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Showing posts with label Action Movie. Show all posts

Monday, March 6, 2017

The 4 Best Denzel Washington Action Movies

Time and time again we are reminded of what a talented actor Denzel Washington is. Most recently he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Fences. As I am preparing for an evening of relaxing at home with my favorite movies, I am realizing how much I enjoy my frequent dates with Denzel Washington. In this review, I will share with you the four movies that I think are Denzel's best action movies.

Denzel Washington the Actor

Denzel Washington is a very talented, multiple award winning actor who has played a wide range of roles. His movies have ranged from action, to drama, to thriller, and historical. I have seen many of his movies, and am looking forward to seeing Fences. But I have to admit that his roles in the action/thriller movies are by far my favorite.

In Training Day, he was Alonzo, the corrupt cop I loved to hate. In the movies The Equalizer, Man on Fire, and The Bone Collector he portrays defective and damaged men who continue to care for others. His struggling heroes are believable characters that have stuck with me over time.

I am not at all ashamed to admit that I own these movies and have frequent weekend movie night "dates" with Denzel. That smile - no matter the role - makes me melt. And his acting skills in the following movies take me away to different worlds.

Denzel Washington's Four Best Action Movies

Training Day - In Training Day (2001), Alonso is a corrupt narcotics cop who is training his new rookie partner (Ethan Hawke). "There's some profoundly evil people walking the streets right now" is quite an understatement and quite telling as that statement comes out of Alonso's mouth. I find that Alonso is evil and this intense ride-along still startles me. I still hold my breath at certain parts and hope everything turns out okay.

The Equalizer - In The Equalizer (2014) Robert McCall "The old man met his greatest adversary just when he thought that part of his life was over" McCall says as he explains The Old Man and the Sea to Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz). And she responds with the question of the day "Why didn't he just let the fish go?" So why does this quiet widower who has quite completely left his past behind go after that big fish? Because "you've gotta be who you are in this world, right? No matter what."

Man on Fire - In Man of Fire (2004) John Creasy is an impaired man whose alcohol issues and mental health have impacted his functioning. A friend helps the former assassin to obtain work - as a family security guard (or is that babysitter?) for the precocious little Lupita (Dakota Fanning). At times it is not quite clear who is protecting whom through the movie and I still bawl my eyes out at the end. There is no love like a child's love. And John Creasy battles his demons just to try to do his job. Will he be the hero or be too late?

The Bone Collector - In The Bone Collector (1999) Lincoln Rhyme is a physically impaired man whose mind is as sharp as it ever was. As a very talented ex-homicide detective, he is pulled in recent events in an attempt to find a serial killer. Amelia (Angelina Jolie), a young patrol officer, becomes his partner after being in the right place at the wrong time and demonstrating her natural observational skills. This movie is tense and the crimes are what nightmares are made of. Can Lincoln's nurse (Queen Latifah) save him? Can Lincoln and Amelia save the next victim? The twists and turns leave you guessing and holding your breath.

Warning - Please be aware and fully informed that these are action movies and are rated "R" for violent content, language, grisly images, and so on. These movies are NOT for the faint of heart. I like "shoot 'em up" movies and some of these scenes near the line of "too much" even for me.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Sully Movie Review - True Story of the Miracle on the Hudson

The movie Sully shows us something there was no way we could see on 1/15/09 or the following days. It gives us a front row seat to how heroes are revealed.

Sully is an excellent movie based on the emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 piloted by Captain Sullenberger, aka Sully. After losing both engines due to a bird strike, there was little time to decide the best course of action. As you will see in the movie, there were many people in authority who criticized and tried to second guess Sully's decisions. However, at that most difficult moment, Captain Sullenberger made a judgement call that saved the lives of all 155 souls on the flight, as well as countless others on the ground.

