Action – Page 12 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”

By Brett_G on June 12, 2023June 5, 2023

8.4

First off – NOT a film for children. Rocket’s backstory is HEART-WRENCHING and hard to watch, especially if you love animals. That being said, the pain is… purposeful, as it makes the impact of the story all the more powerful. James Gunn’s finale before bidding Marvel adieu is his masterpiece, and the strongest entry of the trilogy, in my opinion. Unlike many in Marvel, the crew get their full arcs. Not since “I love you 3000” have I felt this sense of calm closure was over me in the closing of the third act. It’s truly a beautiful thing, and not at all common in today’s cinematic landscape. Easily the best of Phase 4, but also one of the best in the MCU overall. Who woulda thunk it? These guys? Carrying the MCU…

Action Blockbuster

“Fast 10”

By Brett_G on June 9, 2023June 5, 2023

6.1

Why do I keep doing this? Better yet, why do we all keep doing this and making sure these gross a billion dollars?

Best summed up by a direct quote from the movie, “I’d make a freight train take a dirt road.” That perfectly sums up the absurdity of the story, the nonsensical nature of the execution, and the difficulty of making it to the post credit scene where Vin sells us on giving this another go-round in a couple years. Because we’ve all had too many Coronas and have inhaled too much NOS. This is beginning to make Transformers look Oscar-worthy.

Action Comedy

“The Machine”

By Brett_G on June 5, 2023June 5, 2023

6.5

Just watch the bit (linked below).

It may have been that I was forced to watch the red carpet for a half hour prior to watching this opening night, but I just found it okay… Which was unfortunate, because I was excited for this one. All the funniest moments were in the trailer, which I always hate. And it just seemed to drag by the end. An hour special – solid. A two hour movie? Too much Machine. Mark Hamill is just as out of place as you’d think.

Action Blockbuster Drama

“The Covenant”

By Brett_G on April 25, 2023

8.1

Holy shit this is intense. From every angle. Not only does the action leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, but the emotional impact will leave you slumped in your chair trying to recover before the next barrage of violence in these 2 men’s pursuits of honor, commitment, friendship, and brotherhood. It’s a beautiful display of the best and worst of humanity, and how they often coexist side by side in our world, mixing in a gray middle at times, left to our own perceptions.

Guy Ritchie can do no wrong with the action, but where this film goes above and beyond is in the characters. The story is demonstrated expertly, instead of spoon fed to the audience. There’s an understanding reached while going on this journey together, and it leads to much more impactful twists and turns. I found myself enveloped by this film in a way not many achieve. Bravo!

Action Blockbuster

“John Wick Chapter 4”

By Brett_G on April 3, 2023

8.8

The best action film this side of “Top Gun: Maverick.” Unlike anything you’ll see in the genre the rest of the year. The fight and stunt coordinators deserve academy awards. This movie is ballet level coordinated with a brutality that’s unrivaled in the cinema today. But not violence for the sake of violence. It’s feels believable and justified as we embark on this quest for revenge and ultimately freedom.

Bill Skarsgard continues his streak as a phenomenal villain. The table continues to do table things. Keanu continues to do his best work saying the fewest words. Strap in for a nearly 3 hour film that feels more tightly wound than most hour and a half pure action flicks, and enjoy the ride!