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Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Street Kings (2008) in Movies
Aug 6, 2020
There's nothing new about shady cops and the behavior that they are guilty of. But Street Kings weaves a pretty original story line surrounding a veteran LAPD officer named Tom Ludlow (the awesome Keanu Reeves) who finds out that there is more than even what meets his eye.
After witnessing the death of a rival officers assassination, Ludlow begins an investigation of his own, while also being investigated for his direct presence and potential involvement in the crime. The trail that he consequently follows leads him down a rabbit hole that he doesn't want to follow but realizes that he has no choice but to do so.
All star cast including Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Forest Whitaker, Terry Crews, Cedric the Entertainer and more. Quite an impressive collection.
Definitely worth seeing if you like movies in the vein of Training Day and End of Watch.
After witnessing the death of a rival officers assassination, Ludlow begins an investigation of his own, while also being investigated for his direct presence and potential involvement in the crime. The trail that he consequently follows leads him down a rabbit hole that he doesn't want to follow but realizes that he has no choice but to do so.
All star cast including Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Forest Whitaker, Terry Crews, Cedric the Entertainer and more. Quite an impressive collection.
Definitely worth seeing if you like movies in the vein of Training Day and End of Watch.
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
7.6
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Movie Watch
Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and Anthony Hopkins star in director Francis Ford Coppola's visually...
The Watcher (2000)
7.0
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Movie
David Allen Griffin is a cool killer- time and time again, he chooses a female victim, studies her...
David McK (3425 KP) rated Speed (1994) in Movies
Jun 8, 2022
"... I think it was called the bus that couldn't slow down"
That quote is, of course, from the incomparable Homer Simpson. Full quote something along the lines of:
"I saw this movie once about a bus that had to SPEED around the city, keeping it's SPEED above 50, and if it's SPEED dropped below 50, it would blow up! I think it was called ..."
Which is a pretty accurate synopsis of the movie as a whole, which stars a post-Bill and Ted (apart for the newest one)/pre-The Matrix Keanu Reeves, and a very early appearance by the future queen of the rom-com Sandra Bullock.
The film has 3 main acts: terrorist attempt to blow up an elevator, the bus bit (which is most of the movie) and finishing off in the subway. Truth be told, it may perhaps run only slightly too long as a result.
Still well worth a watch, though!
"I saw this movie once about a bus that had to SPEED around the city, keeping it's SPEED above 50, and if it's SPEED dropped below 50, it would blow up! I think it was called ..."
Which is a pretty accurate synopsis of the movie as a whole, which stars a post-Bill and Ted (apart for the newest one)/pre-The Matrix Keanu Reeves, and a very early appearance by the future queen of the rom-com Sandra Bullock.
The film has 3 main acts: terrorist attempt to blow up an elevator, the bus bit (which is most of the movie) and finishing off in the subway. Truth be told, it may perhaps run only slightly too long as a result.
Still well worth a watch, though!
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Toy Story 4 (2019) in Movies
Jun 25, 2019
This great trilogy becomes a great quadrilogy
Like many, I initially felt that Toy Story 4 was an unessecary addition to the great trilogy that we already have, but after seeing it, I'm so so glad it exists - I would honestly rate it above 2 and 3!
The story treads new ground, away from Andys family, but yet still feels familiar, as Woody and co set off to rescue a lost toy, meeting various obstacles along the way (those ventriloquist dummies though)
The new characters are all pretty great, including Forky (Buster Bleuth through and through), Keanu Reeves' Duke Caboom, Giggle McDimples, Gabby Gabby, and Ducky and Bunny just to name a few, are all charming in their own ways and fit right alongside the classic characters with ease.
Once again, Pixar manage to squeeze in morals and emotions that honestly had me welling up at times.
Like I said, I was initially was wary of further stories in the Toy Story franchise but on the strength of this, I'll certainly be going to see any future entries!