Few movies that are based on actual events honestly present the facts as they actually happened. Most directors take a poetic license to "grow" the characters or add to the drama. However, in the case of "Sully", there was no reason to inflate the character of the man. Nor was there any reason to increase the drama surrounding the flight crew and passengers on that plane that day.

This movie deserves more than applause and awards for the portrayal of actual details and accounts of the actions taken that day by the entire crew and rescue workers who immediately responded. It also shows the stress and judgement the crew members were forced to endure as their decisions were probed and analyzed by a board of individuals safely sitting on the ground.

Clint Eastwood has always been one of my favorite actors, however he excels even beyond those expectations as a director. Paired with an outstanding performance by Tom Hanks, who plays Sully, this movie stands heads above any other drama I have ever seen or reviewed.

"Sully" Facts and Details - Not Just An Ordinary Movie

SullyThe real facts and the movie depiction are the same. On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 departed New York's LaGuardia airport in route to Charlotte, NC. Approximately 3 minutes into the flight, the plane struck a flock of Canadian Geese causing both engines to fail. It is the only time in aviation history that there has ever been a duel engine failure on a passenger carrier caused by external factors. An emergency landing was imperative, but there were no obvious options for a safe landing.

While receiving rerouting suggestions for a runway landing at nearby airports from air traffic control, Captain Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles made a cool headed and well considered decision to land the plane in the Hudson River near boating terminals. In an amazing, unprecedented glide landing on water, Sully landed the A320 jet, and the crew started an immediately evacuation of the passengers.

Also accurately depicted in the movie and almost as unbelievable as the safe water landing, NY Waterway ferry Thomas Jefferson, commanded by Captain Vincent Lombardi arrived to help with evacuation 4 minutes after the plane landed. It was followed by several other boats, rescue divers, and emergency response teams who were all ready and willing to help save lives.

The fact that all passengers and crew members survived truly was a "Miracle on the Hudson".

"Sully", The Movie

Many of us saw the news reports and watched the miraculous rescue in real life, but the movie fills in the blanks. It shows us something there was no way we could see on Jan. 15th or the following days. It gives us a front row seat to how heroes are revealed.

We witness what will most likely be the last 3 minutes of the lives on-board that plane. We watch the excruciating agony of the helpless on the ground through the eyes of the air traffic controllers. We quickly realize the horror that New Yorker's are once again being forced to watch unfold.

Staring out the cockpit windows of the fast approaching freezing cold water, we find ourselves bracing for impact. Then in a few brief moments, pulling from all previous flying experiences and training, an extraordinary pilot does the improbable. He safely lands the jet on water.

The crew oversees the evacuation and Sully, himself, walks the length of the plane to ensure all of the passengers are out before he will step outside of the plane. It is clear that his first concern before he lands the plane and afterwards was for the safety of the passengers of Flight 1549.

Now, you think that is all of the story, but it is not!

All aviation accidents are investigated. Determining who or what is at fault becomes the focus. Not that the pilot and crew saved lives by their actions, but whether or not those actions are considered "appropriate". This is the part of the story most didn't know until they see the movie.

Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters Sully Miracle on the Hudson: The Extraordinary Real-Life Story Behind Flight 1549, by the Survivors

After you see the movie or read the book, I would love for you to return and tell me how you felt, what you thought, how you would like to respond.

Personally, I have a renewed admiration for the pilots of all aircrafts and their determination to succeed in that industry.

I'm going to close by saying something I have never said in a review before. If you haven't seen this movie yet, go!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Limitless, The Movie - Now a TV Series

Limitless, The Movie

Have you ever seen this Movie? Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert De Niro are the stars.

The Movie has now morphed into a TV Series carrying the same title as the movie 'Limitless.'

Perhaps you caught the TV Season opener this past week (September 2015)? It was entertaining, and I'll include this one on 'my fave new fall shows' list.

Although the TV series stars are Jake McDorman and Jennifer Carpenter, fans of Bradley Cooper will still see him in several episodes playing the character he becomes in the Movie, 'Senator Edward Mora' ... enough of a reason to watch!

