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Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Universal Soldier (1992) in Movies
Mar 11, 2020
A fun slice of early 90's high concept sci-fi action that still holds up reasonably well today. Van-Damme is well suited as the butt kicking genetically modified super soldier with minimal dialogue but the more charismatic Dolph Lundgren has a much more memorable role as the psychopathic Sgt. Scott . The action is satisfyingly violent and the film is fast paced and entertaining. Good to catch up with it again after all these years.
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Riot (2015) in Movies
Aug 18, 2020
Everything I'd ever seen said about this movie indicated that it was action (read: FIGHT) driven. I might have never believed anything to be a more accurate description...
The fight scenes are definitely plentiful, as you would expect from a movie that includes Chuck Liddell and Dolph Lundgren (Matthew Reese and Danielle Ryan both hold their own quite well). I don't think there is more than a three or four minute section of footage that doesn't include fighting of some sort.
The story is quite thin, but I would imagine that if you're watching this movie, you aren't watching it for the story.
The choreography is usually pretty good with a few small exceptions, the fight scenes are entertaining if nothing else. The action is non stop.
Great movie if your craving unadulterated violence and some familiar faces. Try to ignore Chuck Liddell's sometimes present, sometimes missing Russian accent. It seems to come and go at will.
The fight scenes are definitely plentiful, as you would expect from a movie that includes Chuck Liddell and Dolph Lundgren (Matthew Reese and Danielle Ryan both hold their own quite well). I don't think there is more than a three or four minute section of footage that doesn't include fighting of some sort.
The story is quite thin, but I would imagine that if you're watching this movie, you aren't watching it for the story.
The choreography is usually pretty good with a few small exceptions, the fight scenes are entertaining if nothing else. The action is non stop.
Great movie if your craving unadulterated violence and some familiar faces. Try to ignore Chuck Liddell's sometimes present, sometimes missing Russian accent. It seems to come and go at will.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Feb 12, 2019
DC Comics adaptation boasts a colour palette that will make your eyes bleed and some casting decisions that will leave your mind near-permanently boggled (Julie Andrews and Dolph Lundgren, together at last), but still manages to be one of their better recent films - I'm aware that probably isn't saying much, so let me clarify it: Aquaman is a lot of fun. Jason Momoa plays the scion of Atlantis as a slightly dimwitted bro, which is a curious but entertaining take on the character; he has to go off on a quest for plot coupons in order to stop a war between the underwater world and the surface nations.
It probably takes a bit too long, and if you don't like wall-to-wall CGI this is definitely not the movie for you, but it ticks all the boxes and manages to be jolly popcorn-blockbuster fun, unsaddled by references to other DC movies. There's a bit of dead wood along the way (Black Manta is just there to facilitate a big action sequence, and allow the designers to get away with one of the most ridiculous costumes in living memory), but this is a surprisingly confident and epic-feeling take on a perennially second-string character.
It probably takes a bit too long, and if you don't like wall-to-wall CGI this is definitely not the movie for you, but it ticks all the boxes and manages to be jolly popcorn-blockbuster fun, unsaddled by references to other DC movies. There's a bit of dead wood along the way (Black Manta is just there to facilitate a big action sequence, and allow the designers to get away with one of the most ridiculous costumes in living memory), but this is a surprisingly confident and epic-feeling take on a perennially second-string character.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Dec 7, 2018
Good Enough
By my count, this is the 8th time that Sylvester Stallone has put on the character of Rocky Balboa. This time it comes after the resurgence of this character (and franchise) with the introduction of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) and a script that allowed Stallone to explore the character in a way that he had not previously been able to - and garnered him a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his efforts.
In CREED II we are back to an above average by-the-numbers boxing picture with Jordan's Adonis Creed character starting the picture on top, losing it all when he loses himself (and stops listening to Rocky) in his success only to go on a journey of redemption (by following Rocky's advice) at the end. This is, in essence, a regurgitation of ROCKY III and I was somewhat bored by it.
That is, until the final bout, then (gosh darnnit) I was drawn right into the melodrama, pomp and pageantry of the fight and was cheering along with the rest of the audience at all the appropriate moments.
In Creed II, Apollo Creed's son battles Ivan Drago's son. For those of you not up on your Rocky history, Drago (Dolph Lundgren, reprising his role) was the boxer that killed Apollo Creed (Adonis' father) in the ring all those years ago.
