Star Trek: First Contact - Thoughts

I recall watching the trailer for Star Trek: First Contact back in 1996, around the time of the movie’s release. Seeing the trailer you’d expect to the see the Star Trek Next Generation crew in battle with the alien Borg, in mammoth galactic space combat. The movie also comes across as a hardcore action flick, with Data being in the midst of the Borg’s capture, assimilate, and transform plan.  Though I was very keen on watching the movie at the time, I don’t recall what stopped me. I finally got around to watching it last night, a good 16 years after its release.

Perhaps the most obvious observation will be the dated look that the movie has, especially in the Sci-fi space. The spaceship CGI is acceptable but lacking by today’s standards, and the sets don’t look as cool as we’d expect the 24^th century to be. The rest is probably in keeping with Star Trek Next Generation standards, as the movie feels a lot like the TV serial. All the familiar faces are back, and the plot has the usual exploration – entanglement – plan – twist – climax – resolution, formula. There are hardly any space battle sequences, and the trailer probably showcases more than 70% of the spaceship battles. There are plenty of slower moments with the earths inhabitants set in the late 21^st century.  If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll quite enjoy the big clash with the Borg; but on the flip side if you’re just looking for some Sci-fi action Star Trek: First Contact is dated and limited in its scope.

In terms of performances, you’ll find that it’s quite the mixed bag. Captain Picard played by Patrick Stewart is quite impressive, and is the grounding force to the movie. He drives the narrative, and carries the plot through from start to end. Brent Spiner plays Data, the android crew member, and also a key character in the Star Trek: First Contact plot. He does particularly well in playing the android, experiencing physical emotion and stimulation for the first time. The third and possibly only other notable performance comes from James Cromwell who stars as Zefram Cochran. He does surprisingly well in portraying the eccentric scientist with a love for alcohol. Many of the other crew members put in pretty average performances. Jonathan Frakes plays Commander Riker, and is annoying for most part with his lousy grin. Also silly and forgettable is Troi, played by Marina Sirtis. I used to watch this show, but since it was so long ago I don’t specifically remember the quality of the performances very well; my guess is that it must have been average all along.

The content I was sampling was a high definition 720p BlueRay rip. Video was clear, but there was a slightly faded look, which if my memory serves me right is how the TV show looked. It can partially be attributed to degradation during lossy compression as well probably. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Dialog was perfect, and with a good part of the movie being slower dialog moments, this worked. There was some noticeable surround usage, but it wasn’t anything spectacular.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (The Next Generation Crew’s first big Borg face-off)

Resident Evil: Retribution - Thoughts

While the Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers were perhaps 2012’s most anticipated movies, Resident Evil: Retribution is what I was truly waiting for. Considering my home theatre screening preference, I’d have been okay seeing the others on DVD with a delay, but for Resident Evil: Retribution, noway hosay! I actually gave thought to tickets on the first day. As it is, I was unhappy that the India release was about 2 weeks after the world release. Honestly I cannot think of any other movie that I’ve wanted to see as bad in the recent years. In this fifth installment of the franchise, Alice needs to form new alliances, to take on the all-consuming T-virus threat, and the Umbrella Corporation

 

I love sci-fi action movies, but I think the Resident Evil franchise is at a level of appreciation that trumps most others. The concept of an enormous private corporation with seemingly surplus funding and resources, that has fantabulous underground facilities all over the world, poses a threat that shadows all else. Add to that the action and the thriller/horror elements, and what we have is a winner in my eyes. Interestingly the trailer didn’t give away too much, and most audiences were going into installment 5 just expecting to see the ongoing struggle further escalate and take new shape. It truly was a case of, ‘What’s in store for Alice next?’ Since I don’t want to give away too much, let me just say that the plot development is both interesting and realistic; in the sense that it’s a plausible next step to Resident Evil: Afterlife. The action sequences are simply stellar, making good use of bullet time, thus slowing down the action and amplifying its magnitude. The combination of hand to hand and projectile combat is superb and meshed together beautifully. The narrative process was quite riveting, and except for the interval never did I look at my phone, or notice my mind wander off. Even with high expectations for the already impressive franchise, Paul W S Anderson has done a remarkable job with Resident Evil: Retribution. If you’re familiar with the series, this installment is similar to the first, which is set largely within one of Umbrella Corps mega facilities. Assuming you like the theme/premise or are a fan of the franchise, you will not be disappointed. Even if you’re just in the mood for a good stand-alone sci-fi action movie, you’ll probably like it.

