Movie Review Repost - Fury (2014)

Continuing this week's theme of remembrance (my Hacksaw Ridge review was posted earlier this week), I thought it might be cool to repost my original review of Fury. That movie was pretty cool. I watched it again last year and I still liked it. My thoughts of it now are basically the same as before. Here's hoping that next years's big WWII movie, Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk, will match the caliber of its recent brethren.

   This week the heavy barrage of homework let up enough for me to liberate my movie theatre seat and watch Fury, a Second World War movie about American tankers. Does it succeed at becoming an instant classic or does this behemoth end up running out of gas? Let's find out!

   Fury follows the crew of the titular M4 tank who are a part of the 66^th Armoured Regiment, advancing deep into Nazi Germany in April 1945. Their assistant driver is killed and replaced by Norman, a typist who isn't prepared to take part in combat at all. Fury benefits from a strong first half which raises a lot of ethical issues. There's also a few calm scenes for character development, one of which (the apartment scene) felt a little too long. But I have to mention, this has got to be one of the grimmest movies I've ever seen. The imagery you'll see, especially in the first half-hour, is extremely rough, even for a war film.

   Unfortunately the film does sort of fall apart in the last action scene, which is so over-dramatized that it more closely resembles a cheesy video game than a badass war film. It's also riddled with questionable tactical decisions by both sides. Like why are the Germans attacking in waves? Why did they wait so long to use the rocket launchers? Is the middle of a firefight really the best time to have your troops stand in formation while you give a rousing speech? Why didn't the tankers stock up their machine gun ammo inside the tank? And most of all, why are the tankers so committed to this mission? It's importance isn't built up or explained very well like it was in Saving Private Ryan. The film also has kind of an abrupt ending without much resolution.

   At least the acting is pretty good. Brad Pitt is pretty much always good, just as he is here as Sergeant Wardaddy. Wardaddy is an interesting character; he's definitely battle-hardened but he still privately feels sadness and regret. It's a pity we don't get to learn that much about him. Shia LeBoeuf is decent as gunner “Bible” Swan, even though his character is kind of one-note. Logan Lerman does a fine job at portraying Norman. The anxiety this main character feels really comes through as it's through his view that we see the war.

   As far as I can tell, this movie's events are portrayed pretty accurately (except for the opening text crawl that says that Germany turned to total war only in April 1945. Sigh...). But one of Fury's main strengths comes from its production value. Everything looks amazing: the sets, the uniforms, and, of course, the tanks. Plus, you can actually see it! There's no stupid shaky cam or at least a very limitedly-shaky one. (Isn't it sad that I have to praise a movie for not having that issue?)

   Also I gotta say, Fury is pretty daring in that it shows US troops committing atrocities. That's pretty rare for an American WWII movie. In addition, this film refreshingly contains absolutely zero US flags.

   In short, Fury is a violent, testosterone-filled experience definitely not for all ages. Though it isn't as good as Saving Private Ryan (its story, characters, and realism aren't quite as strong), it has intense action scenes and it more than delivers on the “horrors of war”.

Rating: three and a half stars out of five.

Movie Review - Hacksaw Ridge

   Happy Remembrance Day, and what better way to observe it by seeing a nice movie about a real life dude who served his country and his God proud during the Second World War.

   Hacksaw Ridge is about Desmond Doss, a young pacifist who still wants to be able to contribute to the war effort. He tries enlisting in the army with the hopes that he will become a medic, but runs into trouble when he refuses to touch a weapon due to his religious convictions. This movie's plot could somewhat-accurately be described as a blend of the boot camps of Captain America: First Avenger and Full Metal Jacket plus the Vietnam battle scene of Forrest Gump. It's a great story of a man staying true to his beliefs. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll get scared. There's even a decent romance. This movie's got everything! Well, almost: I think it might've benefited even from just a short scene at the end where Desmond sees his family again.

