From the mind that brought you The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and The Transporter comes another big action film with car crashes, explosions, plenty of gun play and enough fist to cuffs violence to satisfy even the most picky of appetites. So what separates Lockout from the rest of Luc Besson's films? Lockout takes espionage, insane prisoners, witty comebacks and Guy Pearce, and smashes them all together into a maximum security space prison that is hurtling towards Earth - and makes it look good.
The Premise
Snow is an ex-CIA operative accused of treason against the United States in this futuristic action movie. The only way he can guarantee his freedom is to rescue the President's daughter who has been taken hostage aboard a maximum security prison that is floating in outer space.
My Take
Ex-CIA operative Agent Snow has been set up to take the fall for the murder of another undercover operative. Meanwhile, the President's daughter, Emilie, is on board the MS-One that is orbiting around Earth. The MS-One is a maximum security prison for the worst of violent offenders, however Emilie is there on a humanitarian mission. She wants to be sure the prisoners are being treated fairly. While Snow is being incarcerated on Earth, Emilie is being taken hostage during a savage prison uprising in space. When news of the takeover reaches Earth, Snow is offered a "Get Out of Jail Free" card if he will save Emilie. Of course, things aren't always as they seem. Snow has his own agenda once he is in orbit. One of the items on his agenda is locating his ex-partner, Mace, in an effort to clear his name.
Guy Pearce always has been and always will be one of my favorite actors. I never miss an opportunity to watch him in Memento. Pearce plays the snarky, yet somehow charming, Snow that has more interest in finding his ex-partner, Mace, than he does in saving the President's daughter. Emilie, played by Maggie Grace, is the aforementioned President's daughter. Grace begins the movie with a quiet strength reserved for women in power and ends with the appropriate toughness allowed after the ordeal that her character goes through. I enjoyed Maggie Grace's character grow. I've seen too many movies where writers start to write a strong female lead and halfway through, something happens and she ends up forgetting how to do everything for herself. Not to sound to women's lib-y or anything, but there you go.
Alex and Hydell are our two resident bad guys on board the MS-One. Alex is smart and calculating. His brother, Hydell, is just pretty nuts. Vincent Regan, from 300 fame, plays Alex with a cool calm that makes you wonder what he did to land himself in maximum security prison. Then he goes and kills someone without blinking an eye and the mystery is solved. Joseph Gilgun, whom I remember from This is England, plays Hydell, who is quite the opposite from his brother. He acts on impulse and is hard for Alex to trust. Mace, Snow's soft-spoken ex-partner, is also on board. Tim Plester's sympathetic portrayal of Mace, who has made it there quite by accident, goes to show you that you don't have to have a large part to make a memorable impact in a movie.
The Verdict
True, the movie was a bit predictable, but if it had gone any other way I would have been disappointed. I felt that the special effects were a bit lacking on the Earth sequences but looked great in the space sequences. For example, the car crashes were weak, but the space explosions were strong. Overall, it was a good way to spend some time on a rainy afternoon. I give Lockout 7/10 prisoners, just don't shank me.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
25 of My Favorite Sappy Romantic Movies
Well it's February and Valentine's Day is upon us once again. If you find yourself wondering what sappy romantic movie you should watch with your significant other (or by yourself) I have put together a list of my favorites. As with my Halloween and Christmas lists, I invite you to share with me your favorite lovey-dovey movies and I will compile the suggestions I get from comments here, on Face Book and on Twitter in another, reader inspired list, at the end of the month.
Without further ado, 25 of my favorite sappy romantic movies of all time...
Always (1989)
This movie is a real tear jerker. I can't watch it without crying and I know exactly what's going to happen. Always is a movie that is a little bit ghost story, a little bit action story, and a lot of heart and soul.
Say Anything... (1989)
One of my absolute favorites, Say Anything... is about first loves, high school politics and determination. Lloyd Dobler falls in love with Diane Court, a girl that is supposed to be way out of his league. But together, they make it work. I hope they are still together.
The Princess Bride (1987)
It's inconceivable to me how anyone could not like this movie. It has everything. Sword fights, princes and princesses, romance, revenge, giants, pirates and rodents of unusual size.
The Notebook (2004)
Another movie that makes me cry, The Notebook is a story about love that has lasted true the ages. It has been time tested and now, in the twilight of their years, an elderly man is still committed to his wife who has Alzheimer's Disease. He tells her the story of their love over and over, knowing that she will never fully remember him.
Casablanca (1942)
A classic love story, Casablanca shows the conflict between former lovers and their desire to be together. This movie gave us one of the most famous lines ever, "We'll always have Paris."
The English Patient (1996)
Love stories don't always give us a happy ending. The English Patient is full of tragedy, adultery, plane crashes, pain and sorrow. But Count Laszlo couldn't have loved Katharine Clifton any more than he did and that's what makes it a great love story.
