John Wick Chapter 2 kicks you know what

Movie Title:    John Wick Chapter 2

Grade:  A-

Rating: R, 122 minutes of non-stop action and violence

In a Nutshell:  Revenge.  Huge body count.  Cool guns. Lots of violence.  Welcome back John Wick.

If you liked the first one, you'll love the sequel.  You can tell it's directed by a stuntman, Chad Stahelski. It's a master class in hand-to-hand combat. A movie critic from the Quad City Times described the stylish, slick film as a “ballet of violence.”  Well said.

Uplifting theme: 

• Persistence, tenacity
• Honor

Things I liked:

• Cool intro scene with motorcycle image on the façade of the building.
• Rome!  I absolutely love Italy.
• At times, there are subtitles, but I have to say they’re very stylish ones.
• Common does a great job as Cassian.
• The legend says John Wick killed 3 guys with a pencil.  You finally get to see that skill play out in this sequel.
• The film actually ties up loose ends from the first movie.
• Fans will be happy to see a cliff-hanger that assures another installment in this franchise.
• The trailer doesn’t reveal much of the story.  Thank you.
• Keanu Reeves does 95% of his own stuntman.  Check out some of the many impressive Keanu Reeves videos on YouTube that show how he trained for both John Wick movies.
• You get to learn more about the criminal “organization” and its underground world.  I thought the telephone operators with all the tattoos were hilarious. 

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the scenes take place in dark catacombs, so this film will be hard to watch on a computer screen when it comes out on DVD.
• It’s ridiculous how many fight scenes there are in large crowds, yet the people around hardly bat an eye, let alone move out of the way or scream.
• John Wick has an excellent aim, yet so many of the other professionals keep missing their shots.

Interesting lines:

• “I’m not that guy anymore.” – John (Keanu Reeves)

“You’re always that guy, John.” – Santino D’Antonio

• “Rules.” – John

“Rules.  Without them, we’re like the animals.” – Winston (Ian McShane)

• “So, you have a choice.  You want a war or do you just want to give me a gun?” – John
• “Remember, you owe me.” – Bowery King

“You don’t want me owing you.” - John

 Funny lines:

• “Does he have a name, Sir?” – Charon (Lance Reddick) asking about John's dog.

“No.” – John

• “Never one to waste words.” – Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio)
• “I’d like a tasting.” – John (as he tests out various weapons)
• “And the lining?” – tailor

“Tactical.” – John

• “I’ll make it quick.” – Cassian

“I’d appreciate that.  I’ll try to do the same.” – John

• “7 million!  It’s Christmas!  We going to Applebee’s after this.” – Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne)  It was fun seeing Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne in some scenes together again after the Matrix 

Tips for parents: 

• This is very, very violent, as expected.
• Lots of blood and head shots.
• F-bombs and other profanity.

  

@trinaboice 

The Whole Truth offers adult themes with intrique

NOW ON DVD


Movie Title:   The Whole Truth

  

Grade:   B-

Rating:  R, 1 hour 33 minutes

In a Nutshell:  This courtroom drama based on David Baldacci’s novel was first released in Japan as early as Spring 2016, and then in other countries, but didn’t hit the  Big Screen in the USA until late August 2016, so it has been difficult to find a movie poster written in English.

Themes: 

• Everyone lies.
•  Integrity
• Choices and consequences

Things I liked:

• I've always gotten a kick out of watching Keanu Reeves in anything ever since Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
• I love the image of the snake at the very beginning.  It suggested deceit, temptation, and the first sin from the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.  Clever.
• You really hate Boone Lassiter (James Belushi)
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw is somehow mesmerizing to watch.
• It feels like a mixture between Alfred Hitchcock and film Noir.
• Good, but expected twist.

Things I didn’t like:

• Keanu Reeves’ voice sounds too forced and low.
• Rene Zellweger looked so odd.  I recognized her voice before I recognized her face.  She has lost a lot of weight and rumor has it that she recently had some plastic surgery, although she denies it.
• It is pretty slow-moving. 