   But this can be forgiven in light of Hacksaw Ridge's in-freaking-tense battle scenes. Up close, dirty, loud, gritty, and extremely violent, the battle scenes here are some of the most intense I've seen since Passchendaele (2008) or even Saving Private Ryan (1998). Well done, Mel Gibson. This is helped by the impeccable special effects and direction, recreating all the gory nastiness. Take note, this is not a film for the squeamish.

   Hacksaw Ridge also boasts some exceptional acting. Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss is amazing. He does a great job depicting a humble hero struggling to do what he knows is right against all kinds of adversity. Hugo Weaving is good as Doss's alcoholic, shell-shocked veteran father. Even Vince Vaughn, whom I normally don't care much for, is good here! He plays the zero-tolerance, hard-as-nails Sergeant Howell leading his men through both boot camp and Okinawa. There's also a bunch of likable side characters, each portrayed handily.

   Thinking about this film beyond the surface level raises some questions. Like, “does this count as a faith-based movie?” While the main character is a very religious person who prays and reads the Bible a lot, the movie doesn't exactly shove his faith right down your throat like a lot of other religious movies do nowadays. I'd call this more of a tale of virtue/morality. Another question one might wonder is: “is this a pro-war film?” It kind of is, which is a rare thing nowadays. Although the battle scenes are depicted as bloody and terrifying, they are still very exciting, even heroic. Plus the whole movie is about a guy trying to serve in the army (saving soldiers lives) after enlisting – even though in real life Desmond Doss was drafted. At least Gibson chose to not drown his audience in a sea of US flags.

   In conclusion, Hacksaw Ridge is a brilliant film with a strong theme and stronger performances. It feels complete. It's the best war film I've seen in recent years, even better than 2014's American Sniper. If you like war movies or if you like feel-good movies that have lots of carnage and bloodshed then this is definitely one you should check out.

Grade: four-and-a-half out of five.

Movie Review - Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

   I didn't know a thing about Jack Reacher: Never Go Back going in. I didn't even know it was a sequel to something until about one day before buying the ticket. All I knew was what I saw in the trailer: that it had Tom Cruise in it and that he apparently punches the lights out of pretty much everyone he encounters. Seriously, watch that trailer; he really does nothing but knock everyone out. Kind of hilarious, really. It's as if the trailer is a spoof of mystery-action movies or something. But am I here to review trailers or movies? Stay focused, Tony.

   Thankfully, Never Go Back is a film that one can understand without having to watch its prequel. This movie follows the freelance military investigator Jack Reacher who, along with his colleague Major Susan Turner, is on the run in the US after being framed for espionage. But Jack also has his hands full taking care of a little (possible) family matter. It's an adventure that involves occasionally funny lines, but it also involves characters arguing at the drop of a hat at the littlest, most inconsequential things just like YouTube comments. The actual mystery that's uncovered is not very interesting with a total “no duh” conclusion, which is surprising given that this film is actually based directly on one of the books. And lastly, the whole thing is very uneven in a tonal/emotional sense, especially given how the movie – in particular, the final subplot – ends. The ending tries going for this big emotional, tug-at-your-heartstrings moment which the movie doesn't really earn at all. Speaking of which, who is Candice Dayton? How does she know Jack? And why did she choose Jack to file (spoiler) suit against him?

   One thing Jack Reacher 2 does have going for it is its likeable main cast. Tom Cruise, who at this point is I think trying to beat Roger Moore in the race for most leading roles in a spy film, is fun as always. Cobie Smulders is still just a little wooden at times, but you can tell she's trying and she does have good chemistry with Cruise. And then there's Danika Yarosh. She does an alright job. It's just too bad her character swings back and forth from being really smart to really dumb between scenes. The rest of the cast is unremarkable, and the villains are pretty stock for an action film.

   The action scenes are decent; they're edited competently enough. However, the rest of the film has some mildly choppy editing at times: e.g. cutting at certain points where there could have just been one uninterrupted shot. Also, while this movie isn't too effects-heavy, the effects it does have are well done.

