Author: jbg

CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL (2001)

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Directed By: John Stockwell 

Written By: Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi 

Cinematography: Shane Hurlbut 

Editor: Melissa Kant 

Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez, Taryn Manning, Bruce Davison, Herman Osorio, Lucinda Jenney, Miguel Castro, Richard Steinmetz, Tommy De La Cruz, Cory Hardict, Keram Malicki-Sanchez

Carlos Nunez, is a poor but athletically gifted Latino teenager who endures a two-hour bus ride every day from East L.A. to attend the posh, wealthy Pacific Palisades High School in Los Angeles on a football scholarship. A straight-A student, Carlos is focused and driven, but his future is cast in doubt when he becomes the flirtation target of a spoiled, self-destructive bad girl Nicole Oakley, who’s the daughter of a prominent congressman. When his friends, family, and even Nicole’s own father oppose the romance for Carlos’ sake, he chooses to ignore their advice and stubbornly pursues his relationship with Nicole, whose feelings grow from simple physical attraction to something much deeper.

This is the movie in my teen years I was hoping the Drew Barrymore film MAD LOVE was going to be.

At the time this film was a rare interracial romance, where it seems to be downplayed, but then becomes a kind of class difference with a switch whereas the Hispanic character is the more responsible and stable with a rich family life, and is well respected 

Whereas Kirsten Dunst’s character is a mess who might be good-hearted and is an addict with mental problems and a family that isn’t close but has money 

With this film, Kirsten Dunst is trying to be more professional and take on a dangerous and challenging role. The kind that she was usually offered at the time was more cookie-cutter. This role is the one that Disney stars try to do to be seen as more adult and be seen in a different way allowing them to show range. 

The film isn’t original but keeps your interest as not only a teen romance but a romantic story that has dramatic deaths and comes across better than you probably would expect.

It helps that you like, and admire both lead actors and their characters, and they do have solid chemistry, and they get you to care about both of them.

Happily found trays the minority character as more of a positive and Caucasian character trouble, and the one might end the future of the other. Everyone agrees that he is too good for her.

One appreciates the film, even though Kirsten as a star who was the bigger star. The film and script explore Jay  Hernandez’s character and family ties. just as much as it does hers. Showing atmosphere family, culture, and surroundings can affect a person. 

One admires that he tries to be deeper than just a stereotypical teen romance.  it offers some depth. As it shows a shocking amount of heart throughout. 

The film takes you back to when these movies would actually make it to theaters and not be some offshoot of a streaming channel. 

Grade: B- 

MELODY (1971)

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Directed By: Waris Hussein

Written By: Alan Parker

Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky

Editor: John Victor Smith

Cast: Mark Lester, Jack Wild, Tracy Hyde, Roy Kinnear, James Cossins, June Ellis, Tim Wylton, Colin Barrie, Billy Franks, Ashley Knight

Two youngsters declare to their parents that they want to get married. Not sometime in the future but as soon as possible. The story is told from the children’s point of view.

This is a film that was hard to find and wanted to see it since hearing about it. when it was suggested as a companion to films like A LITTLE ROMANCE and BUGSY MALONE, especially the latter, as these films share the Director, the great Alan Parker, who directed BUGSY MALONE, but wrote, and came up with the story for this film. He wasn’t allowed to direct this film though he wanted to but did shoot a bit of a second unit on the film. 

The film offers a narrative that allows kids to be more rebellious, troublesome, rough, but still likable where kids could actually run the risk of hurting themselves or getting hurt, but you never really worried about it because you knew they would bounce back.

Order finally titled S.W.A.L.K. (Sealed With A Loving Kiss) it takes to look at childhood and shows you all the heartbreak and pain but more of the joys and treats each misstep as it feels crushing, but also how quickly things can turn around and bounce back

It’s a coming-of-age tale that while whimsical also feels very true and charming to the cast and the period and kids at that age. as the film isn’t whitewashed or manufactured, nor do the characters feel overprotected, though they obviously are safe.