In the Movie, Bradley Cooper plays Eddie Morra, a struggling artist with a case of writers' block that essentially spirals him into a less than stellar life.

He runs into the brother of his ex-girlfriend, who introduces him to a drug designed to take the human brain from 20% usage to essentially 100% usage. The Movie offers a lot of twists and turns and certainly keeps your interest all the way to the end.

I've always been fascinated by the untapped power and mystery of the human mind and wondered what society would be like if our brains worked at 100% capacity. If every living soul operated at maximum potential, would that generate more good, evil, or both?

In the movie, Eddie Morra is learning at light speed, working at maximum capacity - he learns to play the piano in three hours, he learns new languages almost instantly and he becomes a financial genius.

Here's the 2011 Movie Trailer for Limitless:

Can you imagine having that kind of brain power?

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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Review of Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I stumbled on The Life of Pi at the library, knowing it was a bestseller, so I decided to see what it was all about. It was hard at first to believe it was fiction. It read very much like an autobiography, except that it wasn't real. Pi (actually Piscine) Patel, the protagonist, grew up in India, the son of a zoo keeper.

Most of his story is told in the first person. He spent a good part of his free time at his father's zoo in Pondicherry (a zoo which never existed), and I personally enjoyed most the beginning of the book where Pi talks about how he got his name and the characteristics of the zoo animals. He also tells the story of how his father taught him and his brother to respect the animals as the wild beasts they were so they would not be tempted to treat them like tame animals, no matter how cute they seemed. It was a terrifying lesson even to read about.

One of the most interesting parts of the book to me was Pi's unique take on religion. He had interacted with local Christian, Hindu, and Moslem teachers, and he joined and practiced each faith. He tired to keep each religion separate in his life, and none of the teachers knew he had joined any faith but their own. His own parents didn't care much about any religion, and they didn't think much of Pi's religious life. Everything seemed to work for Pi until one Sunday afternoon when he was sixteen, when he happened to be with his parents on the Goubert Salai seaside esplanade. It seemed the whole town was out for a stroll, and that included the three clerics.

They approached Pi's family at the same time, and each began to brag about him as their star pupil. The priest remarked on what a good Christian boy Piscine was. The imam claimed him as a good Muslim boy. The pandit declared them both wrong, since Piscine was obviously a pious Hindu. The clerics argued religion with each other, and seemed in agreement that Pi must choose just one of their religions. I will leave it to you to read the book to see how this was resolved.

Pi's parents finally decide that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's policies are disappointing. They had hoped for a more tolerant “new” India, and when they believed they would never get it, they made the decision to close the zoo, sell off the animals, and emigrate to Canada. Pi and his brother Ravi did not want to go, but they did not really have a choice. After the endless paperwork was done, the family left Madras in 1977 on a Japanese cargo ship.

The ship sank. He is in a lifeboat. He sees the tiger, Richard Parker, in the ocean and starts to rescue him before he realizes how foolish that is. At the last moment as he is pulling the tiger into the boat he suddenly wakes up to what the two of them together on the lifeboat would mean, but by then it's too late, the tiger is too close, and pulls himself into the boat. Hear this scene read aloud. Get the complete Life of Pi audiobook here.

Through most of the rest of the book Pi is stranded on a boat. At the beginning there are three animals and no other humans. There was a zebra with a broken leg, a spotted hyena, and the 440-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. They were all animals that had been on the Japanese ship. Pi had to use all he had observed at the zoo and all he had learned about the animals, especially tigers, to survive. For most of that long journey in the lifeboat, his only companion was the tiger, and he had seen what a tiger was capable of.

Although I'm glad I read the book, I don't really enjoy survival stories very much, and I really got tired of the constant battle of wits on that boat. I just wanted Pi to be rescued. But the monotony of life on the boat reflected the monotony of life for Pi, tired, thirsty, having to fish to feed himself and the tiger, and just watching day and night go by.