Gone With the Wind (1939)
The Civil War was a turbulent time in American History. One of the things I love best about Gone With the Wind is Scarlett O'Hara. She is a Southern beauty with a fiery temper and a manipulative personality. She meets her match in Rhett Butler. They are like fire and ice, not meant to be together, yet a perfect complement to one another.
Pretty Woman (1990)
A Cinderella movie for hookers! But seriously, what girl doesn't dream of a man rescuing them from whatever situation they are in, sweeping them off their feet and living happily ever after?
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
I love movies that address romantic love versus arranged marriages. I think we are spoiled, in a very good way, in that we can choose our partners. In this movie, Shakespeare and Viola have to sneak around to be together. Even though their love won't last, she inspires one of his greatest creations.
The Graduate (1967)
Mrs. Robinson, the original cougar. The Graduate is such a great movie. Emotions run high when a young man has an affair with an older woman and then falls for her daughter.
Up (2009)
The first fifteen minutes of the movie sum up how I want my entire marriage to be. Two people completely in love and entirely devoted to each other. The rest of the movie is all about the little old man trying to complete their last goal of going to Paradise Falls and finding a unique bond along the way.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
This is an unconventional love story, but I adore it. Lars tells his family that he has met someone. The 'someone' that he has met is a life-sized doll, but Lars loves her and treats her as a real person. Eventually his family and the entire town does the same.
Secretary (2002)
Another unconventional love story, Secretary takes on the idea of not only an employee-employer relationship, but a sadomasochistic relationship. Lee Holloway meets Mr. Grey and together they find love while pushing boundaries and the expectations of those around them.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" The epitome of the story about a bad boy and a good girl trying to make their relationship work, Dirty Dancing is a sexy movie that has been copied time and time again.
Overboard (1987)
Overboard is able to make you laugh at love. And you should be able to laugh together. Joanna Stayton is a terrible person. She hires carpenter Dean Proffitt and then refuses to pay him for the work he does. Later, she falls overboard and suffers from amnesia. Dean is able to convince her that she is his wife. A story of revenge turns into a story about love.
Footloose (1984)
What's a senior prom without dance? Ren is rebellious, but only because he loves to dance. Ariel is just plain rebellious. Together they make an explosive couple that take on Ariel's bible-thumbing minister father and a town that is ready for a change.
Love Story (1970)
I think this movie gets made fun of a lot of times, but Love Story takes a different route by exploring what happens when a spouse is terminally ill. It strikes a chord with me because of the reality of our life after stroke.
Love Actually (2003)
This movie was a collaboration of several actors and several stories. It follows the lives of different couples that are in different stages of their relationships. Some couples are falling in love, others out of love and some are seeking love.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Frances buys a home in Tuscany after an infidelity breaks up her marriage. She briefly finds love in a man, finds lasting love in friendship, but most importantly, finds love in herself. This may not necessarily be a romantic movie, but it is, nonetheless, a love story.
In Her Shoes (2005)
Another movie that is more Chick Flick than romantic escape, is In Her Shoes, but I still love it and highly recommend it. Two sisters who could not be more different go there separate ways only to be reunited by a grandmother they never knew they had.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
A movie that proves you can come home again. Even after heartbreak, it is possible to heal and try again. Especially if you're ex-husband is Josh Lucas. Just sayin'.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Two damaged people meet and become friends. They slowly begin to heal each other, but their friendship is not without its problems. Pat is determined to reconcile with his ex-wife even though Tiffany is falling for him.
Warm Bodies (2013)
This is probably the best Zombie movie / Romeo and Juliet movie ever. Even the coldest heart can be started again by the right person. It's a love story that crosses very unusual boundaries and proves that one person can change the world.
Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted is a love story that parents can enjoy while the kids are also being entertained. It's the story of what happens when a classic story book princess collides with the real world. She finds a love better than in the stories when a real life man and his little girl take her in.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
In 13 Going on 30, a little girl learns that friendship is better than popularity. Jenna Rink makes a wish at her thirteenth birthday party and wakes up a thirty year old woman. She discovers that in this life, she made some bad decisions and only wants her one true friend, Matt, back.
Don't forget to add to the list! I will compile a list of reader's favorites at the end of the month!
Without further ado, 25 of my favorite sappy romantic movies of all time...
Always (1989)
This movie is a real tear jerker. I can't watch it without crying and I know exactly what's going to happen. Always is a movie that is a little bit ghost story, a little bit action story, and a lot of heart and soul.
Say Anything... (1989)
One of my absolute favorites, Say Anything... is about first loves, high school politics and determination. Lloyd Dobler falls in love with Diane Court, a girl that is supposed to be way out of his league. But together, they make it work. I hope they are still together.
The Princess Bride (1987)
It's inconceivable to me how anyone could not like this movie. It has everything. Sword fights, princes and princesses, romance, revenge, giants, pirates and rodents of unusual size.