The film is mostly innocent. It’s also rambunctious with an abundance, score, and soundtrack, full of songs, not a musical as at heart it is about love at first sight. And first love.

It maintains an innocence, as well as exploring, budding, friendship, and bonding, and how jealousy can come into play when it feels like you’re losing that friend’s degree to their new bond girl in his life that leaves the friend lonely in an orphan, feeling forgotten.

It also shows them both being made fun of for their love and wanting to be happy with one another in which the adult seem to think it’s cute, but also rally against it and don’t believe in their feelings and emotions.

it also allows the kids to be kids, but have recognizable human emotions and treats them even more seriously than it does the adult characters so the film respects them maybe because they can be more honest at their age and still have that wondrous vision of the world and everything before becoming more knowledgeable as an adult and not being as openhearted.

The film feels kind of like an early prototype less star-studied version of MOONRISE KINGDOM

 as you can tell Director, Wes Anderson has definitely been inspired by this film. The film might also remind some viewers of the Francois Truffaut film, SMALL CHANGE, where a narrative and story are secondary to feelings and the young characters. And the reality that is all around them.

The film is about moments, with no real plot or story, though it does offer a certain explosion of maturity and a strike against the adults that almost feels like a game.

The film offers a sweet and mischievous ending.

While I didn’t love it as much as I expected it to I think it is still charming and will enjoy it as a kind of artistic family film.

Grace: B

THE SWEET EAST (2023)

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Cinematography & Directed By: Sean Price Williams

Written By: Nick Pinkerton 

Editor: Stephen Gurewitz 

Cast: Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edibiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andy Milonakis, Keith Poulson, Rish Shah, Mazin Akar, Gibby Haynes, Mimi Ryder, Jack Irv, Ella Rubin, Betsey Brown, Earl Cave

A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.

The film has an Alice in Wonderland quality. they coming of age tale. where we follow this girl who right after losing her virginity goes on a school field trip to Washington DC gets mad wanders off and kind of gets involved in all these kinds of extreme groups and gets involved with these characters who have such great passion for their beliefs that she seems to put up with as long as she can, and they take care of her, but then soon grows of them and moves on, especially leaving them and ruin when she does

as it seems like all of those, she gets involved with seem to put their ideals dreams, and wishes upon her as some kind of fantasy is going to help them or save them or make them successful and she’s quite the opposite as she is just a schoolgirl trying to survive and trying to have fun

I think this film might’ve been a little stronger been directed and written by a female because as it plays, which might actually work and its favor seems more to go throughout this film as a kind of young female seen through the male gaze so she’s constantly made into a fantasy. it is directed by noted cinematographer Sean Price Williams.

The film doesn’t make her a victim, though it shows that she’s not that innocent and that she kind of enjoys the power that she gets from all these experiences as these types of scenarios and with the female being victimized, it’s kind of refreshing to see a film, where the female is the one who realized that she has the power and takes control, even though she doesn’t know how deep or dangerous the waters she’s stepping into truly 

The film is very experimental as it even has a musical sequence early in the film and seems to be mostly handheld gorilla style though has some beautiful shots the film does keep a sense of humor, but also has a kind of shock value that it produces every now and then just to make sure you’re paying attention 

as in one section of the film, she ends up staying with a white supremacist who is more of an intellectual than an actual member of the KKK who he spoils like she’s a pet, but never touches, though she keeps offering peaks and glances. He never makes a move, though he wants to and generally respects her, which makes her quite fast

she goes from there to African-American filmmakers who keep talking about being revolutionaries and even dress the part in 1970s wardrobe, but then when we actually see that the film they are making it some kind of merchant ivory-type production that is more about Caucasian characters in the pet in the past which proves to be one of the most, but also shocking sequences in the film

those throughout there are no real consequences for her character and the film tries to throw the audience off just as when she ends up secretly staying with what seems to be a Muslim paramilitary group. They are more of a music group dance and very secretive. so this film keeps to survive.

no, by the end, it doesn’t really seem to have all that much to say and still feels like the musings of a middle-aged Caucasian man declaring his thoughts on modern-day subcultures but putting it through a young female point of view, making it seem more open and not so fitting closed off.

