps it is the musical score by James Horner, saturating the film with heroism.  Whatever the reason, this edgy Disney film became a cult classic.  From the moment that Horner’s Rocketeer theme (one of my favorites) plays during the opening credits, you know that it is going to be a classic.  The acting of Billy Campbell and Alan Arkin is decent, and it’s interesting to see 21-year-old Jennifer Connelly.  But for me, the highlight is Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair.  He gives this character so much depth with that Bond-like smoothness.  “The Rocketeer” doesn’t have the greatest special effects and the story is a bit too coincidental, but it is full of great action sequences and will leave you feeling nostalgic.

[Pictured: He isn't the most memorable hero, but that jet pack is iconic!]

Mr. Nobody - 8 stars out of 10

Mr. Nobody - 8 stars out of 10

“Mr. Nobody” is a complete mindbender that will have you thinking for days after you finish watching.  On the surface, this is a simple story of an old man reflecting on his life.  But deep down, it is a fascinating examination of how the effects of a single decision can radically change one’s life.  I love films that explore the effects of a decision through the many-worlds interpretation style and this one is on a higher level than the rest.  Movies like “Atonement” and “Back to the Future” use one event to show two possible futures.  “The Butterfly Effect” follows one timeline and shows how the choices of the different characters alter the timeline.  But “Mr. Nobody” follows an ever-growing number of possible futures that continually branch off of each timeline with each decision that the character makes and presents the different storylines in a nonlinear narrative style so that we see approximately 9 different versions of Nemo’s life at once.  Additionally, the story begins at the end of Nemo’s life so that we do not know which version of his life is the truth.  Many actors have impressed us by playing multiple characters in one film, but Jared Leto breaks convention by playing several versions of the same character and interpreting each with different characteristics.  I spent a lot of the film wondering if he played the 118-year-old version of Nemo because the voice is so different.  The script is pretty clever, purposely confusing us but giving us enough explanation to follow along until the truth is revealed at the end.  I don’t know how anybody even conceptualized this story, and Jaco van Dormael must be a genius for being able to keep track of these alternate universes and blend one into the next.  “Mr. Nobody” is not for those who are easily confused… but if you are willing to watch it twice or do some research during the final credits to fully digest its content, this is the sort of film that can change the way that you look at the world.

[Pictured: One decision can change a lifetime]

Red Dawn (2012) - 2 stars out of 10

Red Dawn (2012) - 2 stars out of 10

The production team of “Red Dawn” has somehow managed to take an already far-fetched concept and blow the top off of it.  The opening credits bring this story into modern times by establishing our current political climate and showing North Korea as a worldwide threat.  It is all downhill from there.  If you aren’t rolling your eyes at North Korea’s sudden occupation of the United States, the group of teenagers who train in the woods in order to fight back, or their convenient access to weapons, ammo, and explosives, the frequent (and extreme) cheesy moments will certainly ruin it for you.  It is almost comical as the teens represent themselves with their high school mascot, the Marines act so impressed, and the brothers share a moment.  The dialogue is rough although the action sequences are pretty cool.  I do applaud the writers for not being afraid to kill off some of the main characters.  That is probably the most realistic part of this teenagers-turned-soldiers story.  Chris Hemsworth must have owed someone a favor when he agreed to star in this film amidst his success with “Thor” and “The Avengers.”  My best advice is that, unless you owe someone a favor yourself, don’t let anybody talk you into this one.

[Pictured: The access to advanced weaponry is quite convenient under the circumstances]

As Good As It Gets - 8 stars out of 10

As Good As It Gets - 8 stars out of 10

“As Good As It Gets” is really good, but certainly not as good as it gets.  The story is unique and interesting, complete with Oscar-winning performances by Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, but I found a lot of the comedy to lie in an awkward area between serious social issues and ironic dark humor.  I don’t know if it is the fault of the writers or the difficulty of writing a racist, homophobic, OCD character, but the tone of the film seems inappropriate at times.  Still, there cannot be enough praise given to the acting.  Nicholson and Hunt are magical together, to the point where the creepiness of their extreme age difference is barely an afterthought as the story progresses.  Hunt has a great crying scene, Nicholson flips out on a bunch of people, and that’s what we really want out of this film.  Their chemistry is everything that you would expect from these great actors, but Greg Kinnear is a great surprise.  His emotional and unfortunate existence earned him an Oscar nomination (which will also probably be his last, due to his sour grapes toward not winning).  The film contains one of my favorite lines of all time: “You make me want to be a better man.”  It might not seem like much out of context, but its simplicity is perfectly matched with Nicholson’s delivery in the film.  It isn’t my favorite film and definitely did not deserve to beat “Titanic” in the 1998 Academy Awards, but “As Good As It Gets” is one of those films that has become a staple in the repertoire and everybody needs to see it at least once.

[Pictured: Three Oscar nominees, a perfect motley crew]

Unleashed (2005) - 7 stars out of 10

Unleashed (2005) - 7 stars out of 10

“Unleashed” blends kung fu and drama into a truly fascinating story.  It contains all of the action that you hope for in a Jet Li film but weaves that action around a worthwhile plot.  Martial arts films have the negative connotation of using a low-quality storyline for the sole purpose of stringing together several fight scenes, but this concept is so interesting that I legitimately like “Unleashed” for its story more than its awesome fight scenes.  The concept seems a little ridiculous as this fighter is raised like a dog and trained to turn into a killing machine when his collar is removed, but the film executes it in a way that makes it surprisingly believable.  Li’s character shows a convincing transformation through culture and music, aided by Morgan Freeman’s soft-spoken character and contrasted by the raw aggression of Bob Hoskins.  You always expect greatness from Freeman, but all of these actors provide better performances than your typical martial arts cast.  I was particularly taken with Kerry Condon, who somehow manages to keep up with Freeman and serves as a convincing role model for Li.  The story isn’t perfect as it drags at a few points, but the progressive revealing of information and action sequences always pick the tempo back up.  It isn’t often that you combine blood and weapons with a Mozart Piano Sonata, but the odd combination works perfectly in the context of “Unleashed.”

[Pictured: Bonus points to using music to help him find his humanity]

The Maze Runner - 6 stars out of 10

The Maze Runner - 6 stars out of 10

“The Maze Runner” is the latest in the string of teen-targeted dystopian adventure films.  It is impossible to avoid comparisons so, to be blunt, it is not as good as “The Hunger Games” or “Divergent”; still, the story is interesting and the intrigue will keep you watching until the end.  Unlike the aforementioned series’, this film doesn’t have any big-name actors (aside from Patricia Clarkson who is on-screen for less than 5 minutes).  The cast won’t be your reason for seeing this, but it also allows the story to develop without being distracted by the actors.  The plot leaves a lot of loose ends and its reliance on a sequel makes it a very disappointing stand-alone film, but it also has me so anxious to get some answers to my long list of questions.  Dylan O’Brien carries the momentum from the unexpectedly intense opening to the final Griever battle.  The boys also develop a strong Lord-of-the-Flies chemistry as if they were truly in this survival situation.  The movie reminded me of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village” from the start, but I was relieved to see that the Grievers are real to dismiss the possibility of it being a stolen concept.  I love that the time period is left ambiguous between the lack of technology provided to the boys and the complex robotic appearance of the Grievers.  I even began questioning whether the boys were on Earth.  The story is dark, the action is intense, and “The Maze Runner” will keep you curious from start to finish (and until the sequel is released).

[Pictured: The scenery may be the coolest part of this film!]