The Notebook (2004)
Another movie that makes me cry, The Notebook is a story about love that has lasted true the ages. It has been time tested and now, in the twilight of their years, an elderly man is still committed to his wife who has Alzheimer's Disease. He tells her the story of their love over and over, knowing that she will never fully remember him.
Casablanca (1942)
A classic love story, Casablanca shows the conflict between former lovers and their desire to be together. This movie gave us one of the most famous lines ever, "We'll always have Paris."
The English Patient (1996)
Love stories don't always give us a happy ending. The English Patient is full of tragedy, adultery, plane crashes, pain and sorrow. But Count Laszlo couldn't have loved Katharine Clifton any more than he did and that's what makes it a great love story.
Gone With the Wind (1939)
The Civil War was a turbulent time in American History. One of the things I love best about Gone With the Wind is Scarlett O'Hara. She is a Southern beauty with a fiery temper and a manipulative personality. She meets her match in Rhett Butler. They are like fire and ice, not meant to be together, yet a perfect complement to one another.
Pretty Woman (1990)
A Cinderella movie for hookers! But seriously, what girl doesn't dream of a man rescuing them from whatever situation they are in, sweeping them off their feet and living happily ever after?
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
I love movies that address romantic love versus arranged marriages. I think we are spoiled, in a very good way, in that we can choose our partners. In this movie, Shakespeare and Viola have to sneak around to be together. Even though their love won't last, she inspires one of his greatest creations.
The Graduate (1967)
Mrs. Robinson, the original cougar. The Graduate is such a great movie. Emotions run high when a young man has an affair with an older woman and then falls for her daughter.
Up (2009)
The first fifteen minutes of the movie sum up how I want my entire marriage to be. Two people completely in love and entirely devoted to each other. The rest of the movie is all about the little old man trying to complete their last goal of going to Paradise Falls and finding a unique bond along the way.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
This is an unconventional love story, but I adore it. Lars tells his family that he has met someone. The 'someone' that he has met is a life-sized doll, but Lars loves her and treats her as a real person. Eventually his family and the entire town does the same.
Secretary (2002)
Another unconventional love story, Secretary takes on the idea of not only an employee-employer relationship, but a sadomasochistic relationship. Lee Holloway meets Mr. Grey and together they find love while pushing boundaries and the expectations of those around them.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" The epitome of the story about a bad boy and a good girl trying to make their relationship work, Dirty Dancing is a sexy movie that has been copied time and time again.
Overboard (1987)
Overboard is able to make you laugh at love. And you should be able to laugh together. Joanna Stayton is a terrible person. She hires carpenter Dean Proffitt and then refuses to pay him for the work he does. Later, she falls overboard and suffers from amnesia. Dean is able to convince her that she is his wife. A story of revenge turns into a story about love.
Footloose (1984)
What's a senior prom without dance? Ren is rebellious, but only because he loves to dance. Ariel is just plain rebellious. Together they make an explosive couple that take on Ariel's bible-thumbing minister father and a town that is ready for a change.
Love Story (1970)
I think this movie gets made fun of a lot of times, but Love Story takes a different route by exploring what happens when a spouse is terminally ill. It strikes a chord with me because of the reality of our life after stroke.
Love Actually (2003)
This movie was a collaboration of several actors and several stories. It follows the lives of different couples that are in different stages of their relationships. Some couples are falling in love, others out of love and some are seeking love.
Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Frances buys a home in Tuscany after an infidelity breaks up her marriage. She briefly finds love in a man, finds lasting love in friendship, but most importantly, finds love in herself. This may not necessarily be a romantic movie, but it is, nonetheless, a love story.
In Her Shoes (2005)
Another movie that is more Chick Flick than romantic escape, is In Her Shoes, but I still love it and highly recommend it. Two sisters who could not be more different go there separate ways only to be reunited by a grandmother they never knew they had.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
A movie that proves you can come home again. Even after heartbreak, it is possible to heal and try again. Especially if you're ex-husband is Josh Lucas. Just sayin'.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Two damaged people meet and become friends. They slowly begin to heal each other, but their friendship is not without its problems. Pat is determined to reconcile with his ex-wife even though Tiffany is falling for him.
Warm Bodies (2013)
This is probably the best Zombie movie / Romeo and Juliet movie ever. Even the coldest heart can be started again by the right person. It's a love story that crosses very unusual boundaries and proves that one person can change the world.
Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted is a love story that parents can enjoy while the kids are also being entertained. It's the story of what happens when a classic story book princess collides with the real world. She finds a love better than in the stories when a real life man and his little girl take her in.
13 Going on 30 (2004)
In 13 Going on 30, a little girl learns that friendship is better than popularity. Jenna Rink makes a wish at her thirteenth birthday party and wakes up a thirty year old woman. She discovers that in this life, she made some bad decisions and only wants her one true friend, Matt, back.
Don't forget to add to the list! I will compile a list of reader's favorites at the end of the month!
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