Siberia (2018)

DIRECTOR: Mathew Ross; CAST: Keanu Reeves, Boris Gulyarin, Ana Ularu…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): When an American diamond trader's Russian partner goes missing, he journeys to Siberia in search of him, but instead begins a love affair.

MY THOUGHTS:

I watched this film the other day due to coming across some salacious gifs on Tumblr and I had some time to kill and wasn’t in the mood for anything from my lengthy back log of thought-provoking films I need to catch up with.

Though-provoking much, however, Siberia isn’t, since it follows a predictable template of an-American-vs.-Russian-mob thrillers, except perhaps in deciding for the less Hollywood-like ending of the two possible options in that sort of movies.

Keanu Reeves is a good actor, but he doesn’t do a particularly outstanding job in Siberia, perhaps due to the character he plays, who felt rather bland to me.

The one thing that does stand out once for a change in a Hollywood production is the casting of Russian and other actors with a great grasp on the language for the majority of Russian characters as well as using Russian for more than just a few standard catch phrases, all of which I highly appreciated.

RECOMMENDATION: Overall, Siberia is a rather mediocre film, employing all the typical (and overdone) tropes of the genre. It includes cheating and forced consent (the latter not between the main characters, fortunately), so beware. Reeves’s “stellar” performance in certain E-rated scenes and the very mediocrity, however, make it a good movie to kill some time and/or unwind with. 

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

DIRECTOR: Alan Taylor; CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston…

SUMMARY (adapted from IMDB): When Jane Foster gets cursed with a powerful object, Thor must protect it before an army and it's ruthless leader try to get their hands on it to take over the remains of Earth.

MY THOUGHTS:

How does one review a spectacle like Thor: The Dark World anyway?

Someone on Tumblr said they could have watched the entire film only of Agardian landscape and I can’t help but agree. What an amazing job the CGI department has done, creating such an astonishing scenery, not to mention other special effects.

Then, of course, there are our favourite characters, humans and Asgardians, involved in a yet another race to save the Earth and Asgard from destruction, each contributing what they can, and, naturally (it is a film, after all), through their joined forces defeating the enemy.

Loki, who has been facing the consequences of his past actions, is responsible for some twists and turns, and I’m still in awe of the final one. But that’s Loki, always with mischief up his sleeve, and one rarely sees it coming.

All in all, Thor: The Dark World is an suspenseful, entertaining and visually stunning film, which tackles a few serious topics along the way. And not a minute of it is boring.

RECOMMENDATION: Does it really need a recommendation? It’s Marvel. Thor. Loki. Asgard. Badass ladies. Pretty things. Emotions and such. And anyway, everyone has seen it already.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

DIRECTOR: Shane Black; CAST: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

MY THOUGHTS:

In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark continues to struggle with who he is both as Iron Man and as a person as his past comes back to haunt him in the form of an adversary who feels wronged by him in the past.

On a personal level, Tony’s preoccupation with his so-called hobby - that is, working on constant development and improvement of the Iron Man technology - interferes with his personal life, in particularly with his relationship with Pepper.

However, the Mandarin puts in danger not only Pepper’s life, but the world, and Tony must figure out how to save both. Fortunately, he finds not only strength within, but also outside help in likely (Captain Rhodes) and unlikely places (Harley Keener, and does just that.

While the film’s central themes are fighting evil and not being able to escape one’s past, Iron Man 3 also addresses the issue of genetic engineering and provides some food for thought on that topic.

Finally, the film has quite a few stunning scenes, mostly of fight and destruction. Curiously though, I found that this fearful imagery, such as the fall of the Malibu compound, can also be beautiful, in a way.
 
RECOMMENDATION: Obviously, if you have watched the first two Iron Man films and are a fan of Marvel cinematic universe, you won’t want to skip Iron Man 3.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

DIRECTOR: John Favreau; CAST: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.

MY THOUGHTS:

Iron Man 2 has a bit of a mid-life crisis as a film, or maybe it is going through puberty.

While it is still rather watchable and adds important elements both to Tony Stark’s story and to the Marvel cinematic universe, it would probably be better if it was shorter. Some action parts, in particularly, are too long and dragged out to my taste.

Talking about mid-life crisis, Tony Stark is definitely going through one, reverting to his old self-centred, partying, extravagant behaviour as he faces his existential issues. Absorbed in self-pity while searching a means for self-preservation, he neglects his company and the conspiracies of his competitor, so much so that his best friend turns against him, prompted by the government, and his faithful assistant almost gives up on him.

It takes SHIELD stepping in, forcing him to face his father’s legacy to find a solution to his problem – resolving his misguided resentment against Howard Stark on the way – for Tony to get himself together and save himself and the world, sort of, in the process. 

