REVIEW: I met the real agent ‘Argylle,’ I wish I hadn’t

“Argylle” is a film that could have spent more time on the drawing board, because on the big screen, it’s just wasting other peoples’ time.

In the film, Argylle is the titular character of a spy novel series written by the introverted Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard). The author is working on her latest book, but is running into a bit of writer’s block.

A bigger problem comes along in the form of a group of men trying to capture Elly, though, as the books she’s written have actually been rather prophetic when it comes to real world espionage. Her only protection is a secret agent, Aidan (Sam Rockwell), who defends Elly and leads her to where she can uncover the truth about the real Argylle.

Continue reading “REVIEW: I met the real agent ‘Argylle,’ I wish I hadn’t”

REVIEW: ‘The Beekeeper’ is a B-movie (in more ways than one) that delivers

The entire script of “Bee Movie,” but it’s just a review of the 2024 action film “The Beekeeper.”

Jason Statham stars as Adam Clay in this new film from director David Ayer. A simple man leading a quiet life, Clay keeps bees and lives on a farm owned by retired schoolteacher and charity organizer Eloise. Things get kicked off in the film when Eloise’s computer is hacked and she’s lured into a scam.

She not only loses her life savings, but the $2 million her charity managed. The situation causes her to take her own life and in the aftermath, Clay, who turns out to be a retired agent of an elite organization, sets out for revenge. During his quest, he learns the scamming system is run by powerful people with government ties.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Beekeeper’ is a B-movie (in more ways than one) that delivers”

REVIEW: Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon’ is a soulless sci-fi slog

This film was “Rebel Moon – Part One,” so a Part Two is surely on the way. Netflix can keep it, one was enough.

“Rebel Moon,” directed by Zack Snyder, unsurprisingly starts on a moon. More specifically, it’s a remote moon populated by small farming villages. One of those villages is where Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former soldier, is residing for a more peaceful life.

That life is upended, though, when a ship from the militaristic galactic empire arrives and demands the villagers produce rations for its army as its in the midst of a conflict with rebels. With a threat of violence if the demand is not met, a village farmer partners with Kora to find warriors throughout the galaxy to defend the community.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon’ is a soulless sci-fi slog”

REVIEW: ‘Aquaman’ sequel is generic superhero CGI slop

At last, we have come to the final chapter in the DCEU.

“The Lost Kingdom,” takes place  few years after Aquaman, AKA Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), became king of Atlantis and prevented a war between the ocean and surface worlds. Now a husband to Mera (Amber Heard) and father to a baby son, Arthur is trying to find a good balance between being a monarch and a dad.

At the same time, a threat emerges in the form of an old enemy, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen). After losing to Arthur in part 1, Manta is out for revenge and plans to do so with an evil trident. To stop the villain, Arthur partners with his brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson), who he defeated for the throne.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Aquaman’ sequel is generic superhero CGI slop”

REVIEW: ‘Nimona’ is an awesome animated adventure

Production issues nearly sidelined this film. Thank goodness it was revived and released on Netflix.

“Nimona” is set in a kingdom where the past meets the future. While the kingdom has all the makings of a medieval state in function, the movie is set in a high-tech world, with knights using hovercraft and advance technology.

The movie centers on one such knight, Ballister (Riz Ahmed), who finds himself framed for killing the queen of the kingdom. He meets an unlikely ally, though, in an unruly shapeshifter named Nimona (Chloe Grace Moretz) who has been shunned by the society at large for her abilities.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Nimona’ is an awesome animated adventure”

REVIEW: ‘The Killer’ is a brisk, finely crafted thriller

Director David Fincher has made another solid film on Netflix. Now here’s hoping he makes a third season of “Mindhunter” for the streaming service.

Let’s stick with his latest film, though. With “The Killer,” Fincher returns to the thriller genre, and gives audiences insight into the mind of an expert assassin. Playing the main character, who is only referred to as the Killer, is Michael Fassbender.

The film follows the character returning home from a job only to find someone close to him has been attacked. Knowing the perpetrators are still out there and could potentially strike again, the Killer sets out to eliminate the threats.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘The Killer’ is a brisk, finely crafted thriller”

REVIEW: Fourth ‘Expendables’ is an empty experience

The Expendables are back… Well, a few of them are. A lot of the cast from previous movies didn’t come back for this one, probably with good reason.

Still helmed by Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), the elite group of expendable mercenaries  are still taking on dangerous missions, but their latest adventure might have the highest stakes yet. The team is informed by the CIA that several nuclear weapons have fallen into the wrong hands.

To prevent any bombs from going off, the Expendables are hired to recover them and take out those behind the scheme. As part of the mission, they’re joined by some new mercenaries who offer additional combat skills.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Fourth ‘Expendables’ is an empty experience”

REVIEW: Latest ‘Equalizer’ offers adequate entertainment

Antoine Fuqua made the “Equalizer” trilogy. I watched the “Equalizer” trilogy. I guess the situation has been… equalized.

So sorry about that.

Denzel Washington returns as Robert McCall in “The Equalizer 3.” This time around, the semi-retired super agent finds himself wrapping up the takedown of a crime syndicate based in Sicily. While he’s successful in his bloody endeavor, he does get himself injured with a shot to the back. Eventually, as he’s leaving the area he falls unconscious.

Fortunately, he’s rescued by a passerby who takes McCall to a doctor in a small coastal village. The doctor cleans Robert’s wounds and helps him recover. During his time there, Robert finds peace in the charming town, but is troubled by the occasional presence of mafia members who harass local business owners.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Latest ‘Equalizer’ offers adequate entertainment”

REVIEW: ‘Blue Beetle’ is another below average DC outing

“Blue Beetle” was originally slated for a streaming release but was pushed into theaters. All things considered, maybe it should have stayed on the small screen.

Xolo Mariduena stars as Jaime Reyes in the film. A recent college graduate, Jaime returns to his home in Palmera City only to learn that his family’s house is on the brink of repossession. Wanting to help his parents, he looks for work, but only manages to get a cleaning gig at a mansion despite his degree.

That is where meets Jenny Kord (Bruno Marquezine), the niece of the woman (Suasan Sarandon) who runs a large military tech company. The main focus of the company is the Scarab, an alien technology giving the user an advanced armor. Knowing the dangerous implications of the tech, Jenny removes it from the Kord facility and entrusts it to Jaime.

Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Blue Beetle’ is another below average DC outing”

REVIEW: Vampire flick ‘Last Voyage of the Demeter’ disappoints

There have been many film adaptations of Bram Stoker’s classic novel “Dracula.” Adaptations of a single chapter, though? That’s a new one.

“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” is based on the chapter “The Captain’s Log” from Stoker’s 1897 book. In the film, the Demeter is a ship leaving Bulgaria helmed by Captain Elliot (Liam Cunningham). While the movie is narrated at points by Elliot who gives his thoughts on the development in his log, the film is centered on the character Clemens (Corey Hawkins).

A doctor looking to return to England, Clemens joins the crew of the Demeter which is sailing to Britain on a seemingly routine voyage. Along with the crew, the Demeter is carrying plenty of cargo, including a mysterious crate. As one would expect, the box contains the legendary vampire himself.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Vampire flick ‘Last Voyage of the Demeter’ disappoints”