The story treads new ground, away from Andys family, but yet still feels familiar, as Woody and co set off to rescue a lost toy, meeting various obstacles along the way (those ventriloquist dummies though)
The new characters are all pretty great, including Forky (Buster Bleuth through and through), Keanu Reeves' Duke Caboom, Giggle McDimples, Gabby Gabby, and Ducky and Bunny just to name a few, are all charming in their own ways and fit right alongside the classic characters with ease.
Once again, Pixar manage to squeeze in morals and emotions that honestly had me welling up at times.
Like I said, I was initially was wary of further stories in the Toy Story franchise but on the strength of this, I'll certainly be going to see any future entries!
David McK (3425 KP) rated Constantine (2005) in Movies
Oct 24, 2021
Supernatural horror starring a post-Matrix/pre John Wick Keanu Reeves, which I remember going to see in the cinema.
I also remembered it had Tilda Swinton in it, as the angel Gabriel.
I'd completely forgotten that Rachel Weisz and a pre-Transformers Shia LaBeouf also co-starred.
I also remember all the fuss kicked up at the time over the casting of its main lead: instead of the blond, chain-smoking, sarcastic Brit that Constantine is portrayed as in the source material (which I still haven't read, although I have since seen Matt Ryan's portrayal in the various TV series's in which the character appears - a portrayal that is closer, apparently, to source) we have a dark-haired, chain-smoking douchebag of an American. I suppose one out of four isn't bad ...
The film itself is never really all that scary; nor does it (seemingly) ever really get going before it is over. It's also incredibly clear just who is pulling the strings from pretty early on ...
I also remembered it had Tilda Swinton in it, as the angel Gabriel.
I'd completely forgotten that Rachel Weisz and a pre-Transformers Shia LaBeouf also co-starred.
I also remember all the fuss kicked up at the time over the casting of its main lead: instead of the blond, chain-smoking, sarcastic Brit that Constantine is portrayed as in the source material (which I still haven't read, although I have since seen Matt Ryan's portrayal in the various TV series's in which the character appears - a portrayal that is closer, apparently, to source) we have a dark-haired, chain-smoking douchebag of an American. I suppose one out of four isn't bad ...
The film itself is never really all that scary; nor does it (seemingly) ever really get going before it is over. It's also incredibly clear just who is pulling the strings from pretty early on ...
Charlie Cobra Reviews (1840 KP) rated Toy Story 4 (2019) in Movies
Jul 7, 2020
Funny, Heartwarming, And Beautifully Animated
Toy Story 4 is a 2019 CG/comedy movie directed by Josh Cooley and based on screenplay written by Andrew Stanton, and Stephany Folsom; along with John Lasseter, Rashida Jones, Will McCormack, Valerie LaPointe, and Martin Hynes. It was produced by Picard Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele and Keanu Reeves.
Woody (Tom Hanks) and the other toys are happy in their new life after Andy donates his toys to Bonnie; but Woody worries Bonnie will feel overwhelmed at school when she starts kindergarten. Woody sneaks into her backpack and recovers her arts and crafts supplies when a classmate throws them away. She uses the supplies, including a spork Woody grabbed to create a handmade toy she names "Forky" (Tony Hale). And when Bonnie and her family go on a road trip, Forky jumps out of the window setting off a chain of events that will change the group forever.
This movie was funny, stunningly animated, and emotionally touching. They really were shooting to impress with the amount of detail they had in this movie, from the glossy porcelain shine of Bopeep, to the fur on the cat, to all the other toys little details. I liked how the action was very character driven and how the storytelling was really well done. The character growth/arc for Bopeep was one of my favorites and I really enjoyed the cast of new characters and how they were incorporated as well like, Keanu Reeves and Key and Peele. This was such a great movie and it got me choked up at the end of the movie and I couldn't find anything to really complain about but then I read an article that made me question how I felt about it and what I saw. I'll see if I can add the link to it at the end of my review. It ultimately made me drop my rating by a point, I almost gave this movie a 9, but I give it a 8/10. But I do give it my "Must See Seal Of Approval".