In the end, it’s not quite an adventure. I’m sure most audiences will want to make but if they do, they might find something that captures their interest throughout. As the character travels through the eastern seaboard.

That is a great showcase for young actress Talia Ryder. as she constantly plays the main character, but also that character has to play the role that she is given by all these different people she comes across and even using other stories as her own to get more sympathy

in the end, it kind of amounts to a movie that seems like it was a hip hang-out for most of the cast that was made up as it went along to touch on certain subjects and meanings

Grade: C 

ROMPER STOMPER (1992)

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Written & Directed By: Geoffrey Wright

Cinematography: Ron Hagen

Editor: Bill Murphy

Cast: Russell Crowe, Jaqueline McKenzie, Daniel Pollock, Alex Scott, Leigh Russell, Dan Wyllie, Josephine Keen, James McKenna, Eric Mueck, Frank Magree 

Violent tale of white supremacist skinheads who spend their time beating up anyone who isn’t white or who doesn’t comply with their version of acceptability. In the end, Hando and Davey will clash violently of a disagreement of principles.

It has taken me 30 years to finally watch this film that came out as a young teen. I remember it had a lot of buzz around it and controversy. This was the first time I heard of Russell Crowe as an actor. This was before the Hollywood starring films This was not the beginning, but when I was getting a bit more intense into my love and study of movies, especially independent Cinema. I remember reading about this film, and this was when I was starting to read the film magazine film when it was still at newsstands. that was just one of the movie magazines I was reading at the time there were like Movie Line Premiere, The Hollywood Reporter, entertainment, weekly, and any other magazine I could really get my hands on. FILM THREAT was your key into the underground, the village voice. Those of us in New York were getting advanced on these upcoming films and this was definitely one of them. 

I have to say it now I can see where it had all the hype at the time and watching it now it’s a punch. It’s not quite the knockout that it might’ve been back in its day. 

Certainly grimy and dirty, dealing with racism, skinhead, and Australia, and this in particular their day-to-day life of harassment and violence. they are certainly the main characters we follow. They end up themselves more side characters who happen to get tangled up, which is. Gabe played by Jacqueline McKenzie

She is a character who seems to go from one bad situation to the next. It’s more of her survivors as she seems to go to men who seem like they can protect her and give her a place to stay as long as she is willing to do what they need for the time being before their own vices take over, and she just seems to be secondary. She seeks to get away from her abusive father. though, you can’t tell exactly if she’s the epitome of their downfall or came along when they were on a downward trajectory and only helped to accelerate it.

We see her and the gang’s own stories before they eventually collide, and she finds her way into the gang as the current lover of their leader played by Russell Crowe. what eventually ends up misplaced emotions, dooming the romance as it soon becomes a love triangle. when the leader’s right-hand man falls for her, she realizes it and doesn’t turn him away. though later in the film once the two of them pair off and crows character finds out about it he feels betrayed, but you’re not quite sure by which one, or it might be both even though there seems to be a little homoerotic going on between him and his right-hand man. towards the end, They are trying to out-strengthen one another to see who has more power and influence.

this all happens very fast before any of them can really think about it as the film only examines a few days in the life of these characters in which everything seems reckless and those supposedly trying to be a community and protect it like all they really do is destroy.

The film doesn’t paint their victims as entirely passive victims they fight back as it seems like the minorities they are rebelling against or truly jealous of the Asian community. who all seem to be prospering and more successful than that which is more of the problem this jealousy leads them to believe that they are being looked down upon by people of color.

