12 Rounds

12 Rounds 2009
Director: Renny Harlin
Writer: Daniel Kunka
Starring John Cena, Ashley Scott, Aidan Gillen, Steve Harris, Brian J. White, Gonzalo Menendez, Taylor Cole and Kyle Russell-Clements

Action films and wrestlers are a combination that do not work too often. For every film like They Live you get 5 films like Suburban Commando. I had really enjoyed John Cena's first film The Marine and I was hoping 12 Rounds would amp it up, but it did not. At it's best it is a poor mans version of Die Hard With A Vengeance and at it's worst it can sometimes be boring. The main problem with the film was the here spent too much time reacting and not enough time acting. There also, was not enough one on one action scenes, this film moved more like a disaster film, moving from disaster to disaster and not having each scene really connect with all the to hers. It was sort of like just a movie where a bunch of stuff happens. Though it was good to see Cena in action again and it also seems that Ashley Scott is the go to girl for the female lead in wrestler's action movies after both this and Walking Tall.
The plot basics are this, Danny Fisher (Cena) is a policeman who stops a terrorist, Miles Jackson (Gillen) and his girlfriend (Cole). The girl tries to make a run for it and is hit and instantly killed by a car. Miles swears revenge on Danny before he is carted off to jail. Flash forward a year later and Danny has a good life as a police detective, thanks to his collaring of Miles. But, Miles reappears and blows up Danny's house and abducts his wife and demands that Danny goes through a gauntlet of challenges, that will take 12 rounds and if he is lucky he may survive long enough to rescue his wife (Scott). As Danny gets more entrenched in the challenges it seems apparent that Miles is using revenge as a smoke screen and he has a very different conclusion in mind. This leads to a frenetic showdown on a helicopter and with his wife's life on the line, Danny will do whatever it takes to bring Miles run of terror to an end.
This is an entertaining film, though it does not add much new to the genre. Harlin's direction is good as always, but it seems he is just going through the motions. IT is pretty apparent that the film is basically a paint by the numbers action film, that is just having the hero going through the motions. Harlin does stage the action sequences well and they are exciting to watch. The script is adequate at best, most of the characters are stereotypical and they do not really try to add any depth to the characters, they just are what they are. Miles is really just a carbon copy of Simon from Die Hard With A Vengeance. The cast does a good job with what it has to work with. Cena is a commanding presence, though he does not have much to work with. Scott is a good damsel in distress and that is all that is required of her. Gillen, is very good as the smarmy villain, who has all the answers. Harris as the FBI agent tracking Miles is good and one of the bright spots of the film, because at first you do not know what side he is on and that actually makes you think for a bit, something this film doesn't ask much of the viewer. The action sequences are done dazzling well. Specifically the elevator scene and the scene on the bus is very gripping. Though , the bus scene was a bit too reminiscent of Speed. All in all, if you are not expecting much in your action films give this one a look, but if you want a good version of this idea watch Die Hard With A Vengeance instead.
This one gets 2 out of 5

The Last Starfighter

The Last Starfighter 1984
Director: Nick Castle
Writer: Jonathon R. Beteul
Starring Lance Guest, Catherine Mary Stewart, Robert Preston, Dan O'Herlihy, Barbara Bosson, Norman Snow, Chris Hebert, John O'Leary and Vernon Washington

