FAST & FURIOUS 6

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$1/2



THE VIEWING

“I can reach out and break you whenever I want.”

           So I just watched the 6th Installation of the Fast & Furious franchise.  Whenever a movie goes beyond a trilogy, the final episodes are usually dry.  After the 5th F&F [for a quick review click here ], I was really hoping they would stop. That would've been a perfect closure to a really good run .  Of course that wasn’t enough, so the good people down at Universal green lighted a 6th and the edit room for 5 wasn’t even warmed up yet.  So before we end the movie shoot a teaser on the end of the reel after the credits roll thru and walla!! Now we have a seed planted.  One, I thought would be for a disaster but I am here happy to report I was wrong.  In fact, this time you don’t have to sit thru the entirety of the credits.  This time it’s not after the movie (credits)ends, there’s bonus material in the ending sequence that you definitely want to see.  Screen footage that may or may not lead you to believe that they are just not quite done taking you for a ride; Awesome footage, might I add.

         If you are one of the people who don’t like the Fast & Furious brand because of the unrealistic street racing events filled with more female models than hoodlums or you didn’t like the dumbed down action sequences, I understand... but you would of loved last one (5)!  Five was a departure from the original F&F blueprint.  More of a intricate story and a very successful heist flick.   Although 6 returned to some of the things that F&F fans enjoyed from the previous movies, Fast 6 is definitely a stand alone.  Anyone can enjoy this by itself.

          Everyone casted had surprisingly good chemistry...again! More impressive was the comic relief by Ludacris and Tyrese.  Tyrese may be under appreciated but I’ll just tuck that away for another day.  It seems ‘critics’ all over have a problem with Vin Diesel’s raw, drawn out vernacular. I don’t. Just like Sly Stone in Rocky, his marbles in the jaws speeches delivers a different pace than what everyone else on screen is doing.  It also sets their subject matter apart from the rest of the speedy dialogue on screen. Which, in effect,  highlights their simple but powerful statements.  It’s effortlessly digestible and easy to love.  

         Things that go BOOM in the summer usually result in higher box office ticket sales.  That’s no secret, and the movie directors and producers all know that we know that yet still try to satisfy the masses with explosives and all sorts of mayhem.  That’s what I would call “industry” tactics and I’m usually oppose to them.  Once in every while, they do get it right.  All though the more refined movie/film goer would frown or even walk out of some of the impossible stunts that F&F 6 throws at you... I would challenge them to stay.  Plausibility and realism is always best, especially when entertaining me, but sometimes ‘fun’ overrides everything!

         Definitely worth watching and worth your money: B- (minus for the ridiculousness lol)

Star Trek Into Darkness

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$$

THE VIEWING

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.”

          Star Trek Into Darkness starts off abruptly yet stunningly in a mid-mission crisis that we learn about as the action continues.  All the while rediscovering Captain Kirk's recklessness towards orders versus his incredibly accurate habit of trusting his gut... His greatest strength and weakness.  The opening scene, similar to the previous Star Trek film, sets an astounding pace for you to dip your little toe in before diving into the rest of this masterpiece of a story.   Yes masterpiece. he work done by the writers is nothing less than spectacular.  Considering the perimeters they had to work in from the universe of the Star Trek franchise versus the vast space of uncharted story lines now available with the first movie altering the space time continuum, screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman really deserve more recognition.

          Everyone was casted perfectly, again; Including the villain. Benedict Cumberbatch’s John Harrison made for a superb bad guy.  His calm yet menacing demeanor produces a perfect mix of tension, fierceness, and hurt every time he opens his mouth.  Each time he is on screen it is an event.  Gauging a hero usually depends on the strength of the villain.  It is no wonder that we cheer for the crew of the Enterprise.  In any Star Trek flick, there is always a great danger, this time the danger isn’t just a bad person but, principalities, ethics, morals...  How do you fight all  of them?  How can you?  

  

         According to Imdb.com,  Benicio Del Toro was in early talks for the role of John Harrison, but eventually declined due to monetary issues. Demián Bichir, Édgar Ramírez and Jordi Mollà were considered afterwards, before Benedict Cumberbatch was finally cast.

         remember this guy?

*	Jordi Mollà

      Johnny Tapia from Bad Boys 2, Diego Delgado from the movie Blow with Johnny Depp...   I would've LOVED to see him in that role.  Lastly, while I’m speaking on perfect casting jobs, Karl Urban was a perfect casting job for Bones... Perfect!   I thought so with the last Star Trek and it is very much confirmed now.  I enjoyed watching and listening to his bantering & metaphor flinging with Kirk and everyone else through the whole movie...  I wished there were more.  Definitely top 20 in All-time perfect movie casting jobs.

    

         I’m giving this movie an A+ because I simply have no idea of how it could've been better.  Smart, funny, action, tense, deep, I mean whatever ingredient you can think of for the perfect summer Blockbuster, this movie has it.  The only request that I would have made before they released it is knowing what I know now... It would've been much better had it opened up on Memorial Day weekend.

            

            reiterating, letter grade: A+

            definitely worth watching and your money.

dedicated to Paul Moore. Miss sharing the joys of film watching with my friend.

IRONMAN 3

THE PITCH

WORTH

$$$$

THE VIEWING

"You know, it's moments like these when I realize how much of a superhero I am."

         Again, these reviews are assessments of the movies themselves and not the adaptation from the [comic] book.  Having saw the movie I enjoyed it.  I feel like this movie is the second best in the Iron man trilogy. In a couple of places I got confused, like at the bar & grill scene where he obtained some pertinent information...  That whole scene just seemed like it was a big coincidence or I missed something. Which is alright because it adds to the rewatchability...  Make no mistake, for the few times I questioned the movie there were 4 times as many moments where I was pleasantly surprised.

          If anything, Ironman 3 answers the debate of Man vs. Machine.  His heroism has come into question many times before.  Finally it’s the question of does the suit make the man or does the man make the suit?  You’ll get your answer in the theater.

         Lastly, this is a little gripe of mine that I wish I could forward to the producers of all these Marvel comics movies... The insertion of comedy in serious situations are suppose to be few to none.  Sometimes less is more.  In the past it has worked, for example, what if the Hulk doesn’t say “puny god” as he walks off from beating Loki to a pulp in The Avengers... given it was funny but you didn’t need it. Tony Starks is funny and I know that’s his personality but I would like to see more seriousness when death is imminent. That’s my 1 cent.

          Definitely a movie worth watching.  I enjoyed it in the IMAX 3D...  A wonderful experience and worth the price hike in my opinion.  Might seem a little long to some so prepare for that and by now you should know to stay after the credits for the bonus feature in Marvel comic book movies.

            letter grade: B