The film is ultimately a tragedy for most involved. It doesn’t pass judgment on the characters. It doesn’t celebrate the characters though mainly the skinheads are who we follow.  while the film brought to Russell Crowe who is certainly violent and charismatic in the lead role, the performances are Jacqueline McKenzie and Daniel Pollock the latter of whom sadly died before this film’s premiere. It’s a shame as he would’ve gone on bigger and better.

While here Russell Crowe just had more of the star-making magnetism. I give Jacqueline McKenzie a lot of credit as she has what at first seems like a typical role but in the end, has the harder role as she’s a survivor what comes off as emotions at times might just be manipulation so it’s hard to tell what she truly believes and feels and what she’s just showcasing to get her way and stay protected.

The film has a few graphic sex scenes that supposedly are real as they definitely come across as realistic, but they are also very well edited to not seem as pornographic.

while the film deals with racist skinheads, it doesn’t reveal any of their beliefs in radiology as it’s not the main focus. The main focus seems to be the dynamics of this gang and their behavior so there is plenty of violence. It never feels exploited, but it can be shocking at times. ask for skinheads who seem to shun those different than them or outsiders who seem to be growing to be outsiders in their own town and Goths and punks into the revelry with them, though that might be more of a sexual thing as the punks and Goths are female.

Director Geoffrey Wright truly came through with a dazzling debut. While he has made other films that are memorable for their own reasons, they never reached the strength of this film.

Grade: B

RITA, SUE AND BOB TOO (1987)

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Directed By: Alan Clarke

Written By: Andrea Dunbar (Based on her stage plays) 

Cinematography: Ivan Strasburg

Editor: Steve Singleton 

Cast: Siobhan Finnerman, Michelle Holmes, George Costigan, Lesley Sharp, Kuruinder Ghir, Willie Ross, Danny O’Dea 

Realistic story of working-class Yorkshire life, alternately serious and light-hearted, as two schoolgirls have a sexual fling with a married man.

This is a movie of its time and moment. A domestic drama and comedy of the working class that becomes a kind of sexual drama. We see each cohabitant’s personal lives and how their actions and situations shape their futures.

It offers a gritty and sometimes sad look with some laughs. No one is perfect or seems to make the so-called right decisions.  This is an early film of an example of polygamy. The film is definitely an uncomfortable experience to sit through.

While this film on the other hand could be a fantasy come true or a T&A sex comedy or even the basis of a porno. This film shows the pain this causes not only the people in their lives but how it affects each other and even the enjoyable moments of the Union are short-lived to non-existent.

It’s a character study at heart given just enough info that makes us angry at the characters but not hate them. As they seem to show humanity just when ready to write them off. As the younger female characters seem to know no better and go along for fun and something new. There are no ideals just dealing with each and the results of the situation.

Not glamorous, Warts and, all realness to it. It keeps you interested as none of the characters has it all figured out or any grand plan all have weaknesses, yet try to portray themselves as invincible. 

It offers a view of the future. Dealing with the best ways they can. A slice of life. Sticking mainly only to those in the love triangle. 

It doesn’t help that most of the characters come off as despicable, the young ladies get a bit more sympathy. It’s a little more obvious why and they have a chance to grow out of it. Bob comes across as miserable in a midlife crisis and not-capable of getting better.

Throughout the film, it feels like a downtrodden and depressing experience not only for the situations at hand but even looking at any possible future for the characters.

A film that wouldn’t be made today for many reasons. 

Grade: B-

METAL SKIN (1994)

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Written & Directed By: Geoffrey Wright 

Cinematography: Ron Hagen 

Editor: Bill Murphy and Jane Usher 

Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Aden Young, Tara Morice, Nadine Garner, Chantel Contouri, Petru Gheorghiu, Arthur Angel, Richard Surherland, Tommy Dysart 

Psycho Joe, a petrol-head from Altona, Melbourne, secures employment at a local Supermarket. Here, he meets the over-sexed Dazey. Joe and Dazey form a friendship based on a mutual interest in old hot cars. Joe also forms a relationship with a Satanic fellow employee. The nihilism of these young characters, coupled with parental disputes, leads to various tragedies.

