(film review) - John Wick: Chapter 2

Just when you thought the brilliant story had ended.  Just when you thought The Babayaga came out of the shadows to play and now playtime is over!  Just when you thought the guy that everybody is afraid of, was going to return to his life of solitude with his new dog! YOU. WERE. WRONG!!!

The story picks up only four days after the events of John Wick, where after seeking revenge for the murder of his cute dog, John hasn’t forgotten his beloved and stolen 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1, where he continues his rampage to rescue it from a chop shop owned by Abram Tarasov (peter Stormare), brother of Viggo and Uncle of Iosef.  Having retrieved his Mustang, john is later visited by Italian crime lord, Santino D/Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio).  Santino forces John to honour the promise upon his marker and carry out one last job, which is the only thing that will allow him to return to retirement life.  But will john honour his word and carry out the task and fulfil his marker or will he carry out his retirement life as planned?

At this rate, John should change his home address if people keep knocking on his door like girl scouts, right?  I’m sure WE are ‘in agreement here!?’  This movie is just what the first movie ordered, nothing but fight scene after fight scene after fight scene after brutal kills after fight scene after more brutal kills after even more brutal kills, a splash of car chasing and debauchery and with the most, if not ALL kills ending with a headshot or two in an art gallery and such.  The last movie had an epic gun-fu fight in a night club which went WITH the music.  This movie!  Sigh.  There is a scene where two men are casually stalking each other firing their guns at one another in a crowded street without ANYONE noticing.  There is a scene where John throws a gun at a man’s head because he was out of bullets.  I cannot express my joy and odd laughs you get during this movie from somewhat, graphic violence or the absurdity of certain situations and scenarios.

I feel like everything I said in my last review, this review is basically that x2 and a gold star. Keanu Reeves is no longer Neo, his name is John Wick.  And if the director and the people behind this movie, such as the writers and producers, continue to deliver such a fun-filled romp of violence in this neo-noir action movie in the continued style and finesse, visually, we will continue to want this until Keanu is physically unable to do it anymore.  I mean, he is 54 and kicking ass!

(film review) - X-Men: Apocalypse

I was never really interested in this film.  Why I hear you ask.  Well, I am a child of the 80's and the 90's X-Men cartoon was at the time THE BEST CARTOON from a comic book out there.  Spider-Man was also great as well, but this was cartoon/comic book gold.  My understanding of the X-Men and everything I learned from the X-Men came from here.  I knew about Apocalypse and that, he could not be defeated by the X-Men.  He was more powerful than all the other mutants as he was r claims he was the first mutant and even with all the X-Men and their powers combined, he just wouldn't die.  He has an entwining story with Cable and the cartoon made Apocalypse an monologging egotistical megalomaniac villain who was just great.  The only way you could defeat him would be to trick him into going back to sleep.  Considering we are starting X-Men from the beginning with First Class, Days of Future Past and now Apocalypse, I really felt that an Apocalypse film NOW was the wrong move, a misstep, as there are greater, but smaller villains out there like Mister Sinister for example. Anyway...

The film kicks off in Egypt where Apocalypse (Oscar Issac) has his four horsemen (War, Pestilence, Famine and Death) and is preparing to go to sleep.  He then wakes up several years later and decides that the earth requires cleansing.  He goes out in search for his four Horsemen to carry out his wishes, but is opposed by Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) and the X-Men who rally together to stop him from destroying the earth and all humanity.

Pretty Simple.  Very short and sweet.  Nothing too extravagant and it sounds good on paper, right? However, where they went wrong for me, was with EVERYTHING.  There was too much liberties taken with Apocalypse and his horsemen.  I felt that the story alone, just was not strong enough to carry the movie.  There were some nice moments in the film and some brilliant scenes starring two separate people at two separate times, but it felt like Batman V Superman, more style over substance.  There were a few funny moments here and there and Apocalypse did feel like a threat, but he didn't seem overpowering to me.  I felt like they had to justify his powers too much.  He didn't seem like a Megalomaniac at all, just someone who wants to destroy the earth.  Almost a Moustache twirling Bond villain.  The film was gorgeous as the special effects were great and certain characters, you understood their motivations.  With others, it wasn't even a wink and/or nod, it was just mashed together for us to just accept it.  Even worst that these characters didn't get much dialogue.  Trying not to go into spoilers.
I never got why Mystique had to be soo pally pally with Xavier and she should not be leading the X-Men.  You see this in the trailers and it makes no sense to me.  A lot of things for this movie made no sense and although it worked in the film and I'm not trying to be pedantic about the comics and movies etc, but Bryan has been fudging up this universe from the very beginning and seems to be very unapologetic about it.  For the most part, this film works, just like all the others and I did enjoy it, but it felt like it was lacking and not in one particular area, but everywhere.  It needed more.  I have to say that Bryan is a smart guy and there is a moment in this film which ties a particular character among the other films which came before it (Although now erased).  Although I never liked it, this made it make sense and I accepted it.  Just like the final fight was lack-luster and the ultimate weapon that took down Apocalypse felt forced, but I got why they forced it in.

