The Fate Of The Furious Review

The Fate Of The Furious
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast Headliners: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, many many others
Original Release Date: April 14th, 2017

The Fate of the Furious, or as most will likely call it “Fast and the Furious 8” came from an interesting predicament. On one hand, the previous , seventh installment acted as a form of perfect conclusion to the series and tribute to its late co-star Paul Walker. But also the FnF film franchise , including that film, were tremendous financial successes. So the “last ride” turned out not to be so, an once again this franchise continues on. The stakes are high with it going Brian-less and attempting to raise the stakes and wild mania. Not surprisingly, the film manages to find ways to out-crazy or at least rival the last several and provide plentiful action, laughs, and cheese.
The movie opens up, gorgeously, in Havana, Cuba (actually one of the few every Hollywood films to be shot there). Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) brings in the token street racing scene that still superfluously sticks around in his casual life with Letty Ortiz(Michelle Rodriguez). Even in its mundane-ness this racing sequence is exciting, silly, and outrageous with Dom's vehicle literally flaming from the speed at one point. True fans wouldn't want it any other way. The series continues to embrace its tongue in cheek more and more while also being serious. For the most part, it works.
Events soon transpire to where Dom finds himself enslaved to the evil new villainness Cipher(Charlize Theron). It's up to his old crew of racers / secret agents to save him. The crew this time(understandably minus Brian, who at least gets a fitting mention) includes Agent Hobbs(Dwayne Johnson), Roman(Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), and Ramsey(Nathalie Emmanuel). They are assisted by the CIA in Mr.Nobody (Kurt Russell) and newcomer Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood).
It's an ensemble cast, as is expected, with some more surprises that have to be seen firsthand. With Dom going to the apparent “dark side”, it's interesting to see the role of 7's villain Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) become noble as he is forced to work alongside the heroes in their mutual enemy of Cipher.
For a series that's about crazy and meatheaded car action it's impressive how intricate its worldbuilding and ramping up of characters is. Existing characters bring their warm, silly “family” together, whether its the great Tej, Roman, Ramsey love triangle or the mocking mentorship of Russel's Nobody to Eastwood's rookie. The writing often leans towards dumb but also can be quite funny and pops with chemistry. Of other note is the love / hate connection between Johnson's Hobbs and Statham's Shaw. Their sequences are both awesome and hillarious which indicates that pairing them was a great idea. It builds on past films in a way rarely seen outside of the likes of those series as the Marvel Cinematic Universe or Star Wars, and likewise gives moments to shine.
Some characters fade in the rush. Rodriguez's Letty once again brings the same kind of “what re you doing” yelps whilst the villians of Theron's Cipher or persons such as her henchmen Rhoades(Kristofer Hivju) are generic. Although the scale of Cipher's threat and meaning to the story shows where future installments will go. Dom's turn to evil fits Diesel's acting style since in action scenes he doesn't do much anyways. This time there's the addition of extra cheesy, extra weak dramatic scenes of anger and edge that are contrasted with some slight effective emotion.
When one goes for Fast and the Furious films they only seek partially its family of characters. They seek, these days, a epic plot and outlandish action. Director F Gary Gray steps to his take on the director's chair quite well. The movie is cleanly shot with sweeping vistas and solid cinematrophy as has been expected with the last few. There's some poor CGI at moments but there is also some believable practical effects as wel. What is often unbelieveable, and always exciting, is the aciton scenes. Whether its racing in Cuba, avoiding AI smart car swarms in New York City, or re-enacting Mad Max but on ice in Russia with a submarine in the awesomley long ending act there's plentiful and diverse aciton. The film often throws surprises at the viewer. Sometimes the mania gets TOO wild but that's only in that the viewer will be laughing more than ever at the mania. It is entertaining however and they gave a noble attempt at raising the stakes even if it becomes a bit too wild in moments.
8 movies in things become to blur a bit. From the 5th film to now it's been a whirlwind of cars, jokes, and surreal action. However even in its churn the franchise finds ways to entertain through twists, new and nuanced character pairings, and inventive wild set pieces. It's got it's problems over its (perhaps over lengthy) runtime , but it's also pure popcorn fun fans would want. 8.06 out of 10

