TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM (2023)

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Directed By: Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears 

Written By: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit 

Based on TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES characters, Created By: Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird

Head Of Cinematography: Kent Saki

Editor: Greg Levitan

Voice cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Ice Cube, Jackie Chan, Ayo Edebiri, Maya Rudolph, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Rudd, Post Malone, Hannibal Buress 

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtles set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. But they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Over the years, there have been many reboots of this franchise as well as ongoing, animated television shows. There were even two live-action films after the initial live-action trilogy of films.

I have to say that this animated film is the best of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise since the original animated series and also the first two live-action films which are near deer to my heart. I saw them in theaters and the first one I kept trying to see in theaters and I think, I tried five times to see it in theaters and it was always sold out. This was before you could buy your tickets online so when I finally did get to see it, it was so magical and felt so worth it.

This film emphasizes the teenage part of the title as the characters do have fighting skills, but they are also still teenagers at heart growing up and wanting to belong but also wanting to have fun and not necessarily so mission-focused.

With it being more about teenagers, it prepares you to have patience with that aspect as an adult, though it’s a perfect family film that feels a bit more funky and fun than any of the films have before. It’s a film for a younger audience though older fans can’t enjoy it.

Here’s a little bit reimagined with a more urban feel in a different villain than the nemesis usually the villain Shredder.

The film is a lot more fun and emphasizes a bit more humor than action.

The star voices don’t add too much more of a hay isn’t that such and such factor that would work with or without them, though it is nice to see here, the familiar voice does at times the danger of taking you out of the film, especially when it comes to certain beloved characters.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, take over the franchise or the ideas for the story here and rework it, just as they have others that they either produce or create shows like THE BOYS and PREACHER amongst others. At least it seems like the stuff that they are behind that RIP that they were fans of from the beginning so while they are making it a little more hip, they know what the fans like. Enjoy and want.

The film is an original story at heart. It’s closer to the more blockbuster material of the animated cartoon than the previous live-action movies that starred Megan Fox. 

It’s a reboot for a franchise that continues to reinvent itself while sticking to the same premise, yet never venturing into the dark original world of the cult comic book from which it came.

Grade: B+ 

THE SUBSTANCE (2024)

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Written & Directed by: Coralie Fargeat 

Cinematography: Benjamin Kracun  

Editor: Coralie Fargeat, Jerome Eltabet and Valentin Feron 

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Whatever you might have heard about this film you are not entirely ready for where it takes you. 

Again this is one of those films that is best to go. Into blind. Which allows for surprises and plenty of discovery. 

It has equal parts David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and even a bit of Stanley Kubrick in style, but director Coralie Fargeat manages to make it her own.

As there are symmetrical shots and angles. Colorful production design, and plenty of gore that at first seems artistic until it truly gore for the gusto in the third act. At certain points it feels like science fiction, but more a cruel satire that truly becomes a horror movie. It also feels French and European while taking place on American soil. 

it’s amazing, disturbing, uncomfortable, and beautiful. That truly seeks to disturb, disrupt, and challenge. Which for some will make it all the more stronger. 

The film offers a full-blown assault on sensibilities and your senses. It manages to build a world while revealing so little and having limited spaces and locations. 

It haunts you afterward. Each time you think about the film, you want to go back to see if there is anything you missed. as you want to study the film. It’s that intricate, and pristine 

It’s not only the effects that are scary or disgusting but the characters. Dennis Quaid as The lead character’s manager is always his over-the-top stylish suits and seems like he cares. He twists lives in his client’s backs and eats sloppily and disgustingly. 

The film is a tale of feminism and the perils of aging for women and how they are treated in the world but especially in Hollywood and the spotlight. This film explores what some are willing to do or forced to do who choose to want to stay in the spotlight. How cruel they are treated for even trying.

It’s also a tale of greed, how there is never enough time, and how quickly it can be stolen or used. When you are younger you always think you have enough time and still want more and are more prone to be jealous that you will even betray your own best interests. How at times a person can lavishly sacrifice just to have the spotlight to themselves even as it does damage to themselves. Not playing by the rules and regretting. Losing sense of oneself.

Self-hatred giving up on yourself for others to prosper. As you feel your life isn’t worth living anymore. Too much work not enough benefits. Needing the adoration to feel worthy. 