I remember reading about this film and film threat in 1994 and always meant to look for the film to watch it. Sadly, it has taken me 30 years since it was released to finally watch it.

This is a grungy punk rock coming-of-age movie of aimless youth making their way through life, some with troubling parents, all having illicit behavior, looking for kicks, fun, and some kind of meaning 

The film mainly revolves around four characters making a kind of romantic Square to find their thrills and car racing alcohol, sex, and the occult as they attract and betray one another and themselves it seems out of boredom and as a means to an end while supposedly trying to help one another 

All the characters in this film have problems. One has a pure tical mother, so she repels the account and uses a friendship with a guy who she knows has a crush on her to get closer to his friend and seduce him.  The friend intern was trying to get the man with the crush on a date with her. Desires her as well when his girlfriend proves to be difficult. The young man with the crush also likes his friend’s girlfriend. They know to keep it at friendship. Well, also dealing with his mentally unbalanced father. 

The film editing, and camera work at times show how fast they’re interest and attention spans can go or be taken away not only that but things can escalate literally in the blink of an eye 

So to one person so much to another same when it comes to emotions and relationships 

The film tried similar ground as the film Romper Stomper as far as aimless youth this one tries to be a bit more stylistic with the Camera and directions the  material feels lighter and not as strong 

The film shows how fast they live their lives as the camera tries to emulate by jumping around at times to and from different angles

This is the second film of Director Geoffrey Wright who wants again places us in a nihilistic atmosphere and film. The film gets kind of gross at times.

There isn’t too much of that you haven’t seen before obsession and mental illness manipulation learning that their actions can have serious consequences. This ends up being more of a character study. 

The film is an early leading role for Ben Mendelssohn, who won his career and now plays more character roles here with a full Maine is more the heartthrob and kind of the star or the character who all the others follow depend on

Tara Morice gives a strong performance with the most clearly defined role and the most attractive as well as challenging

The film also showcases how quickly we can form emotional attachments in youth, and they can become our whole world 

As always, when a gun is introduced, it must be used and becomes important in the long run as it evolves into fatal friendships how when you were already only hanging on by a thread all it takes is one cut or domino fall for it all to come crashing down 

The film does have a car chase ending that helps it seem a little more action fact and spices it up adding some excitement that isn’t purely emotional  It’s only an inevitable tragedy.

As in end, the film still proves that nice guys finish last.

Grade: B- 

THE ROUNDUP (2022)

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Directed By: Lee Sang-Yong

Written By: Min-Seong Kim

Adapted Screenplay By: Lee Sang-Yong, Young-Jong Lee and Ma Dong-Seok

Cinematography: Sung-Lim Ju

Editor: Sun-Min Kim

Cast: Ma Don-Seok, Son Suk-Ku, Choi Gwi-Hwa, Park Ti-Hwan, Heo-Dong-Won, Ha Jun, Park Ti-Young, Yoon Byung-Hee 

Followed by Ma Seok-do, who heads to a foreign country to extradite a suspect. However, he discovers additional murder cases and learns about a killer who had committed crimes against tourists for many years.

At first, I didn’t know what to make of this film as I didn’t know it was a sequel, but figured it out as soon as the main character played by Ma Don-Seok shows up on the screen, he is presented like the audience should already know his backstory and what he’s capable of..I thought it was just the film, making fun or poking fun at the genre of action films. 

Let’s say a star like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars in the film. You don’t necessarily need that much of a backstory because we feel like we already know the character’s personality based on the star’s personae and the roles he usually plays. 

Though as usual, the main character here is the all-knowing tough-as-nails cop who seems to win every fight and has a killer right hand when it comes to punches.