Ghost in the Shell Review

Ghost in the Shell
Director: Rupert Sanders
Cast Headliners: Scarlet Johannsson, Pilou Asbaek, Michael Pitt
Original Release Date: March 31, 2017

 It’s wild to think this film exists in the first place. An American , live action adaptation of classic manga/anime Ghost in the Shell? That almost once happened under the Disney umbrella? Regardless if it was there or released under who it is now, Paramount, one can assume it’d turn out similarly to this. Ghost in the Shell takes the classic franchise and attempts to both serve as tribute to the original while serving as an entry point for newcomers. It has its ups and downs while certainly appearing shiny along the way.

                In semi-far future Japan, operatives of secret government agency Section 9 do… deep government espionage and anti-criminal work. Their organization is never really explored deeply and as much of the plot happens it just kind of comes and goes.  The Major (Scarlet Johannsson) is both the main protagonist of the film and centerpiece of the unit. She is a living brain in a humanlike body. Which means she is a super powerful android / cyborg with powerful abilities including invisibility cloaking and withstanding pain. Helping her in her unit are various other soldiers and cyborgs including the wisecracking and friendly Batou (Pilou Asbaek).  

                For a movie about humans and cyborgs it’s not too surprising that there is a few stale actors but, not to compare to the original anime film or series, the supporting cast is especially unmemorable. Asbaek’s Batou serves as a fitting version of the original character, with jokes and a fearsome sense to him he brings it his all.   However the rest of the Section 9 / Hanka Robotic’s “crew” don’t really stick, with people like Chin Han’s Togusa, Juliette Binoche’s Dr.Ouelet, and Peter Ferdinando’s Cutter boring with exposition and attempted serious concern more than adding to drama.  Commander of the group above the Major is a well meant Chief Daisuke Aramaki (Beat Kitano) but for some reason he’s the only character in the film who speaks Japanese in a cast of English speakers which creates a dissonance.

                This would be made up for more if the Major was a great protagonist , and she can be in the anime, but here.. it’s varying. There’s been controversy about Johansson’s casting, but aside from that what we do get is….. alright. She really attempts to have no emotion and be robot-like down to some awkward movemonts. But there are moments too where she can be cool especially as some more emotional reveals and stakes happen.  Her scenes with villain Kuze (Michael Pitt) raise his quality as well, they have semi-intense standoffs that otherwise he comes across as silly.

                The script and plot are for the most part mundane. However, they do a good job of making the world easy to understand for newcomers while weaving together elements from the film, series, and original stuff to mostly work. The dialogue and themes aren’t nothing too crazy from what one has seen before and don’t reach their source’s heights but the twists and excitement do have their impact. There is plentiful action and intrigue at least. Although it drags at parts before reaching the good.

                And what a world to learn it is. Director Rupert Sander’s is known for his visual knack, and the same is true here. The vistas and art design of cityscapes and interiors are absolutely a overwhelming sight for the senses. Almost too much in fact, it feels like one is in some sort of Tron sequel at parts. But they are colorful when they need to be, drab when they need to be. This applies to various cyborg people as well. The action Is frenetic. The music has some of the incredible original (mostly in the shot for shot opening sequence which is just as powerful) with original score as well.