Demi Moore gives one of them. the best performances of her career. While getting one of the best roles of her recent career. This is the perfect movie for her to make a comeback. Even as critically as most of the characters treat her. She still looks extraordinarily beautiful. The horror is that for so many years Ms. Moore has been the model for what was seen as perfect and beautiful that many women aspired to be like or look like and now here she is not considered good enough. 

It also offered her the most range in a role. Yet it also, feels familiar or like a reality she might be facing only magnified. As the film shows how aging especially for women is seen as a horror in society and how many of them have resorted to some kind of substance be it surgery, fillers, creams or ointments to try to keep their youth or look youthful. Even as it becomes a violence against themselves. Taking themselves down the. Face the reality they find themselves in. Trying to reach or keep an idealized version of themselves and literally buying into it 

At certain points, it feels like a TALES FROM THE CRYPT movie. Which only reminds the audience of Demi Moore’s appearance on that show in an episode. By the end, it also reminds the audience of another production that she was part of the animated Disney film THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. 

You could also throw in some RE-ANIMATOR. As well as the story THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. As well as THE GAME, DEATH BECOMES HER, THE TOXIC AVENGER, FIGHT CLUB, and SECONDS. With those ingredients, she used them to make something piercingly original 

It even tackles eating disorders. As when she can’t really punish or fight her double. She strikes back the only way she knows how overeating bad food. as she robs her of her youth. 

Vanity destroying yourself to give yourself more time. Almost like an addiction the same as a vampire uses blood to survive and stay young or at least keep up appearances. Usually preying on the young here it is reversed. 

As the younger self has all the promises or is given promises of course she becomes more selfish hoping to live just a bit longer. 

This film by the end becomes a fable of addiction to the limelight of fame and attention and how lonely it can become once it begins to fade. Even though you have a following how quickly they can abandon you and if you are never prepared for your eventual downfall. You have truly nothing left. How these rules seem to apply mostly unfortunately to women. Hollywood is a fickle mistress. 

Grade: A 

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE (2024)

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Directed By: Adam Wingard

Written By: Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater and Terry Rossio 

Story By: Adam Wingard, Simon Bennett and Terry Rossio 

Cinematography: Ben Serensin

Editor: Josh Schaeffer

Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, Rachel House, Ron Smyck 

The new installment in the Monsterverse puts the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal deadly threat hidden within our world that threatens the existence of their species and our very own, as well as diving deep into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond. Delving straight into the origins of Hollow Earth, this film will explore the ancient Titan battle that brought man and monster together forever.

Just as this film has an excruciatingly long title they couldn’t just go by the latter to remind you of who is in it and why you might want to see it.

There has to be another type of genre for films like this other than special effects movies. Most of this film is digital and practically animated with some live action. That is advanced but feels like WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT only not as good and not an intentional comedy.

This is typical summer fare that is a popcorn movie and if you are into it can see why these are made and audiences rush to see them. As modern monster b-movies, but as each new one is made it also feels like the quality goes down. As they have to stretch the believability for a new one. That seems to chronicle another new step in these creatures’ lives. I can understand the continuing adventures and humans discovering new lands and dimensions.

Though again it feels dumber but obviously expensive as even the returning cast

The list gets slimmer and slimmer and the leads while Respected actors. They are not as widely known as the previous leads and less big box office names. Which helps their careers with bigger films and nice paychecks. Even if the quality is off.

No matter how much the film tries to be interesting it feels pretty basic and that you have seen it before and for as long as they are you know you are here more for the fights or action rather than the backstory that leads up to them or the big reveal of whatever monster they have come together to fight and worse of all these films feel like the promise of two big stars interacting then by the end spend only a scene or two together and that is where the magic happens and truly interesting parts of the film 

It has been shown with GODZILLA MINUS ONE. You can make a monster film With live action that has emotional depths and can live co-current in different genres. I wish this film had the same strength but again this is playing to the audience of the previous Godzilla and Kong movies so you know what you’re gonna get and what you see is what you get.

Basically, this film feels here to introduce mothers again into the mix  and little Kong for the kids and the knowledge of what it’s Like being a parent which is also expressed by the Indigenous girl and the main scientist in human form

While All this Destruction and damage is going on the humans are collateral Damage which we see running and panicking Sometimes. So that we are like the vermin or instruct maybe animals of the world that outnumber these beasts and monsters who try to help but are generally barely thought of until afterward and that is only by the film, not the main characters who are the beasts 

just as there is no blood really in this film even when killing a mutant rat wolf in the beginning and ripping it apart there is green goo, not blood that fills the screen. Though I can’t imagine why he would want to eat it after as it seems like it is filled with toxic 

It seems Godzilla just wakes up to take care of the monster problem in this world like It’s a job and King Kong just wants a quiet place to roam.

