Taken 3 (2015)

Here we go again guys; Liam Neeson is back and once again he just can’t seem to keep tabs on his poor family’s whereabouts. After Taken 2, I thought for sure this “series” (it’s a trilogy now, imagine that) was dead and gone for sure; I mean, everyone had their turn being Taken (first the daughter, then the mom, and finally Neeson himself, everyone’s happy right?) not to mention the movie was one of the worst movies I’d ever seen. Apparently, I was wrong and the obvious, clear next step in the series was to make a Taken movie where no one actually gets Taken (brilliant, right? This was the actual pitch for the movie), on the contrary, this time there’s been a murder.

First of all, the notion that no one gets “taken” in this Taken sequel is technically false. Admittedly, it’s not the main focus of the plot, but Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace all get taken at one point or another (as well as the evil businessman stepdad) sorry to be a stickler, but I just had to point it out. Now that that’s out of the way, what the movie does focus on is a completely unoriginal plot (Taken meets Fugitive! Right guys?) where Liam Neeson attempts to prove his innocence in his wife’s murder the only way he knows how, by using a very particular set of skills.

There’s so much wrong with this movie as an action flick, it almost feels like a parody. For example, the plot itself is a cheap rip off of an older, better Harrison Ford vehicle, but it doesn’t stop there. The editing is atrocious and seems almost intentionally messy to hide Liam Neeson’s actual lack of “skills” (forgive me Mr. Neeson, you’re still the best); in one scene we see Neeson run up to the fence, and then there’s a cut, and then he’s on top of the fence, and then another cut and finally cut to him “landing” on the ground; I’m not sure Liam Neeson actually descends a real full flight of stairs, let alone does any of the stunts this movie would have you believe. The dialogue is cripplingly expositional and bland, evil stepdad explains to Neeson and his spec ops friend what the Spetsnaz is at one point, which is clearly just a line intended for the audience; sloppy lines like this persist throughout the film.

In what I’m sure is an attempt to make up for the particularly bland and cliché villain in this film (really, an ulgy Russian guy with weird teeth? Like every cliché action movie ever?) Forest Whitaker is cast as the “super interesting unordinary detective who’s chasing the hero but doesn’t really believe he’s guilty he’s just doing his detective duties” guy and the movie makes several lame attempts at making him “different.” They give him a knight from a chess set and a rubber band to play with throughout the movie, but fail to explain the significance of either. Also, how does he know that Liam Neeson is really innocent? Bagels, yeah that’s right, bagels, and I’m pretty sure it can’t get more ridiculous than that (unless you’re watching Taken 2).

I could go into a lot more detail on how utterly ridiculous this movie is, but honestly I don’t think it’s worth the time. Granted, it might be a bit better than Taken 2, however, that isn’t exactly glowing praise. It’s a real shame because the original Taken was a solid action movie that shouldn’t have been developed into sequels. Of course, Taken 3 is making good money at the moment, so I’m sure we can all expect a Taken 4 coming soon worldwide in a couple of years, hey maybe they’ll shake it up a bit and his grandson will get taken.

-Ryan Maples

Rating: 3

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2446042/?ref_=nv_sr_1

John Wick (2014) Or, a defense of action films

I have to admit, when it comes to action films, I used to be a bit of a sucker. Anytime a movie came out, if it had a high body count, multiple massive explosions, and a plethora of bullets, I was definitely down; I mean, I was a fan of Transformers for crying out loud. As time went on, however, I began to see that these movies had no substance, and as someone who loved films and dreamed of writing them, I believed that I had to grow past my inclination to turn my brain off and enjoy these completely meaningless action flicks. Thus began my indie phase, where I strived to watch only meaningful movies, mostly ones that the average movie audience would never have heard of, possibly something by Jim Jarmusch or maybe Terrence Malick. The action movie was dead to me, and as Hollywood had seemingly become intent on churning and re-churning out crap such as G.I. Joe, I saw no reason to return to them.

Now, every now and then (especially with friends) I would cave and watch something purely about action, and of course I would act like I hated it, because it has no substance right? Fast Five is a ridiculous movie, do you really expect me to believe that two cars can drag a giant safe through a city like that? And please don’t even get me started on anything from Michael Bay. Of course, some action movies are just plain bad (the Bay-produced TMNT anyone?) but others (like the Fast and Furious franchise) were starting to get real acclaim, and I felt like that went against everything I had held dear as cinephile, a real, quality cinephile, or so I thought.

