Film Review: THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991)

Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans with Danielle Harris looking for some bad guys

The last of the kick ass action flicks from the early 90's. It seems action films today have been watered down and loaded up with too much CGI that make you appeciate films like this one even more. Last Boy Scout has it all: tough guy hero, bloody and violent action scenes, despicable bad guys, some hot babes running around, the sidekick who holds his own, and loads of humor. Bruce is excellent as the burnt out private detective Joe Hallenbeck. He teams up with ex-quarterback Jimmy Dix (Damon Wayans) to solve the murder of Jimmy's girl, a young Halle Berry. This leads to a gambling conspiracy that reaches very far. Bruce and Damon make one of the best teams in action films ever. They rough up bad guys and dispense with one liners galore. They definetly don't make them like this anymore and it makes me quite sad. Thank god for DVD and cable. And in case you wondering, Boy Scout still holds up today. Better than some of the so called action films being made today.

THE TOP TEN FILMS THAT I AM SO READY TO SEE IN 2012

These are the top ten films I am most anxious about to see in 2012. I'm hyped to see a lot more films but these ten are the ones I am really stoked about. And I think I may have a good shot at breaking my record of movies seen in theaters. I was on pace last year but sputtered out at 28 thanks to a soft fall/winter schedule. The record is 36, set so long ago back in 1992. Anyway, here are my picks for 2012. For a comic book and action enthusiast lover, this year is a dream come true.

Dwayne Johnson looking all bad ass as Roadblock for GI JOE 2

10.) G.I. JOE 2 - I thought the first GI JOE was a good enough action flick, but I think the sequel is poised to be even better. Two words: THE ROCK. And two more: BRUCE WILLIS. 


9. ) THE HUNGER GAMES - Futuristic yarn where young kids must battle each other to the death to stay alive. Oh yeah. count me in for this one.


8.) THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN - OK, so the first trailer was kind of under-whelming. Spidey did not look right, a little too CGI-ish. But I'm still excited for this one. It's Spider-Man for crying out loud. And we finally get to see The Lizard come center stage after being hinted at in Sam Raimi's original trilogy.


7.) THE HOBBIT - Finally the beginnings of Bilbo Baggins can finally be told. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite film series ever and I'm so ready for some new adventures with hobbits, elves, wizards, and monsters. 

The lovely Rosamund Pike..one of the reasons why Wrath of the Titans

will be better than Clash of the Titans

6.) WRATH OF THE TITANS - Damn, it just felt like last month when the first Titans movie came out. I liked that first one a lot, but this new one looks ever better. The effects look better and the action seems to be amped up to another level. This should be really good. Plus it has Rosamund Pike in it. She can never hurt a film's appeal.


5.) PROMETHEUS - The unofficial prequel to Alien is eagerly awaited as famed director Ridley Scott is at the helm. I know he has stated that this was in no way a new Alien movie, but the cat has been let out of the bag ever since the trailer premiered weeks ago. And I'm so cool with that. Bring it on Ridley!


4.)  THE BOURNE LEGACY - The action franchise gets a new player in Jeremy Renner who takes over as a different character. Renner who knocked audiences for a loop in the latest Mission Impossible movie and also stars in The Avengers is poised to become a major star.

HE'S BAAAAAACKKKKKK!

3.) THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - OK, we all know that Chris Nolan won't be able to top his masterpiece, The Dark Knight. But there's no denying that his third Bat film promises to go out with a bang. Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman join the mix as the villains. And Christian Bale returns as Batman. But look at the supporting cast: Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Leavitt and Matthew Modine. Stellar indeed!


2.) SKYFALL - Bond is back. And I'm so primed for this one. Daniel Craig returns for the third time and he's backed by the best cast for a Bond film ever assembled: Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris and the returning Judi Dench. The film is being talked about as a throwback to Goldfinger and From Russia With Love. Color me excited!


1.) THE AVENGERS - I have waited for this movie basically my entire life. A gathering of Marvel's biggest super-heroes in one movie: Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk and with good high quality actors like Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Renner. Oh yeah. I can't wait for this bad boy.

The Dream Team Assembled!

Ethan Hunt comes out of retirement for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3 (2006)

In preparation for the upcoming Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol hitting theaters in 5 days, I am re-watching the first three Impossible films. This is one of my favorite movie series and Tom Cruise is awesome as superspy Ethan Hunt.

Cruise returns for a third time as agent Ethan Hunt

In the third adventure, Ethan has actually retired from the spy game, occasionally teaching trainees how to be the best agent they can be. He has settled down and married a nurse named Julia (a fetching performance by Michelle Monaghan). Life is good until a former student of his, Lindsey (played by Keri Russell, who gets to flex some action skills for a change) is captured by some bad guys and must be rescued.

