Movie Review - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

2015

The Cast

  

This is an all-out actionfest.  Right from the opening you've got Cruise (Ethan Hunt) holding onto the side of an aeroplane as it takes off - Bloody Nutter!  This in most films would be the top stunt; this, of course, is MI so it's just your opening salvo of insaneness.

It's the story which kinda lets it down.  These have now become secondary to the stunts, which I have to say are superb - and not too much CGI (except for the tech stuff, that is).  Here you have a secret organisation called The Syndicate (nope they don't rig the lottery).  But as "syndicate" describes a group working towards an aim, then the name is wrong as it turns out to be one man controlling his own mercenary army.  I think there would have been great scope had it actually been a syndicate with many heads like the hydra.

There are a couple of holes in the story though they are minor... except for the ending... just how did the bad guy NOT think the scenario would turn out this way.  Bit of a let down as he'd been ahead of Hunt and his team all through the film.  In fact, the way Lane (Sean Harris) manipulates people is pretty awesome and is a good plot builder and twist creator.  It's this element that keeps the story interesting.  But in the end, Hunt has to overcome... it's just a shame that the ending wasn't as twist orientated as the rest of the story.

I cannot fault the direction or the pace of the film, as McQuarrie, gives the audience an atmospheric and excitement filled rollercoaster ride of a movie.  He is great at filming the fight scenes and chases as well as the drama set-up acting scenes.  For example the car and bike chase between Hunt and Ilsa Faust (Ferguson).  When Hunt's car crashes he slows down the action to build tension... and then to build to a comical end to that scene, before revving up the torque to near maximum for the rest of the chase.

In fact, it's Rebecca Ferguson (Faust) that adds Kudos to the cast.  She gives a fantastic performance as a strong-minded and deadly woman who happens to be beautiful and sexy to boot.  She even has an air of secrecy and mystery to her.  You are never too sure about her or her motives.  This in some way is told by the story but a lot of it comes from Ferguson's portrayal of Faust.  This is one actress to watch.  She and her character really made this film for me.  It's nice to have a new strong character as we've gotten used to the others.  And to be honest when I see Cruise, Penn, Rhames, Renner and Baldwin I actually see them and not their characters as throughout the years they've become partially stereotyped.  Which is a shame as it's this that lets the film down slightly.  At least in MI III, the writers tried to give Ethan Hunt a deeper character, one with issues and problems - shame they didn't progress down that line.

I would happily recommend this to all lovers of Mission Impossible and action films alike.  There's not much you have to do as a viewer except sit back and enjoy... hopefully you'll make it to the edge of your seat a couple of times.

I give this an impossibly rip-roaring 7.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Brain Machine

The Brain Machine

1955

The Cast

To watch this film you have to remember it's set in the '50's and the idea at the start of the picture was revolutionary.  Using an ECG a couple of doctors are able to diagnose a person's mental health.  On one occasion they bring in a deranged killer to get a reading.  Then later, they have an accident victim who they scan for brain damage.  upon checking his scan they see he has some alarming similarities with the killer.  Before they can question him he leaves the hospital.  The story then starts to take a weaving path to its conclusion.

It's this path that makes the movie watchable as you wonder what's happening and what will happen next.  It's the pace of the movie and the acting which hinder the movie somewhat.  The bad guy, Frank Smith (Maxwell Reed) just doesn't have the aura of a psychopathic madman - he sure does know how to shout though.  It would have been a lot better had he run a gamut of emotions to show his mental breakdown.

I also liked the fact that the female Doctor Philippa Roberts (Elizabeth Allan) is a strong woman that knows and says her mind.  Unfortunately, she loses this confidence when she is kidnapped by Smith.  Again, this would have been great had she retained this and not regressed into screaming woman.  But this was made in the '50's so has their ideals.

I reckon this story would still make a good movie today, even a great one if the issues are addressed as I can still see the issues used in the story being relevant today.

If you like your old black and white mysteries, then you may like this.  But be aware, this is not the best of it's kind.  Definitely, one to watch when sick in bed... though remember to keep the remote handy for when things get shouty.

I give this an old average of 4.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Saint

The Saint

2017

The Cast

I have to admit that I enjoyed this take on Simon Templar.  I do agree with other reviewers that the TV series and the films haven't really got The Saint's personality and morality perfect.  This is a hard thing to do as each medium has limitations, but this is pretty close - and was probably meant to reflect Roger Moore's TV character rather than Leslie Charteris' original, and it comes near.  It's even nice that the better previous Templar's appear in the film.

