Quote from: Laufey on May 15, 2011, 10:41:55 AM
The ending seemed a bit weird though. Why would Snake destroy the tape when it could lead to peace? And why the hell couldn't the US goverment just record a new tape or send someone over with the information?
Spoiler
For one reason. He wanted to humilate the governent because he felt they screwed him, which they kinda did. He was especially angry at the president for his lack of compassion for those who died saving him. Odd considering Snake should be a cold sunuvabitch.
As for not recording a second tape, that could have been a fail safe to prevent it from falling into someone elses hands. They still would have had the data recorded on it. The main reason the tape had to be intact was for the meeting presentation. They would have had to wait until the next meeting to present it again, and the sooner the war ends, the better. Snake in the end caused a delay, but he got his wish. He made the president appear like a fool.
Boondock Saints II
I am not a huge fan of the original film or this one for that matter, but it was really fun. The saints return to Boston to uncover the reason they were framed for the murder of a priest. They gain a new member and begin to take down members of the local criminal organizations as they find the murder was linked to their father's past.
Our two leads are pretty likable despite their cold blooded actions and their new member is a nice compliment to their partner in the original film. I especially like the scene where he ties up a janitor to force him to assist in thinking up a one liner to cap the upcoming mob slaughter. Troy Duffy is a decent filmmaker and he often takes a page from Tarantino (mostly in dialogue and shooting the film out of sequence) Even a watered down Tarantino is still nice enough.
This is a decent single serving film and brings back what struck me about the original. I have mild anticipation for the inevitable third installment. And I wonder why these have never been given wide release.
Cine-Meter, 6.7/10
Mono-Meter, 7.3/10
Red Dawn
80s cheese at its cheesiest. Jed (Patrick Swayze) saves is brother Matt (Charlie Sheen) and classmates Robert (C Thomas Howell) and others from an attack on their school by a suprise invasion from Russia. After helping two young women (Lea Thompsn and Jennifer Grey) escape from their home and their parents are shot in public, the teens become partisans against the invading army. They call themselves the Wolverines. After being aided by a downed pilot (Powers Boothe), their numbers begin to dwindle.
Director John Milius created one of the mot infamous cult classics of all time with this little number. For its low budget, the set pieces are suprisingly good. This film suffers from a rare syndrome where it actually gets better as it progresses. The start is cheesy and over the top and by the end it is...slightly less cheesy and over the top.
This film has a ot going for it. The music by Basil Poledouris is really good if you give it a listen. The cast of rising stars are a joy. The cinematography is astounding especially in two key sequences (the tank and helicopter attack scenes). In truth, the only things it has going against it are the cheesy script and the outlandish premise. The tone of the film is appropriatly dark but at times it comes off as way too serious as if it is being preachy.
Some accuse this film of being a pro-war overly patriotic mess. It is actually very anti war once it gets rolling. The protagonists repeatedly say they want to stop, go home, and that they are just tired, and even wonder if what they are doing is the right thing.
There are some amazingly silly moments in the film such as when Swayze and Sheen talk to Stanton in a politial prison camp and the initial blitz by the main characters. These scenes don't help at all and are the main things people remember about this movie.
All in all, this is a very average movie, but if you are in the right mindset, it is acually a pretty darn good viewing. The one film I should not like, and yet it won't to let me go. I would like this film even if I was Russian. Swear by it. My guilty pleasure.
Cine-Meter, 6.7/10
Mono-Meter, 10/10
Die Hard 2
John McClane (Bruce Willis) is waiting for his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at Dulles Airport on Christmas eve. A group of deranged US soldiers lead by Stewart (William Saddler) take over the airport and demand the release of a political prisoner set to land. Only good ol McClane can blow them sky high.
This movie is very out there and silly. All the realism of the first film goes out the window for one of the most implausible film plots in recent memory (and yes, i consider 20 years recent) but the film proves to be one hell of a great ride. The action set pieces are amazing such as the fight in the luggage loading dock, the skyway shootout, the snowmobile chase and the final fight on the wing of a 747. The airport really was used to its full potential in this. McClane is great, coming within hairs of breaking the fourth wall by saying he cannot understand how this is happening to him again.
I do have several complaints. The villains in this film really are out there. Evil to ludicrous amounts and the plot really is complex and just plain silly. Had this plot been toned down and the villains been made more believable and somehwat sympathetic like in the first film, this would have been a better film.
Renny Harlin still does a good film. One of the biggest smashes of the 90s and a very fun ride that shows how awesome our reluctant hero can be. Cramed full of great lines and superb action.
Cine-Meter, 7.5/10
Mono-Meter, 8.5/10