Grade: D 

DAMSEL (2024)

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Directed By: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Written By: Dan Mazeau

Cinematography: Larry Fong 

Editor: John Gilbert 

Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Robin Wright, Angela Bassett, Ray Winstone, Brooke Carter, Nick Robinson, Milo Twomey, Nicole Joseph

A young woman, Elodie, meets a handsome prince and they fall in love. At their wedding it is revealed that the prince had more sinister reasons for courting her: she is to be sacrificed to a dragon that has been terrorizing the kingdom. Elodie now has to fight for her survival.

This movie would’ve been better off as maybe an episode of a sci-fi, fantasy anthology tale or rather Maybe as a side story on a lord of the Rings type series than a feature film.

It’s pretty simple, cut and dry, and feels like it’s extended for no real reason that adds anything to the overall project tone, or story. 

As it is a tale of female empowerment with a pretty stacked cast, other than Millie Bobby Brown have very little to do but play standard cliché rules that are beneath their talents, especially Angela Bassett in a thankless minute, but pivotal support supporting role. Who seems here because she is in a lot of projects more than what the role actually offers.

This film has this kind of prestigious, framing around itself for something that comes off as a basic bedtime story or nursery rhyme. 

It tries to be a thriller and keep us in anticipation, with the excitement of how she will survive, as well as giving a backstory to why she finds herself in her current situation while learning the power of resilience and not falling victim to all that glitters and those your talk to worship.

Though in the end, it feels like a movie that be more of a time waster, or a seat, filler if it had been released theatrically, as it is more of a seat filler. A film intended to do big business on opening weekend due to the spectacle and previews as well as star and knowingly, less and less money as word-of-mouth spreads.

I can’t fault the production as it is a typical big budget, sci-fi, fantasy, special effects, action movie, only here made small and put in medieval times, but more marketed as a special effect fantasy with not much of a story or plot of why and how we got there . as is put in place as more of a placeholder for the action scenes, which is what really takes over.

The film doesn’t offer much for the actors other than to react and a big game of pretend. it might hold some interest overall it plays itself out fairly early even for a film that is almost 2 hours.

Grade: D

GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Takashi Yamazaki 

Based on characters created By: Ishiro Honda and Takeo Murata 

Cinematography: Kozo Shibasaki

Editor: Ryuni Miyajima

Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Munetaka Aoki, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuya Endo, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sae Nagatani 

Feeling as if he unfairly cheated death too many times, Shikishima, a surviving Kamikaze pilot, is attacked on Odo Island along with many war plane engineers by a gargantuan monster. After the engineers die because of Shikishima fails to distract the monster, an overwhelming amount of guilt weighs on him, especially after a homeless woman and a baby move into his home when he returns. Shikishima, now on a personal mission, teams up with a large group of veterans to finally take down the monster known as Godzilla.

I am not a huge fan or follower of Godzilla and any Kaiju series of films. 

This is by far the best and most impressive Godzilla movie though truthfully I have only really watched the American reboots and the current buddy science-fiction versions that usually pair him with King Kong. Though I have seen a few of the older Japanese ones.

The special effects are impressive and noticeably pay homage to old-school Godzilla and bring them into the present. that are effective. 

It’s enjoyable how they never really explain him just as a natural disaster. They continuously have to deal with and how in his aftermath. He is still an imminent threat. This also works as a metaphor for the character’s war lives, trying to find some new kind of normal but everything is different and gone. While the world keeps seeming to move and constantly Change even if some Old Truths stay the same and offer Promise. 

It’s A Perfect Example of a lead character dealing with life, death, and guilt. Giving him a hero’s journey in full. We follow mainly through the experiences of one character and those around him. Especially during the years and aftermath of wartime. 

Like a war movie in itself, only They are again fighting a war against an unknown enemy though this time feels more worth it as more of a threat 

It’s also just a cool movie with a good story, Which is quite effective and relatable. This might have even been bigger during the pandemic. Though it wouldn’t be able to be seen properly. This is a movie that is best seen on the biggest screen possible.