                So overall, it’s a film with a deep amount of style, and attempts at substance. Fans of the anime , who don’t mind some changes to casting and plot, will like to see it come to life in  a new way. For newcomers, it’s a competent , shiny, if straightforward action sci-fi to view in one’s free time. It could have been better, but it also could have been far worse. 7.5 out of 10

Kong: Skull Island Review

Kong: Skull Island
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Cast Headliners: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, John Goodman, John C Reilly, many more
Original Release Date: March 10, 2017

                The character of King Kong, and he definitely can be a nuanced one despite his simian nature, has been interpreted several times since his theatrical debut so long ago. Kong: Skull Island is the latest take on the mighty gorilla although this time it tackles a new aesthetic and time period: 1970s in the midst of the Vietnam War. At the same time, it also shares DNA in its universe (and style) with 2014’s American Godzilla reboot. Let’s get past the monkey-ing around and dive in to how it turned out..

                The movie opens with a flashback to not the 1970s but instead to the 1940s. In an exciting opening bit two fighter pilots crash land on a mysterious island and soon find themselves fighting not just each other but under the gaze of a gigantic ape, King Kong (you know who he is).  The film jumps to the 70s for its remainder. Members of secretive agency MONARC (the connecting link to Godzilla, aside from a couple other small but well blended dialogue lines) in Bill Randa (John Goodman) and Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) get approval to launch an expedition to the titular Skull Island. They are soon joined by a large cast of help (echoing Peter Jackson’s 2005 take) including lead human hero and tracker James Conrad(Tom Hiddleston), lead human heroine and war photojournalist Mason Weaver(Brie Larson), and various soldiers such as Colonel Packard(Samuel L Jackson), Jack Chapman(Toby Kebbel), Captain Cole(Shea Whigham), and more.

                It’s hard not to draw comparisons to the 2005 version since it came out in semi-recent public eye and also placed more emphasis on the island part of the Kong saga than most other films of this legend. However, this movie brisks through the build-up (perhaps a bit too quickly) and never makes it back to New York City either (anti-spoilers).  The movie, for the most part better for it, takes place in large part on the mysterious island which earns it its name.            

                As expected considering that there is a lot of action. The island is packed with deadly and cool creatures which seem to go beyond realistic paleontology  to stuff more fitting the science-fictiony “kaiju”verse in a world where Godzilla also exists. The CGI effects on these various creatures, from grassy giant elk to a giant spider to the vicious “Skullcrawlers” are great. This includes of course King Kong himself, made even bigger than most versions to accomdate his likely future ‘zilla foe and motion captured quite believably (nearly up to par with Serkis’ 2005 version) by Terry Notary.  As with that zilla foe, the movie excels when it showcases giant bombastic monster fights between these creatures or against the humans. Mountains tremble and fires light up the screen. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts also provides a clean great take on the intensity of these smash-em-up parts. They have a very larger than life feel to them as well being more like a crazy comic panel than horror or documentary. Colors are bright and movement is fast and surreal. At times this borders on ultra cheese, but is often fun.

                When the action does show it up it is awesome and great. It’s just that , as often can be in a monster movie of this type, the human element is less so memorable. There are so many characters most get lost in the shuffle.  That’s not to discredit it’s highlights of which there are in this star packed cast. Hiddleston is a fine enough charming and cool lead. SLJ’s arc takes an interesting turn. Whigham’s character provides some laughs and interesting perspective. Others like the usually great Goodman and Larson are not quite up to their usual level. And yet further others do not get much chance to shine before disappearing, sometimes literally. 
                Without a doubt though the other person who is the best at “monkeying around” is John C Reilly’s Hank Marlow, a stranded person on Skull Island. His crazed personality offers bountiful laughs (in a film that otherwise has mixed delivery on this with its other characters) as well as tying into a mystical lore of what Kong’s role is. Nearly every seen with him is a delight and he provides almost a version of his Dr.Brule character from television. This levity helps add to the larger than life charm of the film and is a palette cleanser.

                The Vietnam setting also makes it feel like a war film from those days. The costumes, sunset artsy colors , and music add nicely to that feel. While some aspects of it are breezed over, it helps make this take feel unique and strongly feel of the era as well. If only a bit more of its time was used in its execution it could have aided with its impact.