With the franchise having traversed as long, Alice’s character played by Milla Jovovich has probably seen a good deal of character development, not to mention physical change over the years. At this point it’s fair to say that the Alice character and actress Milla have largely merged, with Alice’s character adapting to Milla’s reality, and not just vice versa. Milla Jovovich brings to screen her usual ‘A’ game, comprising incredible and totally believable action, with the usual survival horror sorta drama. It’s fair to ask at this point if Milla Jovovich has been typecast.  Welcome back to the action Jill Valentine played by Sienna Guillory, in her new blonde and evil avatar. Her performance is acceptable, and she does justice to the fight sequences. New to the movie franchise is Ada Wong, played by Bingbing Li. She lives up to her video game persona, and joins the ranks of other Resident Evil women who can successfully pull of over the top action and stunt sequences in a dress that certainly isn’t meant for it. For those familiar with Lost, expect to see Kevin Durand, who plays the role of Barry Burton, one of the mercenaries who fights the Umbrella Corporation alongside Alice.

Since I was pretty frantic about seeing Resident Evil: Retribution, it was sampled at the theatre. The screen setup was 35mm, and the sound acoustics were good thanks to the smaller room dimensions. Predominant colors in true Resident Evil fashion were dark blue, red, and white. Most of the sequences were indoors, and there were contrasting dark hues, and white; the later mostly being artificially lit indoor areas. Picture was pretty good, and the use of 3D was quite a bit, with elements from the action sequences regularly flying into the audiences. Editing and the technical elements were used effectively to add a sense of intensity to the action sequences. Similarly the positional sound worked well with the movie and its action to add to the level of audience immersion. The score composed by tomandandy made the action uber enjoyable, and was very impressive. The same goes for the end credits song Hexes produced by Bassnectar featuring Chino Moreno (of the Deftones) on vocals; totally loved the music!

My Recommendation: Watch It + (New fights with old foes and deadlier viruses!)

The Dark Knight Rises - Thoughts

If hype were ever to be taken into consideration, The Dark Knight Rises is probably one of the most hyped ever. Add to that, being a follow-up to the hugely popular Dark Knight, expectation were through the roof. As much as I’ve enjoyed the Christopher Nolan reboot, the first 2 movies were cool but not exactly standout in my opinion. Couple the inflated expectations with my moderate enthusiasm, and I was just about looking to check out The Dark Knight Rises, not exactly counting the minutes to release. In this third and final closing installment of the trilogy, a new terrorizing villain named Bane unravels a plan that leaves Gotham City helpless, and forces Batman to reemerge.

After over 12 months of teasers and trailers I entered the theatre telling myself, this had better be worth all the drama. As the narrative slowly unfolded, a layer of mystery became evident. Being a Batman flick, this only seemed like a natural fit. As the movie pushed on, I realized that The Dark Night Rises wasn’t just an action movie, and had some pretty intense story/drama elements, that made it exceptionally gripping.  In spite of the oddly long 3 hour runtime, The Dark Knight Rises was fluid, with the story traversing seamlessly. Not once did I look at my watch, and even the slow moments were sufficiently enthralling. I remember seeing Batman Begins and thinking to myself that this iteration was very current, real, and something audiences could relate to as every day. The Dark Knight Rises builds on that, bringing in financial implications, and corporate power struggles to the mix. What makes Batman standout from most other superheroes is his human form, and I believe that audiences get to see him here at his most human and humble best. In short, The Dark Knight Rises satisfied at every level, and was an intensely fulfilling experience. The closing moments, and taking of shape of characters in the Batman universe sealed the deal for me, leaving little to be wanted.

With so many characters, an all-star cast, and multiple performances of perfection, Christopher Nolan deserves credit for meshing it all together as well. Christian Bale, already accomplished in playing Batman succeeds in portraying a human, breakable, and recluse side to the protagonist. Tom Hardy of Inception fame played Bane, and was unquestionably the epitome of grit and terror. Not for a second was his intensity questionable; making the Bane character seemingly unstoppable. Anne Hathaway played Selina, and surprised in a feisty way that perhaps only Michelle Pfeiffer has succeeded. Between questionable loyalties and immaturity, she fit the bill of the cat burglar glowingly. Michael Caine stars as Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler, bringing a level of love and care that negates the need for other family figures in the Wayne residence. Morgan Freeman plays Fox, a man who stands for all that is right, and probably symbolizes the idealistic corporate head. The combination of excellent performances and well scripted characters that have developed from the first movie adds to the list of successes and strengths of The Dark Knight Rises.

Unlike most new multiplex experiences, I watched this one on a large 70mm screen. Big is better and that indeed added to the larger than life experience. Video was clear, and tones were in keeping with the other Batman movies in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. There were no vibrant primary colors, and night scenes were predominantly blues and blacks. Sound effects were decent, and dialog acceptable; surround stage usage was also noticeable. Probably watching this on DVD in a smaller home theatre sorta environment will probably yield better acoustic results.  Worth particular mention is the fantabulous score by Hans Zimmer; the music adding to the grandeur and intensity of the scenes, contributing in large part to the goose bumps factor.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (All real and fantasy free…. Batman’s Finest Hour)

Universal Soldier: Regeneration - Thoughts

Some franchises don’t ever go away, and Universal Soldier is perhaps one of them. The very first and original Universal Soldier was released in 1992, followed by 2 direct to video movies. Universal Soldier – The Return released in 1999 saw the return of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and started where the original left off. 10 years later we have Universal Soldier: Regeneration; and just so you know, late in 2012 Universal Soldier - Day of Reckoning was released. In Regeneration, terrorists in Russia reacquire the Chernobyl nuclear plant and threaten to detonate charges causing nuclear disaster. Decommissioned Universal Soldier Luc Deveraux is brought in as a last resort, and will have to take on a next gen Unisol to resolve the conflict.