The film is tricky as at times it plays like a deadly serious thriller and action film but then at other times, it has silly comedic scenes that make a strange mixture that leaves you questioning the tone sometimes. However, that also sets it apart and makes it worth watching. 

What separates this film from becoming just another average action movie is not only the fun hero but also the truly dangerous psychopathic villain. Who Is also strangely Charismatic? Played by Son Sum-Ku, As you love to hate him. Who seems like he is virtually unstoppable.

The film truly shows that there is no honor amongst thieves as their continuous double crosses and triple crosses, though it seems like the only people who tend to be all-knowing are the hero and the villain. 

this film is cutthroat as it seems all the villains use axis, hatchet, machetes, and knives, and the cops barely use guns. It’s more either hand hand, combat or batons, though there is plenty of action. It’s not as much as you think as this is more of a thriller with action elements.

The film is actually a fun ride. As it keeps itself lively. it keeps you on your toes throughout even though you know eventually what must happen you still can’t predict how it’s going to end.

The film feels full as it gives you anything you ask for while sticking with its main points and characters.

Grade: B-

MR. NICE GUY (1994)

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Directed By: Samo Hung 

Written By: Fibe Ma and Edward Tang 

Cinematography: Raymond Lam

Editor: Peter Cheung and Chi-Wai Yau

Cast: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, Miki Le, Karen McLymont, Vince Poleto, Barry Otto, Sammo Hung, Peter Houghton, David No

A Chinese chef accidentally gets involved with a news reporter who filmed a drug bust that went awry, and is now being chased by gangs who are trying to get the videotape.

Jackie Chan usually defends himself in fights. That leads to death-defying stunts and he seems so acrobat. As he is, the initial attacker is never malicious or aggressive. 

Why he comes across so bad when he does. He seems up or had enough of it and he’s not using so much as truly fighting for a reason. Still the reluctant hero.

This is also why usually his films are more noteworthy for their action sequences than the plot as the story is the connective tissue that holds it all together and leads us to these scenes. There isn’t truly any just the cosmetics that help everything else cook.

This film is set up in Australia, and not starring most of his usual costars. Except for Richard Norton playing the villain. 

Thankfully, this is not another body-action comedy. This film also isn’t as sanitized as his usual more English language films, which sometimes end up being more for families and kids. There is more action with comedic scenes sprinkled throughout. But still, it’s an action film throwing through one just wishes the film could’ve been better overall.

That piece of work, though not as fun, loving, or inspiring as his non-English language films. The film becomes over-the-top ridiculous especially with it’s at least giving him a challenge. The henchman outfits are definitely 1990’s garb.

Directed by fellow kung fu legend, Sammo Hung. Who is more known for comedy and directing and acting with fight scenes and kung fu sprinkled it. 

It gets a little racy, but nothing too offensive. That is an ending that offers pure destruction. 

This ends up being a noteworthy film of his overture.

Grade: B-

CITY HUNTER (1993)

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Written & Directed By: Jin Wong

Based on the Comic By: Tsukasa Hojo

Cast: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Gary Daniels, Joey Wang, Kumiko Goto, Ching My Yau, Leon Lai, Paul Sinn, Ken Lo, Tzui-Pin Wei 

A self-indulgent private investigator winds up on a cruise ship full of rich patrons, gorgeous women, murderous terrorists, and scarce food.

This film comes across more as a cartoon with the requisite sound effects and visual effects with over-the-top comic antics even fantasy sequences that at times are supposed to be sexy, but come across as silly.

As it is way more comedic than his usual films.

At least the camera barely stays still for any elongated scenes or pieces of time, though it outdoes shots for so-called style. 

