Non-stop: Liam Neeson can't be stopped!

After seeing Taken, I'll pretty much watch Liam Neeson in any movie with a him and a weapon.  He's one of the best action-movie heroes of the last two decades.  Liam's quiet-but-deadly demeanor makes for one great movie, movie after movie.  And, Non-Stop is no different.

Liam plays Air Marshall Bill on a flight to London that has been set up by a passenger.  This person is hijacking the plane and framing Bill.  Bill has to try and figure out who's sending threatening text messages, killing passengers, and clear his name all while flying over the Atlantic ocean.  Non-Stop has non-stop action (sorry, I just had to do it).  Bill's hand-to-hand self-protective blows are Matrix level epic.  I mean how do you beat up someone in an airplane bathroom?  You barely have room to relieve yourself let alone disarm someone.  Liam did it, and with such flare.  Loved it!!!

My girl Mary (Michelle Dockery) from Downton Abbey is Nancy, the flight attendant who believes Bill and continuously tries to help him.  Julianne Moore is Jen, a passenger who also tries to help Bill figure out everything.  Lupita Nyong'o makes a brief appearance as well as another flight attendant.  After her success in 12 Years a Slave, she doesn't really need this movie to further her career.  Her career is going to be great despite her small role in Non-Stop.  There are many more characters who keep you guessing until the end.  You are supposed to automatically choose the middle-eastern looking passenger, but that's too obvious.  All are suspects:  the sketchy looking bald headed passenger, the other air marshall; even the co-pilot is capable.  Heck, for even a brief second, I suspected the little girl with the window seat.  Ha!

Non-Stop is definitely my favorite movie so far this year.  Holding my breath, on the edge of my seat, I couldn't catch my breath waiting to see how it was going to end.  And wait until you find out whodunit and why?  It's a trip.  Liam is one tough guy.  You should be very concerned if he's coming after you.  Go see Non-Stop.  Liam won't disappoint you, and neither will Non-Stop.

3 Days to Kill - 3 Reasons to Watch

Imagine buying your movie ticket and popcorn which you have gotten to buttery perfection, and then, being told that your movie isn't working, and you'll have to either see something else or come back later.  Yup!  That happened to me this morning, but because of a technical glitch, I was able to give back the popcorn and see a different movie an hour later.  The original movie I paid to see was Pompeii, but I ended up seeing 3 Days to Kill instead.  So glad I did.  I enjoyed it!

The last good Kevin Costner film I've seen is Tin Cup (DON'T JUDGE ME), unless you count "Hatfields & McCoys" which was a tv mini-series.  Nevertheless, I hadn't seen Kevin Costner on the big screen in years, and really didn't know if he still had it in him.  Clearly he does.  In 3 Days to Kill, Costner plays Ethan Renner, a "cleaner" for the CIA.  He has to retire due to illness, but is quickly pulled back into business by a somewhat psycho femme fatale of a boss with hopes of curing the illness.  During his short stint at retirement, Ethan decides to reconnect with his family, especially his teenage daughter, but the job, the illness, and teenage angst get in the way, kinda like in Live Free or Die Hard, only better.  This movie is better than most I've seen this year.  Here's three reasons you should see it.

1.  This movie isn't what I expected.  The storyline teased on trailers isn't quite what happens.  Ethan is a hardcore assassin, but like the assassin in The Professional, he has redeeming qualities especially when it comes to his daughter.  The movie is more about him repairing his relationship with his daughter than it is about him being a killer and trying to heal himself.

2.  We all love a good movie with a bad-arse killer, and 3 Days to Kill doesn't disappoint in that regard. There is great action and gun play with explosions, car chases, and torture, but all of it is done in a lighthearted sort of way.  The violence is subtle yet exciting.  The torture is almost comical, and the bad guys are endearing albeit maniacal.  Everything you could want in an action thriller.

3.  Kevin Costner does dad and bad really well, and he looks good doing it.  I don't remember him being so handsome, but a greying Costner wasn't too shabby looking on the screen.  Ethan's boss Vivi is supposed to be the eye-candy in the movie, but her character tries too hard.  If I had one criticism it would be her.  She's over done and not needed.  Vivi adds nothing to the movie.  She could have easily just sent an email or a text, and we wouldn't have missed her.   But, Costner was fantastic.  He really had your rooting for him to figure it all out and get well quickly.

I've seen two great movies in row (I saw Monument Men yesterday, but it's been out for awhile which is why I didn't review it, but go see it.) which is nice because I was getting worried there for a second with the lot of movies out there right now. Go see 3 Days to Kill and Monument Men.  You won't be disappointed, and I'm hoping some time soon, I'll be able to see Pompeii and let you know which one was better.  

