Category Archives: Action

DAMSEL (2024): The Things I Liked…

I’m a sucker for empowered and empowering female characters. No surprise then, when it came to my eagerness to watch Damsel, the latest action/adventure/fantasy from Stranger Things breakout star, Millie Bobbie Brown. 

After watching the trailer, I was excited to witness the young damsel, Elodie (Brown) rise. Especially since Brown has that undeniable quality which more than suggests ‘capable heroine’. 

After agreeing to marry a handsome prince following encouragement from her father, things end up being very far from ‘happily ever after’ for young Elodie. The good news is that what follows is a fun and easy-to-watch adventure. One I may not recommend with the highest level of enthusiasm when asked. Nevertheless, I say it’s worth it; particularly if you agree with the above opening line to this review.

It was satisfying to watch Elodie’s resilience as the story progressed. Even though, for me, the script felt a tad basic in parts. My only other issue is that final walk towards the end. It came across as overly exaggerated in a laughable and arguably cringy way for me. Perhaps I’m just too ‘mature’ for this type of execution. 

Lastly, in case you were wondering, that wonderful dragon voice is courtesy of Shohreh Aghdashloo, a lady, would you believe it? Brava, I say, brava! 

Happy Film Loving,

G

FURIOSA (2024): New Trailer From Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser, Tom Burke…

Furiosa - A Mad Max Saga (2024), Anya Taylor-Joy, Warner Bros. Pictures
Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga (2024), Anya Taylor-Joy, Warner Bros. Pictures

Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Charlee Fraser and Tom Burke; Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga is the latest action/adventure/sci-fi from writer/director George Miller.

This time the focus is on the origin story of rebel warrior Furiosa, before she meets sand teams up with Mad Max.

Hello, beautiful chaos!

This great-looking vengeance movie trailer has me ready to see Taylor-Joy as the super angry heroine Furiosa. I’m excited to watch her journey to serve Dr. Dementus (Hemsworth in a prosthetic nose) his comeuppance.

There’s got to be no way this won’t deliver, right? Especially with such a talented cast and a wonderful trailer that has both visuals and moments of dialogue that have me yelping with delight and feeling grateful for my senses.

Furiosa: I want them back. I WANT THEM BACK!!!

Dr. Dementus: Where are you going, so full of hope? THERE IS NO HOPE!!!

Aren’t both lines just such perfect moments of dialogue? The first has me more than ready to see Furiosa execute her plans, and the second has me wondering if I’ll end up feeling a little sorry for Dementus. Especially after hearing the feeling in the brilliant way that Hemsworth delivers the above line.

No doubt I’ll take in this trailer plenty more times before the movie is released.

Goran D. Kleut, CJ. Bloomfield, Rahel Romahn, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson, Lachy Hulme, Alyla Browne, Daniel Webber and Nat Buchanan also star.

Furiosa – A Mad Max Saga Release Dates: May 24th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

MONKEY MAN (2024): New Trailer From Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher, Pitobash…

New action/thriller Monkey Man is an epic-looking vengeance story starring and directed by Dev Patel, who also happens to be one of the co-writers.

Post trailer viewing, I find myself rather happy for Patel, considering the excitement around such a promising directorial debut.

I see plenty of John Wick fans being drawn to this one, along with many enthusiasts of a good vengeance tale, especially if the gratuitous violence isn’t off-putting.

I’m ready, and look forward to keeping up with all the exciting fight sequences.

Sharlto Copley, Adithi Kalkunte, Sikandar Kher itobash. Ashwini Kalsekar, Makrand Deshpande, Sobhita Dhulipala and Jatin Malik also star.

Monkey Man Release Dates: April 5th, 2024 (UK & US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

BAD BOYS – RIDE OR DIE (2024): New Trailer Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig…

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back for the fourth instalment of the Bad Boys movie franchise.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah; this time, Mike lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are on the run.

Hello, fun!

I say bring on the famous Lowrey/Burnett shenanigans and funny dialogue. I’m also looking forward to seeing Eric Dane, a.k.a. McSteamy from Grey’s Anatomy as what looks to be a villain.

Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Rhea Seehorn, Eric Dane, Ioan Gruffudd, Melanie Liburd, Jacob Scipio and Tasha Smith also star.