This is a movie that could have been pure entertainment, but It grabs you and pulls you into the plight of the characters and tells a story resonant with rich backstories that are felt. Even if not fully explained 

Grade: A- 

KNEECAP (2024)

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Directed By: Rich Peppiatt 

Written & Story By: Rich Peopiatt, Naoise O Caireahain, Liam O Hannaihdi, Ji O Doxharjaich 

Cinematography: Ryan Karnaghan

Editor: Chris Gill and Julian Ulrichs 

Cast: Naoise O Caireahain, Liam O Hannaihdi, Ji O Doxharjaich, Jessica Reynolds, Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker, Fionnula Flaherty, Adam Best, Simone Kirby

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

The film is a kind of origin story of the Irish Gaelic hip hop band of the title. Which is inspired and fun.

As it is stylish and plays around with different mediums throughout. Though seems to have endless energy and at first seems more a juvenile sophomoric comedy. Though is. With heart that becomes a coming of age movie. 

While the film has a vibrant energy and a wild spirit. It actually does have something to say. Colonialism and a country losing its culture and kind of being forced out. 

Though through the youth and their rebellious attitude pave the way for saving their own history. That they seem to usually not care about. 

Though presented to them in Their own language and culture. That leaves them constantly inspired.

It becomes more than you expect and all the more winning for it. As it’s like it’s characters more than your first impression from looking at them. There is much more to them, even if what happens isn’t necessarily planned. It’s share they find themselves. 

As you watch and learn more and more about the group behind the scenes you might find yourself surprised. As at first I thought the character who was their DJ in the film was created to flesh out the characters and their situations with a professional actor. Though he is their DJ In. Real life

Jessica Reynolds is a standout as a love interest femme fatale for one of the duo. Who seems to want not being in a relationship but tortures the character by cosntabtly flirting with others and turning him down then coming onto him.

Michael Fassbender has a pivotal but small role which is how I first heard about this film. Though I must give credit to reviewer @moviesaretherapy who gave the film a rave and truly inspired me to give the film a chance and have to say I don’t regret it.

Grade: B 

DRIVE-AWAY-DOLLS (2024)

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Directed By: Ethan Coen

Written By: Ethan Coen And Tricia Cooke

Cinematography: Ari Wegner

Editor: Tricia Cooke

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Joey Slotnick, C.J. Wilson, Bill Camp, Beanie Fieldstein, Annie Gonzalez, Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon 

The film follows Jamie, an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.

This film is a strange hybrid of a lesbian romantic comedy. Also having a conspiracy crime story.  That mixes competently enough but still feels like a strange mix.

The humor works in both storylines, but they both need a little bit more to be fully realized as they both feel like they could be short stories but need the other to make a full feature.

unfortunately, the film also comes off as a farce as most of the characters aren’t exactly 100% believable and we never really get enough information to really care for them or really get to know them. We know their character types but rarely get a glimpse truly inside of them.

This could’ve been an informative romantic comedy that involved lesbians but the crime story feels like it was needed to fill it out whereas the crime story feels like an idea that was never quite fully realized.

The film takes place in 1999, though the film barely acknowledges it until late, and you begin to realize that most of these misunderstandings and confusions could’ve been solved with cell phones, which is why it seems the main reason that this film takes place in the past. it seems like a lot of films will explain or keep their narrative going.

as often the editing seems abrupt and the timing seems a little off, and it keeps going into these psychedelic dreamscapes and montages that for a movie under 90 minutes quickly become very annoying, especially the volume of them. Which comes across as a throwback and an experimental device for a film that doesn’t seem encouraging to be under the influence watching.

The cameos throughout the film of favors and wanting to be associated with 1/2 of the famed Coen brothers filmmaking team. Here Ethan Coen directs and co-wrote the screenplay. The problem is that this film feels more full of comedy than any true relatability. even while we root for the main characters, they never become full-blooded, though they are likable

While the film is certainly entertaining and comes up with plenty of memorable side characters and situations. especially Margaret Qualley’s character, who you wish had a film all to herself it comes off as a bunch of great ideas that luckily work into a narrative, but are very loose.

The actors all seem to be having fun in their roles and as usual Geraldine Viswanathan. Deserves and needs more leading roles as she is just a captivating actress who ends up getting stuck at times in one-note roles luckily reveals herself to be more than meets the eye her character can change from the beginning to the end and stay believable..

This isn’t a bad movie or a terrible movie. It just feels and its own way nourished like it’s missing certain things that would make it more worthwhile. 