What the writers, Jesse Alexander and Tony Giglio, also had to contend with was bringing the character up-to-date.  So enter a tech-savvy partner, Patricia Holm (Eliza Dushku), who can actually hold her own in a fight.  For me this is a good idea as it gives Templar somebody to work off and flirt with, lessening the sexist machismo, which you could get away with in the '60's.  The writers also totally blanked out the grey area of murder as an option by turning The Saint into a martial arts expert who loves his sleeper hold and knockout punches - if this had been made for English telly or by HBO or Fox then the murderous side of The Saint may have made it into the story.  Even when the helicopter crashes and explodes the bad guy walks away... however, there's a reason for this which is shown in a later scene.

Also, nowadays, people like conspiracies and more tangled webs of mystery... and this story has that.  Not only do we have Interpol and the FBI after The Saint there's also The Brotherhood - a shadowy alliance that was formed to destroy The Knights Templar.  Thought to be extinct, we learn that the Knights are still around and Simon's father was a member.  This and The Saint's latest case of a missing two and a half billion dollars are slowly revealed to be interwoven, though we are shown this pretty early on.

So there's a lot of story for your money in this little film and the director, Barbarash, does a great job of tying it all together with action, wit, and good acting.  I wasn't looking forward to watching this as I remembered the Val Kilmer tragedy (though a great theme track).  However, I was happy to be wrong.  This is an enjoyable and watchable film and I'd recommend this to all Saint fans.  It's different from the original - but it has to be - but it's not all bad... in fact, it's mostly good.

I give this rendition a saintly 7.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Vendetta For The Saint

Vendetta For The Saint

1969

The Cast

There's something about The Saint that I didn't like as a kid.  It could have been the whole anti-hero thing or his slimy suaveness... though I'm not particularly sure what it was.  Now, after watching "Vendetta" I have the urge to watch the original series again, through older eyes.  Maybe there was something subtle that I just didn't get as a kid and therefore missed out on the entertainment and enjoyment of a pretty brilliant character.  Connery may be Bond but Moore is Templar.

In this story, we have Templar in Italy, for some nefarious reason no doubt, and while he's taking a rest he spots a near brawl between two supposed friends.  Euston (Mackay) spots a man he believes to be an old work colleague and walks over to say hello.  However, he is met with threats and not greetings.  Templar moves in when it looks like a fight is about to ensue.  Buying Euston a drink he is told the story of the two friends.  However, the man claims to be called Destamio (Hendry) and not his friend at all.  Something about this sticks in Templar's claw... and he becomes more intrigued when Euston is murdered.  With the Italian military and police not bothering with the killing Templar decides to investigate... and what he learns brings him head to head with the Mafia.

I have to admit that I like the character Simon Templar as he is a thief, with morals, and has a strong self-assurance and bravado.  This, along with his charm and good looks, definitely makes him a lady-killer.  These traits alone can make for good stories.  So when you add a good story with action, twists, and tension you surely have a winner - and you do.

This is back when actors would try to accent their voices accordingly.  And to be honest, Ian Hendry does a very good and more than passible New York Italian.  He is also a perfect hard guy as he protrudes an air of strength and menace, which is almost tangible.  In fact, all the actors and actresses do wonderful jobs in their portrayals making it more enjoyable to watch.

O'Connolly directs at a pretty steady pace, which works well with the script.  Though there's nothing new in the film, directorial-wise, this isn't a bad thing as what he does allows the actors and actresses to shine.  For example, the chase scene.  When Templar escapes he runs down a hillside.  Today this would probably be shot continuously with the cameraman running down the hill too, with all the camera shake that is all too evident today.  Whereas O'Connolly uses static camera's for the shots and pans to follow the action.  For me, this works better and adds to the movie.

If you like action thrillers with a good story, strong characters, well written, and nicely filmed then this flick could be right for you.  Either way, I would recommend this as an afternoon treat, especially on a Sunday after Dinner - while supping the vino.

I give this a saintly 7.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - The Cassandra Crossing

The Cassandra Crossing

1976

The Cast

I haven't seen this one in years and it's surprising how much actually stays in your memory.  Luckily for me, a TV station that specialises in old movies and television dramas decided to show this flick.  It was the star-studded cast that drew me to it, along with the storyline - I do like a good disaster film.

The first thing I have to do is praise the opening sequence as being one of the best I've ever seen.  It's a flight across Geneva to the World Health Organisation.  It's such a steady and beautiful shot that it really sticks in my mind.  