   In conclusion, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is a wholly unnecessary sequel with a formulaic plot and an overall generic feel. It's forgettable. Only a few decent action scenes and the main cast's likeability are what saves this film from “dead on arrival” status. And for those thinking that this franchise has a future ahead of it, I'd recommend employing the advice found in this movie's title.

Grade: two-and-a-half out of five.

One Year Anniversary

Hey, folks! Next week is Anachronarchy's one year anniversary! Hooray! And since I'm going to be away next week, we're celebrating it today. Writing this blog has been a lot of fun and I'm glad that you guys - some of whom are from the far reaches of the globe - are getting some enjoyment out of following my mad ramblings. Thank you all for the support. In case you're interested I'll share some stats from the past year's worth of blogging. (All stats are as of today.)
This is a partial breakdown of my readers' country of origin:

• Canada, 68.3%
• USA, 11.4%
• France, 8.8%
• Portugal, 2.5%
• Poland, Russia each at 2.4%
• Germany, 0.9%

And this here is Anachronarchy's Top 10 most popular articles since its establishment, along with dates:

1. "Movie Review - Deadpool", 21 February 2016
2. "Movie Review - The Revenant", 17 January 2016
3. "Bond Film Rankings - Part 1", 26 March 2016
4. "Talkin' Jive: Guns N' Roses, Part 2", 23 April 2016
5. "Movie Review - Batman v Superman", 27 March 2016
6. "Movie Review - God's Not Dead 2", 19 April 2016
7. "Bond Film Rankings - Part 2", 8 April 2016
8. "Retrospective Movie Review - God's Not Dead (2014)", 30 January 2016
9. "Top 10 Worst Recurring Problems/Trends With Video Games", 23 July 2016
10. "Movie Review - Jason Bourne", 3 August 2016

Top 10 Favourite Movie Quotes

Good morning, Vietnam! Suffice it to say, movies have a huge impact on our culture. Their memorable quotes can go on to influence the way we speak, even to the point where we don't realize it. Everybody's got their favourite movie quotes and so today I'm going to list the top 10 quotes from movies that I've seen. I've chosen these quotes based on their coolness, their humour, their power, and/or just simply how often I repeat them myself in everyday situations. And for the record, this list isn't written in stone. I watch new movies all the time and a lot of them have great lines. Who knows, maybe this list will be completely different a year from now. So let's get started, and may the Force be with you.

Honourable mentions:

• “Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!” -Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers), from Dr. Strangelove (1964)
• “Pizza time!” -Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), from Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• “Bond. James Bond” -James Bond (Sean Connery), from Dr. No (1962)
• “Yeah... You didn't-You didn't know that?”-The Blob (Kevin Durand), from X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
• “Terminate... with extreme prejudice.” -Jerry (Jerry Ziesmer), from Apocalypse Now (1979)

10. “Sometimes he performed cunnilingus. Not often enough, in my opinion.” -Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Lisbeth Salander has got to be one of the most fascinating movie characters I've seen in recent years, and to me this line pretty much sums up her attitude. It's the character's introductory scene and right away we see all of her unusual mannerisms at work: choosing to not answer certain questions, a blunt, to-the-point manner of speaking, impatience with small talk, switching between avoiding eye contact and intense staring. All of this comes to a head when Dirch Frode demands to know Salander's personal opinion on Mikael Blomkvist's character, and whether she left anything out of the report she wrote on him. She eventually relents, revealing that Blomkvist has long been having an affair with his co-editor. She caps off the revelation with this gem of a line while staring blankly into Frode's eyes. I simply love this quote, and I picked it because it's at this moment the viewer realizes “this is who we're going to be following for the rest of the movie, this is going to be a cool character, I want to see more.” Frode's response: “You're right not to include that.”

