Category: Blockbuster

Action Blockbuster

“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part 1”

By Brett_G on

8.1

For a three-hour runtime, this adrenaline soaked fever dream flies by. It may be much of the same, cranked up another notch to top the last film, but it’s executed to perfection. Cruise may in fact perish in pursuit of his next blockbuster, but there’s no one better in the business of popcorn selling, theater packing summer blockbusters that anyone can enjoy. The panache of Christopher Nolan without the headache from overworking your frontal cortex to keep a grip on the unfolding narrative. Like “Oppenheimer,” this was born for IMAX.

Important Note – I greatly appreciated the structure of this film, especially as a Part 1 of 2. It completed the arc, while also setting up the finale in the next chapter. It didn’t leave me feeling let down and immediately needing the part 2 in order to not feel cheated like the “Hobbit” franchise or “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.”

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Action Blockbuster

“Expendables 4”

By Brett_G on

5.7

Megan Fox is the best actor involved here… I never thought I’d say that. Especially regarding an ensemble cast. There’s a first time for everything. And it’s not just because of the translucent tank top and attractive anger throughout. She carries this thing for a lot of the run time.

Jason Statham does Jason Statham things. Randy Couture explains at least 4 separate times what cauliflower ear is… why? No clue. But he does. And 50 Cent’s here. Again… why? Your guess is as good as mine.

They should have stopped at 3, but what’s a good thing if you don’t indulge in too much of it to confirm the limit? This one’s dialogue makes the first 3 look Oscar worthy. It’s rough. There are far better action flicks to bide your time with.

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Action Blockbuster Documentary Romance

“Oppenheimer”

By Brett_G on

8.9

In one word – haunting.

It was everything and nothing I expected at the same time. After listening to the source material, “American Prometheus,” (which I highly recommend) every second of this three hour runtime had an amplified impact for me. The message, the nuance, the attention to detail. All incredible.

The film is perfectly cast, and everyone turns in a career best performance. No matter how small the part, everyone brought their A-game.

The beauty contained in each frame was awe inspiring. Of course, I saw this in IMAX, on film. It’s a true blessing to have Celebration! Cinema in your backyard here in West Michigan. For this, and many other reasons. The place was packed, and I don’t think most were ready for what they were about to experience. Nolan at the height of his powers, and everyone glued to the edge of their seat.

Strap in, and enjoy the complex tale of brilliance, guilt, politics, and scientific discovery. They went a lot of places I didn’t expect them to, and ended on a much more powerful note than I anticipated. Well worth the hype!

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Action Blockbuster

“The Flash”

By Brett_G on

7.5

I went in with low expectations. This film blew them away, ending up being far better than it had any right to be.

Ezra Miller’s performance is good in small doses, but is more than made up for by the Bruce Wayne’s and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. She is one of the castings I hope carries over into the new DCEU because of how fantastic she is in the role. Seeing Keaton suit up again as the caped crusader was like he never left somehow.

A very strange end to this phase of the DCEU, while also being a better multiverse movie than Marvel. Again. Marvel needs to stop trying to make the multiverse happen. It’s so not fetch.

Not the best superhero movie ever made, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t get me misty eyed a couple times and leave me thoroughly entertained. A sign of hope for things to come over at Warner Bros.

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