The film feels like an indulgent 1980s fantasy film grounded in reality where the second half plays like the movie under siege, but there are plenty of comedic antics. In both parts

The problem with the film comes from the heart of the film, which is that Jackie Chan’s character is a great detective who seems very clumsy, daydreams a lot, and always seems to be after sexy women. He is helping to take care of his partner’s daughter. At first, it’s like they have more of an uncle-niece relationship at times, it seems like she wants to make him jealous by going on vacation with a cousin so that it may be a romance on her part towards him, but he also seems to show a certain jealousy when other men are interested in her and this seems to be part of the romantic comedy elements were a force of the movie.

it’s made all the more inappropriate seeming as the girl he is taking care of looks like a teenager as well as the girl whose case he is working and he is noticeably older than both of them so seeing him try to romance them in certain scenes feels very uncomfortable.

The film feels more trashy than the star’s usual fare. They will try to maintain innocence and say it’s all in good fun as it is a stupid comedy that’s more physical and less action and more stunts action. There is also more comedy and less stunt work.

There is no nudity but fixated on the female costar’s cleavage and body, and finding funny things to do with them and come across more as character traits than an actual character.  As there are many scenes where he seems, the female characters are groped for comedic effect that comes across as a little bit more exploitative. 

It also makes life seem cheap. As there is tons of abuse towards women played off more as comedic. This is horrible especially when the Supporting female characters here are actually more fun and funny than the main actor.

The film is a screwball comedy without a good script. Even the villains henchman here seem to be wearing uniforms that look like costumes left over from V: THE MINISERIES.

Again, at the halfway point, this movie turns into Under Siege, the dyslexic version. The second half of the film is better than the first half.

This seems like a role less significant for Jackie Chan as it seems or feels like almost anyone could have played it because of physical and comedic skills were why he was called and offered him a chance to play an actual role outside of his usual persona. 

It’s fascinating how ridiculous this film is especially anytime. Visual effects are used that feel more like a live-action comic book. 

It has strange bits of humor like a scene that has a street fighter-themed fight with various characters playing the video game characters. Do video game antics and sound effects. That comes across more as a parody.

Grade: C 

NIGHT OF THE HUNTED (2023)

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Directed By: Franck Khalfoun

Written By: Franck Khalfoun and Glen Freyer 

Based On An Original Screenplay By: Ruben Avila Calvo and David R.L. 

Cinematography: Steven Petitteville

Editor: Stephane Roche 

Cast: Camille Rowe, Jeremy Scippio, Aleksander Popovic, J. John Bieler, Manaia Abdelrahim 

When an unsuspecting woman stops at a remote gas station in the dead of night, she’s made the plaything of a sociopath sniper with a secret vendetta. To survive she must not only dodge his bullets and fight for her life, but also figure out who wants her dead and why.

This film is pretty cut and dry. Though quite vicious at heart. It is a woman trying to escape the clutches of a sniper and watching as she tries to survive others who are unlucky enough to cross this gas station get massacred 

The villain doesn’t really offer a definite reason for his actions as throughout his spouse, many talking points that we have become familiar with in shootings and spree killers in the news so it doesn’t take any particular political angle 

It’s more of a survival story while there is plenty of tension, and we get to know the main character throughout the villain stays faceless for the most part

We feel sorry for the various victims who didn’t really do anything to deserve the fate that they ended up with the film at 90 minutes does feel a little long and maybe could’ve been shortened by 30 minutes then it would’ve been a welcome addition to maybe an anthology series That would be hard to find one as this is more of a thriller story not necessarily a supernatural story or a fantasy story or even science fiction even though it does have a monster involved it’s more of a human monster, not particularly supernatural chest, skilled

Directed By Franck Khalfoun, who previously made the underrated remake of Maniac here he comes with an original story that is very bare, and makes the most out of it, as we see the various ways in which she tries to escape or survive longer and how is she gets information and reacts to anything personal he might know about her.

In the end, we suspect who the sniper might be as by the end, there are a few questions none of them truly answer.

Give the movie a chance to actually worth your time 

Grade: C+