A rescue mission turns deadly

Hunt comes to her aid with his right hand man Luther (Ving Rhames, the only returning cast member from the first two movies), Zhen (Maggie Q) and Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). After a thrilling action sequence in Berlin, our team finds Lindsey but don't save her in time. Hunt makes it his mission to find the man responsible for her death. And that would be black marketeer Owen Davian (a super villainous turn by Philip Seymour Hoffman). Hunt and his team abducts Davian from the Vatican, of all places, to persuade him to tell them what the mysterious rabbit's foot is that Davian is trying to sell to a foreign power.

Philip Seymour Hoffman as bad guy Owen Davian

After a tussle or two, Davian escapes and now the tables are turned as he kidnaps Julia, forcing Ethan to return the rabbit's foot to him within 48 hours or Julia will die. Hunt is now a man on a mission.

Ethan and his beautiful wife Julia (played by Michelle Monaghan)

Mission Impossible 3 is my favorite of the series so far as it is loaded with cool action scenes and great performances by the entire cast. Notable action sequences include a super charged shoot-out on a bridge between the IMF team and Davian's men. And a high speed car chase through the streets of Shanghai. Cruise is perfect once again as Ethan, and even gets to show a more tender side as he is now a married man. Hoffman rocks it as the bad guy. A truly memorable performance. Laurence Fisburne is also top notch as IMF's new boss. Also look for Simon Pegg as tech guy Benji. All in all MI3 fires on all cylinders, never making a false step. And now I can't wait for Ghost Protocol when it hits theaters next week.
B+

Shoot out at the bridge

Ethan doing his thing

Maggie Q as Zhen

Ving Rhames as Luther

The IMF team striking a pose

Action Movie For The Day: THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) is a modern classic

In honor of Sir Sean Connery's birthday today, I am watching some of his films. Started with Goldfinger, his best outing as James Bond and now continuing with the 1987 film The Untouchables, which is one of the best movies ever made. Federal agent Elliot Ness (a young and eager Kevin Costner) is tasked to bring in crime boss Al Capone (an awesome Robert DeNiro) in 1920's Chicago. Joining Ness's task force are Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith and Sean Connery as tough Irish cop Jimmy Malone. Connery is terrific as the wily veteran and he deservedly won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. Costner is no slouch himself as the naive Ness, who gains experience from Malone. Of course DeNiro is just a powerhouse as Capone. The Untouchables is an exciting film with several thrilling scenes including the famous shoot-out at the train station. Also features a magnificent music score by the legendary Ennio Morricone. One of the surprise films of 1987 and one of my all time favorites.
A

Action Movie For The Day - Jack Colton and Joan Wilder return for more fun in THE JEWEL OF THE NILE (1985)

When friends get together....

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner return as adventurer Jack Colton and romance novelist Joan Wilder in The Jewel of the Nile, the sequel to their smashingly fun film, Romancing the Stone. Danny DeVito also returns as the meddlesome Ralph, a thief who crossed paths with the duo in Stone. Jewel of the Nile is a good if not great follow-up. The action moves from the jungles of South America to the African desert. Still there is plenty of action and humor as the trio still have wonderful chemistry. Douglas handles all the required stuff while Turner is engaging and sexy as ever. Devito gets most of the laughs. Stand-out sequences include a wild chase through the streets of a crowded town and a fight between Jack and a huge African tribesman. Plus you can never go wrong with the catchy theme song, When The Going Gets Tough as sung by Billy Ocean. I dare you to listen to the video below and not hum along.
B-

Jack has that look like..you have got to be kidding me...

The lovely Joan Wilder...

Ralph looking a little pissed...

Jack and Joan having a good time with their new friend Jewel...


The pair escape in a fighter jet....how cool is that

The lovely couple finally tie the knot...

Check out the video below of the theme song....
http://youtu.be/rcqWUSBoH4I

Action Movie For The Day - THE ROCK (1996)

Awesome movie. Sean Connery proves that he's still can kick some ass and Nic Cage is good in his first action role. Plus any movie with a line like "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f**k the prom queen" has to be good. The plot has a former marine general (Ed Harris) holding several hostages at Alcatraz Prison until his demands are met. Sean Connery is a former prisoner who successfully escaped from the Alcatraz and goes in with a team of Navy Seals to help diffuse the situation. Nic Cage is on hand as an FBI chemical specialist to handle the bad guys lethal rockets. The Rock is balls to the walls action from the word go.
B+

Ed Harris as General Hummel


Nicolas Cage trying to do the right thing...


Sean throwing down with some major firepower..