 

Though the franchise has been around forever, most of the Universal Soldier movies have been pretty good, if you’re into the core logic and enjoy the action. That said, I did go into Regeneration with modest expectations. My thought being, it would make for entertaining action, but that’s probably it; similar to The Return. Surprisingly, Regeneration had an unexpected layer of desolation and fear, which tied in wonderfully to the Russian Chernobyl setting of the movie. With that came an eerie chill that fit the plot very well. Luc Deveraux’s character development was interesting, and tied into the long ongoing story well. The new next gen Unisol (NGU) was intense, and set the stage for a significant and new threat. There were a few scenes that seemed questionable, like the lone American soldiers successful intrusion into the enemy camp; that aside though, the narrative process was decent. The overall slow pace, tied well into the theme of this installment of the movie. The low budget and seemingly dated setting working well too. If you like action and the Universal Soldier theme, you will probably quite enjoy Universal Soldier: Regeneration.

It would be hard to imagine the Universal Soldier franchise without Jean-Claude Van Damme, as Luc Deveraux. And interestingly, his performance has transitioned gracefully with the character development and ageing of Luc Deveraux. In Regeneration he is older, more human, and as real as his character requires him to be. The NGU is played by Andrei 'The Pitbull' Arlovski, of UFC and MMA fame. His role doesn’t involve much dialog, but he makes up for it in stone-faced intense action. He is very convincing, and it would be hard not to be intimidated by him. Most other performances were average to acceptable.

The DVD being sampled was a Region 1 US release. Video had an interesting dated dull look, something expected of VHS movies from the early 80’s. There were no vibrant colors, and primary colors were either not used much, or subdued. The soundtrack was a Dolby Digital 5.1, 6 channel surround soundtrack. Positional sound was noticeable, but sound effects as of such were nothing special. Technically both the video and sound added to the dated feel of the movie.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Unisol action in the cold of Russia)

Faster - Thoughts

Though I’d seen the trailer for Faster, I didn’t quite remember what it was about when I saw the DVD at the video store. Figuring that it was probably a good action flick thanks to Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, I decided to rent it. I normally give a short gist of the plot in my opening paragraph, but today I’m gonna say as little as possible, to ensure no spoilers! Things start with The Rock leaving prison after serving time; the events there after including, his unfolding plan, two detectives hot on his heels, an assassin, and an intriguing backstory to it all. 

Going by my rather unusual plot delivery, I’m sure it’s obvious that there’s something unique about Faster. Don’t ruin it for yourself by watching the trailer, or worse yet reading up on it on IMDB. The brilliance of Faster lies in not knowing and learning as the narrative unfolds. If like me you’re thinking it’s yet another in your face, Rock action movie, guess again. Faster is dark, gripping, and a wonderful blend of action and suspense. Similarly the sequences complement this mix, juxtaposing small town law enforcement investigations, flashbacks, collateral character development, and action sequences. It’s been a while since I’ve gone into a movie expecting above average to good, and coming out surprised and extremely impressed. George Tillman Jr. has done a wonderful job with Faster, making it one of the best crime drama’s I’ve seen in the recent years.

The performances in Faster are superb, with Billy Bob Thornton taking the cake as The Cop. His portrayal of the character being simply faultless; adding a level of realism to the role that makes Faster work so well. Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a The Rock, again surprising us all with his dark character delivery. While the action is consistent with his usual roles, the vengeance behind it and underlying anger come through well, leading me to believe that he isn’t just another wrestling superstar turned movie actor. Also worth mention are characters Cicero and Lily played by Carla Gugino and Maggie Grace respectively; the latter of Lost TV serial fame.

The source content sampled was a standard region 1 US release DVD. Video was good, but not crystal clear. In my opinion, that as well as the warm yellowish brownish tone was probably intentional. The intent being to present a dusty small town, seemingly in the 80’s yet in modern day. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Positional sound was good, and action sound effects decent. I felt that the volume level variation on the center channel between general dialog and sudden loud sounds was a bit annoying though, requiring for constant volume adjusting. Also worth mention are the alternate ending and deleted scenes; make sure to check them out if you’re watching the original DVD with all extra movie content.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (An intriguing dark crime drama)

Bob's Burgers - Thoughts

I don’t quite remember exactly, but I think I was watching promo trailers and came to know of Bob’s Burgers a little before it aired. Realizing that it was from the makers of other fab shows like Family Guy and American Dad, I couldn’t wait to see it. The premise being a family run restaurant, and the dynamic of the odd couple and their crazy children; add to that several double meaning puns and comments in the dialog. I finally waited till the show aired and Season 1 was done, to get my hands on it and check it out.