9. “Gentlemen! Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The third rule of Fight Club: someone yells stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. The fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. The fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. The sixth rule: no shirts, no shoes. The seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first night at Fight Club, you have to fight.” -Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) from Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher strikes again with another great quote from another memorable character, this time Fight Club's Tyler Durden. Pretty much everyone who's a fan of Fight Club has these rules memorized, as if they themselves have joined Project Mayhem's private little army. And those who aren't have at least heard of the first two rules. And that eighth and final rule caps it off with a challenge, a hint of excitement. I find it interesting that a group of disgruntled men who're devoted to spreading anarchy and chaos are still fully committed to following a set of rules. It's even more ironic that those rules become the most memorable lines from the movie. Oh well. It's still really awesome. P.S. – Did anyone else notice that Bob still gets to wear his shirt when he fights? It's probably for the better...

8. “I did not hit her. It's not true. It's bulls---! I did not hit her! I did not... Oh hi, Mark.” -Johnny (Tommy Wiseau) from The Room (2003)

If you have not seen The Room, then you have not lived. It's as simple as that. I could sing the praises of that magnificently/ineptly made film all day long, but one of its greatest contributions to humanity is its quotability. There are so many great quotes in this movie. Probably the best known quote, repeated several times throughout, is “Oh hi, Mark.” But by far my favourite quote from The Room stems from the worst bit of acting in the whole movie – and that is saying a lot. It's the one line that always has me bursting into laughter on the verge of tears. Apparently, Tommy Wiseau – whose acting ability is journeyman at best – had trouble remembering the first part of this 18-word line (8 words if you don't count repeats). It took him forever just to (a) say all the words right, (b) look in the right directions, and (c) move in the proper positions. So the film crew called it quits after finally getting the first usable take. And thus cult-b-movie history was made.

7. “It's been hard... the writing lately. Terrible numbness. And then suddenly it comes in beautiful fragments or terrible dreams... Like nods. So high...” -Jim Carroll (Leonardo DiCaprio) from The Basketball Diaries (1995)

The Basketball Diaries is a heavy, powerful movie. It's not exactly a great film but it is one that you can't look away from while at the same time it isn't easy to watch. Upon finishing it, you'll be thinking about it for weeks afterwards. Part of what makes it so powerful, I think, is the narration which is taken straight from Jim Carroll's poetry/journal entries. It just sounds so cool, the way he articulates how his hardcore drug addictions are eating away at his creativity and his thought processes. The only downside is that this exact line is almost overshadowed by the silly, overly-dramatic visual “symbolism” that accompanies it. Still, I think that it's noteworthy that Jim was near death in this scene and were it not for the timely intervention of his own guardian angel this line would have been his last thought. Feels kind of haunting, doesn't it?

6. “Chill out. Dickwad.” -Terminator (A.K.A. T-800) (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

And here we have the first of many great Arnold quotes on this list. I'm going to level with you: pretty much the only reason I've ranked this quote here is because I use it myself nearly every day. I'd like to think of myself as a fairly laid-back type of guy and I love getting the chance to tell people to calm down in a detached monotone voice that doesn't give a f---. My only wish is that the Terminator had used this line again when a heartbroken John Conner begs him to not to self-destruct. What could be more coldheartedly badass than that?

5. “It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.” -Elwood Blues (Dan Ackroyd) from The Blues Brothers (1980)

Ah, Blues Brothers. How could anyone not enjoy such a rich collection of lovable characters, excellent musical numbers, clever celebrity cameos, and insane car chases? As if that's not enough, there's also a good bunch of lines: “I hate Illinois Nazis”, “I have seen the light!”, “We're on a mission from God”, “This ain't no Hank Williams s---!”, “I'm going to become a priest”, and “Are you cops?” “No ma'am. We're musicians.” But this one here has to be the best. The Blues Brothers know that their final objective is just within reach and it's time to get their show on the road. So Elwood sets the tone with this great line (making the audience question, just for a moment, exactly why the two are always wearing shades). It's the ceremonial phrase spoken between friends who are about to embark on a road trip for the ages. Let's just hope it's not as destructive.

