Archive for December, 2013
Out of the Furnace
December 13th, 2013 | 
Author: This movie is a tour de force for Christian Bale’s inherent darkness both on and off the screen. I am not a Christian Bale fan, but you have to applaud him for this movie if nothing else.
Russells life isnt easy, but he’s doing his best to get by. He has a dead-end blue collar job at the local steel mill, he is taking care of his terminally ill father, and looking out for his younger brother, Rodney, whos struggling to adapt to normal life following a tour of duty in Iraq. His one comfort is his relationship with the beautiful Lena Warren (Zoe Saldana). However, one fateful evening changes everything for Russell. When he returns to town, years later, his father has passed away, hes lost Lena to local sheriff Wesley Barnes (Forrest Whittaker), and he discovers his war hero brother has been lured into a brutal, underground world of street fighting, run by one of the most violent and ruthless crime rings in the Northeast.
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Homefront
Phil Broker is a former DEA agent who has gone through a crisis after his action against a biker gang went horribly wrong and it cost the life of his boss’ son. He is recently widowed and is left with a 9-years-old daughter,Maddy. He decides to quit the turbulent and demanding life of thrill for Maddy’s sake and retires to a small town. His daughter fights off a boy who was bullying her at school and this sets in motion a round of events that end in his direct confrontation with the local Meth drug lord. His past history with the biker gang also enters the arena, making matters more complex. But he has a mission in his mind to protect his daughter and he is ready to pay any cost that it demands.
This is a typical Jason Stratham type movie. Note that the screenplay was written by Sylvester Styalone. You sort of expect good to triumph over evil after some heartbreak. This movie was filmed in and around New Orleans so it was good to see the bayou scenary. Formularic movie, decent acting. James Franco was the bad guy who got his just desserts.
Rating 3.8 our of 5
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
This is the second of the Hunger Games franchise. I am only going to give you a brief summary here as I don’t want to include any spoilers so the ending will have the impact it should when you see the movie.
A year after winning the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and her partner, Peeta Mellark must go on what is known as the Victor’s Tour wherein they visit all the districts. But before leaving, Katniss is visited by President Snow who fears that Katniss defied him a year ago during the games when she chose to die with Peta. With both Katniss and Peeta declared the winners, it is fueling a possible uprising. He tells Katniss that while on tour she better try to make sure that she puts out the flames or else everyone she cares about will be in danger. But unfortunately she fails to do that. So Snow decides to enact what is known as the Quarter Quell, the right to make a change to the Hunger Games, which he is allowed to do every 25 years. He decides to hold an edition of the Hunger Games wherein previous winners will compete again. Their mentor Haymitch thinks their best chance to survive is form an alliance with some of the others. They decide to align themselves with Finnick and his partner, Mags. But Snow is secretly hoping Katniss will be killed.
I loved the first one, but this one is much more exciting and the ending leaves you anticipating the next one.
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Thor: The Dark World
There are nine realms of Asgard and once every 5,000 years they align. Earth happens to be one of these realms. These realms create portals between the worlds during the alignment which is called “Convergence”. On Earth, in London, Jane Foster believes she and her crew have discovered one such portal. Foster, while investigating the phenomenon, is transported to another realm and comes in contact with a substance called Aether. Upon coming into contact with the substance, it draws Thor from Asgard back to Earth. Thor takes Jane to Asgard to be cured from the Aether. Unfortunately in doing so it draws more than just Jane to that world. Another being called Malekith wants to use the Aether to destroy Asgard.
Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether. Warriors from Asgard stop them but their leader Malekith escapes to wait for another opportunity. The warriors find the Aether and since it cannot be destroyed, they try to hide it. In the present day, Jane Foster awaits the return of Thor although it has been two years since they last saw once another. In the meantime, Thor has been trying to bring peace to the nine realms. Jane discovers an anomaly similar to the one that brought Thor to Earth. She goes to investigate, finds a wormhole, and is sucked into it. Back on Asgard, Thor wishes to return to Earth but his father, Odin refuses to let him. Thor learns from Heimdall, who can see into all of the realms, that Jane disappeared. Thor then returns to Earth just as Jane reappears. However, when some policemen try to arrest her, an unknown energy repulses them. Thor then brings Jane to Asgard to find out what happened to her. When the energy is released again, they discover that when Jane disappeared, she crossed paths with the Aether and it entered her. Malekith, upon sensing that the time to strike is now, seeks out the Aether. He attacks Asgard and Thor’s mother Frigga is killed protecting Jane. Odin wants to keep Jane on Asgard so that Malekith will come. Thor disagrees with his plan, so with his cohorts, he decides to take Jane away. He enlists the aid of his brother, Loki. Unfortunately, Loki’s motivations remain unknown.
This latest Th0r installment is a bit darker that the first on and the first Avengers movie, however, it is it definitely watchable. Pay attention to the ending as it certainly sets up the next installment and leaves you wondering what is really going on.
Rating: 4.2 out of 5