While Tony’s so-called mid-life crisis was somewhat irritating, it was great seeing his genius at work again. And I loved the appearances of agent Coulson and Natasha Romanoff. And Pepper. Everything would have gone (even more) awry for Tony without Pepper.

In conclusion, Iron Man 2 doesn’t quite reach the quality of its predecessor, but it is still a good film.  
RECOMMENDATION: If you loved Iron Man, the sequel is almost a must watch.

Iron Man (2008)

DIRECTOR: John Favreau; CAST: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armoured suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

MY THOUGHTS:

The reason I didn’t watch Iron Man films before was that I thought they were full of senseless action. Obviously, I was wrong.

Iron Man is so much more than an action/science-fiction film. It starts as a story about a rather arrogant heir to an empire, a playboy flying on the wings of success, a not particularly likeable character, for all the dazzle surrounding him.

However, Tony Stark is not just some spoiled rich guy, he is a genius inventor, who has earned his own success, and he can very well roll his sleeves up, which is what saves him when he finds himself in a precarious situation. Once he realises the people closest to him have been lying and his company, a weapon industry giant, has been selling arms under the table, he decides to set things right, and thus becomes Iron Man.

The slow uncovering of the intrigues behind Stark Industries is what keeps up the suspense throughout the film, but what I loved most was the gradual peeling of the layers off of Tony’s character and getting to know him.

All in all, Iron Man is not just an action film, but also a character and a relationship study with a hint of criticism of modern warfare and weapon industry.

RECOMMENDATION: Iron Man is a film both for those who like action and fights and those who like an insight in the characters, relationships and some general world issues.

Prometheus (2012)

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott; CAST: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

MY OPINION:

The promo and the summary for Prometheus are rather misleading, since the film shows very little of the epic battle and discoveries they mention. There is not much of a plot either, and the characters are pretty much stereotypical and mostly flat.

Interestingly, the most complex character is the one that is not supposed to be complex – David, a robot, very well played by Michael Fassbender. Charlize Theron in a supporting role of a cold and bossy Miss Vickers does a very good job, too. The same goes for Guy Pierce. Which made me think, what on earth came over the casting staff to put such excellent actors in minor roles? Oh, well.

Some scenes in Prometheus are really gross, and I admit I looked away a few times (squid- and reptile-like aliens and crawly things are really not my thing).

The story is basically a mess, although it does have a few good points.

Here are the things to learn from Prometheus:

• Don't dig up things that have been buried for centuries/millennia, there is probably a good reason for it.
• Don't go places you are not supposed to go. Again, there's a reason for it.
• Don't touch unknown substances. No need for explanation here.
• And: some questions are better left unanswered.

Overall, Prometheus wants to deliver a fascinating story about the search for the creator of the mankind, but it turns out rather stupid. In the end, Elisabeth Shaw, the main protagonist of the film, continues to chase the answer, even though she proves her own survival depends not on the truth but on what she choses to believe, which ultimately gives her strength to go on.

RECOMMENDATION: Despite all the hype, Prometheus is a rather mediocre film. If you like science-fiction, it might provide a good way to kill some time with, but don't expect too much.

Skyfall (2012)

DIRECTOR: Sam Mendes; CAST: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

MY OPINION:

I saw Skyfall last weekend and I really liked it. Although, it has taken me a while to review it because I  have no idea how to do that without spoiling it for you. So, my review probably sounds pretty vague.

I think one of the main reasons I enjoyed it so much was that I had known next to nothing about it before seeing it, apart from the fact that it is a Bond film and all the expectations I had had from seeing the previous 007 films. Therefore, some things caught me completely by surprise, which I did not mind at all. 

The breath-taking action is worthy of the Bond franchise, and the scenery and settings are spectacular. When people (i.e. mostly Bond) are not shooting, running, jumping, etc. and things are not exploding, there is emotional intensity and British wit to keep your mind whirling. And the fact that I noticed the music should say something about how good it is, since the score is one of the things I pay the least attention to in films unless it is really good.

I love the story arc of the last three Bond films, revealing Bond's backstory bit by bit. Skyfall gives us a few interesting pieces of information in that aspect.

All in all, the almost two and a half hours of watching Skyfall were time well spent.

RECOMMENDATION: If Daniel Craig is not a good enough reason for you to go watch this film, then a mix of action and drama, and an interesting story, spiced up with humour and stunning visuals are definitely the things worth seeing Skyfall for.

The Avengers (2012)

DIRECTOR: Joss Whedon; CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hiddleston…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.

MY OPINION:

I liked Thor (2011), so I could not wait for The Avengers and I was not disappointed.

The two hours passed very quickly. There was never a dull moment, and the course of action kept me on my toes from the beginning to the end. I loved the witty dialogues, and I laughed out loud at the banter among the characters.

The Avengers follow a typical formula for this kind of a film – bad guys invade the Earth, and after initial defeat and sorting out the differences among themselves the good guys win – hence giving us the standard lesson: united we can stand up to anyone.