Expecting for the similar brand of stupid funny as with the totally awesome Family Guy, I watched episode 1 of season 1 of Bob’s Burgers. At the end I realized that it lived up to 50% of my expectation; that being, the stupid part! The characters were annoying not funny, and the plot of each episode, extremely vague and mediocre. Though there is some character development, it takes patience to get through the episodes, and more importantly all the characters are downright boring. As someone who is quite accommodating to content not exactly matching my specific tastes, I still feel that this was lame to the point of being retarded. I normally write my reviews once I complete the season, but with Bob’s Burgers, getting to episode 5 in itself has been an effort, and I expect to drop this show like a bad habit. Even if you have free time, I’d recommend playing tic-tac-toe with yourself, over wasting your time on this. Frankly just about anything beats watching Bob’s Burgers.

Bob plays the central character in the show; the dad and the chef in the restaurant. While he is presented as pretty plain, he is possibly the best character of the lot. While relatively better, he is otherwise forgettable. Linda his wife fits a stereotype that is synonymous to a nut-job, and is more like someone in their 70’s going through their second childhood. Tina is never funny, and the attempt to make her character funny just comes across as pathetic. Louise is acceptable, but reminds me for most part of someone who suffers from a personality disorder. Gene is over the top, like most of the other character on this show, and perhaps can be seen as a little entertaining. While some of these character trait elements may have worked, the mix and setting in this show just doesn't.

The content I was sampling was a lossy XviD rip, the source being HDTV telecast. The files weighed in at 175 MB for approximately 22 minutes episodes. While normally this would be average to just about acceptable bitrate, with the solid colors and animation scheme used in the show, quality was pretty sufficient. Resolution was a little under DVD specs, but video was pretty decent throughout. Sound was presented by means of a stereo 2.0 mp3 soundtrack. Owing to the simple voice and occasional background music mix, dialog was clear throughout. Technically the show is not at all demanding and well suited for high compression rips and portable media player viewing.  

My Recommendation: Skip It (An everyday setting that’s mundane, annoying, and far from funny) 

Battleship - Thoughts

I get the feeling that it’s the season for alien invasion movies; in 2010 it was Skyline, in 2011 it was Battle Los Angeles, and now it’s Battleship. Being an ardent sci-fi fan, I’m not complaining in the least. While I am yet to watch the first 2, and most reviews have rated them either poor or average, they are on my ‘to watch’ list. With Battleship I found the trailer quite impressive, add to that my friends rave reviews post watching the movie. So making an effort to check it out was a given. In Battleship an alien invasion which is largely isolated to Hawaii, forces a cut off group of battleships to engage the alien intruders, and learn of and foil their seemingly hostile intentions.

To cut to the chase early, if you like sci-fi action flicks, you can stop reading here and go watch the movie. Is it fun? Yes. Is it blockbuster scale action? Yes. Are the sci-fi elements and the aliens cool? Indeed. Is Battleship entertaining? Without a doubt! Add to that Peter Berg’s efforts, and his Transformers touch becomes very evident; from the camera angles, narrative development, scene presentation, and character romance element. The plot is pretty straight forward, so don’t go into Battleship expecting intrigue. Similarly, don’t take it too seriously, as some things do seem a little over the top and illogical. Positives include the homage to senior war veterans, which was a wonderful addition. Pace was pretty decent, and though the movie had a 131 minute runtime, it wasn’t really noticeable. If you enjoy big sci-fi action movies, you’ll enjoy Battleship, especially if the Navy and sea forces interest you.

Taylor Kitsch plays the lead role of Alex Hopper, who is interestingly a very unlikely hero. From the opening sequences he seems more cut out to be in the next American Pie movie.  That said it’s a unique change and he does a good job of playing the D game and not necessarily the best naval leader. Brooklyn Decker plays Samantha, the female lead who does justice to both her character as well as the feel good/look hot factor. Being a relatively fresh face, who did a good job with her act, her performance was quite likable. Alexander Skarsgård of True Blood fame plays Stone Hopper; Alex Hopper’s elder brother and senior Naval officer. Other notable performances include Liam Neeson and Rihanna, who is making her big screen debut. Her performance though is pretty forgettable, not bringing much worth mention. She plays Raikes, and for most part is a stereotype Afro-American woman.  

Being in a rush to check this one out, I had to make a dash to the theatre. Video was impressive and clear throughout. The look and feel of the movie was pretty impressive, special effects being quite nice. The large panorama visuals and editing was very similar to Transformers and reminded me of Michael Bay’s work. Complemented with the remarkable surround sound, with noticeable usage of the 3D sound stage, the action sequences were very enjoyable.   

