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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Transporter Refueled (2015) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The suit, the car, and the keys have been handed over to Ed Skrein (Game of Thrones) as he takes over the role of Frank Martin, made popular by Jason Statham in the first three films of the Transporter franchise. In this iteration, Frank finds himself in the center of a storm of sex, money and violence. The formula is generally the same as the other films in that, Frank is tasked to perform a job that is more than what it seems to be.
In this film, he is hired by a group of prostitutes who are seeking vengeance on their bosses by robbing them of their fortunes. Transporter: Refueled is filled with great action sequences, dramatic car chases, and exciting fight scenes which would satisfy many fans of the franchise. Unfortunately, the story lacks any depth. There is a love story between Frank and one of the girls that seems heavily out of place, not for the franchise, but with the film itself.
Much of the interchange and exchanges between the characters seems forced and you find yourself not really caring about the “good guys” or have that much of a chance to hate the “bad guys.” At times, it seems as though it would be more of an extension of the Fast and the Furious films with the club scenes, scantily clad women, and its attempt to be younger and fresher.
There is much more of a focus on the stunts, some of which seem to bend the possibilities of physics, and the car chases which will have many people running to Audi dealerships after seeing this film. Transporter: Refueled has problems in establishing its identity in being a Transporter film. In an attempt to break away from its past, it creates an uncertain future and which is something that, for once, Frank Martin is on time for with this film.
In this film, he is hired by a group of prostitutes who are seeking vengeance on their bosses by robbing them of their fortunes. Transporter: Refueled is filled with great action sequences, dramatic car chases, and exciting fight scenes which would satisfy many fans of the franchise. Unfortunately, the story lacks any depth. There is a love story between Frank and one of the girls that seems heavily out of place, not for the franchise, but with the film itself.
Much of the interchange and exchanges between the characters seems forced and you find yourself not really caring about the “good guys” or have that much of a chance to hate the “bad guys.” At times, it seems as though it would be more of an extension of the Fast and the Furious films with the club scenes, scantily clad women, and its attempt to be younger and fresher.
There is much more of a focus on the stunts, some of which seem to bend the possibilities of physics, and the car chases which will have many people running to Audi dealerships after seeing this film. Transporter: Refueled has problems in establishing its identity in being a Transporter film. In an attempt to break away from its past, it creates an uncertain future and which is something that, for once, Frank Martin is on time for with this film.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
In 2012, comedy writer/director/actor Seth MacFarlane created and introduced the world to basically a “live action” episode of his hit show Family Guy with the film Ted. I originally thought that film looked stupid. However as absurd as it was, it was still hilarious. Something about a talking “grown up” Teddy Bear was charming enough, but also required you to completely suspend disbelief and just go with whatever ridiculousness what was shown on screen. It was the success of that film that caused me to have higher expectations for MacFarlane’s new film A Million Ways to Die in the West. Sadly, he is a victim of his own success.
Seth MacFarlane takes on the “leading man” role this time around and unfortunately, he is not a leading man. His constant diatribes about how the west can kill you are delivered in his typical long-winded over intelligent style. Only they feel out of place as the rest of the characters and film do not take themselves remotely serious. Truthfully, I found myself not caring about him at all and was more interested in the other characters. Neil Patrick Harris is a standout as a “mustache man” who steals MacFarlane’s girlfriend and the rest of the cast pull off their cookie cutter western characters well.
That is not to say that this film is not funny. It has its funny parts. However they are far between and few are memorable. Because they try to play this movie a bit more “straight” than Ted, it just doesn’t work as well. Perhaps it is because we have seen it all from MacFarlane before and it is just more of the same.
In the end, if you are a MacFarlane fan and go into this film will medium to low expectations, you won’t be disappointed and will probably enjoy this film. But if you are looking for the next best comedy of the summer or something to make you constantly laugh, best you go check out Neighbors as this film is not near as funny.
Seth MacFarlane takes on the “leading man” role this time around and unfortunately, he is not a leading man. His constant diatribes about how the west can kill you are delivered in his typical long-winded over intelligent style. Only they feel out of place as the rest of the characters and film do not take themselves remotely serious. Truthfully, I found myself not caring about him at all and was more interested in the other characters. Neil Patrick Harris is a standout as a “mustache man” who steals MacFarlane’s girlfriend and the rest of the cast pull off their cookie cutter western characters well.
That is not to say that this film is not funny. It has its funny parts. However they are far between and few are memorable. Because they try to play this movie a bit more “straight” than Ted, it just doesn’t work as well. Perhaps it is because we have seen it all from MacFarlane before and it is just more of the same.
In the end, if you are a MacFarlane fan and go into this film will medium to low expectations, you won’t be disappointed and will probably enjoy this film. But if you are looking for the next best comedy of the summer or something to make you constantly laugh, best you go check out Neighbors as this film is not near as funny.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Nut Job (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett playing Surly the squirrel, and Liam Neeson playing Racoon, is a kids movie, but has political undertones that won’t be missed by the adults. It does send a good message to kids in that it portrays Surly starting out caring only for himself and then growing to learn to help his friends and take care of others.