All in all, I really enjoyed this film, also for its great visual effects and acting.

RECOMMENDATION: The Avengers is a funny mix of action and science fiction, a film well worth seeing.

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

DIRECTOR: John Faverau; CAST: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.

MY OPINION:

When I first heard of this film I knew it was bound to be good. And it is. It brings the western and science-fiction together very well.

The key ingredients for success are typical: a rich arrogant rancher, his haughty son who can do just about anything due to the dad’s position in town, a suspicious outsider with a search warrant on him, one feisty lady, a gang of robbers, and of course an ever-present threat of a fight with Native Americans. Now add alien invasion. And we have a winner.

Initially, the premise of the 19^th century settlers of the West being able to put up a fight with their old-fashioned weapons against an advanced alien technology seems silly. However, the scenario is presented in such a way it makes the story believable. Naturally, the beginning is far from promising for the cowboys’ side, but the strategy they gradually develop makes it a fair fight which they – no surprise there – win in the end. The crucial factor is the expected joining of several opposing parties against the common enemy, making “united we stand, divided we fall” the moral of the film.

Despite the predictable ending, the film is thrilling, and it kept me on my toes. It is the kind of a thriller I like – just enough scary to startle me a few times but not give me any nightmares.

RECOMMENDATION: This blend of western and science-fiction is a suspenseful and believable approach on a premise of the 19^th century alien invasion.

X Men: First Class (2011)

DIRECTOR: Matthew Vaughn; CAST: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-MEN.

MY OPINION:

I liked X-Men (2000) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), so it was interesting to me to see how it all started. It was amazing to see the shaping of the familiar characters and some new ones who rounded up the whole story.

The WW II background setting added to the fascinating atmosphere of the film. The philosophical stand behind the film concerning the consequences of vengefulness is very close to my own belief about the matter, so I enjoyed this aspect of the film.

Overall, X Men : First Class is a suspenseful prequel to other X-Men films with great actors doing a good job in presenting the characters they play. The film is also visually attractive, the special effects are done well, but without unnecessary exaggeration.

RECOMMENDATION: A must-see for those who liked the previous X-Men films.

Thor (2011)

DIRECTOR: Kenneth Branagh; CAST: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård…

SUMMARY (from IMDB): The warrior Thor (Hemsworth) is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard by his father Odin (Hopkins) for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live among humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster (Portman) teaches Thor much-needed lessons, and his new-found strength comes into play as a villain from his homeland sends dark forces toward Earth.

MY OPINION:

This film is a sci-fi approach to Nordic mythology. The plot goes as usually: a conceited hero is brought down-to-earth (literally) to earn his position through protecting the innocent and fighting the evil.

The solutions to the problems which occur in the film are easy and predictable. The government officials are clueless and gladly give up their stand as the situation gets dangerous. Despite the fact that fleeing from otherworldly evil is smart, I would expect them to be more persistent.

I think the romance element is redundant. Surely, a female scientist falls for a Nordic god at first sight, who wouldn't? This idea may have seemed to the film-makers like a nice addition, but although it is cute, it is also a little silly. 

The acting is solid. The special effects are good, but nothing new. On the whole, the film is enjoyable. I think, there is a sequel on the horizon, which I would not mind at all.

RECOMMENDATION: When you are not in the mood for either comedy or drama, or thriller, this light action movie with elements of all three could be the right thing to watch.

The Next Three Days (2010)

SUMMARY (from IMDB): Lara Brennan is arrested for murdering her boss whom she had an argument with. It seems she was seen leaving the scene of the crime and her fingerprints were on the murder weapon. Her husband, John would spend the next few years trying to get her released but there's no evidence that negates the evidence against her. And when the strain of being separated from her family especially her son gets to her, John decides to break her out. So he does a lot of research to find a way.

DIRECTOR: Paul Haggis; CAST: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks,...

MY OPINION:

What superficially appears to be another man-in-action film, it is actually a genuine story about people facing difficult times both as a family and as individuals. The film has there focuses.

Firstly, it is about to what extent we believe in the people we love and what would we be willing to do for them.

Secondly, it is about the kind of reality we choose to live in. Do we just accept the most common reality, the reality other people thinks it “the right one”? Or do we dare to change the reality we dislike into what we want it to be? Also, is what we see and other people see more or less real of what we want to believe in our head?  Although the film only hints at this complex issue, it certainly makes you think about it.

Finally, the film expresses a criticism of judicial system. Objectivity is necessary for the law to function. But what if all the “objective” evidence does not correspond to the truth? The Next Three Days is a film about coincidences ruining someone’s life. Everyone, just as Lara Brennan, can be convicted on circumstantial evidence if it cannot be proven false. The presumption of innocence may not always work.

Overall, the film is a bit slow at times, but it gives a lot of food for thought.