Park51, a name that does not ring a lot of bells in the American psyche. But what if I were to say “9/11 Mosque”? Does that conjure up images of New Yorkers and Americans rallying together to stop the construction of an Islamic center just blocks from the site of the Twin Towers? Polarizing and a view into the window of religious dialogue and tolerance, Building Babel is an appropriate title to a film that shows the monumental task of courting controversy and believing in what you do.
The collapse of the American dream is happening right now. Detropia was one of the most evocative and haunting documentaries I caught last year at True False Fest and now that it is available for streaming on Netflix, this is a documentary I have to bring up. We see it everyday on television, we see in our city and community, and I might not be effecting us directly, but I can assure you that this is something can and probably will happen to us sooner or later. Detropia is documentary that shows the aftermath of the collapsing American dream. It’s focus, Detroit, a city that was a bustling mecca for automobile makers, the burgeoning middle class and the effects of a collapsing economy when the jobs move overseas, the government becomes broke and a city is on the cusp on folding up. This is about as real as it can get.
God I am having one of those days where I just need a loud, senseless movie to just escape into and wouldn’t you know it, here we go. A movie that brought together so much manliness, explosions, blood, and a cobbling of all the action movies in existence, The Expendables 2 was enjoyable in the way that I enjoy Commando or Demolition Man or that one movie where Van Damme plays twins who fight some sort of drug lord cause that was the thing you did in the early 90s. This wasn’t a great movie by means, but satiated that need to see wonderfully over-the-top violence and action scenes.
I will admit, I was a little displeased as to how both of The Expendable movies turned out. The story was crap, didn’t care much about the characters and too many callbacks and in-jokes between the characters that harkened to their previous roles. Then again, I am watching an action movie that is supposed to be a throwback to the uber violent 80s and 90s action movie which is where most, if not all the stars found their fame in. The movie is just fun to watch in the brainless sense, so take it at face value with this movie. It is fun to see all these action stars in one place, just wiping out armies that could probably occupy a medium size country and the winks to the audience can be a bit charming if not serve to remind you that you are watching a ridiculous movie.
I can’t hate on it too much, since I did give it a middle of the road score. I knew what I was getting into and frankly that is all I can ask for with this movie. Loud explosions, lots of grunting, plenty of action and nothing else.
Below is a snippet from my original review and a link to the whole thing. Enjoy!
The story of The Expendables 2 see’s….you know what, fuck it. Who honestly gives a shit about the story for this movie? I am sure that Stallone sat down and pulled out his signature designed, limited edition Montegrappa Pen entitled “Chaos” and churned out a story by cobbling together all the plot and story points from past films. A little Rambo here, a sprinkle of Commando there, some Hard Target right in this area and then a climatic orgy of bullets and explosions. He sent that script to the studio’s, they pass out from sensory overload and Stallone took the script, loaded a shotgun full of his Montegrappa Pens and shot that script to shit. Seriously, I can’t stop talking about this pen cause it’s pretty much the greatest thing in the world that he had to show it off in the movie itself. I mean, fucking look at it!
Who’s ready for a second serving of some Breakin’? I know I am and this time the trailer basically spells it out for you that if you like the first one, you will love this sequel. Isn’t it great that the trailer is telling you the audience how to feel about all of this. Then it even goes on to explicitly state that this is one of the finest films to be released from the Cannon Group. What the hell? I don’t think I see most companies having one signature speak for all of the production/distribution companies. Anyways, whatever, Breakin’ 2 is just more of the same, but more and more dancing!
Everyone knows that Chuck Norris’ chief export is pain. So buckle the fuck up cause he is going to be delivering a whole boatload of pain in one of the most kick ass action flicks out there, all due to the fine folks at Cannon and Golan Globus films. It’s Invasion USA!!!
Ah the Cannon Group, a film company that’s only purpose to churn out mid to low grade movies with bottom of the barrel scripts and basically turning shit into unadulterated gold. They are the group responsible for movie like Bloodsport, Invasion USA, Breakin’ and Rockula. During the heyday of the 80s, they paired with Golan Globus to release one of the single most amazing prison films ever made folks. I am talking better than any other prison movie that has been released or will ever be released. After the jump you will see why.
So good and campy that I had to go ahead with the second one in the franchise. I certainly won’t be pushing any praise on that craptastic third Blade film, Blade Trinity, cause fuck that sucked. No I want to go into the often crapped on, but ultimately pleasing sequel to the breakout hit Blade with the sequel directed by Guillermo Del Toro. Yeah, he ended up making a wildly satisfying flick that gave us more of what made the original fun to watch, but neglected to give us anything in terms of plot, dialogue, or anything else that could have made this flick. But fuck all that, lets get to the Daywalker goodness of vampire hunting.
So Wesley Snipes got out of prison this past week, which means a Blade 4 or whatever is probably going to be in the works as we speak. Now I liked the first two Blade pics, not the last one with Ryan Reynolds and something about a super vampire or whatever, but the Blade series has always been this campy, fetish style horror, action flick that delivered on what it wanted and that is about all you can ask for. I am not looking for something deep or prophetic, just Blade going around town, killing vampires, playing techno music and always betting on black.
I will tell you what, I have said before about Tom Hanks and 80s movies, but they don’t make them like they used to anymore. You got your Project X, Hangover, and that one movie 21 and Over which was exactly like the Hangover, but nothing will ever really compare to the debauchery of a young Tom Hanks just fucking killing it in this comedy flick. Bachelor Party is pretty much “the” party movie that others need to live up to. Sure you got Animal House, but that is the movie which defines college life/college comedies/college parties. Bachelor Party, that is a fucking great comedy movie with some of Hanks’ best work.
Tonight I have a friends bachelor party, so this is a short update but at least I am able to give you the movie of the day today. If you have never seen it, I suggest you watch some classic Tom Hanks movies. For me, while his later stuff is phenomenal, something about young Hanks just being a comedic genius and a versatile actor that go from comedy to drama, he can shift from those roles with ease and frankly, I just love this damn movie. Check it out folks and have a good night!
