Magnificent Seven (1960)

I don't think I've watched enough Westerns yet, because I like them, and I really haven't watched a lot of them. I decided to watch this one because apparently it's the Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, old B&W movie) story with guns instead of swords. I've only seen that concept repeat itself as a futuristic anime, and it never grows old. The same applies in this movie.

The plot is the same, a village is being ravaged by bandits and decides to hire outside help. Chris, Vin & 5 other lost souls with interesting personalities get together and help out, all for $20. When the villagers ask Chris for help and tell him it's everything they've got, he replies "I've been offered a lot, but I've never been offered everything", and he accepts the job. The movie is easy-going. There's a lot of guns blasting and the special effects are all very primitive except for the huge puffs of gunpowder in the air, but it was an enjoyable movie. It has action, and the characters have character, and the scenery is dust and desolate landscapes. There's a villain too, and that's about all a good movie needs. I think I need to watch more Westerns.

4/5

Return Of The Magnificent Seven (1966)

The magnificent seven are back! It's not the same magnificent seven because most of them died in the prequel, but the main two characters are still there, along with another band of bandits and poor defenseless villagers. It doesn't beat the original, but it comes close, it's similar. It's also a good movie.

4/5

Guns Of The Magnificent Seven (1969)

This is the third movie in the Magnificent Seven series. It's not a sequel in the same way the previous two were, nor does it star the same actor as main character, but his name is still Chris. I didn't like this movie as much as the previous two, mostly because of one small but still important detail: the main character is not played by the same person. The new main character doesn't have character. He gets too emotional. He doesn't have that stony glare. His face is too soft. The plot this time is about a revolution instead of the typical bandit bad harassing villagers, and everything is much more elaborately designed. They have dynamite, and even an antique mounted machine gun, and a whole lot of people dying. The movie has potential, but the main character just aint the same. It's a shame.

3/5

Let the Bullets Fly (2010)

Here's an Asian movie with twisted intrigues and a lot of bloodshed. It's stylishly filmed, varied, entertaining and maybe there's a moral floating around there somewhere as well, but there's not enough fighting. That's why I watched the movie, for the fights, but the fights were mostly guns and explosions, not much martial art. It's a well-made movie though, that hovers between being brutally dramatic and light and humorous. If you don't want to see someone cutting up their own belly over a bowl of soup though, then don't watch, that was one disturbing scene. This movie has no limits even though it's mostly tame. It's one of those a bit strange movies that are Japanese, you know? Well maybe you don't, but if you appreciate a twist and generally well-made drama with decent amounts of action, it's a recommended watch. I'd give it a four but it's a bit too disturbing.

3/5

Story Of Anvil (2008)

This is the story of Anvil, one of the most underrated metal bands there has ever been. Well maybe not, because this movie is about them and not about one of the many bands that never received any recognition at all, not even the recognition of not being recognized. Anyway, this movie is a combined documentary over their past and a peek into their present where we follow the band during their every day life, during their ups and downs, their work and pleasure, and finally at a nostalgic kick of a concert in Japan, the place where it all started. I've heard of Anvil before but I never knew much about them, and I don't remember if I've really listened to their music, but it's good music, and this is a good movie. Educational and musical and entertaining.

3/5

Pacifier (2005)

Vin Diesel, a Navy Seals officer, gets a rather awkward assignment guarding a group of kids while their mother is away on some secret government business. It's a Disney movie, so it deals a lot with the family and their various differences and problems. At the same time there's a lot of action, it moves fast, there's a lot of comedy, it's a family movie. Vin Diesel plays his role well, as does everyone else he interacts with. What else is there to say? If you know Disney, you know what this is going to be about. Good movie.

4/5

Better Tomorrow (1986)

Chow Yun-Fat stars together with a couple of other actors I don't remember the names of in a brutal and bizarre tale of the Asian underworld. There's a counterfeiting operation going on, there are bad guys, there are good guys, there's a bad guy with a brother studying to be a cop. He's about to quit being bad when his dad is killed, his brother blames him, his best friend avenges him and becomes a cripple. There's emotion. There's action. There's a lot of blood. It's Hong Kong Action when it's as best, and did I mention it's directed by John Woo? I've watched this one a few times, most recently last week. It's still good. :)

4/5

Better Tomorrow 2 (1987)

Better Tomorrow 2 is even better than the first one. One of the main characters is dead, but his brother (who looks just like him, and is acted by the same person, Yun-Fat) appears instead. Out of the whole Better Tomorrow trilogy this is my definite favorite. The plot features the same emotional action-packed underworld frenzy the first one did, and there's even more of it. The end is a showdown like you've never seen before. Well maybe it's not that amazing, I shouldn't hype it up, but there are a lot of people dying in various ways and it's a great movie. If you like HK action this is a classic you'll need to watch.