Here is the link to the article: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/theres-a-problem-with-toy-story-4-opinion/1100-6468073/
Woody (Tom Hanks) and the other toys are happy in their new life after Andy donates his toys to Bonnie; but Woody worries Bonnie will feel overwhelmed at school when she starts kindergarten. Woody sneaks into her backpack and recovers her arts and crafts supplies when a classmate throws them away. She uses the supplies, including a spork Woody grabbed to create a handmade toy she names "Forky" (Tony Hale). And when Bonnie and her family go on a road trip, Forky jumps out of the window setting off a chain of events that will change the group forever.
This movie was funny, stunningly animated, and emotionally touching. They really were shooting to impress with the amount of detail they had in this movie, from the glossy porcelain shine of Bopeep, to the fur on the cat, to all the other toys little details. I liked how the action was very character driven and how the storytelling was really well done. The character growth/arc for Bopeep was one of my favorites and I really enjoyed the cast of new characters and how they were incorporated as well like, Keanu Reeves and Key and Peele. This was such a great movie and it got me choked up at the end of the movie and I couldn't find anything to really complain about but then I read an article that made me question how I felt about it and what I saw. I'll see if I can add the link to it at the end of my review. It ultimately made me drop my rating by a point, I almost gave this movie a 9, but I give it a 8/10. But I do give it my "Must See Seal Of Approval".
Here is the link to the article: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/theres-a-problem-with-toy-story-4-opinion/1100-6468073/
David McK (3425 KP) rated John Wick. Chapter 4 (2023) in Movies
Jun 18, 2023
The longest John Wick movie to date, clocking in at just under 3 hours, with Keanu Reeves once again the focal point for some inventive action scenes.
Even if, by this point, all the assassins are operating at a level just below that of superheroes: bouncing off cars, falling out upper storey windows (and then getting up and dusting themselves off), shrugging off wounds that would incapacitate you or me ...
I also have to say, just where is the police when all this is going on?!
Anyway, that's all by the by: here, John is still out for revenge on the High Table that branded him 'excommunicado', with the bounty on his head growing ever and ever larger all the time. This film also moves that action - largely - away from New York, instead relocating to Japan (Osako) and France (Paris), with the last hour or so pretty much an extended action scene as John (fist)fights, shoots, brawls, stabs and crawls his way to a dawn appointment for a duel like something out of the 18th century that he hopes will finally close his ledger.
Even if, by this point, all the assassins are operating at a level just below that of superheroes: bouncing off cars, falling out upper storey windows (and then getting up and dusting themselves off), shrugging off wounds that would incapacitate you or me ...
I also have to say, just where is the police when all this is going on?!
Anyway, that's all by the by: here, John is still out for revenge on the High Table that branded him 'excommunicado', with the bounty on his head growing ever and ever larger all the time. This film also moves that action - largely - away from New York, instead relocating to Japan (Osako) and France (Paris), with the last hour or so pretty much an extended action scene as John (fist)fights, shoots, brawls, stabs and crawls his way to a dawn appointment for a duel like something out of the 18th century that he hopes will finally close his ledger.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated John Wick. Chapter 4 (2023) in Movies
Mar 26, 2023
More of the Same - which is a GOOD thing
Once a series gets to it’s 4th installment - and that installment is NOT a reboot or “prequel” - the audience for said series is pretty much settled in. There is a rabid group of movie-going watchers that are looking for the intimate details and Easter Eggs to further their immersion into this world while the rest of the movie going public has probably moved on and, just might, check it out on a whim.
Such is the case with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 - the 4th installment of the Keanu Reeves led/Chad Stahelski Directed series that is long on style, action, intrigue and mythology while being low on logical plot-lines and…well…daylight.
But this won’t matter to the John Wick movie-goer. They are getting more of the same - cartoon violence professionally created by Stahelski and Reeves with plenty of bad guys battling (and losing) to Wick while the mysterious, underground society that Wick has run afoul of tries to take him down.
This insider intrigue will be enriching for the true John Wick fan but will be inconsequential for the casual movie-goer as these plot machinations are just an excuse to line Reeves up against seemingly insurmountable obstacle after seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
And what a journey it is. Starting with a tussle at the Osaka Continental (featuring veteran Martial Artists Hiroki Sanada and Donnie Yen) to a battle in Germany to the final in Paris, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is just one, long stylized fight sequence with both Stahelski (the Director and Fight Choreographer) and Reeves (as Wick) showing off their talents in new and interesting ways.
