More films for Woovember challenges.
Dragon (2011 via DVD) - "Watch a film starring Jimmy Wang Yu"
I wrote about this in the Fu thread.
Mission: Impossible (1996 via DVD) - "Watch an action film starring Tom Cruise"
First time watching this since the cinema, I think. As a fan of the TV show, I was annoyed that they basically started with that format, then threw it all away to focus on Cruise. On a rewatch, I can see how they're trying to cut ties and start with something different. It's still a fun little conspiracy thriller, though. Funny how the highlight of this film is the vault hack and in the later films, Ethan Hunt is doing HALO jumps through storm clouds or hanging onto a plane taking off!
The Expendables 2 (2012 via Prime) - "Watch a film with Dolph Lundgren/Jason Statham"
I didn't like the first film because all the action was ruined with shakeycam. There's a lot less of that in the sequel, but it's such a poor film. About 20 mins in, my son asked what I was watching and if it was any good. "No" "Then why are you watching it?!"
Instead of seeing it as a modern action film, I readjusted to thinking of it like a fantasy action comedy and ended up having more fun.
On face value, though, it's a complete crock. Everyone uses their catchphrases for a joke and all the main heroes are invulnerable, standing in the open, muscles glistening as they empty their high-calibre machine guns in slow motion, every round hitting the enemies who are unable to hit the side of a barn door.
Plot predictability: "I'm the youngest of the group and am going to do one more mission before quitting and starting a new life with my French nurse girlfriend. I'm just going to pop this red shirt on..."
I'd probably say avoid, unless you want a drinking game or to laugh at it.
Virus (1980 via Plex) - "Watch a film starring Henry Silva"
I've seen this before but wanted to remind myself. I think I was expecting a load of post-apocalyptic high jinx, but most city scenes are shot with the camera pointing up, so you just see the sky.
In reality, it's pretty brave for a high-budget (Japan's highest at the time, it's rumoured), star-studded drama as it's pretty depressing. Think Threads or When the Wind Blows.
It is an interesting watch, seeing what disaster comes next, but also seeing a multinational cast interacting, plus seeing what effects they use.
I needed a cuddle after finishing it, though.
Mission: Impossible II (2000 via DVD) - "Watch a film directed by John Woo/starring Tom Cruise"
Interesting to see the change in pace. I reckon Cruise caught some clips of some Heroic Bloodshed and said "Get that guy to direct the sequel!"
Fun to revisit, but it's hilariously of its time with Limp Bizkit and Metallica on the soundtrack. The usual Woo tropes of two similar men but one good and one evil predicting each other's moves, both loving the same woman then fighting in slow-motion.
Ups the action ante, loads though! Just the introduction to Hunt is thrilling with him free-climbing a vertigo-inducing mountain before throwing his mission info Oakleys at the camera as they explode and the credits begin over a rock cover of Lalo Schifrin's classic theme.
I watched some of the extras and Cruise did looooads of stuff. The wire descent, base jump, motorcycle stunts and knife by the eye were all practical stunts performed by Cruise with a bit of movie magic.
Personally, after these two, the series reinvents itself and each film gets better.
My son preferred the original as there's too much smooching in M:I 2.
A Better Tomorrow II (1987 via Archive dot org) - "Watch a film directed by John Woo/starring Dean Shek"
Perfectly watchable, but a pretty unengaging plot, to be honest.
They also use the trope of the previously unmentioned twin to replace a dead character from the first film.
However, nobody was doing Heroic Bloodshed in the 80s like John Woo and you could just enjoy gifs of Chow Yun-fat being cool AF, like sliding down stairs, getting guns through windows and chucking grenades and not looking at the explosion.
Dragon (2011 via DVD) - "Watch a film starring Jimmy Wang Yu"
I wrote about this in the Fu thread.
Mission: Impossible (1996 via DVD) - "Watch an action film starring Tom Cruise"
First time watching this since the cinema, I think. As a fan of the TV show, I was annoyed that they basically started with that format, then threw it all away to focus on Cruise. On a rewatch, I can see how they're trying to cut ties and start with something different. It's still a fun little conspiracy thriller, though. Funny how the highlight of this film is the vault hack and in the later films, Ethan Hunt is doing HALO jumps through storm clouds or hanging onto a plane taking off!
The Expendables 2 (2012 via Prime) - "Watch a film with Dolph Lundgren/Jason Statham"
I didn't like the first film because all the action was ruined with shakeycam. There's a lot less of that in the sequel, but it's such a poor film. About 20 mins in, my son asked what I was watching and if it was any good. "No" "Then why are you watching it?!"
Instead of seeing it as a modern action film, I readjusted to thinking of it like a fantasy action comedy and ended up having more fun.
On face value, though, it's a complete crock. Everyone uses their catchphrases for a joke and all the main heroes are invulnerable, standing in the open, muscles glistening as they empty their high-calibre machine guns in slow motion, every round hitting the enemies who are unable to hit the side of a barn door.
Plot predictability: "I'm the youngest of the group and am going to do one more mission before quitting and starting a new life with my French nurse girlfriend. I'm just going to pop this red shirt on..."
I'd probably say avoid, unless you want a drinking game or to laugh at it.
Virus (1980 via Plex) - "Watch a film starring Henry Silva"
I've seen this before but wanted to remind myself. I think I was expecting a load of post-apocalyptic high jinx, but most city scenes are shot with the camera pointing up, so you just see the sky.
In reality, it's pretty brave for a high-budget (Japan's highest at the time, it's rumoured), star-studded drama as it's pretty depressing. Think Threads or When the Wind Blows.
It is an interesting watch, seeing what disaster comes next, but also seeing a multinational cast interacting, plus seeing what effects they use.
I needed a cuddle after finishing it, though.
Mission: Impossible II (2000 via DVD) - "Watch a film directed by John Woo/starring Tom Cruise"
Interesting to see the change in pace. I reckon Cruise caught some clips of some Heroic Bloodshed and said "Get that guy to direct the sequel!"
Fun to revisit, but it's hilariously of its time with Limp Bizkit and Metallica on the soundtrack. The usual Woo tropes of two similar men but one good and one evil predicting each other's moves, both loving the same woman then fighting in slow-motion.
Ups the action ante, loads though! Just the introduction to Hunt is thrilling with him free-climbing a vertigo-inducing mountain before throwing his mission info Oakleys at the camera as they explode and the credits begin over a rock cover of Lalo Schifrin's classic theme.
I watched some of the extras and Cruise did looooads of stuff. The wire descent, base jump, motorcycle stunts and knife by the eye were all practical stunts performed by Cruise with a bit of movie magic.
Personally, after these two, the series reinvents itself and each film gets better.
My son preferred the original as there's too much smooching in M:I 2.
A Better Tomorrow II (1987 via Archive dot org) - "Watch a film directed by John Woo/starring Dean Shek"
Perfectly watchable, but a pretty unengaging plot, to be honest.
They also use the trope of the previously unmentioned twin to replace a dead character from the first film.
However, nobody was doing Heroic Bloodshed in the 80s like John Woo and you could just enjoy gifs of Chow Yun-fat being cool AF, like sliding down stairs, getting guns through windows and chucking grenades and not looking at the explosion.
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