Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 52

This week I watched Crank, A Most Wanted Man, The Lazarus Effect.

I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.

Jason Statham in Crank
Crank - Adrenaline fueled fun ride.

Crank (2006)
Watch Crank
Written by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Directed by: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart 
Rated: R

Plot: 
Jason Statham is Chev Chelios, a hitman that will die if his heart rate drops.

This movie is over the top and ridiculous in the best possible way. It's comedic action with a great mood and irreverent humor. What if the typical action movie was turned up to eleven? This is it.
Rent it.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in A Most Wanted Man
A Most Wanted Man - I most wanted a better movie.

A Most Wanted Man (2014)
Watch A Most Wanted Man
Written by: Andrew Bovell (screenplay), John le Carre (novel), Stephen Cornwell (additional writing)
Directed by: Anton Corbign
Starring: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams
Rated: R

Plot: 
A Muslim illegally immigrates to Germany and is caught up between German and American intelligence agents.

Review:
The synopsis makes this movie sound good. Unfortunately it's misleading. This movie has great ideas but it just doesn't come together. A movie has to be more than the ideas on which it's based.
It's got a big list of actors including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams, and Robin Wright. Initially it seemed like a tale of intrigue that would slowly unravel. I like movies that are slower paced, but this became tedious. I got tired of seeing people sitting in diners and talking. By the time we got to the end, I didn't care any more.
Skip it.


Olivia Wilde in The Lazarus Effect
Lazarus Effect - Overuses common horror tropes.
The Lazarus Effect (2015)
Watch The Lazarus Effect  
Written by: Luke Dawson, Jeremy Slater
Directed by: David Gelb
Starring: Olivia Wilde, Mark Duplass, Evan Peters
Rated: PG-13


Plot:
A group of doctors can revive the dead. Hilarity ensues. Actually no, death and destruction ensues.

Review:
The concept isn't novel, but the movie seemed fairly competent. The longer I watched the less sense it made. The movie mistakenly tries to build towards a big finish which was only detrimental. Going for the big finish translated to plot missteps, like the devil dog who disappeared half way in yet ostensibly had to still be in the lab. The problems with going too big are just like the movie Lucy. I was hoping it would lean more towards subtlety and an unnerving atmosphere. It relied too heavily on blank screen/lights out. I watch movies to see colors on the screen, not a blank screen. I'm guessing that was done to pad the run time.It's basically a revenge movie and a lot like Event Horizon. Despite it's faults, it's decent for a horror movie.
It depends (provided you like horror movies).

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