Interesting lines:       

• “A wife doesn’t have to testify against her husband, but she does against her own child as if the bond is somehow less?” – wife  (Rene Zellweger) 

Tips for parents:   

• 1 F-bomb in the first 2 seconds.  More F-bombs and other profanity.
• Prostitution, adultery and other adult topics.
• Children and most teens will be bored.
• You see a side shot of a naked Rene Zellweger.
• Some inappropriate sexual images and conversations.
• Discussion of violence, domestic abuse, and rape.

Point Break is a remake on steroids

Movie Title:     Point Break (2015)

Grade:  B-

Rating:  PG-13, 1 hour 53 minutes

In a Nutshell:   In the words of Keanu Reeves from the original 1991 Point Break hit, “Whoa.”   The stunts in this film are EXTREME.  In an effort to appeal to more audiences than just surfers, this remake is an ode to extreme sport “poly-athletes” with a little “eco-warrior” bank robbing mixed in for good measure.   

Leading man Luke Bracey’s Rotten Tomatoes movie rating has never been higher than 35% and is only receiving a 7% with this film, despite his hotness score.  Poor guy.  His character is conflicted and so are audiences.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Ideas can be powerful.” – Johnny (Luke Bracey)
• “If not ideas, what else is there?” – Johnny

“Action.” – Samsara (Teresa Palmer)

• “You choose your path.” – Samsara
• “We can only be responsible for our own path, brother.” – Bodhi
• Honor the forces of nature.
• “The man that pushes the boundaries tends to break.” - Bodhi   

Things I liked:

• You will see some gorgeous sites from around the world.  The aerial views are stunning.  
• Ericson Core must have been drinking a lot of Red Bull while directing this adrenaline rush of a movie. You feel your body tense up when they’re doing extreme sports.  A few times, you'll even jump out of your seat.
• Even though Johnny finds Onno Ozaki and his teachings on Wikipedia, Warner Brothers has confirmed that the legendary teacher who inspired their crazy heists on different continents is pure fiction.
• If you enjoy this film, check out the 1991 original hit starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.  The new movie is that, but on steroids.
• Most of the sets look very real, although there are a few noticeable CGI moments that look stupid and fake.   
• Someone tell me if it's really true that you can surf in the middle of the ocean, like the movie showcases in Birratz, France.  That was crazy awesome.

Things I didn’t like:

• In the original movie, the main character had to learn how to surf, so he felt fear and then elation when he conquered the sport.  In this film, the star is already an expert in every sport, so there is no character growth or discovery.  He is conflicted, but you don't get to watch him go through an emotional journey, like Keanu Reeves did in the first Point Break.
• I couldn’t understand most of what Pascal Al Fariq (Nikoli Kinski) said.
• Lots and lots of tattoos.  Ha ha
• There is some Spanish spoken, but no subtitles.  Don’t worry.  It’s not much.
• If you’re afraid of heights, some of the scenes will make you queasy.  If you love the thrill, see this in 3D if you can.
• Bodhi (Edgar Ramirez) spouts off all kinds of supposedly wise sayings, but he's sadly misguided.
• The ending had more impact when Patrick Swayze did it.
• SPOILER ALERT:  It's pretty dumb the supposed enlightened search for nirvana leads to suicide.
• Sure, the people loved Robin Hood, but he was still a thief.  Just because you give away some of the money you steal, doesn't mean it's OK.  I hope young audience goers don't emulate Bodhi's morality or dangerous stunts.

Funny lines:

•  “If a tree falls in the forest and no one puts it on YouTube, did it really happen?” – Bodhi

Interesting lines:

• “I see a lot of taking on the way to enlightenment.  What’s being given back?” – Johnny Utah
• “You have to reach the point.” – Chowder (Tobias Santelmann)

“What point?” – Johnny

“The point right before you break.” – Chowder”

• “Nature will always find a way to make you feel small.” Samsara
• “This is how the FBI works.  Generally, it’s dirty, it’s pedestrian, and it’s down-right boring.” – Angelo Pappas (Ray Winstone)
• “You’re going to steal it?” – Johnny

