Title: The Expendables
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Steven Austin, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Terry Crews
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Story:
Barney Ross leads the "Expendables", a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas, martial arts expert Yin Yang, heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar, demolitionist Toll Road and loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen. When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church to assassinate the merciless dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee head to the remote locale to scout out their opposition. Once there, they meet with local rebel Sandra and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city. When they escape the island and Sandra stays behind, Ross must choose to either walk away and save his own life - or attempt a suicidal rescue mission that might just save his soul.
My Review:
Well, this is called a 'totally biased' reviews, so I don't know if this will be biased or not but this movie is AWESOME! Think Rambo meets xXx meets some awesome comedy show--I mean everything that could blow up, blew up! All the heads that could be busted open, got busted open! It was one kick ass movie. And the other thing that made this movie kick some serious ass? Jason Statham and Sly's relationship on screen. They had a certain chemistry that is amazing! They got along, they had each other's backs.
And even though this movie is action, it was hilarious! Jet Li was funny as hell and the truth be told, I did not expect him to have such wonderful comedic timing. Randy Couture surprised the hell out of me. I did not expect him to know what he was doing. But he proved me so wrong.
Sly went all out with this one. He used each actor's skills and talents to his advantage to contribute to the authencity of this movie. He used Randy's and Steve's wrestling and boxing skills.
This movie is a feel good, kick ass piece of work. I enjoyed it thoroughly and you just might too!
HUGS,
Kato
Title: Leap Year
Director: Anand Tucker
Starring: Amy Adams, Mathew Goode (not THAT Matt Goode), John Lithgow, Adam Scott,
Story:
A woman who has an elaborate scheme to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, an Irish tradition which occurs every time the date February 29 rolls around, faces a major setback when bad weather threatens to derail her planned trip to Dublin. With the help of an innkeeper, however, her cross-country odyssey just might result in her getting engaged.
My Review:
Wow, so romantic comedies are NOT my thing and I tend to go out of my way NOT to watch them, but I have to admit, this movie was a riot! It's about what happens when a spoil (ish), high society type, Anna (played by Amy Adams) decides to take off, on a whim to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy (a total ass-tard btw) (played by Adam Scott) without any plans. She simply let her father's story about the Irish tradition of women proposing to men on leap years to heart, after years, and thought she was going to fight for her man. Then she meets Declan (played by Mathew Goode) who's the definition of rougishly handsome and hilariously annoying! Declan is everything Jeremy isn't. I mean, Declan cooks, he drives himself, he swigs real beer and he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty!! What's not to like?
So anyways, hilarity ensues when she gets to Ireland and finds out that she has to find her way from this LITTLE town to where Jeremy is. First she kills the light in the whole little village because she decided to plug her dying phone into a wall socket!! I couldn't stop laughing. All the light in this village simply went out leaving the place in darkness. I fell out of my seat I was laughing so hard! Then she starts falling for Declan and to make it worse, she saw him in all his beautiful, Irish brogue, Declan glory...aka naked!
Give me a moment.....*droool...* ok Moment over!
Even though I adored this flick, I have to say that at one point though I did feel like shoving the chick (Anna) off a cliff because she got a tad annoying after about forty five minutes into the movie. I mean she does everything in her power to push Declin away and then when he finally leaves, somehow it was his fault! I hate stupid people and after a while I just wanted to smack her and yell "chica! Open your eyes! Your dream man is RIGHT THERE!" but it wouldn't be a good movie without that feeling, right?
The people in the small town added to the richness of the story and moved it along quite well. They didn't rush the story and it felt as though the writer, did his/her research when working on it. The beautiful, lush Irish countryside was showcased wonderfully with it's charming (not all the time) people.
Anyways, overall, I never thought LEAP YEAR would be any good, but I love all things Irish. This movie was a breath of fresh air from all the other crappy romantic comedies my best friend forced me to watch over the years. I won't promise I'll make it my regular thing, but once in a while, I just might give in again.
Hugs,
Kato
Title: Rambo
Director:
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Tim Kang
Story:
Vietnam veteran John Rambo has survived many harrowing ordeals in his lifetime and has since withdrawn into a simple and secluded existence in Thailand, where he spends his time capturing snakes for local entertainers, and chauffeuring locals in his old PT boat. Even though he is looking to avoid trouble, trouble has a way of finding him: a group of Christian human rights missionaries, led by Michael Burnett and Sarah Miller, approach Rambo with the desire to rent his boat to travel up the river to Burma. For over fifty years, Burma has been a war zone. The Karen people of the region, who consist of peasants and farmers, have endured brutally oppressive rule from the murderous Burmese military and have been struggling for survival every single day. After some inner contemplation, Rambo accepts the offer and takes Michael, Sarah, and the rest of the missionaries up the river. When the missionaries finally arrive at the Karen village..
My Review:
Well I have always been a fan of Sly Stallone. I mean I grew up in Jamaica on him, Bruce Lee and Arnold. When it comes to the Rambo franchise, I have to admit when I heard he was doing another, my first thought was "holy crap not again!" Some franchises should just be left alone--they should just let it burn, let it go, get out while they're ahead and after watching this movie, I still think they should have left well enough alone. Sure it was great to see Sly as Rambo again--it was amazing to see him kick some ass but enough is enough. I am tired of him not getting the girl in the end--its kinda pointless in that respects.
The storyline could have used a tad more tightening but everything that could be shot, blown up, beheaded, stabbed, was. It was a gory movie that started out with genocide. The movie itself is pretty good...pretty standard for Rambo. As the movie drew to a close, Rambo once again found himself at the helm of one of those guns that fires like a million rounds, completely wiping out all the bad guys leaving all the good guys safe and sound--a little bloody from the ordeal but Rambo--the amazing shot that he is, always manages to only kill the baddies.
Sly's acting was okay, the other people in this movie drove me nuts sometimes. They were annoying as hell. Oh and that guy...from The Mentalist--what's his name...the guy who's the serious cop...Tim Kang was in it playing a mercenary name En Joo. He was buff, bearded and oh so delicious. *stops to purr at the memory* If that doesn't drag your memory, think of the character KOH from THE OFFICE.
Predictable, but worth it. If you want to have a boy's night in and the game isn't on, I wouldn't hold it against you if you picked up this one.
Hugs,
Kato