Jordan is properly cocky, arrogant, stubborn, shell-shocked, morose, repentant and cocky (again) as the script would indicate. Tessa Thompson (as his wife) deserves better material than what she is given as does Stallone, who falls back to "being Rocky" without anything really new here. Surprisingly, Dolph Lundgren does a nice job as the washed-up boxer who's life was "ruined" when he lost to Rocky at the end of Rocky IV (not a spoiler). Finally, Russel Horsnby (as the "I just want to earn money" promoter of the fight) and Phylicia Rashad (as Adonis' mother/Apollo's wife) are both really good in roles that deserved to be much bigger - and more fleshed out - than they were.
My biggest disappointment from this film is the ommision of Director Ryan Coogler. He brought a visceral attitude to the series in the first CREED film and I felt that this spark of energy was just missing throughout this film with Steven Caple, Jr at the helm. It seemed, to me, that this series is quickly devolving into "paycheck" movies for Stallone and that really saddens me.
All-in-all a rather above average "by-the-numbers" boxing flick with a really good fight at the end of the film that is well worth sticking around for.
Letter Grade: B
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
In CREED II we are back to an above average by-the-numbers boxing picture with Jordan's Adonis Creed character starting the picture on top, losing it all when he loses himself (and stops listening to Rocky) in his success only to go on a journey of redemption (by following Rocky's advice) at the end. This is, in essence, a regurgitation of ROCKY III and I was somewhat bored by it.
That is, until the final bout, then (gosh darnnit) I was drawn right into the melodrama, pomp and pageantry of the fight and was cheering along with the rest of the audience at all the appropriate moments.
In Creed II, Apollo Creed's son battles Ivan Drago's son. For those of you not up on your Rocky history, Drago (Dolph Lundgren, reprising his role) was the boxer that killed Apollo Creed (Adonis' father) in the ring all those years ago.
Jordan is properly cocky, arrogant, stubborn, shell-shocked, morose, repentant and cocky (again) as the script would indicate. Tessa Thompson (as his wife) deserves better material than what she is given as does Stallone, who falls back to "being Rocky" without anything really new here. Surprisingly, Dolph Lundgren does a nice job as the washed-up boxer who's life was "ruined" when he lost to Rocky at the end of Rocky IV (not a spoiler). Finally, Russel Horsnby (as the "I just want to earn money" promoter of the fight) and Phylicia Rashad (as Adonis' mother/Apollo's wife) are both really good in roles that deserved to be much bigger - and more fleshed out - than they were.
My biggest disappointment from this film is the ommision of Director Ryan Coogler. He brought a visceral attitude to the series in the first CREED film and I felt that this spark of energy was just missing throughout this film with Steven Caple, Jr at the helm. It seemed, to me, that this series is quickly devolving into "paycheck" movies for Stallone and that really saddens me.
All-in-all a rather above average "by-the-numbers" boxing flick with a really good fight at the end of the film that is well worth sticking around for.
Letter Grade: B
7 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Dec 8, 2018 (Updated Dec 8, 2018)
Eighth movie in the Rocky series is well-nigh miraculous, not for being a well-made sports drama (though it is that) but for revisiting some of the characters and events of Rocky IV (the silliest of these films) and still producing a credible, involving story. Donnie Creed wins the world title, but is challenged by Viktor Drago, the son of the man who killed his father umpty-tump years ago. What follows is a classical story of hubris, comeuppance, and redemption, with powerful themes of parental responsibility, legacy, and what it means to have the heart of a fighter. Plus lengthy sequences of beefy men bashing the living daylights out of each other, and the odd training montage too.
Really quite good in every department: the fights are as predictable as ever, but the storytelling really makes you feel them, and you care about the characters so much it doesn't really matter anyway. Carl Weathers must still be off somewhere muttering bitterly to himself about the fact that (one presumes) he's not making any money off these things, but Stallone does his latter-day character actor thing, Jordan carries the film well, and Tessa Thompson makes the most of a slightly underwritten part. Almost certainly the best movie in the filmography of Dolph Lundgren (this is not saying much) or Brigitte Nielson (this is probably saying even less).
Really quite good in every department: the fights are as predictable as ever, but the storytelling really makes you feel them, and you care about the characters so much it doesn't really matter anyway. Carl Weathers must still be off somewhere muttering bitterly to himself about the fact that (one presumes) he's not making any money off these things, but Stallone does his latter-day character actor thing, Jordan carries the film well, and Tessa Thompson makes the most of a slightly underwritten part. Almost certainly the best movie in the filmography of Dolph Lundgren (this is not saying much) or Brigitte Nielson (this is probably saying even less).