This film is much more graphic than previous films and although there isn't an abundance of blood (If it was directed by Tarantino, then we would need to wipe the lens in one particularly awesome part), a particular section in this film looked like it was ripped straight from the comic.  Which is an excellent thing.
McAvoy and Fassbender are great as usual.  I really did like Hoult (Beast), Shipp (Storm), Sheridan (Cyclops), Turner (Jean Grey) & Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler) in their roles.  Some of the chemistry worked between Turner and Sheridan, but for me, I felt Shipp wasn't given enough, but she did well with what she had. Peters (Quicksilver), is dynamite as usual (when you compared to Days of Future Past) and Mystique was ok.

The way forward, is to build on Cyclops and Jean and their love for one another.  They need to build up the team and bring in more characters in the team and a better team dynamic tis time around. No, major leading characters unless it is to do with the main leaders of the X-Men, Cyclops and or Storm as she is second in command after Cyclops.

Have a good time with it, it is decent.  I just felt that Days of Future Past for Fox, has a very high and raised bar they need to match and/or beat.  This film didn't do it for me and I felt it could have been better.

(film review) - Captain America: Civil War

So, I've been telling a friend of mine that you need to watch Captain America: The Winter Soldier as it is the best stand-alone Marvel movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date.  I did explain that you would need to watch Captain America: The First Avenger and then Avengers: Assemble to understand Cap's growth from his first film to his second.  His third film, now coming after Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Russo's have done nothing but another superb job.

Captain America: Civil War is a film that has a story which spins off of several story plots and events from various movies which came before it.  It is another Avengers Movie.  It is another Captain America Movie.  And it is a set up movie to help set up the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) along with introducing two brand new character's along with juggling a story, action and screen time for 13 of our heroes and 2 and a half villains.

Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and the rest of the Avengers is called in by Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt) who wants to discuss the Sokovia Accords due to the major event that took place where a city was dropped from the sky causing hundreds and thousands of casualties.  Accompanied with the Battle of New York and destruction caused in D.C, the newly appointed Registration Act is to be put into place for the Avengers who are to act on behalf of the Government.  However, having different ideologies, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) agree with the rules, but Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) do not share the same thoughts.  Other members of the Avengers start to take sides until things properly kick off.  In the middle of this, The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is wanted for questioning due to actions carried out causing problems for Steve, but Steve must do everything he can to find and capture The Winter Soldier and get to the bottom of what is really being going on, who is in control and to also be there for his friend.  While Tony and Steve go head to head, a civil war erupts bringing in two newbies and nobody is safe.

This film is excellent.  I am not saying this because I love Marvel films, but I am saying this because the Russo Brothers can direct.  When you really think about it, 13 heroes in a single film and all given adequate screen time to fit the story and let them shine, which was emotional, about revenge and as I said before, a set up for future movies as well as a sequel to two others, there is no doubt that these two are the best directors to do it in the MCU.  This is not at a discredit to Joss Whedon at all, but it is definitely difficult to not hold these two guys, up there as a set of directors who definitely deliver an excellent experience in movies.  Albeit, comicbook movies, but great movies nonetheless.

Every actor was on their A-Game and the performances was terrific.  The fight scenes were excellent.  As I said the bar has been raised AGAIN.  The story was great and this is an all round great movie to watch.  Every hero felt like they needed to be in this movie and their drive was equally met.  But this goes down to the superb directing.  What I will say is that, the special effects were great, but a lot better in 2D.  3D felt odd in some places.  The fight scenes were upped since CA:TWS and the introduction of the two new characters did not feel forced at all.  If anything, the main villain had his reasons but ultimately didn't need to be in the movie at all but other than that, wait until you see the Airport scene.  The single most greatest action sequence in Comicbook Movie history.  Maybe even Movie History.  Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), literally stole the entire film. If you haven't seen Ant-Man yet, I am pretty sure this film will make you want to see it. Spider-Man homecoming is due out in a few years and so is Black Panther, so we do not have long to wait guys.

Enjoy.