Grade: C 

DOWN LOW (2023)

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Directed By: Rightor Doyle

Written By: Phoebe Fisher and Lukas Gage

Cinematography: Nate Hurtsellers

Editor: David Moritz and Mike S. Smith 

Cast: Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage, Simon Rex Judith Light, Audra McDonald, Sebastian Arroyo, Christopher Reed Brown, Dominique Lawson, Joseph Bessette 

A deeply repressed man, the uninhibited young man that gives him a happy ending, and all the lives they ruin along the way.

This is a single-location comedy feature around a premise that is a few scenes in a movie like Goodfellas with having to get rid of a body.

Only here more LGBTQ plus things less gangster world related.  As they both involved getting rid of a dead body, someone might or might not be the reason for this unfortunate accident.

Luckily, for the audience, this film ends up being a witty, screwball comedy, essentially about acceptance and being comfortable in your own skin.

It’s nice to see Zachary Quinto cut loose throughout his career, especially in the beginning, he always played a villain in the show, heroes, and other rules he has always looked or acted so deadly, serious, dramatic, and imposing. That here it’s nice to see him play in a comedy. He still repressed, but allows himself to let loose in character and is clearly having fun. Pardon the pun of the street man throughout this film who is gay.

The film does stereotypes, or at least cliché, likely terminally ill gay man, but it takes a sharp and offers a more than one-dimensional portrait. I’m not only that character of other characters that afford more than just the main characters in its own way. It feels universal no one is left as a caricature and still manages to surprise. 

The film is refreshing as it manages to be emotional, but still allows for it to be dark.

Co-written and co-starring  Lukas Gage, in the more flamboyant, outrageous, and physical comedic masseuse. 

As Lukas Gage definitely has drawn, not only a showpiece for himself, but one that allows everyone else to have their moments as what could’ve easily become a farce gets into some real emotional territory.

Simon Rex makes a smash as he plays a nightmare version of what you can find on the dark web, but still manages to be funny, and  Judith Light comes in as a character who could’ve been purely used for comedic relief but gives the film a poignant moment and character.

It’s not vivid, nor is it really that big or too visual but it’s fun. Want to stick around and be with these characters and route for them throughout 

Grade: B

THE FORTUNE (1975)

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Directed By: Mike Nichols 

Written By: Carole Eastman (As Adrien Joyce) and Selene Elizabeth Bryce 

Cinematography: John A. Alonzo 

Editor: Stu Linder 

Cast: Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, Stockard Channing, Florence Stanley, Scatman Crothers, Dub Taylor, Richard B. Shull, Tom Newman, Christopher Guest

The early 1900s with its Mann Act (disallowing women to be transported across state lines for immoral reasons) brings a married man to devise a scheme for taking his upper-class girlfriend away with him. He simply has her marry his unmarried buddy. However, it doesn’t take very long before both men start laying claim to her affection. Until, that is, she’s about to be cut out of her parent’s fortune. So, a new scheme is devised, which only adds to their problems, as well as to the sly whimsy of this movie.

This is one of those films that’s almost good, as it definitely has the talent behind the scenes and on screen. While it has its moments and should definitely be funny, it should also definitely be better and a bit more impressive. 

What we get feels more practice and too small in scope it feels limited. Honestly, it feels sort of like Mike Nichols trying to do a Robert Altman film only with less of an ensemble but somehow them all being connected

This is an All-Star. Peace Comedy directed by the late legendary Mike Nichols is a dark buddy comedy that should be more cynical, yet stays lighthearted. 

Jack Nicholson is truly the All-Star and stealer of the film throughout. It seems like his role is defined by his crazy and wild hair with a noticeably receding hairline like Larry in The Three Stooges or Steve Carell’s slick-back hair look in the first season of The Office.

Nicholson has a more interesting character and seems like he is truly having a lot of fun with the role. With slicked-back hair that stands up and half the time the comedy can be found in his facial reactions to things that are priceless. You almost wish she was in a better film as he is more alive than the material

The same can be said when it comes to costar stocker Channing

Whereas Warren Beatty is more of the straight man the buttoned-up character, a little anal retentive. Where his look and costumes do most of the work as he plays a known lothario

Warren Beatty feels too self-conscious and a stick in the mud. He’s almost the villain of the film.

He means to end the star of the film, but feels like he’s doing a favor as a guest star in the first half of the film though it does revolve around his character’s plan.