Gareth von Kallenbach (962 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Since his spectacular fight which ended in a loss at the conclusion of “Creed”, Adonis Johnson Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has won his next six bouts and then pulls off an impressive victory to become the new Heavyweight Champion.
Life is good for the new champion as he believes he has moved out of the shadow of his legendary father and is ready to settle down with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and move ahead with life.
At the same time, former Russian Champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is training his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) in Kiev to become and even more devastating boxer than he was. Ivan has suffered much since losing to Rocky in “Rocky IV” as his wife has left him and he has been shunned and cast out of the country which once lauded him as their prize athlete. Losing to Rocky in Moscow in front of numerous dignitaries has ruined him and made his life a shell of what he was leaving him and his son cold, bitter, and driven.
When the opportunity for Viktor and Adonis to box is presented, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) advises Adonis not to take the match. Rocky recounts that not only did Ivan kill his father in the ring, but in beating him, Rocky suffered injuries which ended his boxing career and have never fully healed.
Despite the warnings, Adonis takes the match and is unprepared for the raw brutality that Viktor presents and sufferers a horrific beating but manages to hold his title due to a technicality.
The film then follows a standard redemption story of Adonis trying to recover, face his fears, train, and find a new level of strength that he has never shown before. The climatic fight is very entertaining and well-staged and had fans at our screening reacting with cheers and dismay as the punches landed.
The film does follow some very familiar territory for the series from the emotional highs and lows of the ring, battling yourself as well as an opponent, the grueling training session, and of course the big match at the end.
Stallone gives another moving and solid performance as the aging Rocky showing that his Academy Award nominated turn in the prior film was not a fluke. What was also impressive was how Dolph Lundgren returned to a role he initially had reservations about doing and gave Drago a sympathetic side even though he is a bad guy in the film. We see a man desperate to recover what he was and who is devastated by what life has dealt him but forces himself to examine the past as he guides his son’s future.
Jordan carries a lot of swagger with his character and while the story attempts to show a softer side of his character; he is not as sympathetic as he was in the past film. I noted that Rocky was much easier to get behind as he was a more sympathetic underdog at times. That is part of what makes the series so interesting in that Rocky is still there as a presence over Adonis to guide and inform him to try to make him a true champion while allowing him to have his own identity and style.
If you are a fan of the series, then you should enjoy this next offering as long as you do not mind the formula for much of the series repeated.
http://sknr.net/2018/11/20/creed-ii/
Life is good for the new champion as he believes he has moved out of the shadow of his legendary father and is ready to settle down with Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and move ahead with life.
At the same time, former Russian Champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) is training his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) in Kiev to become and even more devastating boxer than he was. Ivan has suffered much since losing to Rocky in “Rocky IV” as his wife has left him and he has been shunned and cast out of the country which once lauded him as their prize athlete. Losing to Rocky in Moscow in front of numerous dignitaries has ruined him and made his life a shell of what he was leaving him and his son cold, bitter, and driven.
When the opportunity for Viktor and Adonis to box is presented, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) advises Adonis not to take the match. Rocky recounts that not only did Ivan kill his father in the ring, but in beating him, Rocky suffered injuries which ended his boxing career and have never fully healed.
Despite the warnings, Adonis takes the match and is unprepared for the raw brutality that Viktor presents and sufferers a horrific beating but manages to hold his title due to a technicality.
The film then follows a standard redemption story of Adonis trying to recover, face his fears, train, and find a new level of strength that he has never shown before. The climatic fight is very entertaining and well-staged and had fans at our screening reacting with cheers and dismay as the punches landed.
The film does follow some very familiar territory for the series from the emotional highs and lows of the ring, battling yourself as well as an opponent, the grueling training session, and of course the big match at the end.
Stallone gives another moving and solid performance as the aging Rocky showing that his Academy Award nominated turn in the prior film was not a fluke. What was also impressive was how Dolph Lundgren returned to a role he initially had reservations about doing and gave Drago a sympathetic side even though he is a bad guy in the film. We see a man desperate to recover what he was and who is devastated by what life has dealt him but forces himself to examine the past as he guides his son’s future.