My 5 year old son says “it was funny, and it made me laugh”. He says he would see it again.
Down at its core, this movie really is about politics. Raccoon rules the park with the outward appearance of benevolence and coordinating all the animals to “work for the good of the park” while Surly is out for only himself, and refuses to conform. He is the cause of an accident that causes their food-storage tree to be burned to the ground, taking all their food with it, and is subsequently banished from the park without a trial, even though Andie, a lady squirrel (voiced by Katherine Heigl), begs her friends to not banish him without a trial. She is almost instantly voted down by the angry residents of Liberty Park.
Surly leaves Liberty Park and has to try and make it on his own. He finds his way to a HUGE stash of nuts, and devises a plan to get them to hold him through the winter. Andie finds him, and wants “in” on the stash to help the animals in the oark, and makes a deal with him to split them if they work together to collect the haul.
After the point in the movie where it is revealed that Racoon is not so benevolent after all and that his goal is to “control the food to control the animals”, some of the animals antics might be a bit troubling for younger viewers, but overall I thought it was a decent movie that kids will likely enjoy & parents can tolerate as well.
My 5 year old son says “it was funny, and it made me laugh”. He says he would see it again.
Down at its core, this movie really is about politics. Raccoon rules the park with the outward appearance of benevolence and coordinating all the animals to “work for the good of the park” while Surly is out for only himself, and refuses to conform. He is the cause of an accident that causes their food-storage tree to be burned to the ground, taking all their food with it, and is subsequently banished from the park without a trial, even though Andie, a lady squirrel (voiced by Katherine Heigl), begs her friends to not banish him without a trial. She is almost instantly voted down by the angry residents of Liberty Park.
Surly leaves Liberty Park and has to try and make it on his own. He finds his way to a HUGE stash of nuts, and devises a plan to get them to hold him through the winter. Andie finds him, and wants “in” on the stash to help the animals in the oark, and makes a deal with him to split them if they work together to collect the haul.
After the point in the movie where it is revealed that Racoon is not so benevolent after all and that his goal is to “control the food to control the animals”, some of the animals antics might be a bit troubling for younger viewers, but overall I thought it was a decent movie that kids will likely enjoy & parents can tolerate as well.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating in Books
Apr 23, 2020
I've read a variety of Christina Lauren novels by now, and this was one of my favorites. For a short minute, I thought Hazel was going to be too zany and over the top for me, and then I got to know her. I then fell in love with her, and I was immediately rooting for our caring, funny, and yes, sometimes, crazy heroine. The best part was that Josh was great in his own reliable, sweet way, too. There's nothing better than a romance where you care for both partners. They were an excellent couple, and I wanted nothing more than to see Josh and Hazel get together. The two had wonderful chemistry and the whole book just had me grinning goofily.
Josh and Hazel are both damaged and wary, but not in that annoying way that has you rolling your eyes and wishing they'd just get over it all. Josh's girlfriend has hurt him and Hazel is constantly passed over by guys who think she's too over the top. Neither deserve this pain, and you quickly want them to get together and be healed. Of course it isn't that easy. When they come up with the double date angle (but not dating each other), laughter ensues, as well as some heartbreak.
There aren't too many side characters in this one: the focus is on Hazel and Josh, but I really enjoyed Hazel's mom, as well as Josh's sister, Emily. And there's plenty of fun to be had with some of the folks we encounter on the blind dates. Josh and Hazel seem so real; our writing duo capture them quite well. Hazel's zest for life coupled with her vulnerability, for instance, shine brightly. And Josh, well, I just wanted to hug him sometimes.
In the end this a really fun, sweet book. It's humorous yet realistic and tender. I adored Hazel and Josh-they were one of my favorite couples in a while. 4+ stars.
Josh and Hazel are both damaged and wary, but not in that annoying way that has you rolling your eyes and wishing they'd just get over it all. Josh's girlfriend has hurt him and Hazel is constantly passed over by guys who think she's too over the top. Neither deserve this pain, and you quickly want them to get together and be healed. Of course it isn't that easy. When they come up with the double date angle (but not dating each other), laughter ensues, as well as some heartbreak.
There aren't too many side characters in this one: the focus is on Hazel and Josh, but I really enjoyed Hazel's mom, as well as Josh's sister, Emily. And there's plenty of fun to be had with some of the folks we encounter on the blind dates. Josh and Hazel seem so real; our writing duo capture them quite well. Hazel's zest for life coupled with her vulnerability, for instance, shine brightly. And Josh, well, I just wanted to hug him sometimes.
In the end this a really fun, sweet book. It's humorous yet realistic and tender. I adored Hazel and Josh-they were one of my favorite couples in a while. 4+ stars.
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