Tag: Xavier Gens

UNDER PARIS (2024)

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Directed By: Xavier Gens

Written By: Yannick Dahan, Maud Heywong and Xavier Gens 

Adapted By: Yale Landmann and Oliver Torres 

Original Idea By: Edouard Duprey and Sebastian Auscher 

Cinematography: Nicolas Massart

Editor: Riwanon Le Beller 

Cast: Berenice Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Lea Leviant, Sandra Parfait, Aksel Ustun, Aurelia Petit, Nagisa Morimoto, Marvin Dubart 

Summer 2024. Paris is hosting the World Triathlon Championships on the Seine for the first time. Sophia, a brilliant scientist, learns from Mika, a young environmental activist, that a large shark is swimming deep in the river. To avoid a bloodbath at the heart of the city, they have no choice but to join forces with Adil, the Seine river police commander.

 this is like a Syfy B-movie creature feature only Less Campy and better made. Foreign language and European styled.

As it is directed by Xaveir Gens the man behind such pictures as HITMAN (starring Timothy Olyphant) based on the video game and internatonal action film MAYHEM!. Which was a blast as well As the horror film FRONTIERS and THE DIVIDE. 

He’s a director of note and talent. As he has a slick and commercially shiny visual style that is appealing and pretty. His style Reminds one of those who usually come from the Luc Besson school of action filmmaking. Shocked that he never directed more low budget action films or THE TRANSPORTER type films. As he has an appealing mainstream Hollywood style and gloss to his films. That are typically one’s you don’t have to think too much during. 

As it is a European film, unlike those syfy movies there is no all Star cast or even paycheck seeking character actors. Though it does have Bernice bejo for fans of foreign cinema

She was one of the stars of Oscar nominated hit film THE ARTIST from 20

AMore mean spirited then expected and plenty of JAWS similarities. Which it seems most shark movies must either acknowledge it disavow. Though still Entertaining. The last 15 minutes this film Goes bezerker. Not a must see in anyway though keeps your interest 

*This is like going to a fast food places your expectations are low but fills a certain need. Then by the end it’s Still not great but did what itneas supposed to do and your not hungry anymore. As it was good enough. Not too many surprises and somewhat silly. Though not entirely unforgettable either. Better then expected but still not good or

Great. An all Around 

The film is Not Scary and everytime it seems To be going for a PG-13 vibe otncoeks through with a r rated massacre or scenes of violence. Which does help the film seem like it does have some

Pizaz 

Always amazed when films like these action epics have so many writers. Where you wonder was it really needed. As it shows collaboration or not. Too many hands in the pot and the dish will always come out disappointing or unsatisfying. As each one has their own agenda and will smooth out or diminish anything that others have contributed. Making it too much 

Grade: C

MAYHEM! (2023)

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Directed & Story By: Xavier Gens

Written By: Magali Rossetto, Guillaume LeMans, Stephane Cabel

Cinematography: Gilles Porte 

Editor: Riwanon Le Baker 

Cast: Nassim Lyes, Loryn Nounay, Olivier Gourmet, Chananticha Chaipa, Vijay’s Pansringorm, Yothin Udomsanti 

A model prisoner’s leave ends in tragedy when his past resurfaces, forcing him to flee. He starts over in Thailand until a local criminal coerces him back into crime. After this man attacks his family, he vows revenge.

When it comes to this film, you have to look at it sort of the same way. You would look at Director Xavier Gens work over the years. 

He is a talented and serviceable Director but while his films have all had style, most of his films, generally come off as disappointing usually maybe more due to scripting problems or story problems. They look vivid, but they can never keep the audience’s interest throughout 

This film seems more inspired by the work of Gareth Evans, writer and director of THE RAID movies.

As This film has some truly incredible fights that are bone, breaking, and crushing where you feel the violence in the hits in the action as the camera moves with it, and we see the action and the aftermath. 

These scenes do come often more in the second half of the film isn’t as balls to the wall as advertised. As with everything you need a lead-up for there to be that action, and here it’s there even though in the lead-up, it’s a little more typical, and ends up becoming more of a revenge story, but a revenge story on both sides in a way.

They also try to set up the main character to be not violent to be violent even though he’s a fighter, he usually avoids any extracurricular violence as in the scene when he’s in the gym in a fight breaks out he stays out of it so more he only fights when he has to, He is forced Which is what set up the second half of the film is that he doesn’t want to, but he has to if he wants to get his revenge.

Most of the story and film are typical, but those are fight scenes. They are what helped raise the film above the material if it had been 90 minutes of just the action sequences with maybe reasoning in between this definitely would’ve been better as directors like Timo Tjahjanto managed to do that they managed to have spectacular action, but also stay on point with the story so that it is, they are both interesting this is a nice attempt and certainly is not worthy but unfortunately, it’s not successful across-the-board but it is entertaining and worth checking out especially if you are an action movie fan.

Grade: B-