Movie reviews
three of the movies I've seen recently on DVD...
Ninja
Starring Mika Hiji.
The broad brush-strokes of the movie are that there's a secret ninja school training - you guessed it - ninjas. And we have two very promising canidates to take over running the school when the current sensei passes on...they fight, and one of them is banished from the school (and that banishment turns him evil)
Later on, the other canidate has to accompany the priceless ninja heirlooms to a museum in New York, and he's accompanied by the sensei's only daughter (a daughter whom the canidate is in love with).
The good news is that the woman isn't a helpless damsel - she's capable of kicking butt.
Also a plus is that the Evil secret society helps the lead bad guy - but the lead bad guy doesn own or control them. In my book, that's a novelty.
My primary criticism of this movie is with the ending: the sensei's daughter and the sensei's chosen successor are a couple. (thus keeping the secret ninja school in the family bloodline)
Give 'em Hell, Malone
Starring Elsa Pataky (formerly of The Queen Of Swords) and Chris Yen.
When I borrowed this, I figured it would be an early- or mid-century detective/P.I. flick. But it is and it isn't - the lingo is modern with traces of bygone days, while the characters use cell phones and old-fashioned cars.
And where is Coco Rio?
If I had to place this, I'd guess somewhere like Prohibition Earth (if you're familiar with AHTG yahoo/egroup, or the AHTG.net site; if not, imagine a world where Prohibition wasn't repealed, and the gangs grew more powerful)
Ving Rhames is good in this - between this and The Tournament, I'm noticing that he likes to inject humanity and reason into his characters. (and its a novel upsurge from the old 'it pays the bills').
A suggestion, Malone, if I may? The next time an assassin starts to show sympathy for your plight & starts wondering about her love life, the correct response is not to hit her.
Whiteout
When I watched this movie, I finally fully understood what some of my friends had meant about LA being a character in its own right in LIFE - Antarctica is distinctively itself here. Oh yes, and this film also is starring Kate Beckinsale.
A few years ago, on National Geographic Channel &/or the Science Channel, there was a special about how the science station in Antarctica was being renovated (ie put on stilts) so they wouldn't melt the ground and sink. This movie takes place at the new site.
While there are a few plot holes in the movie (what were the Russians planning to do with those diamonds? I mean, landing in Australia during the Cold War would probably be noticed by, oh, say, everybody), it's enjoyable.
"Not fast-paced" is how it was described to me - and I'm fine with that...in fact, I liked that it took its time in things.
There are a few details that were unavoidable - some of the more emotional scenes had to omit the facemask when they were outdoors.
And the story's resolution, is nice and bloodless.
Ninja
Starring Mika Hiji.
The broad brush-strokes of the movie are that there's a secret ninja school training - you guessed it - ninjas. And we have two very promising canidates to take over running the school when the current sensei passes on...they fight, and one of them is banished from the school (and that banishment turns him evil)
Later on, the other canidate has to accompany the priceless ninja heirlooms to a museum in New York, and he's accompanied by the sensei's only daughter (a daughter whom the canidate is in love with).
The good news is that the woman isn't a helpless damsel - she's capable of kicking butt.
Also a plus is that the Evil secret society helps the lead bad guy - but the lead bad guy doesn own or control them. In my book, that's a novelty.
My primary criticism of this movie is with the ending: the sensei's daughter and the sensei's chosen successor are a couple. (thus keeping the secret ninja school in the family bloodline)
Give 'em Hell, Malone
Starring Elsa Pataky (formerly of The Queen Of Swords) and Chris Yen.
When I borrowed this, I figured it would be an early- or mid-century detective/P.I. flick. But it is and it isn't - the lingo is modern with traces of bygone days, while the characters use cell phones and old-fashioned cars.
And where is Coco Rio?
If I had to place this, I'd guess somewhere like Prohibition Earth (if you're familiar with AHTG yahoo/egroup, or the AHTG.net site; if not, imagine a world where Prohibition wasn't repealed, and the gangs grew more powerful)
Ving Rhames is good in this - between this and The Tournament, I'm noticing that he likes to inject humanity and reason into his characters. (and its a novel upsurge from the old 'it pays the bills').
A suggestion, Malone, if I may? The next time an assassin starts to show sympathy for your plight & starts wondering about her love life, the correct response is not to hit her.
Whiteout
When I watched this movie, I finally fully understood what some of my friends had meant about LA being a character in its own right in LIFE - Antarctica is distinctively itself here. Oh yes, and this film also is starring Kate Beckinsale.
A few years ago, on National Geographic Channel &/or the Science Channel, there was a special about how the science station in Antarctica was being renovated (ie put on stilts) so they wouldn't melt the ground and sink. This movie takes place at the new site.
While there are a few plot holes in the movie (what were the Russians planning to do with those diamonds? I mean, landing in Australia during the Cold War would probably be noticed by, oh, say, everybody), it's enjoyable.
"Not fast-paced" is how it was described to me - and I'm fine with that...in fact, I liked that it took its time in things.
There are a few details that were unavoidable - some of the more emotional scenes had to omit the facemask when they were outdoors.
And the story's resolution, is nice and bloodless.