Jordan carries a lot of swagger with his character and while the story attempts to show a softer side of his character; he is not as sympathetic as he was in the past film. I noted that Rocky was much easier to get behind as he was a more sympathetic underdog at times. That is part of what makes the series so interesting in that Rocky is still there as a presence over Adonis to guide and inform him to try to make him a true champion while allowing him to have his own identity and style.
If you are a fan of the series, then you should enjoy this next offering as long as you do not mind the formula for much of the series repeated.
http://sknr.net/2018/11/20/creed-ii/
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Jan 10, 2019
Momoa saves it from being a complete disaster
I have been a defender of the darker DC Universe films. While not as popular (nor, generally, as good) as their Marvel counterparts, they all do have their good points - until now.
AQUAMAN is not a very good film and I could really only come up with 1 good point - Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Some are calling him "the next Rock" and he certainly has the physique, the screen presence and the charm to pull this off. This movie ALMOST worked because of Momoa's presence on the screen.
Almost.
Director James Wan (Furious 7, The Conjuring) certainly had the "chops" to Direct a film like this, unfortunately, I found his Direction to be choppy. What I mean by that is that this film never really settled into a good flow. It cut back and forth - both in content and in tone - to such an extent that I, the movie-goer, could never settle back into my seat and enjoy the ride. I'm sure Mr. Wan would call this movie a "roller-coaster ride", but if it is, it is an old, wooden, rickety roller coaster, jarring the riders as they go.
As for the cast, they are "fine". From Patrick Wilson to Amber Heard to Willem DaFoe to Dolph Lundgren(!) to good ol' Nicole Kidman. They all do decent, professional jobs with what they are given, but what they are given is weak and disjointed.
I would like to point out Yahya Abdul-Mateen as the sub-villain of this piece, Black Manta. This is the most incompetent Super-Villain in any Super Hero movie to date. His Black Manta was there, obviously, to give Aquaman someone to beat. And he beats him...again...and again...and again.
All I wanted to do was "beat feet" out of the theater.
Letter Grade: C+ (for Momoa's efforts)
5 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
AQUAMAN is not a very good film and I could really only come up with 1 good point - Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Some are calling him "the next Rock" and he certainly has the physique, the screen presence and the charm to pull this off. This movie ALMOST worked because of Momoa's presence on the screen.
Almost.
Director James Wan (Furious 7, The Conjuring) certainly had the "chops" to Direct a film like this, unfortunately, I found his Direction to be choppy. What I mean by that is that this film never really settled into a good flow. It cut back and forth - both in content and in tone - to such an extent that I, the movie-goer, could never settle back into my seat and enjoy the ride. I'm sure Mr. Wan would call this movie a "roller-coaster ride", but if it is, it is an old, wooden, rickety roller coaster, jarring the riders as they go.
As for the cast, they are "fine". From Patrick Wilson to Amber Heard to Willem DaFoe to Dolph Lundgren(!) to good ol' Nicole Kidman. They all do decent, professional jobs with what they are given, but what they are given is weak and disjointed.
I would like to point out Yahya Abdul-Mateen as the sub-villain of this piece, Black Manta. This is the most incompetent Super-Villain in any Super Hero movie to date. His Black Manta was there, obviously, to give Aquaman someone to beat. And he beats him...again...and again...and again.
All I wanted to do was "beat feet" out of the theater.
Letter Grade: C+ (for Momoa's efforts)
5 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Dec 14, 2018 (Updated Dec 14, 2018)
Cast all give good performances (1 more)
Cool to see the Drago's return to the franchise
A Decent Second Round
Creed 2 is the follow up to Ryan Coogler's brilliant 2015 soft reboot of the franchise. This time though, Steven Caple Jr takes the director's chair and delivers a sequel that is still fun, but nowhere near as original or breath-taking as the first Creed.
The cast all still manage to put in good performances and they make the very most of the material that they are all given. It is also cool to see Dolph Lundgren return to the iconic role of Ivan Drago after so many years. I also feel like the guy who plays Creed's opponent in the movie, Ivan Drago, deserves a shout out. He is played by real life boxer and hard-man Florian Munteanu and not only does he bring a magnificent physical presence to the role, but delivers some convincing confliction in the reasons he has for pursuing this goal of taking Creed's title and some genuinely emotional gravitas, he wasn't just the typical mean Rocky movie villain that you would expect.