I recommend this to those who are interested in religion, philosophy, wild animals, zoos, and / or survival stories. The philosophy is not tedious, and the Pi's search for the right religion often borders on humor while offering a glimpse into each of the three faiths presented. For those who would like more background on the book, I suggest this interview with the author, Yann Martel.

This exciting book has also been made into a movie.

Life of Pi (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) Life of Pi Life of Pi / Beasts of the Southern Wild (Two-Pack)

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Friday, June 26, 2015

Mad Max: Fury Road Movie Review

Occasionally we all go to movies we didn't select ourselves just to be with the people we love. On very rare times, we are surprised and end up really enjoying the show. Thus was the case for me with Mad Max: Fury Road.

This past Father's Day, our son gave his father an afternoon at the movies with hot dogs and coke slushies included. I was thrilled to be included in the boy's day out when our son informed us that he had purchased 3 tickets. I was still sitting in my gown when my husband opened his present and discovered the movie tickets. Tickets to a show that started 35 minutes later. I jumped from behind my computer, threw on some clothes, combed my hair and we all made a mad dash to Mad Max.

Both of the men expected to enjoy the movie, but I think we were all astonished that I really liked the show too. It was a fast action film with wicked cars, lots of bombing and blowing up things, and really ugly men that seemed to enjoy killing each other. Decidedly not my kind of movie. However, with the beautiful Charlize Theron cast as the leading lady, Furiosa, and a touch of romance I was perfectly content and properly entertained. I might add, I always appreciate a rebel who fights for a worthy cause.

Mad Max: Fury RoadCheck Price

The Plot Of Mad Max: Fury Road

In an attempt to free the captive wives of the tyrannical leader of Citadel, the town where they all "serve", Furiosa hides the 5 wives in her armored truck on a routine fuel run. Her crew easily accepts that she is on a different mission when she breaks from the caravan and they don't really question her actions.

It doesn't take long for the Citadel leader to observe from his high "castle" that she has gone off the route. He somehow thinks to check on his wives in their large vaulted cage and finds that they are missing. He immediately gathers warriors and leads an attack on the wayward Furiosa and her group.

Max, who is also a captive for the purpose of being a universal blood donor, is literally forced to go in pursuit of Furiosa. He is chained to the front of one of the warriors cars as he is simultaneously giving that warrior a blood transfusion.

It is on this road of escape that all of the wrecking, fighting, bombing, killing and action take place. It was actually pretty cool to see how Max was able to break free and subsequently join and aid Furiosa and the wives in their battle against Joe, the tyrannical leader.

I have now given you the basic plot. You will have to go see the movie yourself to find out how they enlist the aid of some old grannies on motorcycles, which characters survive, and where they end up going.

There really is plenty in this movie to entertain anyone. I have no doubt others will like Mad Max himself, but for me, I liked the capable, spirited women in the movie.

The Video Trailer of Mad Max: Fury Road

The Many Faces of Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron really is an amazing actress. Not only is she beautiful with or without hair, but she captivates an audience regardless of the part she is playing. From an emotionally charged drama, to playing the part of the evil queen in Snow White and the Huntsman, to the rebel with a cause in Mad Max: Fury Road, she is truly fabulous and equally believable in either character part.

Burning Plain: Charlize Theron as Sylvia (top photo)Check Price Snow White and the Huntsman Limited Collectible Character Edition Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy / Ultraviolet / Collectible Book: Charlize Theron as Queen Ravenna on coverCheck Price Mad Max: Fury Road - Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD +UltraViolet Preorder - Charlize Theron as FuriosaCheck Price

Note to My Son and Husband
Thanks for including me in your boy's day out! It was a lot of fun watching Mad Max: Fury Road, eating hot dogs and drinking a coke slushie with you guys. I am also thinking it was quite wise on my son's part that he didn't take his dad to see Charlize Theron without me!

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