I’m not in the habit of comparing two new movies such as these, but Push has really picked a fight with Taken. A fight it can’t win. Taken was released first and so I’ll start with it, move on to Push, and then compare the two. I promise, this will make a little more sense in a moment.
Taken. A nonstop action/drama. Mostly action though. It stars Liam Neeson, who is one of the greatest action actors out there. Unfortunately, some of his best characters don’t last 30 minutes in the film. Luckily for everyone, Bryan Mills survives the entire film. The plot, is of course, about someone being taken. The someone is Bryan Mills’ daughter while she is touring Europe on her first top in Paris, France. She is taken by the worst sort of villainy and Bryan ( a former spy-like character ) kills whoever it takes to get her back. This is an extraordinary amount of people as it turns out. It was very reminiscent of a Charles Bronson movie where everyone is a bad guy and deserves to die, and die they do. It is a first class men’s action movie. There isn’t much else to be said, without giving away the movie. But it is definitely a must see in theaters.
Push. A movie that claims it is the “first action movie of ‘09″. The people that wrote that tag-line haven’t seen Taken. Push stars Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning opposite Djimon Hounsou in a hidden world scenario. The main plot revolves around telekinesis and clairvoyancy and how an old government agency is trying to harness this as a weapon. It’s pretty trippy, and they’re are some parts that are a little over the top. All in all, I liked it. Don’t walk into this thinking it’s the “first action movie of ‘09″ though. It’s more of a sci-fi/kung fu movie. Go into it as such and prepare to be rewarded greatly. If that’s your thing, go see it in theaters. Can’t recommend it to everybody though, but what I can recommend is that you rent it or Netflix it.
On with the argument then. Push is mis-advertising itself and receiving terrible scores for it. It’s not a Joe Blow action movie. It shouldn’t want to be. It’s a great sci-fi/kung fu flick. Great I tell you. BUT! Taken is the first action movie of ‘09 and will probably be the greatest non-comic action movie of the year. Both of these movies are must see however, just use your own judgement.
I was very interested to see this movie, as it stars Daniel Craig. A man with the golden touch right now. So, of course, I went into the movie with some preconceived notions about the movie, based solely on his appearance. Do not do this, because you will be disappointed. You must go into this movie very open minded. It’s not just another World War II movie. It’s a very stirring story of violence, revenge, survival, and pacifism. It’s the retelling of the book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans. The true story of four brothers escape to the forests of Belarussia to keep from being killed or captured by Nazis or their own countrymen. They soon begin banding together with more and more fellow Jews until they have a small community in the forrest. They are constantly plagued by internal strife, sickness, hunger, and the elements.
One warning, lots of subtitles. I’d say about one third to half of the movie is in another language.
My overall rating on this film is that it is a must-see. If you’re looking to watch a movie in theaters this week, and Vampires vs. Werewolves isn’t for you, then this movie is for you. If you’re not sure if the setting is right for you, I highly suggest adding it to your netflix queue once it’s available, or renting it from a local rental store.
If you haven’t seen any of the other Underworld movies, I’m sure you’ve at least heard that Rise of the Lycans is a prequel. It is. However, don’t think that you can go watch it first. It doesn’t work like that. The new movie plays on elements we’ve already seen in the other two films. You would feel lost like last year’s Easter Egg if you watch Rise of the Lycans and then Underworld. You’d be scratching your head after Underworld wondering whatever happened to Tannis. (my favorite character of the series) The movie is a great movie by itself, which is shocking. It’s an even better movie if you’ve seen Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. It seems much more like Braveheart than Romeo and Juliet, like many other reviews claim, but for all the praises I’m giving it there’s one thing to remember: It’s really just Vampires vs. Werewolves. If that doesn’t interest you, then you might find this movie sub-par, at which point I’ll guarantee you it does have a love story. Yes, a love story. Not a lust story. The two main characters fight for their love instead of making it all film. This is good.
Now, back to Vampires vs. Werewolves. Lots of action, special effects, blood, and battle sequences. Some of the effects are the best I’ve seen. (period) As far as the series go, this film has the best effects. How I define a good special effect is one that enhances the mood and story and makes the world we’re viewing more believable. A special effect should never steal the scene. And so, this film has some of the best effects.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you will enjoy this film as it has something for everybody. If you like Vampires vs. Werewolves. But who doesn’t?
Having loved their self-titled album, I had to give the newest one a spin as soon as it was available for listen. I listened to the preview on good ole myspace.com after midnight. If you’re not familiar with Franz Ferdiand, I wouldn’t suggest the new album. It’s just not main stream enough for just anybody to grab on to. With that being said, it is such a good album. I’m afraid the first two or three tracks will scare people off. They are quirky and odd, which is a part of their appeal. I think that musically, this album isn’t much different. Which is fine, these guys have such great talent. Lyrically, however, these guys are on fire. Great hooks and meaning behind the chorus’. If you have time, head over to myspace.com/franzferdinand and be sure to listen to Track 10: Lucid Dreams and Track 03: No You Girls Never Know.
If you’re already a fan of the band, the CD is a must have. If you’re listening to bands like Modest Mouse or Travis, pick this album up.