EvilPhoEniX

A great action ride from Hong Kong from a great director Dante Lam, who hasn't disappointed me so far (The Beast Stalker, Unbeatable, Demon Cop, Operation Mekong, The Viral Factor, all of which I liked). This time he got a solid budget of 70 million and made one of the best action movies of the year (but not for long, because there’s a Mission Impossible around the corner). Story-wise, the film didn't really grab me that much and was even slightly boring at the beginning. That said, a Chinese special commando is tasked with rescuing hostages held by rebels and terrorists, but as it happens nothing goes according to plan. The film has phenomenal action scenes, perhaps some of the best I've ever seen. The finale lasts maybe an hour and it focuses on 8 special commandos fighting 150 rebels and it's carnage! It has almost all the action. There's a duel between two professional snipers who go at each other's throats (it made me remember the legendary Zaitsev), shootouts with all kinds of weapons (machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades and there's even drones), strategic tank battles, explosions at every corner that would make even Michael Bay jealous – well, pure action joy. The only thing I missed were close-range fights. A big plus is the violence in the film. There are scenes with burnt bodies, the explosion of a bus with civilians and the subsequent shot of severed limbs, even heads, a soldier who has his whole arm blown off by a grenade and is still fighting for his life, everyone is covered in blood and you believes the cruel and harsh war zone they are all experiencing there. The whole thing feels realistic and professional, without pathos and cheesy scenes, so for me a lot of satisfaction. One of the best military action movies I've seen. 85%

Eugenio Derbez in a similar role to the recent Latin Lover and I quite like this Mexican guy, only Anna Faris seems like a more boring female actress. The movie has a pretty cool plot about a millionaire enjoying life on a yacht with models who suddenly loses his memory after falling off the boat, and Anna Faris takes advantage of this by pretending to be his wife. I loved the turning point where the cocky millionaire who never did anything has to become a man who has to go to work, cook, clean and take care of his family, and I don't know why but emotionally it took me beyond belief. I didn't expect to get more crying than laughing here, so 4* of course. Nice film. 75%.

Very girly movie, but it wasn't bad. I don't really like Amy Schumer, but I liked her vision of being beautiful because the confidence she got out of nowhere gave the film a lot of juice and made for some interesting situations to laugh at, and I always like seeing Emily Ratajkowski. Too bad the second half is more serious, but the dancing scene is a highlight. Good for one viewing. 60%.

A new post-apocalyptic road movie thriller starring Theo James and Forest Whitaker. This Netflix effort this time quite impressed me with a decent atmosphere, actors and flow, even though nothing major happens here. Theo James is looking for his girlfriend and Forest Whitaker as her father helps him. The whole film is spent travelling in a car through a ruined landscape, and of course they come across some shady people who can't be trusted; these scenes are definitely the best. I liked the more comical finale. All in all, this is a digestible flick that doesn't offend and is a better average in the sub-genre. 65%.

The Rock is trying to save his family in the midst of a fire in the biggest skyscraper in the world, and a group of terrorists are in his way. The movie is much more The Towering Inferno than Die Hard, which bummed me out a bit, but you can never have too many disaster movies. It may be silly, but that jump off the crane scene is one of the best the film has to offer, even at the cost of being very over the top, but it's a movie, so why not. It keeps the pace, there's no shortage of tension, there are a few fights, The Rock has incredible charisma, and visually it's just okay. As a summer blockbuster, it meets the criteria and I enjoyed it. 70%

Olivier Marchal, the experienced French director responsible for Department 36, Mr 73 and A Gang Story, is trying again this year and for me he succeeded. A superb, gritty and dark gangster film where the main character and a group of friends commit tax fraud, earning a pretty penny, but the local gangster doesn't like that and asks for his cut. The road to glory is fast, but the fall down is even faster and here everything is driven into such trouble that it makes you uncomfortable. Brilliantly acted, suspenseful, gritty and uncompromising, and based on a chilling true story. A great gangster movie, and a delight to see Gérard Depardieu in a supporting role. 80%

I miss high school, so I have a soft spot for this kind of teen crap, and this movie also has a nice original plot where the main character starts a new school as an outsider, but thanks to a new app on his cell phone he has the ability to wish for anything, which is a lot of fun in places, and the gradual path to glory to the most popular dude in the whole school was very enjoyable and the dethroning of the previous "king" was gratifying. Cute, entertaining, funny with fine characters (dancing like Bruno Mars or playing hockey like Wayne Gretzky are among the best scenes of the film). I had great fun. 80%

I expected a little better. For those unfamiliar with Narcos, the film is a decent choice, but for fans of the series, nothing really new. Javier Bardem is surprisingly solid as Escobar, and Penelope Cruz is alluring as the journalist, but there's a lack of charisma and creativity. An unused DEA agent, a lack of action, and only the dog or motorcycle scene impress with their brutality. I wasn't bored, but the film didn't bring anything new to the table. So Escobar has to make do with three stars. 60%

An unexpected surprise from Netflix! Two friends go hunting in the Scottish woods, but nothing goes according to plan, and something terrible happens with even more fatal consequences. I really didn't envy the main characters in this situation, and it made me quite uncomfortable to imagine it happening to me. A rough forest, a harsh setting, uncompromising hicks, a thick atmosphere, an oppressive tension, a lot of realism and a shocking finale. For me total satisfaction, these redneck forest thrillers were rampant in the 80s and now they're more of an afterthought, so I applaud, good job by Netflix. 80%.

A decent film set in a psychiatric sanatorium where the Nazis sent patients to their deaths. Although they don't show any distressing and violent scenes, the film retains its disturbing quality, even though the main character is a 13-year-old boy. A good film, but the Danish The Day Will Come suited me a little better. 70%