Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 8

This week I watched Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Raid 2: Berandal, Dil Chahta Hai, Lords of Dogtown.

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.


movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - The Captain is back.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier 
Written by: Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (screenplay), Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (based on the Marvel comic by)
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Sebastian Stan
Rated: PG-13

Plot:
The Captain teams up with Black Widow to battle the Winter Soldier.

Review:
Easily the best Captain America movie, and one of the better Marvel films. It's well done with some very good directing and fight choreography. The political undertones help elevate the story, though they aren't explored quite as far as they could have been. The movie excels because it's more than a hero movie, it's part thriller, part mystery. It's less the hero has to stop the villain who wants to take over the world. The villain could have been more likable, just to force the viewer to really think about it, instead of spoon feeding us morality. While the end starts to drag a bit, getting slightly convoluted, it's satisfying overall.
It depends.
Chris Evans in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - It's time to party.


movie The Raid 2: Berandal
The Raid 2: Berandal - More brutal than Iron Chef.
The Raid 2: Berandal (2014)
Watch The Raid 2: Berandal
Written by: Gareth Edwards
Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra
Rated: R

Plot:
An police officer must go undercover to infiltrate a crime syndicate and flush out corrupt cops.

Review:
I miss the focus on action of the original, as this one uses a lot of cute camera angles and takes time establishing story. The story isn't bad, thought it does feel a bit tepid.  Everything comes together in the last half, the scope of the story and the villains. The last half run is every bit as good as the first, if not better. It's a bit long, but a worthy sequel to the first one. The fights, again, are great.
Watch it.

movie The Raid 2: Berandal
The Raid 2: Berandal - Hammer Girl and Bat Man have met their match


movie Dil Chata Hai
Dil Chata Hai - It feels every bit as long as three hours.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
Watch Dil Chahta Hai
Written by: Kassim Jagmagia (story co-developed by), Farhan Akhtar (story, screenplay, dialog)
Directed by: Farhan Akhtar
Starring: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna
Rated: --

Plot:
Three childhood friends graduate from college and pursue romantic relationships.

Review:

It seems every highly rated Indian movie has Aamir Khan, is three hours long, and has an actor sing along to the soundtrack at some point. I don't know why I keep watching. The core of the story isn't bad, if not regurgitated, but the run time makes it hard to recommend. It's nearly twice as long as it should be, and I can never accept the musical bits. If you've never seen an Indian film, check this one out. If you have seen one, it's okay to keep moving.
It depends.


Emile Hirsch in Lords of Dogtown
Lords of Dogtown - You'll want to buy a skateboard.
Lords of Dogtown (2005)
Watch Lords of Dogtown
Written by: Stacy Peralta
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke
Starring: Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk 
Rated: PG-13

Plot:
How Venice, California surfers revolutionized the skateboarding world.

Review:
It's got a great atmosphere and feel. The story is engaging and the acting solid. It provides glimpses of what happens to the original crew without going too far and getting long. The soundtrack is top notch. It will make you want to get a skateboard.
It depends.

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