Bad Boys – Ride or Die Release Dates: June 7th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

ROAD HOUSE (1989): The Things I Liked…

There are two reasons why I watched director Rowdy Herrington’s Road House (1989). Patrick Swayze’s undeniable magic is one reason – the camera seems to just fully love him, right? The other is I’ve heard several men rate the film quite highly. Add to that the recently released remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, (which I’m yet to see), and I had to satisfy my curiosity.

As predicted, Swayze is his usual magnetic self as Dalton, a smaller-than-expected bouncer, hired to clean up the roughest bar in a Missouri town, thanks in part to his black belt in karate.

Well-paced with a good amount of suspense built-in’ is one way to describe Road House. I believed Dalton to be as capable as his Karate background would suggest. There are certainly some fun and impressive fight sequences. Nevertheless, my favourite scene has more to do with dialogue than fighting. It’s the one when Dalton introduces himself to his new team and lays down the law. 

There came a point in Road House when I was exhausted by all the fighting and wanted the conflicts resolved. No surprises there, I guess, since the movie is made predominantly for a male audience. I’ll probably still watch the Jake Gyllenhaal remake. After all, he too is talented and magnetic. I will, however, need the music to be different because the rock music in Herrington’s film isn’t my favourite.

If you’re curious enough, give Road House a chance. Especially if you’re into fighting/fight choreography. Lastly, the story is quite romantic – though, mostly not in the lovey-dovey sense. 

Happy Film Loving, 

G

DAMSEL (2024): New Trailer Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Angela Bassett, Nick Robinson, Robin Wright…

Damsel (2024), Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix

Millie Bobby Brown, Angela Bassett, Ray Winstone, Robin Wright and Nick Robinson are the stars of Damsel; a new action/fantasy/adventure directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Brown plays Elodie, a dutiful damsel who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find that the royal family’s plans for her look nothing like happily ever after.

We definitely have another trailer here that has shown far more of the story than is ideal. However, thankfully, I remain excited to see Elodie overthrow the super-entitled royals.

I’m in for the coming-of-age story of what looks like a very capable heroine. There’s also the tasty vengeance to look forward to, and the scene of Elodie getting to confront Prince Henry (Robinson) after his unflinchingly cruel betrayal should hopefully be great.

Esther Odumade, Ulli Ackermann, Nicole Joseph, Nick Robinson, Milo Twomey, Brooke Carter, Ezra Faroque Khan, Brogan Mcfarlane and Sonya Nisa also star.

Damsel Release Dates: March 8th, 2024, Netflix…

Happy Film Loving,

G

ROAD HOUSE (2024): New Trailer From Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Jessica Williams…

Director Doug Liman’s latest action/thriller Road House has Jake Gyllenhaal playing an Ex-UFC fighter named Dalton.

Dalton accepts a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse and soon finds out that things are more than he expected.

Conor McGregor, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and Lukas Gage are among the key cast.

This is not the kind of movie I’d typically be drawn to. But, add Gyllenhaal and my curiosity about McGregor’s performance and suddenly, look at that, I have a ticket.

I may just decide to watch the 1989 original Road House movie after all. The one starring Patrick Swayze; I hear that there’s much to see where fight choreography is concerned – another reason I have to watch this new remake.

Darren Barnet, Post Malone, Joaquim de Almeida, Dominique Columbus, Arturo Castro, JD Pardo, Beau Knapp, Hannah Love Lanier, Kevin Carroll, Bob Menery and Travis Van Winkle also star.

Road House Release Dates: March 21st, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

MIGRATION (2023) The Things I Liked…

The story and message about not being too afraid to expand one’s horizons and see the world may not be delivered in the most non-generic and sophisticated way; but, directors Benjamin Renner and Guylo Homsy’s animated action/adventure, Migration is still fun to watch.

Starring Elizabeth Banks, Kumail Nanjiani, Keegan-Michael Key and Awkwafina; Migration is joy-inducing, colourful, cute and features some engaging characters – my favourite of which is Delroy the Jamaican parrot, who is played rather well by Key.

Watch Migration because it’s fun, cute, and it’s only one hour and twenty-three minutes long. Also, look out for that ‘It’s about time I went to Jamaica‘ feeling, because it’s coming.

Happy Film Loving,

G