About Last Night - About dating, sex, and comedy

Kevin Hart is on FIYA!  We all know he's hilarious, but Kevin is fast becoming the go-to-guy when you need a black comedian to make your movie funny.  He's had numerous successes in the last few years, and About Last Night is sure to be another one.  About Last Night not only stars the hilarious albeit too loud Kevin Hart, but also the equally funny and gorgeous Regina Hall, the very handsome and dreamy-eyed Michael Ealy, and the too much hair but very lovely Joy Bryant.

This is a remake of the 1986 movie which originally starred Rob Lowe and Demi Moore which was based on the 1974 play Sexual Perversity in Chicago.  The 2014 version has a predominantly black cast and is set in LA.  The movie follows two couples as they traverse dating, cohabitation, sex, exes, and love.  Bernie (Hart) and Danny (Ealy) are best friends who work together, and they meet roommates, Joan (Regina) and Debbie (Joy), and begin dating them and the funny ensues.  Danny and Debbie's relationship moves very quickly, and Bernie and Joan aren't their biggest supporters.  There's nothing like getting advice on your relationship from that bitter and slightly jealous friend.  And, there's nothing more embarrassing or more funny than walking in on your friend having wild sex while wearing a chicken mask.  I'm telling you, this movie is a trip!

The comedy really is mostly between Regina and Kevin.  Who knew there was a female version of Hart.  She holds her own with him, and makes you laugh at every turn.  The two of them should definitely do more movies together.  They are a great pair.  While the story itself isn't that great, the comedic scenes more than make up for some of the dry and choppy moments.  Everyone will enjoy this movie and laugh out loud because whether you're single, dating, married, divorced, old or a young-adult, you can relate to the trials and tribulations in About Last Night.

Oh, even though I don't celebrate Valentine's Day, I want to say thank you and I love all of you who read my blog.  So...

RoboCop - Remake reboot

What do you do when it 36 degrees outside, snowing, and you don't have to go to work?  Go to the movies and watch yet another remake, RoboCop.  At least this time, the remake is a good one and well worth the wet and snowy trek to the movies.  RoboCop is a reboot of the late 80's movie series from the same name.  I don't remember those, and this one isn't that memorable either, but in the moment it was entertaining, thrilling, and action-packed.

Fast forward about 15 years, and after numerous military and police deaths due to war and random and average acts of violence, other countries have employed drones and robots as their primary source for law enforcement.  The US refuse to do the same because of the fear that these robots don't have feelings and emotions and can't be trusted, and have made the use of robots as policemen illegal.  The CEO, Raymon Sellars, of the robotics company, Omnicorp, played by Micheal Keaton, decides to turn a human into a robot with emotions.  He uses Detective Alex Murphy, played by Joel Kinnaman, for the prototype after his attempted murder, and so begins RoboCop's journey.

RoboCop isn't just about a metal-ladened policeman on the streets fighting crime.  Alex as RoboCop has to fight crime, solve his own murder, discover/uncover corruption, and explore his love for his family in a new way.  On top of that, there's Omnicorp and Raymond Sellars trying to push their own agenda and make money using Alex and his family.

The story is easy to follow, although I felt like there was a deeper conspiracy that never completely unfolded.  The gun slinging was exciting, and Samuel L. Jackson and Omar from the wire (Michael K Williams) both did a fantastic job pulling things all together.  I enjoyed this movie.   I think most people will as it tugs at your heart strings a little and evokes your enthusiasm for the good guys coming out on top.  Check out RoboCop.  It's a remake that won't disappoint you.

Vampire Academy - Something old, Something new

Well, I didn't get a vampire movie last year, so I was a little excited yet very hesitant to watch Vampire Academy because from the previews, it looked like Buffy 2014.  It wasn't quite as cheesy as Buffy, but it came extremely close.  This vampire movie had a lot of the same old myths and legends about vampires, and it also had a lot of new twists.

In this movie, based on yet another vampire book series, there's a royal family of vampires known as the Moroi who rule over the vampire race and are protected by half-breeds known as the Dhampir.  The Dhampir protect the Moroi from and evil race of vampires known as Strigoi.  After a car accident and a year on the run, the princess Lissa and her Dhampir-in-training and star of the show, Rose, return to Vampire Academy to continue learning about their different roles; figure out who's bullying them and who's trying to harm Lissa.

Rose is played by Zoe Deutch.  She's funny and flirty in this movie.  While her acting chops are the best in the bunch which isn't saying much, she's really the glue holding this messy movie together.  I don't mean "messy" because it's bloody, but more because the acting is bad and the storyline is  overdone and EXTREMELY predictable.   Rose is tough, a bit high strung, but cunning, and horny...ya know...a typical 17 year old girl.  But, Zoe really does save the movie.  