There are certain films you grow up watching that lose their luster as you get older, but there are some that get better as you get older. The Last Starfighter is one of the latter. It is just one of those films that make you feel good as you watch it, with its rousing score and exciting space dog fights, it is a film that just gets better with each viewing. It also has a tremendous cast for the film that really puts it head and shoulders above some of the other SF films of the time. IT was one of the first films to use computer generated effects well, and the SFX in the film still look good by today's exacting standards. It is funny I cannot stand the film Tron, but This film is one of my favorites and even though I just watched it I could put it on and watch it again. It is just amazing sometimes how you react toward a film, re watching it sometimes is like visiting a old friend.
The plot basics are this, Alex Rogan is a young man who seems to be stuck in a trailer park with his dreams of going to college and building a better life dashed. His only outlet seems to be a video game at the park that lets him air out his grievances. He beats this game and he soon finds out that the game is actually a test to recruit new fighters for a real intergalactic battle. Alex meets Centauri (Preston) the creator of the game and enlists him to fight the tyrannical Xur )Snow), but Alex is not ready for that. He makes Centauri return him to Earth, but soon sees that a alien bounty hunter is after him and after Centauri is gravely wounded he decides to go back and fight Xur and when he gets there he discovers he is the only Starfighter left, along with his pilot Grig (O'Herlihy). They face overwhelming odds, but with the skill of Alex they may have a chance to beat Xur and his armada.
This is a entertaining and bravo inducing film. The direction by Castle is done expertly. The film has a light and deft touch to it, but also has great action sequences along with some emotional heartwarming moments. Castle balances all of these varied themes very well. The script is great too, the characters are very much alive and you really sympathize with Alex and Maggie's characters, and you hope to see them make it together at the end. The finest point of the script though, is the character of Centauri, he really steals the show in the film and is one of the most memorable things about the film. The cast is exceptional. Guest is great as Alex and really makes a sympathetic hero that you can empathize with. Stewart as Maggie is very good too, as the love interest who does not know what to make of all the strange goings on's. O'Herlihy as Grig is very boisterous and amusing and is a great addition to the cast. Preston as Centauri really steals the show as the slick salesman for the Alliance, and every scene he is in he really lightens up the screen. The SFX and effects are done very well, for this early stage of computer effects though somewhat rudimentary is done really well here. The space ship battles are riveting and a hell of a lot of fun to watch. The score by Craig Safari is the final ingredient in this film that really makes it soar. It is rousing and bombastic and you cannot help but hum it after the film is finished. This is a great SF adventure and highly recommended for fans of this type of space opera.
This one gets 5 out of 5

Command Performance

Command Performance 2009
Director: Dolph Lundgren
Writers: Steve Latshaw and Dolph Lundgren
Starring Dolph Lundgren, Melissa Ann Smith, Hristo Shopov, Dave Legeno, Zahary Baharov, Clement von Franckenstein, Ivaylo Geraskov, Shelly Varod, Kataryzna Wolejnio, Ida Lundgren, Robin Dobson, Raicho Vasilev, Slavi Slavov and James Chalke

Dolph Lundgren has always been one of my favorite action stars and I think one of the most underutilized and ignored ones. My fave films of his are I Come In Peace and Showdown in Little Tokyo. It had been a long while since I had seen any of his recent films and I saw a trailer for this one and it looked like it could be a good one. And thankfully, it really was. This had a very 80's throwback style to it and some of the best one liners in a action movie sine The Last Boy Scout. The action is pretty brutal and the story flows fast so you never have much time to rethink the film, just to enjoy the carnage that is thrust upon you. From the first kill by Lundgren in the bathroom, you are hooked until the final throw down between Lundgren and the heavy. This is a man's action movie and it makes no qualms about it.
The plot basics are this, in Moscow a charity concert is being thrown that will have the Russian President Petrov (Shopov) and his daughters in attendance. The main attraction is American pop sensation Venus (Smith). There is also a smaller rock band that has a drummer, Joe (Lundgren) with a dark past. Everything starts off well till armed extortionists take control of the stadium and hold the Russian President and Venus captive. This causes Joe to team up with a young F.S.B. agent to try to take control of the situation. Everything is not as black and white as it appears though, as the lead hostage taker (Legeno) has a bloody past with the President and will stop at nothing to get his payment in blood. It will all come down to a stand off between Joe and the vengeance seeking terrorist, but who will prevail?
This is a excellent action film. The direction by Lundgren is expertly done. He sets the mood of the film early on with a flashback sequence and then thrusts you full steam ahead into the action. The fight scenes are cut fast and quick but without being too distracting. The script is good, it gives the viewer just enough cause to root for Joe and his dilemma and I especially liked how they used the characters aversion to guns to get more creative with the terrorist take down scenes. The buddy cop relationship between Joe and the agent was very matter of fact and fun to watch progress as well. The cast is very good, Lundgren as always does a great job of playing the flawed hero, who has issues but is till able to make the right decision. Legeno was very good as the heavy, you really got to hate him and could not wait till Lundgren took him out. Smith was very able and sexy as the American pop star, and you hoped she would survive the experience. The action sequences are done very well, and are never lasting too long, but just long enough to get it done. The best one was the fight in the bathroom, I saw that scene and said "Hell, Yeah!" That is when I knew I would dig this movie. For fans of old school 80's action, I would highly recommend this one.
This one gets 4 out of 5