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Battling aliens at high seas) 

Knight And Day - Thoughts

I remember seeing the trailer of Knight and Day when it was released, and promptly added it to my, rent and watch the DVD sometime list. It looked like fun with a seemingly competent cast. I wasn’t particularly keeping track of this movie, but noticing it in the video store this weekend, I decided to watch it. In Knight and Day a secret agent is working covertly to protect a young genius and his invention while being hunted by various people and agencies.  Amidst the chaos, double agents, and underground agendas is June, an ordinary girl who gets thrown into the mix and gets involved with the secret agent.

10 to 15 years ago, insanely large production budgets of over 100 million dollars were mostly reserved only for blockbuster action movies. While the action romantic comedy formula isn't new, following in the footsteps of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Knight and Day does very well in the romantic comedy narrative process amidst a storm of bullets. The movie combines elements of thrill, with entertainment, while keeping the action light enough to remain funny. Pace is pretty good, and there aren’t any overly slow or boring moments. A good deal of the scenes and stunts are over the top, contributing to the crazy factor of the movie; keeping things enjoyable throughout. If you’re looking for entertainment, you can’t go wrong with Knight and Day, which serves up both action and romantic comedy.

Normally people think of and talk of serious dramas when stellar performances come to mind. It is rare when excellence is identified and appreciated in comedy movies. Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz’s performances in Knight and Day are simply amazing, leaving practically nothing to question or criticize. The energy that they bring to the movie is key in keeping it fun, while the genuine character portrayals help the audience in relating to their roles. Cruise plays Roy Miller who is just too good to be true; you may question his character for a bit, but after that expect to find him nothing short of dreamy. June Heavens played by Diaz is so seemingly everyday and ordinary, but before she knows it, her mix-up with the secret agent transitions from chaos to fondness. Similarly audience attachment is bound to grow as the narrative progresses, culminating in the June Heavens character being super adorable.

After the recent increase in theatre visits, it was back to the reliable formula of sampling a Region 1 US release DVD in the home theatre. Video was consistently good, color stayed vibrant, and picture crisp and clear. No post production color filters or hue’s were used. Being formatted for the big screen, expect the 16:9 version to appear with minimal horizontal letterboxing on a home widescreen TV. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack. Dialog was clear thanks to the center channel delivery, and action sequences were supported well by the overall sound effects. Surround stage usage wasn’t very noticeable, but was probably present and sufficient.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Mad, crazy, secret agent romance)

V: Season 1 - Thoughts

This one actually completely slipped through my radar, and I only got to know of it when I saw the DVD box set for sale in a duty free store in the Muscat airport. I made a note of it and did my research once I was back home. The limited buzz surrounding the show coupled with it being cancelled after 2 seasons leads me to believe that it wasn't exactly stellar. V - Season 1 opens with the arrival of The Visitors, a technologically advanced alien race, with a message of peace to all of humanity, though the possibility of a sinister ulterior motive being ever present.

Season 1 of the show had 12 episodes, each lasting around approximately 45 minutes. With very little idea of what expect, I got into it hoping it would be an engaging sci-fi experience, only to be somewhat let down. Considering the magnitude of what was happening and being presented, the overly polished, seemingly soft matte finish of the show made it a little lifeless. Agreed that the lack of true violence probably made it better suited for a larger audience group, but frankly V – Season 1 lacked the edge to be gripping. Aside from the obvious similarity with The 4400, that being a common cast member, there were a lot of parallels between the two shows. Some of the individual episode plots were weak, and seemed insufficient in the bigger scheme of the show and the alien presence on earth. If you’re big on sci-fi and just cannot have enough of it, V – Season 1 will work well, but otherwise with the multitude of television entertainment available, it’s unlikely that you’d want to invest as much time in it.

Elizabeth Mitchell of Lost fame plays FBI agent Erica Evans, the female lead and possibly the central character in the show. While I believe the dreamy character she played in Lost better suited her, she did a good job as the single mom balancing her career and raising her teenage son, in the midst of an alien invasion. Joel Gretsch of The 4400 fame plays Father Jack Landry, a man of strong value, forced to deal with extreme circumstances in testing times. Morena Baccarin plays Anna, the high commander of The Visitors. She does a pretty fabulous job of coming across as two faced, and it would be hard not to hate her character after a mere 1 episode.

Though the content I was sampling was an Mpeg 4 AVC rip, thanks to HD 720p specifications it was pretty decent. There was some video loss, with color vibrancy being average, and faded greys and beiges being more dominant; but that said the high resolution and the rip characteristics made it worthwhile. Picture was sharp, and definition was quite impressive in some scenes. Like most television shows formatted for 16:9 home widescreen TVs, the fit was perfect with no letterboxing. Sound was presented by means of a 5.1 Dolby Digital AC3 Surround track. Dialog delivery through the center channel was clear, and overall sound effects were decent. There was probably some surround stage usage, but nothing standout.