I always loved the trailer when the announcer hypes it up by saying.."This summer, Get ready to rock!" Awesome!

Action Movie For The Day - FIRST BLOOD (1982)

Had to go back and watch the original after watching the newest one. And it is amazingly still awesome. In fact, better than I remember. Stallone is perfect as John Rambo, a Vietnam war vet who while traveling cross country gets on the wrong side of a small town sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and his deputies. When the law pushes him, Rambo pushes back--hard. There are so many reasons why this is the best one of the series. I know the new one has way more carnage and blood and all that. But First Blood actually has a good story with great characters. Dennehy is wonderful as Sheriff Will Teasle, a no-nonsense guy who refuses to back down; Richard Crenna as the stoic Colonel Trautman, who comes very close to the William Shatner style of acting, and of course Stallone who delivers all the required muscle and efficency at killing but also provides some good acting. And compared to the new one, he is positively Chatty Cathy for his debut as Rambo. And that terrific music score. One of the best action films ever made. First Blood is awesome. A classic. And has some of the best quotes ever.

B

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Teasle: Are you telling me that 200 of our men against your boy is a no-win situation for us?


Trautman: You send that many, don't forget one thing.


Teasle: What?


Trautman: A good supply of body bags.

Action Movie For The Day - THE LAST SAMURAI (2003)

I know I haven't been posting my action movie for the day in about a week now. Sorry for that. But here to re-start things again is my favorite film from 2003. The Last Samurai.

My personal favorite film from 2003. It came out the same time as the last Lord of the Rings- The Return of the King. And I actually found Samurai to be the better film. With a solid performance by Mr. Cruise, an excellent story, and terrific action scenes The Last Samurai delivers. Ranks right up there with Braveheart and Gladiator.

Action Movie For The Day - THE HIDDEN (1987): A cool, sci-fi flick from the 80's

Cool 80's sci-fi/action flick about a mysterious FBI Agent (Kyle MacLachlan) arriving in LA to track down a serial killer with the help of veteran LA detective Tom Beck (Michael Nouri). But it seems the killer is not who he seems and once the fed lets Beck in on the secret..that they are actually hunting an alien who is jumping from body to body, the fun really begins. For an 80's flick, The Hidden holds up remarkably well. MacLachlan and Nouri make an effective odd couple duo and the action scenes are extremely exciting. A bonus is Claudia Christian as a stripper who is one of the bodies the alien uses for a little bit. She is a sight to behold, looking gorgeous but also deadly as she packs an automatic machine gun with grenade launcher. Car chases, shoot outs, cool music score, and a little humor make The Hidden a winner.

B+
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Man, she is packing some serious firepower..

Doctor: Detective Beck. No one deserves to die like that. I don't care what the man's done.


Cliff Willis: He killed twelve people, wounded twenty three more, stole six cars, most of them Ferraris. Robbed eight banks, six supermarkets, four jewelery stores and a candy shop. Six of the ones he killed he carved up with a butcher knife. Two of them were kids. He did all that in two weeks. If anyone deserves to go that way, it sure in the hell was him.

Action Movie For The Day - DOOMSDAY (2008)

Exciting throwback to the Escape from NY and Mad Max films of old. When a virus breaks out in Scotland, the entire country is quarantined from the rest of the world. Years later when the same virus breaks out in London, an elite unit led by bad ass Eden Sinclair (a tough Rhona Mitra) is sent into Scotland to find a cure. Of course the team runs into survivors of the virus who have become violent and cannibalistic. This film mixes the elements of Escape from NY and Mad Max and throws in some Resident Evil. Mitra kicks ass as Eden. She doesn't say a lot but she can throw down with the best of them. I enjoyed it.

B









 

Action Movie For The Day - DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971) Sean Connery returns as Bond after a one film absence

After a one film absence, Sean Connery returns as Bond and it's a nice welcome back. After a solid pre-credit sequence where Bond tears apart casinos and resorts looking for Blofeld, it becomes business as usual. For this mission, 007 goes undercover as a diamond smuggler to find out who has been stealing diamonds out of Africa to use for god knows what. Once again Connery is in top form as Bond, dispensing one liners as quick as he throws punches. Charles Grey makes an okay Blofeld. But Jill St. John is a sight to behold as Bond girl Tiffany Case-beautiful and tells it like it is. Forever has some cool action scenes and a nice change of pace having the film set in America, specifically Las Vegas. Not one of Connery's best Bond films, but it's still pretty good. And look for Natalie Wood's sister Lana as Plenty O'Toole, a fetching Bond girl.

B-


James Bond: "Weren't you a blonde when I came in?"
Tiffany Case: "Could be"
James Bond: "I tend to notice little things like that-whether a girl is a blonde or a brunette".