4/5

Better Tomorrow 3 (1989)

The third part in the Better Tomorrow series was a bit of a let-down. It jumps into a time of war and follows friends through a battle where there's still a lot of emotion and action and a lot of blood, but somehow it doesn't have that edge that made the previous two so great. Maybe because the war is everywhere, it's no longer the main characters against the world, it's everyone against everyone. They no longer have any control, they're not steering the fight. It's still a good movie, it just doesn't compare to the forenamed two.

3/5

Samaritan (2012)

Samuel Jackson plays a Con-man. He's out of jail, but someone still holds a grudge against him. How will he handle the situation? Dramatically. It's a gritty action movie with fine-styled gore and a twisted plot. Reminds me a bit of Old Man, but the plot is completely different. I won't spoil it for you, go watch it, if you wish. It's not a movie I'd recommend, but it's not bad either, it's just way too serious for my taste.

3/5

Puss In Boots (2011)

Animated mixture of tales. There's Jack & Jill, Jack & The Beanstalk, The Golden Goose, Humpty Dumpty, Zorro (?) and probably a few more I didn't recognize. The main character is a cat that wields a sword. Obviously there's comedy, action and romance. There's even some moral values in the mix, and everything is well-animated. Great watch.

4/5

That's all for now! Happy watching!

This Means War (2012)

This was a potential candidate for cinema viewing the last time I went to the cinema, but I chose to watch it at home instead. Good choice. It was way too romantic for cinematical viewing IMHO. It was a good movie, well-filmed with a few (though a bit too rare) good action scenes, a lot of comedy, a lot of awkward situations, a lot of romance. A typical feel-good film with two guys competing over one girl. Of course none of them usually date, the girl hasn't been interested, and there's a flashy happy ending. Typical. Twist? Maybe. Enjoyable? Decently. Maybe the atmosphere is too bright. Maybe everything is just too perfect. Maybe it's just that this is a film for girls. IDK, good movie, but nothing I'd watch again .

3/5

The Outpost (2008)

Dreams of the third reich didn't end with the war, they kept going, underground. It turns out the Nazis were experimenting with something that would make their soldiers immortal. It's almost within their grasp. A scientist pops up and fulfills their goals. It's a thriller with a bit of action, bit of a creepy atmosphere but nothing that makes it stand out. Not incredible actors either, it feels very normal. I feel the plot could have been used much better for a much better movie. Mediocre.

2/5

The Outpost 2 (2012)

The first Outpost movie was a thriller, this one is more action oriented. The Nazi's are taking over the world using their newly created techniques, a task force has been sent in to stop them, a reporter ends up splat in the middle. She's female btw, obvious choice. The atmosphere is creepier than it was last time, the effects and surroundings have much more work put in them, there are more people involved, there's a lot more action, but it still fails to break out of the just-another-movie category. I feel like the plot had an even better potential in this, and sometimes they've really managed to capture that eerie feeling all Nazi movies send out, but overall, it's just not good enough. Not good enough actors. Not good enough flow of the overall film. It'll keep you entertained, but it's nothing memorable.

2/5

Red Tails (2012)

Here's another new movie I just watched. It's about a company of black fighter pilots during the second world war. They're still oppressed due to color, but through their efforts they manage to stand out anyway. Through the movie we get to know a set of characters, all with strong personality traits. They're presented well in a way that they all gain audience empathy, and when things happen to them it really stings. It's a movie that'll stay etched in my mind, not just because of an intertwined happy/tragic end but because of the great aerial footage included, featuring a wide array of both older and newer planes and spectacular effects. I don't know how it would look IRL, but it looks real, it's very well done. They manage to capture the essence of flight as well. When the places glide through soft clouds it feels like you're up in the sky with them, and you imagine how the clouds feel. Most of the movie takes place in the sky, but there's a lot of ground filming as well. Everybody is a great actor, even the minor characters. The scenery is superb; if it's not about the sky it's about the beautiful views beneath the planes. This just might be my favorite movie of the year... maybe better than 21 Jump Street. Bit hard to compare movies of so completely different genres though. Anyway, even if you're no plane fan, this is a recommended watch. It'll leave you stirred emotionally and stuffed on flight. Really.