One element, a brief scene wears a brown face, which might be more distasteful today, even though the characters are despicable after all.

The film comes across as a love triangle or polyamory romance that tries to be a classic comedy duo with Nickelson and Beatty, which should work but feels like everything is just a bit off

Stocker Channing completes the lead trio, the woman at the center of it, all who stands to make quite a nice inheritance, but falls in love with both the lead, despite being with Warren Beatty character, a romantic triangle.

She seems to get more of the physical scenes and is quite playful throughout 

There is plenty of opportunity for physical comedy.

The premise of the movie is never quite as funny as it should be. It seems like there’s a lot of setup with very little payoff, especially considering the caliber of the cast, which might have made the writers try harder to make things comic, but also maybe made it too highbrow or maybe they had to follow, the stars specific instructions as to what they wanted out of them

There is plenty of humor but more bickering than anything else.

The film does have great cinematography though 

What about the film is that everyone seems to try so hard for so little as the film tries to be a slapstick screwball comedy centered around the morals of the time it takes place coming across like a loss. Forbidden comedy from that period. 

I can’t say it was fun finding these Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty films that are a bit more early in their career that seem to be forgotten or generally hard to find 

If you are a completist, just want to see this film for the two stars it might not be worth it, but it won’t be the worst thing you’ve ever seen either. It just might be slightly disappointing. At least they knew to keep it short and under 90 minutes 

Grade: C

THE BEEKEEPER (2024)

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Directed By: David Ayer 

Written By: Kurt Wimmer

Cinematography: Gabriel Beristain 

Editor: Geoffrey O’Brien 

Cast: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad, Bobby Naderi, Jemma Redgrave, Don Gilet, David Witts, Sophia Feliciano.

One man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers.”

I am not trying to be insulting, but usually, once you see one, Jason Statham action film you’ve seen them all this one has more reliable names behind it in the form of Screenwriter, Kurt, Wimmer (EQUILIBRIUM) and Director David Ayer (FURY, END IF WATCH) 

No, Jason Statham is an action hero of modern times as you assume what you are going to get he does manage to surprise you with his film’s superior quality. Especially if he has the right filmmaking team behind him.

Referred to as the British Bruce Willis, but you could also call him a modern-day Charles Bronson as he does have range, but he commonly plays the same type of character who could easily be interchangeable sometimes when it comes to an online.

There’s just something likable about him and his films maybe it’s because he doesn’t really try to prove himself. His films are satisfying and simple and you just want to see how it gets to its predictable conclusion is an easy appeal to his audience.

Are not only younger but annoyingly, younger and loud, colorful outfits more at home it would seem in a 90s set film and stereotypical as most of the movie villains tend to be obnoxious and give us the obvious information. Though there is a female assassin who seems to come out of another film or reminds one of a similar character from a previous Jason Statham film, THE TRANSPORTER 2, only the one in that previous film, gave up a better fight and made it more erotic.

Here he doesn’t have that much time until waste so he is straight to the point whereas the supporting cast plays out the drama. He’s there for the action first and foremost.

What raises the bar a little in this film is that somehow Jeremy Irons is in this movie and a supporting role and he is here for a paycheck and chewing the scenery. Playing the upper-class British business dignitary. He is just one of a few character actors, obviously doing this as a paycheck role. Most of them are not American-born actors. Though they are playing Americans.

This is basically a story of the old being being ripped off by young twerps. Where is seems each level of this scam depends on the other to do the dirty work. At first, it seems pretty cut and dry with plenty of bee references.

Even the main villain is more loud than truly menacing as really, the henchmen are the only ones truly putting up a fight. When he is overconfident, you know that they are hubris will be the downfall, especially when facing a folk hero who tends to drive or has a fondness for pickup trucks who you cheer for throughout.

As the beekeeper is supposed to be private and all the killers, they seem to send after him who were meant to be a challenge, seem to be loud and obvious. However, it does run into the problem of being an equalizer in the movie-type situation. Where no matter who his enemy is, it’s obvious that they are no real threat to him and don’t even really put up too much of a fight. So they are more here as time-killing obstacles no real threat. so there is no tension and no real excitement unless you are really into the setup or the star.

The only true surprise is that this film goes all the way up to absolute power while playing on American intelligence. 

The film is trashy and is a pure popcorn movie. Where are you? Can see the franchise or sequel form by the end. This is definitely an unabashed guilty pleasure.

Grade: B-