My Recommendation: Dicey (A relatively relaxed alien invasion)

Armored - Thoughts

I remember seeing the trailer for Armored a year or two ago and thinking it looked pretty cool. A friend of mine, who was seeing it with me, shared my sentiment. From the looks of it, it seemed like an action movie based on the events surround a heist of an armored car transporting money from a bank. I decided to catch this one on DVD, and finally got around to renting it and checking it out a few days ago.

Going by the trailer and its largely misguiding effect on my expectations, Armored turned out to be a bit of a letdown. First off, it’s not a fast paced action movie; the bulk of the narrative being quite slow. Many a time I found it to be dragging, and though the movie is just a mere 88 minutes long, it felt like a hell of a lot more. There are no thrilling on road chases and action sequences, which is largely what the trailer had me believe. In fact I was expecting circumstances similar to the final moments of The Italian Job; trust me, there’s none of that here. What Armored is, is a slow suspense flick, with action elements. From that perspective the movie is relatively competent. So if you’re in the mood for that, you’ll probably like it. If you’re looking for an edge-of-the-seat action joyride, you will be largely disappointed.

The cast of Armored is pretty capable, and that is perhaps one of the successes of the movie. The lead role of Ty Hackett is played by Columbus Short. Going by his filmography his efforts look to be minimal, with mostly small supporting roles in other movies. He does admirably in Armored, portraying effectively, a quiet nature coupled with good values. Amidst a group of heavy hitters including Laurence Fishburne, and Matt Dillon who do well as expected, there is a nice contrast of character that comes through.  Also part of the cast are popular TV actors, Amaury Nolasco playing Palmer (of Prison Break fame), and Milo Ventimiglia playing Eckehart (of Heroes fame).

The DVD I was sampling was a Region 1 US release; video was clear, though not outstanding. There was a dull look to the picture which was consistent throughout. The indoor and night scenes thus felt a bit dark. There were no vibrant or bright colors, and some scenes favored browns. The soundtrack was a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track, which was pretty good. Dialog being clear and surround stage usage noticeable in several scenes.

My Recommendation: Watch It – (a low key bank heist flick)

The Hunger Games - Thoughts

A couple of months ago I downloaded and watched the teaser trailer for The Hunger Games. For someone who knew nothing about the movie, and had no backstory, it didn’t really catch my attention. The next I heard of it was about a month ago when a friend who had read the book said we should see the movie once it opens in the theatres. Based on what he said, it sounded like a sufficiently interesting premise, surrounding a fight to the death sort of televised sport, set in a post-apocalyptic future.

While neither the post-apocalyptic setting, nor the televised ‘battle to the end’ idea are new, The Hunger Games packages and presents it nicely, thus making it distinctive. The movie is broken out into the buildup to the actual event, which provides some sense of setting, and then goes into the actual challenge. So it’s not all action and adventure, and does have a decent deal of drama and character development. With a runtime of over 2 and a half hours, pace has been managed well, keeping the momentum continuous, and delicately holding on to audience attention. The contrast between the districts and the obnoxious lengths of depravity that human beings can go to is captured well, serving somewhat as a cynical reality check. While the carnage isn’t as intense as some of the other last man standing themed movies, The Hunger Games isn't appropriate for the faint of heart. Though I’m told the movie doesn't do justice to the book, viewed independently it’s certainly worth the watch. If you’re into fiction, and enjoy action adventure themes, you’ll probably find The Hunger Games refreshingly fun.

Katniss Everdeen is probably the only name you need to really make note of in The Hunger Games. Just about every other role, including those played by relatively well known and acclaimed actors such as Donald Sutherland, and Stanley Tucci are only supporting characters in the narrative. The role of Katniss is played by Jennifer Lawrence, probably known from her role as Raven / Mystique in X-Men:  First Class. Considering the pivotal requirement of her character in The Hunger Games, she does astoundingly well, as the rough around the edges, street smart girl from a small town, new to the glitz of upscale society. Her efforts as an athlete are again portrayed believably, not coming across like a stretch in anyway.   Also worth mention are Josh Hutcherson who plays Peeta Mellark and Lenny Kravitz who plays Cinna.

I watched this one in the theatre, and the digital video experience was pretty impressive. Picture was clear throughout, and definition was good even in the darker scenes. The futuristic and extravagant presentation of the Capitol was outstanding, in a wondrous fabricated utopia way. Sound was probably a 7.1 Dolby mix, but it’s hard to tell for sure.  That said, dialog was perfect, and the sound effects accompanying the movie were all on point. Being seated towards one of the sides, my opportunity for surround sampling was limited. In my honest opinion the best sound experience is in that ideal seat in a home theatre, and not in a large commercial theatre. It’s probably got to do with the acoustics of a medium sized room as compared to a large room built for several hundred folks.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (A refreshing spin on a post-apocalyptic future)

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - Thoughts

I saw a trailer of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance a couple of months ago and thought it was okay. I don’t remember it being memorable, and the plot wasn’t very evident from it either. From having seen it recently, the sequel starts a few months/years after the first installment, and sees Johnny Blaze being recruited to help prevent a sinister plan, which has something to do with a little boy, and his kidnapping.