We then find out why we're at the WHO.  A terrorist group are about to break in and try to blow up the building.  However, their attempt is foiled.  Though, in the process, a couple of them are doused in a liquid that contains a fatally infectious disease.  One of the two is shot on site, though the other makes it out of the building to escape into a nearby rail station and an awaiting train.  Once onboard the audience is privileged to watch the spread of the infection as the escapee stumbles through the carriages.

What adds to the power of the film is the interconnecting stories of the travellers on the train.  Some are hiding secrets, some are hiding from life, some are trying to make the best of the life they have, and some are falling in love.  The diversity of characters and their realism only adds strength to the story and film.  Though I will say that the strongest and best character, for me, was Herman Kaplan who is brilliantly portrayed by Lee Strasberg.

On the whole, the directing and story is pretty average, though there are a few good scenes, such as the helicopter pickup - this gets you on the edge of your seat.  Then when we're coming to the climax the continual flashes to the dilapidated bridge do add an air of expectation and tension.

If there is one drawback it's the length of the film.  It could have done with losing a few minutes, just to tighten up the pace a little.  But that's it.  The ending is superb and actually sent a shiver down my spine and left a sarcastic smile on my face.

This is a pretty good film to watch on a Sunday Afternoon when you're podged with Sunday Dinner.  I would recommend this one to all the thriller and conspiracy lovers out there in the world, well worth a view or two.

I give this a heart beating and train stopping 6.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Evasive Action

Evasive Action

AKA:  Steel Train

1998

Production Company:  Royal Oak Entertainment Inc.

My, my, my, what a little treat this turned out to be.  I've been a fan of Scheider's since I saw him the Jaws movies and that appreciation of his skills grew when I watched Blue Thunder and Still Of The Night.  I'd also been impressed by Dorian Harewood who I'd only seen in countless TV series, except for his role in Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.  So when I saw this film on the Sony Movie Channel I had to give it a try.

It took me right back to the '90's action thrillers and I have to say, this is one of the better ones.  Not only does it have a strong cast, which consists of a lot of B'Movie and TV actors, plus it has a decent story.

Luke Sinclair arrives home too late to save his family from being murdered and the only satisfaction is their killer is caught.  However, due to some botched up police procedures, he is released.  Sinclair spots the murderer on the court steps where the killer taunts him.  Sinclair reaches out and grabs a passing police officers gun and shoots the man to death.  Needless to say, Sinclair is incarcerated for fifteen years for the murder and at every parole hearing when asked if he is aware of his actions and is he sorry he always replies no and that the man needed to be held accountable, his parole is subsequently turned down.  One day while out in the yard one con decides to attack the prison King-Pin, Enzo Marcelli.  Sinclair comes to Enzo's help and Enzo ends up killing the man.  Since Sinclair helped Enzo, Enzo gets Sinclair transferred to a high tech prison.  However, the prison isn't these convicts destination, for Enzo has devised a plan to escape, giving Sinclair his freedom.  Though, when the plan goes awry, which side will Sinclair choose to fight for?

What the writers then add to this scenario are quite a few twists to the story as you find out not everything is quite as it seems.  Another good idea was you can never be sure just who will survive this incident as even main characters are killed off.  This, for its time, was quite a new way of telling a story and instilling realism.  The director also does a good job of keeping the pace riding the rails at a breakneck speed, just as the trail itself careers to its final destination.

There was only one drawback for me and that was the underused character of Hector Miller as he was a psychopath who killed people according to horror movies and spoke only in movie quotes.  Miller is kept behind bars even when the convicts get loose as even the bad guys don't trust him.  So when he finally escapes you think, right then here we go things are going to get good.  Except you'd be wrong as Miller mostly hides away for the rest of the film.  It would have been even better if the end of the movie had been Miller walking away from the train wreck and into Las Vegas.  But, even that didn't happen - so many missed opportunities with this character,

There are a few inconsistencies which detract from the film a little, the main one is when Sinclair does a "Blue Streak" and gets off the train.  He makes it to a local town and steals a dirt bike and sets off to get back on board so he can help the passengers.  The trouble being, in the time he was off the train its route is changed... there is no way that Sinclair would know this and he never should have been able to catch back up to the train.  However, if you overlook this niggling fact the movie becomes enjoyable once more.

Another surprisingly good thing about the movie is its effects.  If they used stock footage, which lots of movies did at that time then they chose the film stock perfectly to tie in with theirs as all the shots look to be the same calibre.  There's plenty of train walking and hanging off the cars to satisfy everyone.  Even when the train crashes into the station the effects are more than possible.

If you like action thrillers then you might enjoy this one.  It is at least worth a look see.  I would be only too happy to watch this film again, though it might have to be in a couple of years time.