There are way too many fight sequences to mention, but there is one sequence in a building that is shot from on high (reminiscent of watching video game play) that is the most interesting/effective - but they all are a ton of fun.
Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise the Clown in the IT movies) is along as the Marquis (cool name) who is in charge of bringing Wick down. He is joined by the always good Clancy Brown (the voice of Mr. Krabs on Spongebob) on the “bad guy” side while Wick regulars Ian McShane, Lawrence Fishburne and the late, great Lance Reddick line up on Wick’s side.
It is a fun roller-coaster ride - if a bit long at almost 3 hours (the middle sags a bit) - that will entertain casual fans of action flicks while satisfying the hard-core “Wick-aphiles” (if that is a term) with a further peeling back of a layer of this world.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Such is the case with JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 - the 4th installment of the Keanu Reeves led/Chad Stahelski Directed series that is long on style, action, intrigue and mythology while being low on logical plot-lines and…well…daylight.
But this won’t matter to the John Wick movie-goer. They are getting more of the same - cartoon violence professionally created by Stahelski and Reeves with plenty of bad guys battling (and losing) to Wick while the mysterious, underground society that Wick has run afoul of tries to take him down.
This insider intrigue will be enriching for the true John Wick fan but will be inconsequential for the casual movie-goer as these plot machinations are just an excuse to line Reeves up against seemingly insurmountable obstacle after seemingly insurmountable obstacle.
And what a journey it is. Starting with a tussle at the Osaka Continental (featuring veteran Martial Artists Hiroki Sanada and Donnie Yen) to a battle in Germany to the final in Paris, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 is just one, long stylized fight sequence with both Stahelski (the Director and Fight Choreographer) and Reeves (as Wick) showing off their talents in new and interesting ways.
There are way too many fight sequences to mention, but there is one sequence in a building that is shot from on high (reminiscent of watching video game play) that is the most interesting/effective - but they all are a ton of fun.
Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise the Clown in the IT movies) is along as the Marquis (cool name) who is in charge of bringing Wick down. He is joined by the always good Clancy Brown (the voice of Mr. Krabs on Spongebob) on the “bad guy” side while Wick regulars Ian McShane, Lawrence Fishburne and the late, great Lance Reddick line up on Wick’s side.
It is a fun roller-coaster ride - if a bit long at almost 3 hours (the middle sags a bit) - that will entertain casual fans of action flicks while satisfying the hard-core “Wick-aphiles” (if that is a term) with a further peeling back of a layer of this world.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019
Stays true to the book
This is by far the best adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel and aside from the hilarious Dracula: Dead and Loving It, there has never been a decent Dracula film since. The fact that it stays true to the novel is the best thing about this, there’s very little difference between this and the book and I’m so grateful about this. The effects are very old school and in parts a little bit cheesy and very dated watching it back now, but I think that’s part of the charm. It was made in the early 90s after all.
Gary Oldman does a fantastic performance and Anthony Hopkins too is wonderful as Van Helsing, and it’s these two that really make this film as good as it is. The rest of the cast range from good (Richard E Grant), unremarkable (Cary Elwes), to downright awful. And yes, I am talking about Keanu Reeves. I know he was a big star when this was made, but he really is a terrible actor. And he’s even worse when he’s trying to put on a horrendous English accent. I wish they’d have found a decent actor to play Harker, if they had I would’ve scored this a little higher!
Gary Oldman does a fantastic performance and Anthony Hopkins too is wonderful as Van Helsing, and it’s these two that really make this film as good as it is. The rest of the cast range from good (Richard E Grant), unremarkable (Cary Elwes), to downright awful. And yes, I am talking about Keanu Reeves. I know he was a big star when this was made, but he really is a terrible actor. And he’s even worse when he’s trying to put on a horrendous English accent. I wish they’d have found a decent actor to play Harker, if they had I would’ve scored this a little higher!