                It can be long, silly in some of its choices and character uses, and miss the mark in some areas to fall just short of deep or epic. But Kong: Skull Island offers simple, crazy monster fights in the moments that are right. It most of all leaves one hype to see the ape again in whatever crossover comes ahead in 2020. There’s a decent foundation to be improved upon for a  future match for the ages. On it's own, you'll have fun.  7.85 out of 10

                

Logan Review

Logan
Director: James Mangold
Cast Headliners: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen
Original Release Date: March 3rd, 2017


The character of Wolverine has had quite a journey through the X-men franchise. He's been the protagonist for awhile and the main point of view into this world of mutants. He's been a cameo appearance, or two, in various levels of importance. He's had good spinoffs, he's had bad spinoffs. Throughout it all Hugh Jackman has been an iconic and mostly great take on the Marvel comics 'bub legend. In his central starring role it is with extra emotional attachment that Logan himself in... Logan signals what Jackman has proclaimed to be his last ever take on the character. The end of the old X-men timeline and cast, as it were. It goes out with an incredible bow.

The year is 2029, farther future than any X-men film prior. Now old man James Howlett, aka the titular Logan, aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) lives in the timeline that has seen no Sentinels pop-up but also dire in its own ways. He and his peers are the very last mutants in a world where they are not entirely hated but moreso forgotten and faded. Wolverine works as a ride service driver by day, and occasionally uses his (slowing-down) metal claw and healing abilities by night. The glory days of his life as a superhero, and even his life in general, are long gone. He crosses the border between Texas and Mexico to visit an even older and frailer Professor “X” Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart back again) who has fits of dementia and lives with guilt over the fall of the X-Men who are otherwise no longer around. They are accompanied by creepy sun-hating tracker Caliban(Stephen Merchant, replacing the prior actor of this character) as their cook and cleaner in a ramshackle junk factory away from the main metropolis's around. Into this depressing dwindling life comes Gabriella (Elizabeth Rodriguez) urging Logan to help a young girl she is with named Laura or as comics fan may know her X-23(Dafne Keen) who has some metal claws of her own. If this seems like a recipe for high stakes and powerful themes, it is.

What follows is a thrilling , action packed, depressing, emotional, often adventurous epic tale for Wolverine and crew. Director James Mangold did a great job with action and a certain specific period ambience in 2013's secondquel The Wolverine, and he tremendously further refines his craft here. The movie, like Deadpool prior, is R-rated in the USA and equivalent elsewhere and it perfectly uses it. This is the “bubiest”, “snikt-ist”, “slashing”-est incarnation of the character and his film yet. There is tons of blood, brutal de-limbings and injuries, and f-bombs. It makes action that much more visceral , intense,and dark. However it , for the most part, does not use its rating in an immature or excessive way. The themes in the film are very dark and serious and to have its action be filled with equivalent gore or dialogue with stressful cussing only properly suits the goal and effectively at that. Even blood aside, all (frequent in most cases) action is pulse pounding and exciting, with it focusing clearly on character's at near view.

If Jackman were to give anything less than his full efforts the film would not work as well as it does. Wonderfully, he gives what is a contender for his best take on Wolverine and even role in any film of his career. He is fierce, vicious, scary, awesome. He also comes across as wounded, dying, regretful as is expected from his old lifetime specific here. He also can be charming and funny (there is some moments of well done humor at just the right times). Most importantly, he delivers on being distraught, emotional, and caring . His relationship with Laura is as great as his performance, and hers. The other claw wielder Laura, played by Keen, is great. She is a young actress but has talent far beyond her years. The character talks even less than Logan, but is just as fierce with her own aspects of being someone so young forced to go through this edgy world. Her silence and main character arc will remind one of Millie Bobbie Brown in the television show Stranger Things but perhaps even more impressive or stoic.

