Action Movies

Dog’s Movie House: “Hardcore Henry” Interesting Novelty, Tough To Watch!

 

 

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

 

 

Sharlto Copley In "Hardcore Henry"

Sharlto Copley In “Hardcore Henry”

 

 

Have you ever wondered what it was like to watch a movie filmed like a first person shooting game?  I know I haven’t, but somebody must have been clamoring for one, because the brains behind “Wanted” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” have decided that watching an action picture entirely from the point of view of the protagonist was a great idea.   What’s the verdict?  Well, the good news is that “Hardcore Henry” has some really neat action propelling a thin but still-interesting story.  The bad news is that you have to sit through some wretched performances and some nausea-inducing shaky-cam to get to them.   Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “13 Hours” Has Michael Bay Directing A Film For Adults For A Change!

 

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog!

 

John Krasinski In "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi"

John Krasinski In “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi”

 

I find Michael Bay to be an interesting filmmaker.  He’s technically proficient, but for the most part seem to care next to nothing about the quality of the scripts he uses as the foundation of his films.  Most of his output seems to lean toward juvenile fare such as The Transformers and Bad Boys films, but lately Bay seems to be making an attempt to mature as a director.  “Pain and Gain” while not perfect, was Bay’s most self-assured movie, despite the grisly subject matter, and now he’s taken another step forward with “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi” a film that avoids the volatile politics of a real life incident in Libya in favor of a soldier’s eye view of the assault on a secret CIA compound in September of 2012.  The movie is a mostly successful (if overlong) thriller about the perils of combat in the midst of a culture we as Americans don’t understand.  Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “Spectre” Solid, Almost Old School Bond!

 

 

Howdy Folks!  It’s The Kendog! 

spectre1

 

 

 

I make no apologies in my opinion of Daniel Craig as the best incarnation of James Bond.  Craig’s Bond is a badass of the first order, dispensing his particular skills (sorry, Liam Neeson) with utter precision and brutality.  If I were to have any criticism of the character it’s in the fact that Craig’s 007 broods a bit too much for my taste.  Narratively speaking, it’s necessary for this emotional introspection to take place due to the demands of the now four-film story arc, yet slowly but surely Craig’s Bond is becoming the Bond we all know and love.  “Spectre” continues this evolution and, aside from a few mostly minor bumps in the road, is a rousing, entertaining success. Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: “The Last Witch Hunter” Fitfully Entertaining Vehicle From Vin Diesel!

 

 

Howdy folks!  It’s The Kendog!

 

Vin Diesel As Kaulder In "The Last Witch Hunter"

Vin Diesel As Kaulder In “The Last Witch Hunter”

 

 

Full disclaimer:  I’m a big fan of Vin Diesel.  Ever since “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Iron Giant” I’ve always looked forward to his work.  I especially liked his turn in the first Riddick film, “Pitch Black.”   I’ve always thought of him as talented and if you follow him on social media you can tell he’s definitely enthusiastic.  Diesel is at his best when he has strong collaborators like Spielberg, David Twohy, and Justin Lin, but when he’s the primary force behind his projects, the quality tends to suffer a bit.  Case in point:  “The Last Witch Hunter,” a potentially fascinating story about witchcraft saddled with so-so execution and clichéd narrative threads. Continue reading

Dog’s Movie House: New “Transporter” Running On Low Octane!

 

 

Howdy folks!  It’s The Kendog!

 

 

Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) takes on a bad guy in "The Transporter: Refueled"

Frank Martin (Ed Skrein) takes on a bad guy in “The Transporter: Refueled”

 

 

 

 

 

How much you’ll like the new “Transporter: Refueled” will depend on a couple of things.  First: whether or not the absence of Jason Statham is a deal breaker.  Second: whether a fourth go (five, if you count the television series) at an already derivative action franchise is right up you’re alley for a night at the movies.  For me, “The Transporter: Refueled” is not a total waste of time (see “Agent 47” for a prime example of this) but despite some decent action scenes and some good chemistry between newcomer Ed Skrein (Game Of Thrones) and Ray Stevenson (Thor, HBO’s Rome), this film simply serves as an exercise in action mediocrity. Continue reading