epi-neph-rine, man
URGA MOTW
Crank
So here's the precis: Hitman Chev Chelios is having a very bad day. He's just been poisoned and has about an hour to live. The only thing that keeps him alert and active - and can stave off the poison for a little while - is the adrenaline running through his system. So he sets out to take out his poisoner and associated cronies before his time is up.
With an idea like that, you can guarantee that the film will be non-stop action, it just has to be. And this one is :) It cranks (excuse the pun) from start to finish. Any and all exposition is dealt with quickly and efficiently, and then they get down to the fast-paced action as Chev (Jason Statham) rushes around Los Angeles trying to track down his would-be assassin. The cinematography covers a number of different styles - from standard action/drama film, to video-game like first-person running, weird drug-trip-enhanced effects, and some curious bits and pieces, but everything melds together as a whole. You'd hope a film like this would have a pumping soundtrack, and it does, but some of the music choices seem either a) odd, or b) played purely for humour. Imagine hardman Statham in the back of a cab trying to headbang to "Achy Breaky Heart" just so he can keep is own achy-breaky pumping. Hilarious :)
The plot is simple and effective, the action is non-stop and exciting, and believe it or not, there's only one or two stunts that are improbable enough to be impossible. (unlike a lot of action movies, which are full of CG-based impossible stunts nowadays).
Good, fun, exciting, and nothing more than you expect, and nothing less either. Watch this for a good time, but certainly not for deep thinking.
8/10
Crank
So here's the precis: Hitman Chev Chelios is having a very bad day. He's just been poisoned and has about an hour to live. The only thing that keeps him alert and active - and can stave off the poison for a little while - is the adrenaline running through his system. So he sets out to take out his poisoner and associated cronies before his time is up.
With an idea like that, you can guarantee that the film will be non-stop action, it just has to be. And this one is :) It cranks (excuse the pun) from start to finish. Any and all exposition is dealt with quickly and efficiently, and then they get down to the fast-paced action as Chev (Jason Statham) rushes around Los Angeles trying to track down his would-be assassin. The cinematography covers a number of different styles - from standard action/drama film, to video-game like first-person running, weird drug-trip-enhanced effects, and some curious bits and pieces, but everything melds together as a whole. You'd hope a film like this would have a pumping soundtrack, and it does, but some of the music choices seem either a) odd, or b) played purely for humour. Imagine hardman Statham in the back of a cab trying to headbang to "Achy Breaky Heart" just so he can keep is own achy-breaky pumping. Hilarious :)
The plot is simple and effective, the action is non-stop and exciting, and believe it or not, there's only one or two stunts that are improbable enough to be impossible. (unlike a lot of action movies, which are full of CG-based impossible stunts nowadays).
Good, fun, exciting, and nothing more than you expect, and nothing less either. Watch this for a good time, but certainly not for deep thinking.
8/10