Speaking as someone who hates “First Blood,” and managed to completely dislike all of the subsequent “Rambo” movies, I’m surprised to say that “Rambo” or “John Rambo” isn’t a bad movie. In fact, it’s good, it’s really good. Much like the previous “Rocky Balboa,” Stallone seeks to send off his iconic character through the means of a stern and classy storyline that closes all arcs, and leaves our tragic hero with dignity and a sense of closure. How this will play with the studios who want more “Rambo” movies, one can only imagine, but for what it is, it’s a neat little farewell to a very silly action hero.
Tag Archives: R
Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
In the end I felt nothing watching “Repo!” Did I hate it? No. Did I loved it? Sometimes, only sometimes and this thanks to the performances by the cast of little known or breakthrough performers who help to tell the story of a society where kidneys are a business and one boss Ritto wants to flourish. This is an age where musicals are now the basic norm and have been raking in the bucks. It’s just sad that a musical that pitches to every audience, we horror fans aren’t included. There are even thick operatic tones thanks to the dulcet tones of Paul Sorvino; it’s a grab bag for the whole lot.
Robot Bastard! (2001)
Nothing pisses me off more than discovering a movie I find to be one of the most unique and original creation in years to discover that it’s actually pretty old and quite well known. Not only do I feel more out of the loop than ever, at that moment, but I also kick myself for not looking into independent short flicks better. Life dictates my internet usage, I’ve accepted it. Thanks to a happy accident, I discovered “Robot Bastard!” for the first time and couldn’t believe my eyes. Here was a movie that was so weird, and so unusual, and yet so funny, and so damn cool.
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
I’ve come to grips with the fact that we may never be able to have an almost accurate and horrifying zombie film stemming from “Resident Evil,” but perhaps someday someone will reboot the franchise and actually create some great zombie flicks. In case you didn’t know it, “Extinction” recaps the entire three films, including the story of Umbrella ad nauseum, and yes, there’s nothing like a warmed over sense of tension and suspense. From the first five minutes, it’s pretty obvious this has no idea what it wants to be, but truly, it’s just another episode in an ongoing franchise, regardless of the pretense it sets up that it’s the final film in the series. It’s not.
Red Princess Blues, Animated: The Book of Violence (2007)
Okay, so here the dealio: Alex Ferrari, one of my current favorite indie directors is hoping to create his first big budget, or moderately budgeted action thriller, and has with him a pretty good star in the way of the luscious Paula Garces. Ferrari made “Cyn” which was a sort of prequel, and now we have the animated short “Red Princess Blues” which is a seven minute short being shopped around as a potential launching point for a live action revenge action thriller named “Red Princess Blues.” And you know what? I think Ferrari may pull it off.
Ratatouille (2007)
One of my favorite modern storytellers in the animation genre happens to be Brad Bird. Not only is the man a wonderful writer, but he gets modern story themes and basic characterization, all the while building on adult themes that children can understand but will also appeal to adults as well. One of the most underrated and innovative filmmakers in film today, Brad Bird only seems to get better with every film. “Iron Giant” was a masterpiece of friendship and alienation, “The Incredibles” was a wonderful take on the dysfunctional family in modern suburbia, and now Bird yanks Pixar from its horrible “Cars,” with this fantastic follow-up “Ratatouille.”
The Return (2006)
Asif Kapadia’s supernatural drama likes to model itself after “The Machinist,” in which our main character has a reality that may not be everything she assumes it is, and is constantly haunted by mysterious figures while always in a dream-like environment where music fades, and space and time are easily bent to every scenario this mystery wants our character Jo to be. “The Return” isn’t the worst movie of 2006 as most others have reported, but is instead a weak and rather dull little drama that really breaks no new ground. Gellar’s performance here ranges from flat out mediocre to as wooden as a stake. Gellar is far from the primary flaw of this picture, as Kapadia can never seem to keep the audience at attention.