4. “I wrote it down in my diary so that I wouldn't have to remember.” -Henry Jones Sr. (Sean Connery) from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

In the great debate about which Indiana Jones movie is best, my feet are firmly planted in the Last Crusade camp. This third movie has all the charm and straight up fun of the original, but with even better villains and better side characters, not the least of whom is Indy's father played by none other than Sean Connery himself. A thrill to follow, this character is bookish and aloof, but he can sometimes deliver a stern line or two like this one. Indy doesn't want to go to Berlin to get his father's Grail diary, but Henry says they have to because it contains clues vital to navigating the booby traps guarding the Holy Grail. Indy impatiently asks “Can't you remember [the clues]?” and Henry retorts with this deliciously condescending line. The reason I've ranked it here because it is a line I have quoted more times than I could ever count, most of the time to my boss or (ironically) to my own father. I don't have a perfect memory. Do I look like the mental stenographer type?

3. “Get your ass to Mars.” -Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Total Recall (1990)

It doesn't get any more absurd than this. A smiling Arnold Schwarzenegger talking to another version of himself with a towel wrapped around his head like a turban telling him to go to Mars just moments after yanking an impossibly huge tracking device out of his nose. It's the kind of ridiculous goodness that Arnold fans live for and it sounds even better with that accent of his. I also like how such a goofy line is said so straight, without a beat. What else is there to say? I like this line because it's silly. Is that so wrong?

2. “Who are these assholes to say when doomsday approaches? I say when doomsday is approaching!” -Richard Nixon (Robert Wisden), from Watchmen (2009)

I think Richard Nixon is a fascinating historical figure. I love seeing portrayals of him in movies like Frost/Nixon (2008). I also think he's a fun historical figure to poke fun at (especially in fiction), and that's why I like movies like X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) and Watchmen. What's great about Watchmen's Nixon is that he's still president in 1985 and he's now a little bit crazy, as evidenced by this wonderful line. Here's the scoop: Dr. Manhattan, the cornerstone of the USA's nuclear deterrent, has left Earth for Mars (because of quote #3) and so the opportunistic Soviets are preparing to invade Afghanistan. As a result, the Doomsday Clock has been moved to two minutes to midnight. This upsets Dick, who's gathered his staff and generals together in the war room à la Dr. Strangelove (1964) causing him to utter this little bit of power-mad raving. Oh, Dick. Don't ever change.

1. “Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last?... I lied.” -John Matrix (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from Commando (1985)

Do I even have to explain this one being here? If Arnold is the king of cheesy quotes and one-liners, then this is his crown jewel. It is the icing on the cake of a flippant, nonchalant kill of a slimy bad guy henchman that the audience is sure to hate by this point in the film. The cool thing is that this quote does indeed build off one of the film's earlier cheesy lines: “You're a funny guy, Sully. I like you. That's why I'm going to kill you last.” (Spoiler alert: he's one of the first to die.) Commando has got to be my favourite of the classic 80's Arnold action movies and it's probably because it has more cheesy lines than the others. And when they're this freaking stupidly over-the-top awesome, how could you not feel a surge of testosterone-filled fun?

Movie Review Repost - Non-Stop (2014)

So in relation to Sully, I already reposted a review of another Clint Eastwood movie (American Sniper) so this week I'll repost a review of another airplane movie: Non-Stop. Overall, it's a rather forgettable flick and... yeah not much more to reminisce about. In fact the only reason I'm bringing it up is because I haven't got anything better to show you. Sorry! New material next week, I promise! In the meantime, return your seats to their upright position, fasten your seat belts and enjoy the wordplay.

   Last night I answered the boarding call to watch Non-Stop, a thriller movie starring Liam Neeson that takes place on a Transatlantic flight. I wonder if movies like this are ever shown on airplanes?