Lissa is played by Lucy Fry, an Australian actress with a wide mouth that disturbed me a bit.  Her acting was subpar, but her character was cute and kinda lovable.  Lissa not only has to deal with the death of her family, being next in line to the throne, bullies, and love, but she also has to deal with her new powers.  These vampires can control fire, water, air, people's minds, and can heal, like bring people back from the brink of death.  But, the mind control is a big deal at the Vampire Academy, and Lissa uses it to her advantage, i.e. being more popular.

This movie isn't terrible just really amateur.  I actually kind of liked it.  Any pre-teen, teen, or kid who thinks they're a pre-teen would enjoy it.  The language is definitely PG, but there is a bit of adult situation, so parents you're gonna have to suffer through it with them.  You'll be somewhat entertained.  I was.  Heck, I even chuckled a few times.  This is definitely a new twist on Vampires.  I mean they still drink blood and all, but I have a feeling that Buffy's somewhere feeling proud with her chest sticking out and her dagger ready.  

I, Frankenstein - I, kinda liked it.

I have a thing for movies with superhuman monsters and the like.  I, Frankenstein is full of the like with demons, gargoyles and Adam Frankenstein (yeah, they named him Adam) battling to save humankind... yet again.  (Why does humankind always need saving?)

I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent/Two Face in the Dark Night) as Adam Frankenstein, Dr. Frankenstein's scientifically created creature, who has been thrust into a middle of a war between demons and gargoyles who were sent to by the archangel Michael to protect humans.  While fighting demons and searching for the prince of demons played by Bill Nighy, Adam looks for answers about why he was created and why the demons want him on their side.

The storyline is a bit weak, and the acting is even weaker, but the fight scenes save this movie.  The massive winged gargoyles and the soulless are the only ones who can destroy demons and send them to hell forever, and in the 92 minutes this movies is on the screen, a lot of demons descend to hell with lots of action and flare.  I was enthralled by the fighting and swordplay.  There were some bad-arse weapons for slicing and dicing.  Other than the acting and story, my biggest issue with the movie was that Dr. Frankenstein's journal was written in english.  Victor Frankenstein was from Geneva, Switzerland where they speak french and possibly german, so wouldn't it stand to reason that his journal was in french or german?  That really bothered me along with the fact that Adam didn't have an accent and almost everyone else did, but those are minor issues.

It wasn't a great movie, and it wasn't terrible either.  If you have a couple of hours to spare and want some decent sci-fi action and drama, go see I, Frankenstein.  I kinda like it, and I think you will too.

The Legend of Hercules - Where's Kevin Sorbo when you need him?

It's 2014, and I decided to kick off the new year with greek mythology.  The Legend of Hercules starring Kellan Lutz, was the kick-off event, and if this is how the movies of 2014 are going to be, it's going to be one long year.  I would have rather watched two hours of Kevin Sorbo in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys than this movie.  (SN:  I use to love Hercules and Zena back in the day.  I'm pretty sure I've seen every episode at least twice.)  

I would have rather watched two hours of anything else for that matter.  As cheesey as The Legendary Journeys was, this movie is much worse.  

Kellan Lutz's burst on the scene as Emmett Cullen in the Twilight Saga although he's been in numerous movies before then.  No one really cared until he put on some muscles and took off his shirt, but was that enough to make him the lead in a movie?  

Ummm, NO!  His acting isn't really the problem, although it's a small part of it.  The storyline itself is the biggest problem of it all.  This movie is like a cross between Troy, Gladiator, and The Passion of the Christ.  In the movie, Hercules is born from an erotic mystical moment between Zeus and Queen Alcemene.  Twenty years later, his step-father, King Amphitryon, has promised his love, Princess Hebe, will marry his half-brother.  Then the king sends Hercules off to war, and Hercules vows to return before the doomed marriage.  While away, Hercules is sold into slavery and forced to fight to the death.  Upon his return, the people begin to take his side, and Hercules now has to fight the king and his brother for the throne and his love.  

The budget for this film is $70 million, but the CGI, the action, and the actors make this movie feel like it cost $100, 000.  I swear for Zues, a two-hour reunion movie with Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless would have been better, much more entertaining, and on a much lower budget.  I'm really hoping this is the worst movie of the year, and that it only gets better from here because I'm not going to make it to december with horrible movies like this.  I mean how am I supposed to take this movie seriously when white men have weaved in braids?  

Oh well.  I may go see The Lone Survivor tomorrow.  That could be good.  Until next time.