The most disappointing thing about Creed 2 is the lacklustre filmmaking. Don't get me wrong, the direction, the cinematography and the lighting etc are perfectly serviceable and even come close to borderline exiting in a few rare spots. However, after that beautiful long take during Adonis' fight in Mexico and the other awesome imagery used in the first Creed, this just feels vastly formulaic as a follow up.
Overall, If you are a fan of the Rocky franchise like I am, then you have most likely already seen this anyway and if not, there isn't much here to merit me recommending it to a franchise newcomer and you would be much better served with the technically superior first Creed film. Still though, there is an enjoyable time to be had watching Creed 2 for it's surprising level of depth and heartfelt performances from everyone in the cast.
The cast all still manage to put in good performances and they make the very most of the material that they are all given. It is also cool to see Dolph Lundgren return to the iconic role of Ivan Drago after so many years. I also feel like the guy who plays Creed's opponent in the movie, Ivan Drago, deserves a shout out. He is played by real life boxer and hard-man Florian Munteanu and not only does he bring a magnificent physical presence to the role, but delivers some convincing confliction in the reasons he has for pursuing this goal of taking Creed's title and some genuinely emotional gravitas, he wasn't just the typical mean Rocky movie villain that you would expect.
The most disappointing thing about Creed 2 is the lacklustre filmmaking. Don't get me wrong, the direction, the cinematography and the lighting etc are perfectly serviceable and even come close to borderline exiting in a few rare spots. However, after that beautiful long take during Adonis' fight in Mexico and the other awesome imagery used in the first Creed, this just feels vastly formulaic as a follow up.
Overall, If you are a fan of the Rocky franchise like I am, then you have most likely already seen this anyway and if not, there isn't much here to merit me recommending it to a franchise newcomer and you would be much better served with the technically superior first Creed film. Still though, there is an enjoyable time to be had watching Creed 2 for it's surprising level of depth and heartfelt performances from everyone in the cast.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Creed II (2018) in Movies
Jun 23, 2019
Dripping with nostalgia
Creed finally becomes WBC champion. Now a new challenge is forthcoming. The son of the man who killed his father has become a boxer as well and wants to take on Creed. His father's loss to Rocky sent his father down a downward spiral losing face with the State and having his mother leave him so he is out for revenge.
Creed has to again wrestle with his own emotions about the death of his famous father and also still wanting to get out of his shadow and strike his own course.
After the initial brawl ends in controversy, Creed is beaten physically and emotionally. He becomes engaged and also finds out he is going to have a child which changes his perspective on life and helps him try and flush out what is important to him.
His pal Rocky is torn as to stay with Creed as this brings out old memories for him as well and also the desire to maybe reconnect with his estranged son. He doesn't want Creed to fight for the wrong reasons.
Michael B Jordan really comes into his own in this film and displays not only intense physical prowess, but emotional range and muscles as well.
The film hits all the usual notes you have seen countless times in the Rocky/Creed franchise. If you have been a lifelong fan or coming to the film just during the Creed portion, the nostalgia of seeing Dolph Lundgren (who couldn't act his way out of a paper bag) and Rocky in the ring together again this time alongside their proteges in the ring is exciting and worth the reteam.
The boxing scenes are very well done; however, so are the slower emotional scenes which is really what the film is about. The relationships and bonds we all need and search for our entire lives.
Well worth it.
Creed has to again wrestle with his own emotions about the death of his famous father and also still wanting to get out of his shadow and strike his own course.
After the initial brawl ends in controversy, Creed is beaten physically and emotionally. He becomes engaged and also finds out he is going to have a child which changes his perspective on life and helps him try and flush out what is important to him.
His pal Rocky is torn as to stay with Creed as this brings out old memories for him as well and also the desire to maybe reconnect with his estranged son. He doesn't want Creed to fight for the wrong reasons.
Michael B Jordan really comes into his own in this film and displays not only intense physical prowess, but emotional range and muscles as well.
The film hits all the usual notes you have seen countless times in the Rocky/Creed franchise. If you have been a lifelong fan or coming to the film just during the Creed portion, the nostalgia of seeing Dolph Lundgren (who couldn't act his way out of a paper bag) and Rocky in the ring together again this time alongside their proteges in the ring is exciting and worth the reteam.
The boxing scenes are very well done; however, so are the slower emotional scenes which is really what the film is about. The relationships and bonds we all need and search for our entire lives.
Well worth it.