   The story focuses on federal air marshal Bill Marks who receives text messages on his secure phone from one of the passengers announcing that someone on the plane will be murdered every 20 minutes unless $150 million is paid out. Now this is a pretty cool premise, like something out a Hitchcock film; nearly every character is brought under suspicion at some point and it keeps you guessing until the very end just who the killer really is. Unfortunately, if you look out your left window, you'll see a few predictable cliches: the main character has a secretive, troubled past; his superior officers won't listen to him, etc. Also, the villain's true motive is just lame once you find out what it really is.    There's also a bit of logical turbulence once you take the plotholes into account. Why would an air marshal smoke in an airplane bathroom? And how did the bad guy know Marks was doing it? How did the bad guy manage to sneak a switchblade on board the plane? And worst of all: why does the bathroom allow access to the cockpit?! I have my sincere doubts that that would ever happen in real life.

   Anyways, Liam Neeson stars as Bill Marks, the chain-smoking, alcoholic air marshal who hates flying. The movie definitely benefits from having him lead, though his performance is somewhat subdued (ie. The monotone voice from Star Wars). Regardless, Liam Neeson does add intensity with his patented sharp stare, angry growl and forward lean.

   The only other notable thing is that this movie uses a ton of shaky cam: the headache-inducing kind, not the good kind. In particular, the final action scene has so much shaky cam and is so choppily edited that I could barely tell what was going on! Just remember to keep your air sickness bags within arm's reach.

   But overall, Non-Stop is harmless enough. It'll satisfy both action movie fans and Liam Neeson fans. It's passable, but nothing special. (But at least it's better than Flightplan. Remember that crap?)

Rating: two and a half stars out of five.

Movie Review Repost - American Sniper (2015)

Hey, people. I'm still in the middle of packing/moving this week, still pretty busy. I want you to know that I've started work on some new articles for Anachronarchy, but it may be a week or two before they're ready for posting. Thank you for being so patient. In the meantime, since I just saw a Clint Eastwood movie earlier this week (Sully) I thought it'd be appropriate to repost the review I did of his previous film, American Sniper. Enjoy.

   War is hell, and while American Sniper may not be quite as grim or depressing as Fury was last year, its portrayal of extraordinary violence upon individuals is just as devastating and perhaps even more relevant.

   American Sniper is based on the autobiography of Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, a Navy SEALs marksman who served four tours of combat in Iraq from 2003 to 2009. The plot swings back and forth between Kyle's time overseas, filled with intense action, and his home leaves in Texas where he struggles to reconcile his sense of duty with his family life. In both situations he is faced with heartbreaking dilemmas. This is a film that is neither pro-war nor anti-war; it doesn't take sides in the debates surrounding the Iraq War's conduct. It simply tries to portray it's effects on the lives of the individuals involved. And in this regard, Bradley Cooper does a fantastic job playing the stressed-out main character. Really the only bit of story that could've been improved upon was the final scene, which felt a little clumsy and rushed.

   In the director's chair we have the venerable Clint Eastwood who definitely knows how to make a war film – Letters from Iwo Jima, anyone? From the steady mix of action, drama, and personal struggle it's clear that he has huge respect for veterans and what they've chosen to put themselves through. This is especially evident in the end credits which, after a brief slideshow, are completely silent.

   The production is breath-taking. The sets, the locations, the props, the costumes, the equipment; it all looks amazing. The cinematography is dazzling, giving us some nice-looking longshots (no pun intended). So too is the special effects, especially on the sandstorm towards the end.

   Now with a film that has the word “American” in the title you have to expect a bit of over-the-top foreign patriotism. There's also a couple scenes that I just don't get. What was the point of the crying baby in the nursery scene? Are soldiers really allowed to chat up their girlfriends over the phone in the middle of a mission? Do SEALs ever get orders or are they just allowed to leave their posts and go do whatever they want during missions?

   Regardless, American Sniper is an excellent film on modern warfare. In comparison, it's more poignant than Lone Survivor, but with better action than Green Zone. Overall, it's roughly comparable to the Hurt Locker, but sadder. If you're interested in the personal/psychological consequences of military service, and if you can stomach a bit of violence, then American Sniper is the flick for you. Even if there are no 360 no-scopes in it.

Rating: four-and-a-half stars out of five.