4/5

Rampart (2011)

Rampart sucked. It'll probably get an Oscar. The movie is well made, stars good actors, features vivid emotions, varied scenery and very lifelike portrayals of a grim reality in a normal world. Where's the entertainment? Movies like this are just depressing. Artistic, maybe. Documental, sure. Is it based on a real story? It's too real for me.

2/5

Haywire (2011)

The movie starts at a cafe. A young woman walks in. A while later a man arrives. He sits down at her table, you can see before he walks in she's not happy about it. They start talking. You start wondering what it's all about. Suddenly he throws a cup of hot coffee in her face and bashes her head into a solid object close to the camera. You can really see the impact. The fight continues and my first impression is: professional. If you liked the Bourne Identity series you'll love this. It has the same professional feel to it, but at the same time it's not as dark as Bourne Identity. It doesn't have the same pressure, but it certainly has a lot of suspense; a lot of good fight scenes.

All the while it manages to remain calm. You get involved in the action in a strange way, many things are filmed from such an angle that you feel present, but at the same time the atmosphere is distant. Everything is calm. It makes me wonder, was there a soundtrack? I don't remember one. Did the lack of a soundtrack make it seem all the more professional, does the silence invoke a sense of reality in the movie? I should mention btw (spoiler btw) that both of these two characters presented in the start of the movie are agents. In a way it feels like a mixture of Mission Impossible and Bourne Identity. At the same time it's fresh. It's a great movie. Highly recommended.

4/5

Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

Since when did they decide to get rid of the numbers before the Mission Impossible movies? Since now, I guess. I feel I'm running out of time here, so I'll just say this: This was a good movie. If you like the MI trilogy, you will like this. The mood is somewhat lighter than the previous movies, but the stunts/effects/etc are all the same if not even flashier/riskier/more varied. If you like action movies like I do it's a must see.

4/5

Contraband (2012)

Here's another great action movie you must see. It has the regular mixture of criminals and good guys and criminals that are actually good guys, a good plot, and good action. Wahlberg is in the movie too, and ever since I say The Big Hit I've become a bit of a fan. Nothing will ever compare (to the Big Hit) but still... this is one more good action movie in his list of merits.

3/5

Bad Ass (2012)

Finally it looks like Danny Trejo is getting some roles as lead character! In this he plays a grumpy old man that beats up two punks on a bus and gets internetally famous. Life is complex though, it gets shitty, but he fights his way through the shittyness. Age-wise he fits right in, he's almost 70, but I still find the fact that he's aging a bit depressing. Also depressing is the fact that it took him this long to start starring in good movies. He's had incredibly many minor roles in other movies. Not that he's a good actor or anything, he's just badass. This is a decent movie, nothing fantastic. If you like Danny Trejo it's worth the watch. If not... maybe not.

3/5

Operation Condor 3 (2012?)

I haven't seen this one yet. It's not out yet, but I'll end this post by mentioning how much I'm looking forward to it. It's been more than 20 years since the first two Operation Condor movies, but they were great, they had some amazing martial arts footage and really creative stunts. Jackie almost died during the filming as well. Maybe that's why the rumors that he had died in a heart attack started circulating during the filming of this one? Really looking forward to this. Jackie and Danny Trejo are about the same age, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of crazy stunts he can perform at this age. I'm trying not to get my hopes too high. :)

That's all for this time. Any movie recommendations?

Elsewise? It turns out it was hooligan curiosity and not master theivery that went on at our summerplace. It looks like all that was broken was a window. The rest looked orderly at a first glance. At a second glance, who knows, but at least the place isn't wiped clean. About the fridge, it's fixed. Did I mention that a good family friend and neighbor died recently? Don't think so, so I'll just say RIP Ingrid. You will be missed.

In other news it's May Day today! The sun is blazing, I feel amazing (slight headache but wth, it has been much worse), tonight the fires will be burning all over. I won't be going to view one though, it'll be celebration in silence for a while hence: Later.

At first I thought it was the coffee that kept me awake, or the mounds of great food I had eaten, or the revelation that we had a break in. Then I realized this urge I had to take a piss every fifteen minutes or so was keeping me awake; soon it became constant. Morning came and I don't think I slept anything, I've been sneaking back and fourth between my room and the bathroom all night, and things got worse at sunrise. Now they're better, but sickness is like an ocean, the effects go in waves. So what have I caught? You figure it out. It's not pleasant. But right now things can only get better, right? Hope so.

At least 21 Jump Street was f***ing amazing. :)

Think positive. At least we're ok. I'll keep you posted.