To praise Jackman's tribute to his character is to also say the same care was given to performing and sending off the character of Professor X. Stewart is so so great, as he often has been. One will often laugh, be inspired, and feel bad for the old professor. The treatment of him is handled from a tough real life place of those who are getting older, and the even further complicated factor when that person is a powerful psychic superhero wizard. The relationship between he and Logan is just as great and even more interesting than it was in the original few X-men films. Together Xavier, Wolverine, and Laura make a great bunch of characters who play off each other in the epic bloody journey. Merchant's Caliban is part of that core crew as well, although he is mainly reserved for a funny small wisecrack or two or being abused by the enemies without leaving much of other impressions.
The enemy forces of this film may offer fearsome , bullet and blood laden action scenes. Otherwise they are not that over-lackluster but do not overly impress more than “average”. Donald Pearce (Boyd Holbrook) comes off as a bad man, with a kind of sickly charm but does not good enough screen time with Logan to deliver on that as he spends much time shouting orders and moving between locations. His superior Dr.Zander Rice(Richard E Grant) seems to have graduated from “Geneic Evil Scientist Movie Villian Camp 101” with nothing else to say. The other henhmen are generic mooks to be sliced up by the claw-wielders but that's as they should be. There's technically another main villian as well who needs to be seen but their appearance is, although fearsome and fitting, a bit silly in concept as well.

The action, deep getting-older-themes, and darkness set Logan apart from both other X-men films and most superhero genre films at all around today. There is also thematically a difference. There's significant post-apocalyptic and Western influences on the film stylistically, from the beautiful landscape shots to the music. Its pared down, its gritty but its also classic. Old-school and restrained. A clever viewer will notice the use of cowboy imagery and referenced film clips within the film. Wolverine is that classic story of an old sherrif in a changed town, delivered for the most part effectively (despite its inspirations on the journey, some parts in the middle of the quest slow too much down) via the lense of a world of mind powers and metal claws.

The stakes are high as to how they could send off this character. They for the most part highly succeed with the bloodiest action yet, the deepest emotional themes yet, and the most personal stakes yet. If this is the end of the ride for Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart as they say, it's one we won't forget. The ending will leave one pondering incredibly deep things and reaching for the tissues especially if they ar a longtime fan. Yet also, one hopes this is just the beginning for a rebirth of quality. 8.8 out of 10

Oscar Thoughts / Predictions 2017

  The night of stars, the big showdown of kino (or said to be kino) is here once again.  As usual, here's my predictions, and wants for what I view as my categories of most interest. Let's begin:


Best Picture

* Arrival – Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder, and David Linde
Fences – Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington, and Todd Black
Hacksaw Ridge – Bill Mechanic and David Permut
Hell or High Water – Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn
Hidden Figures – Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams, and Theodore Melfi
La La Land – Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz, and Marc Platt
Lion – Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, and Angie Fielder
Manchester by the Sea – Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, and Kevin J. Walsh
Moonlight – Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner

 Who I predict:  This one is a tough toss up, some good films that have done well in various circuits, tossed together here. La La Land has the most nominations here, but most likely fights against Moonlight for also big on the scene. I could see a Hidden Figures, Fences, Manchester by the Sea, or Hacksaw Ridge all most contend for this too.

Who I want: La La Land, my favorite for what I have seen. Arrival would be shockingly cool as well

 Best Director:
* Denis Villeneuve – Arrival
Mel Gibson – Hacksaw Ridge
Damien Chazelle – La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins – Moonlight

Who I predict: Most likely Chazelle or Jenkins due to their other nominations.

Who I want: Chazelle, the magic touch.


Best Actor:
*Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea as Lee Chandler
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge as Desmond T. Doss
Ryan Gosling – La La Land as Sebastian Wilder
Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic as Ben Cash
Denzel Washington – Fences as Troy Maxson

Who I predict: This is a tough one, one would predict Gosling or Denzel for their other categories, but also I could see Garfield being a Academy leader, or Affleck. Almost a tie ..