Then came a movie called the Raid. It remains one of the best action movies I’ve ever seen. What happens in it? One guy kicks entire building’s worth of ass. Not exactly full of substance; they attempt to add a whole he has a wife and kids thing, but it’s pretty forgettable. So why does this movie work? Why does the Fast and Furious franchise work? (I’ll admit, I’m pretty obsessed with Fast and Furious, always have been even when I tried to resist the urge, now I embrace it).

Let’s move on to John Wick. Keanu Reeve’s latest flick is another action movie that sets itself apart from the Michael Bay extravaganza that are most major Hollywood action films today and along with films like Fast Five, the Raid, Snowpiercer and others it has taught me to love action again. John Wick’s storyline isn’t complicated; a mobster’s dumb, spoiled brat of a son steals Wick’s car and brutally kills his puppy (his puppy damn him, and it was a last gift from his dead wife) so of course, John Wick (being an ex-hit man, the best one ever, by the way) decides to kill all of them. What this movie lacks for in substance, it more than makes up for in style. To focus on the script, plot and dialogue in a movie like this would be a mistake, that’s not what it’s made for. John Wick revels in the action and the choreography of that action. Wick looks extremely impressive when taking out baddies, and that’s mostly what this briskly-paced film is, John Wick taking out baddies, and you know what, that’s ok.

Unlike other Hollywood action films, which weigh the film down with infuriatingly irrelevant subplots, annoying sidekicks, and underwhelming final showdowns, John Wick and other movies like it have avoided these stereotypes and just dedicated the entire runtime to kicking ass. Of course it isn’t realistic (I’m pretty sure Wick should have been dead at least three separate times) but if it’s done just right, it’s awfully fun, like the equivalent of a thrill ride at an amusement park.

That’s what movies like the Fast and the Furious have done for the action movie genre, they’ve made it fun again. This franchise know it isn’t realistic in the slightest and it pushes the bar of realism with glee, just look at the latest trailer where Dom and the gang drop out of a plane in cars with parachutes, I’m sorry that’s just plain awesome, it is and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that. Honestly, some of the stunts they come up with in John Wick are just as creative as a great line in an indie film (and secretly more entertaining, don’t tell anyone I said that though).

In the end, that’s the ultimate conclusion I’ve had, and why I’ve fallen for action films all over again. Because there’s nothing wrong with simply enjoying a movie for the ride, and with films like John Wick, it’s all about the ride; so just sit back and enjoy a movie for two hours, I promise it won’t kill too many brain cells.

-Ryan Maples

Rating: 8

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911666/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Snowpiercer (2013)

Pay attention Hollywood, because this is the type of movie you should be copying. Epic in scale, high on concept, but still just down-to-earth enough to make you root for it, Snowpiercer has to be one of the best action films of the year yet, I’d say the best but I have yet to watch the Raid 2 (I’m waiting for a non-dubbed copy).

The film definitely has an excellent cast, boasting Chris Evans of Captain America fame as the lead, with co-stars Jaime Bell, Octavia Spencer (turning in a very satisfying role), Ed Harris, John Hurt, and wonderfully wicked (as always) Tilda Swinton, and Kang-Ho Song (his lines are completely without subtitles and somehow that makes his character all the better); however, it isn’t the cast necessarily that makes the film, nor is it really even the story, which is a simple enough apocalypse tale, albeit with a unique twist; rather, it is simply the way the movie flows seamlessly, as if it truly believes and revels in itself, and it’s inviting us to join the fun.

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I truly just enjoyed the ride while watching a film like this, I literally cried out in dismay as characters died, and some moments that could have easily had my eyes rolling on the floor had they been under different direction, instead had me nodding and grinning with giddiness.

All of that aside, this movie actually presents a very interesting dystopian world and within the space of one absurdly giant train they manage to pack in more to this universe than the Hunger Games and Divergent combined. It seems that each train car holds something new and interesting, whether it’s the answer to where the food supply for the less fortunate comes from (it’s not pretty) or an eerily brainwashed classroom full of kids.

I suppose the real praise here should go to director Joon-Ho Bong, he has taken what could have easily been another overblown, over-budgeted action film and turned it into something with heart and soul. That’s not to say that the movie doesn't have a wealthy amount of kick ass moments (it certainly does), and it definitely hits all the right beats that a film of this sort is supposed to do, but the way in which it does is unique and is what makes this movie memorable. 

Seriously, if you love action, see this movie; if you love unique dystopian apocalyptic universes, see this movie; hell, if you love movies, see this movie. You could definitely do a lot worse (I’m looking at you, Transformers).

-Ryan Maples

Rating: 9.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706620/?ref_=nv_sr_1