From what I remember of the first installment, while I found it simplistic yet fun, most people criticized it, and deemed it a waste of time. That backdrop coupled with the average trailer didn’t set much in terms of expectations for the sequel. Surprisingly Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance did pretty well, succeeding in coming across a lot more serious. The first movie had a very casual feel to it, while this one was a lot more gripping, allowing for the darkness of the Ghost Rider character to come through well. The inner struggle that Johnny Blaze was dealing with was a lot more evident. Right from the get go, the plot was riveting, with a certain amount of suspense as the story unfolded. Needless to say in true Ghost Rider fashion the action sequences and special effects were pretty cool; a department that the franchise has consistently succeeded in. While my friends who watched the movie with me did talk of a few glitches in the narrative, none of them were overly glaring. On the whole an entertaining comic book action flick!

Nicholas Cage who played Johnny Blaze, a.k.a. The Ghost Rider did a good job, certainly taking things a few notches up since the first movie.  He came across as lost, consumed, and having to deal with an inner battle, as the days passed. Violante Placido played Nadya, the female lead and mother of the little boy whom the plot revolved around. While she wasn’t nearly as hot as Eva Mendes, she did make up for it, looking and acting the part of an everyday caring mother. Fergus Riordan played Danny, the central character to the plot. His portrayal was pretty decent; acceptable though nothing special to talk about. Idris Elba played Moreau, a vital addition to the team, contribution nicely to the overall narrative, while making a strong and convincing showing.

I watched Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in the theatre, video being clear and impressive. Colors were vivid, with the black of the Ghost Rider coupled with the orange flames appearing onscreen contrastingly. The implementation of 3D in the movie was quite limited, and though noticeable from time to time, it was largely forgettable. Watching a 2D version would work just as well. Sound was presented by means of a multi-channel surround soundtrack and was on point. Dialog was clear, but a little on the softer side, which made it difficult to hear every word when annoying folks in the audience would talk amongst themselves. Positional sound was decent, and sound effects were pretty good.

My Recommendation: Watch It - (A gripping dark Ghost Rider!)

Death Race 2 - Thoughts

I quite enjoyed the original Death Race, and recall checking out the trailer for Death Race 2 when it became available. Death Race 2 was to serve as a prequel, creating the background and building up to the events of the original Death Race; additionally providing insight to the original Frankenstein character. That said it looked like an attempt to expand on the franchise with amateur talent.. Since I wasn’t in any particular rush, I only got around the renting the DVD and checking it out last night.

Death Race 2 is a pretty straight forward action flick, going about doing exactly what was expected from the plot. Getting into it I did have some concerns of it being a low budget b-grade expansion, but it was pretty decent. The action sequences were good, and the plot acceptable. Don’t go into it expecting any twists and surprises, as there aren’t any. The development of the ‘Death Race’ concept and the characters is done well, with overall franchise continuity being quite impressive. The in car action sequences seemed weaker when compared to the original Death Race. If you’re looking for a fun action flick Death Race 2 will do well, but if you’re looking for something unique, special, or gripping, you won’t find it here. A friend described it well when she said she had some time one evening and watched it on cable and found it to be casual and entertaining.

After having seen several extremely mediocre franchise expansion flicks, with multiple additional installments, every subsequent one being worse than its predecessor, I was quite apprehensive.  Thankfully Death Race 2 didn’t suffer this curse. Though most of the relatively well known cast members such as Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo, and Sean Bean only played supporting roles, the not so renowned leads did a decent job. Luke Goss plays Carl Lukas, the strong on morale, tough guy, getaway car driver. He comes across as calm, and thus you don’t get too much of the usual action hero attitude in your face, which is a refreshing change. Though I have not seen any of his past work, it looks like his filmography consists of a good deal of TV movies. Tanit Phoenix plays Katrina Banks, the bad girl, partner and wingman of Lukas. Her role is quite stereotype, and her performance is about acceptable at best.

The DVD I was sampling was a region 5, India release. Out of a lack of options I was forced to opt for this. Limitations included a 4:3 pan and scan format that resulted in vertical letterboxing on a widescreen TV. The worst part was the edited/cut scenes, which is not ideal for anyone who intends to view the movie in its original form as decided by the production studio and director. Video was okay, but seemed a little dull and lacking vibrancy in most scenes. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, and was mastered pretty loud. Surround usage was decent, and action sounds effects were as expected of any of the current day action flicks

My Recommendation: Watch It - (A straight forward yet entertaining prequel)

Rules of Engagement: Season 1/2/3 - Thoughts

A friend of mine recommended this show to me, and while I may have heard of it, I was honestly quite vague about it. After being repeatedly told that it was hilarious, I decided to download it and give it a watch. The show focuses on two couples, and their single friend; each episode covering the situational comedy resulting from their respective relationships.