Who I want: Andrew Garfield so we can pretend it was for Silence


Best Actress
* Isabelle Huppert – Elle as Michèle Leblanc
Ruth Negga – Loving as Mildred Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie as Jackie Kennedy
Emma Stone – La La Land as Mia Dolan
Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins as Florence Foster Jenkins

Who I predict: I am not too sure, havent seen most of these top contenders in general. Stone for best picture ? Portman..a vibe? Streep?

Who I want: Heck I'll choose... Negga, since people are surprised to see nominated and itd be a big step for agents of shield cast members. And of course Stone for the star of La La Land.

Best Supporting Actor

*Mahershala Ali – Moonlight as Juan
Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water as Marcus Hamilton
Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea as Patrick Chandler
Dev Patel – Lion as Saroo Brierley
Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals as Detective Bobby Andes

Who I predict: Mahershala Ali or Jeff Bridges, heaviest hitters

Who I want: I haven't see Moonlight but Ali seems like a shining part of it. All the others are ones I greatly respect as well.

Best Supporting Actress
* Viola Davis – Fences as Rose Maxson
Naomie Harris – Moonlight as Paula
Nicole Kidman – Lion as Sue Brierley
Octavia Spencer – Hidden Figures as Dorothy Vaughan
Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea as Randi

Who I predict: If Moonlight's entry in SA was strong, here even stronger.. I predict Harris, rivaled by Viola Davis.

Who I want: Viola Davis would be nice .


Best Animated Feature Film
* Kubo and the Two Strings – Travis Knight and Arianne Sutner
Moana – John Musker, Ron Clements, and Osnat Shurer
My Life as a Zucchini – Claude Barras and Max Karli
The Red Turtle – Michaël Dudok de Wit and Toshio Suzuki
Zootopia – Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Clark Spencer

Who I predict: Zootopia, the strongest of Disney fighting itself but also the highest previous critical praise.

Who I want: Kubo, give Laika a award finally please. Or The Red Turtle for a return of Ghibli

Best Original Score
*Jackie – Mica Levi
La La Land – Justin Hurwitz
Lion – Dustin O'Halloran and Hauschka
Moonlight – Nicholas Britell
Passengers – Thomas Newman

Who I predict: La La Land

Who I want: La La Land

Best Visual Effects
*Deepwater Horizon – Craig Hammack, Jason Snell, Jason Billington, and Burt Dalton
Doctor Strange – Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, Vincent Cirelli, and Paul Corbould
The Jungle Book – Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, and Dan Lemmon
Kubo and the Two Strings – Steve Emerson, Oliver Jones, Brian McLean, and Brad Schiff
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal Hickel, and Neil Corbould

Who I predict: The Jungle Book, most signs point. Although I could see Strange being Marvel's first win in a long time..

Who I want: Always have to cheer for Star Wars ! Although equally, Strange.


We shall see what happens on this intense night... tune in Sunday the 26th at 7:30pm cst for results.

The Lego Batman Movie Review

The Lego Batman Movie
Director : Chris McKay
Cast Headliners : Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Zach Galifiankis, Rosario Dawson, Ralph Fiennes
Original Release Date : February 10, 2017

   2014's The Lego Movie was something quite special. One most likely knows the toy brand, but could one have imagined it was a genre mixing, laugh and meaning filled adventure in the making ? One of the best pieces was THE Batman , so it's with great delight and logical sense he gets his own spinoff film.

    Focusing for the most part on a Lego version of comics  classic Gotham City , the movie opens up with some great 4th wall breaking to show us the life of Batman (Will Arnett ). In a crazy fun opening part , Batman takes down a mega alliance of villians lead by the Joker (Zach Galifiankis)  to save the city. It's through the wild, zany, extreme lense one would want .

   But soon we see the life of Batman may not be all its cracked up to be. The movie greatly excels in these quiet moments as it does the action mania . To see Batman watch movies, make food, practice guitar is comedic gold.
     Soon his lonely existence is joined by others , such as introducing a young Robin (Michael Cera ) and Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson ).
     For film the whole family can enjoy, it's actually got some nice messages about relationships. Between friends , between enemies, between families. Arnett's Bruce Wayne is as great in battle, being crazy, or his interplay with his peers. Cera's Robin is charming and goofy . Dawson's Gordon, fierce . When these are teamed with each other, especially with the butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes ) the smiles and laughs are off the chart.
  This team up aspect is fun too with the evil side. Zach G's Joker is still evil but also effectly has a bit of feeling bad aspect to him. It's fun to see him interact with a massive stable from famous to obscure of DC characters, such as Harley Quinn, Two Face, Bane and more . Since this is a Lego film, even more join the fun.

  That same craft is evident from the visuals to action . One knows what to expect, and it's a fun batride. 8.71 out of 10

XXX: Return of Xander Cage Review

XXX: Return of Xander Cage
Director: DJ Caruso
Cast Headliners: Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, Donnie Yen, others
Original Release Date: January 20, 2017

     The XXX franchise has never been one for being good in a manner of quality. Nor has it been one for any kind of subtlety. Much like Vin Diesel's other main franchises in Fast and the Furious and Riddick, it excels when it s going as crazy as it can. The same applies here and this time with the right star in place since Xander Cage was the “best” hero for this series that he deserves mention in the title. Sorry Ice Cube but you'll have to (apparently) step aside. Xander is back to the Zone.

The movie starts with something big involving Agent Gibbons(Samuel L Jackson, once again at his usual decent role in something that's always been a sort of prototypical version of Nick Fury) and one of the many smaller cameo roles in Neymar as himself. It's up to Xander Cage(Vin Diesel) to come out of retirement and save the world. Sounds familiar. In many ways it's very much like the same formula as the last two but particularly the first. It drops plots from being too deep in exchange for crazy fights and varying range of humorous quips.

The film essentially boils down to a tale of two rival agent teams (ala Fast 6). The movie attempts to give Xander his own “Suicide Squad”, replete with derivative introduction scenes and colorful freeze frame biographies. Xander takes lead, always the likable protagonist with his edgy tough guy , slightly humorous attitude and the return of the big fur coat. This is why they brought back Diesel, because it's hard not to like him as any (of his many similar) hero roles. On his side he's got strict leader Agent Marke(Toni Collette who does nothing too special) , wisecracking sniper Adele(Ruby Rose), youthful DJ Nicks(Kris Wu), stunt driver Tennyson (Game Of Throne's The Hound actor Rory McCann, always decent), and “comic relief” tech master Becky(Nina Doberev, a low point). This increased ensemble of characters gives Xander more to play off of and expands the scope of action, and leads to some banter and mixed range of humor. But no one quite leaves an impression as Diesel's trademark Xander.

On the enemy team, there's the fierce woman Serena(Deepika Padukone), brutish Hawk(athlete Michael Bisping), wacky jumper Talon(Tony Jaa), and the main foe Xiang(Donnie Yen). It's great to see Donnie Yen appearing in American blockbusters, as he brings a crazy action and humor presence to rival Diesel's. If anything he's just slightly underutilized.

So while the characters, plot, script and all the expected are cheesy as heck as one would expect (and it runs really long at times too, with plot holes) one can't deny the action and excitement. Director DJ Caruso is a great choice as he brings in a decent competency from things such as Disturbia and Eagle Eye. The movie brought back Xander and it's also brought back its increased use of crazy techno and rock music along with “extreme sports”. The action scenes , when they do pop up semi-often through the “witty” dialogue slog are great. There's some cheesily insane things done from skiing through jungles to riding transforming motorcycles over the water. There's zero-gravity kung fu, there's fist-fights in the middle of rush hour traffic. The variety is impressive.

It's the kind of film that if one turns their brain off and likes the players involved that makes for decent dumb fun. It's not a high bar to pass, but it's likely the best XXX to date. It's script and pacing holds it back from the best of FnF, but it's good to have the good elements back and leaves it for a possibly interesting place in the future. 7.1 out of 10