 I usually review just 1 season at a time, but with Rules of Engagement having a really short first 1, and also thanks to its easy going nature, I decided to collectively watch a few seasons and review them together. Additionally, the first noticeable style change I noted was when I got to Season 4; so clubbing the first 3 seasons of 34 episodes made sense. As episode 1 of season 1 opens, audiences may get the feeling that Adam and Jennifer are the main couple, but as the episodes progress you will realize that the binding piece of Rules of Engagement is Jeff and Audrey. I would go as far as say that the second couple is thrown in there just as an addon to the strong Jeff – Audrey dynamic; similar to the addition of Russell’s over the top single player character. The show is light and fun, and great to relax and watch. Sadly it is not very gripping, and seldom did I find myself eagerly gunning to watch a second episode back to back. The overall setting seems a bit dated, but signs of age are by no means a negative. If you’re looking for easy fun entertainment, you’ll enjoy Rules of Engagement; but rest assured missing a few episodes will not hurt any.

The secret to Rules of Engagement being as enjoyable is Jeff and Audrey. Jeff is played by Patrick Warburton who is the stereotype husband of more than 10 years. He is super funny, and portrays the character brilliantly. Though I’m not familiar with any of his past work, his filmography looks to be pretty extensive. Audrey played by Megyn Price is the perfect match for Jeff, and together their chemistry is wonderful. To be honest there is very little I can think of to better the Jeff – Audrey dynamic. Adam is played by Oliver Hudson who is extremely convincing at being the totally dumb young boyfriend. In keeping with Adam’s character is Jennifer, played by Bianca Kajlich, his pretty yet silly young girlfriend. Last but not least is Russell played by David Spade; the funny little man, who is so totally single and in bachelor forever mode. Kudos to all the performances on Rules of Engagement, as all the cast members live and breathe their roles, down to the T.

The content I was sampling was a lossy DivX rip. Each episode weighed in at 175 MB, for approximately 21 minute episodes. Bitrate and compression seemed okay, but video lacked color vibrancy. Considering that Friends looked a lot like this, I would presume that the source content favored warm colors and browns, and wasn’t very vibrant to start with. Sound was presented by means of a 2 channel mp3 soundtrack, but served pretty well. Dialog was clear and I doubt the program was mastered with much more than a stereo mix.

My Recommendation: Watch It - (Fun, but not necessarily special)

The Book of Eli - Thoughts

The Book of Eli either missed my radar, or didn’t intrigue me enough for me to make note of. Shortly after its release a friend watched it in the theatre and said that it was literally the pits. Months later I saw a trailer of it, and it didn’t seem too bad. During one of my recent video store visits I saw it under the action movie section and decided to rent it. From the trailer The Book of Eli looked like a post-apocalyptic story of a secret book and its lone protector. 

For those who have seen the movie, and have had the patience to watch it through to its end, I’d be lying if I said it was extremely interesting. While there are a few decent action sequences, there are several slower moments when the movie tends to drag. The lack of a good backstory and rationale to the post-apocalyptic setting in my opinion is one of the short comings of the flick. That coupled with the vagueness of the whole ‘secret book’ drama results in largely alienating the audience. With its nearly 2 hour runtime, it takes some effort to get to the end with your curiosity intact. That said, the movie is a little more rewarding and worthwhile, assuming you make it to the end successfully. I would recommend the The Book of Eli only if such themes appeal, but otherwise its channel surfing material for most part.

The weaknesses of the movie aside, Denzel Washington does a fine job as Eli. His portrayal of the character is convincing, both the serious mature personality aspect as well as the rugged warrior piece. Similarly Gary Oldman as Carnegie fits the bill of the powerful corrupt town head, comparable to a villain out of the Wild West. Mila Kunis plays Solara, the female lead, and a younger daughter figure sorta character to Eli. She brings to the screen her usual bold personality, in the form of a younger woman, yet to experience much of the outer world. Performances all round were pretty good.

The DVD I was sampling as in most cases was a Region 1 US release. Picture was clear, but the post production color filter added was largely annoying. While it set the visual for a color devoid environment, after the first 10 minutes it lost its charm. The sound was quite a mixed bag, as dialog at times became too soft. Characters would whisper their lines, and then suddenly they would raise their voices or scream. Overall it required for a lot of adjusting of the volume. Surround usage was quite a bit, and this was one of the movies successes. Many of the scenes had noticeable positional sound, and this added to the overall experience. The soundtrack sampled was a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround.  

My Recommendation: Dicey (A vague post-apocalyptic plot that’s hard to relate to)