“No, we’re going to liberate it.” – Bodhi

• “Bodhi doesn’t see these as crimes.  He sees them as offerings.” – Johnny
• “It’s ugly.” – Johnny

“Ugly is what we do, son.” – FBI Instructor Hall (Delroy Lindo)

• “We’re all going to die.  The only question is how.” – Bodhi
• “We’re not trying to reach nirvana, but to try to save this place by becoming one with it.” – Bodhi

The Ozaki 8:

1. Emerging force
2. Birth of sky
3. Awakening earth
4. Life of water
5. something Asian-sounding
6. something profound
7. something I couldn't catch
8. something written on a chalkboard

Tips for parents:   

• These are not role models for your kids.  They participate in VERY extreme sports where most people would die.  Cool?  Yes, but safe for your kids to try?  Absolutely not.  (Hey, I’m a mother.  What did you think I was going to say about this film?)
• There is a cliché sex scene on furs.  You only see some skin and kissing for about 15 seconds.
• Some profanity and lots of partying.
• Hand-to-hand combat and violence with firearms.
• "Enlightened" people committing lots of crimes.

Does the new version of the 47 Ronin add or detract from the legend?

Movie Title:  47 Ronin

Grade: B

In a Nutshell:  It’s as if this long movie couldn’t decide which one it wanted to be: epic war history or CGI action fantasy.  I love Keanu Reeves and wanted this movie to be legendary for him, but it just falls short of being very memorable.  It prides itself as telling a true Japanese story, yet it mixes in modern CGI villains that spoil the authenticity.  The movie takes itself very seriously, but has a few humorous moments, such as when a pudgy Ronin tries to cut a branch with Keanu’s sharp sword.  (Is Ronin plural?  What’s one Ronin called?  Roni?)

In case you didn’t know already, a Ronin is a masterless Samurai and the film is a remake of others made in 1994 and 1941.  While many critics have been quite rough on this version, if you’re interested in Japanese lore, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy here.

Uplifting theme: I thought the ceremony with bloody thumbprints on paper was powerful.  Oishi inspires with this short speech: “We will leave this record of courage so the world will know who we were and what we did.  Tonight, we will regain our honor and avenge our Lord.  None of us knows how long he shall live or when our time will come.  But soon, all that will be left of our brief lives is the pride our children feel when they speak our names.”

At the end of the movie, the narrator explains “the memory of the 47 Ronin who put duty and justice before their fear of death has lived down through the centuries as one of the greatest examples of loyalty and honor in Japanese culture.”  The screen then shows text, telling the reader that each year, on December 14^th, thousands of people from around the world visit the graves of the 47 Ronin to pay their respects.  This film was inspired by their story.”  That statement alone made me want to learn more about the true tale.

Things I liked:   I love symbolism and the movie provides a few touches, such as the candles blowing out when one of the Samurai dies or when the Ronin wear white robes to show purity in obedience, surrounding a white tree in the middle, representing the pillar of tradition.  I also love it when Keanu calmly tells someone he’s going to kick their butt.  Rinko Kikuchi gave a sexy and bewitching performance.

Things I didn’t like:  The boy who plays Keanu’s character (Kai) when younger speaks with a British accent, but the older Kai does not.  Someone should have caught that little inconsistency.  The prejudice against Kai, the “half-breed” seemed a little too familiar and tired for a movie theme, although certainly experienced in many societies still today.  Maybe I’m just tired of ignorance.

Funny lines:

• “I knew it was you.  I saw your belly sticking out from behind the tree.”  - Kai
• “I knew you’d come for me.”  - Mika  (Wow, how many times have we heard that from melting starlets?)
• My niece lived in Japan for a year and a half and told me oishi means “delicious”, so I thought it was interesting that one of the character’s names was Oishi.

Inspiring lines:

• “Mountains of corpses will not stand in our way.” - Witch (Wow, that’s dedication, eh?)
• “What I propose ends in death.  Even if we succeed we will be hanged.”  - Oishi  (It’s hard to inspire people with a speech like that.)
• “A Samurai does not take credit for victories of others.”  - Oishi
• “I will search for you to a thousand worlds and a thousand lifetimes until I find you.”   - SPOILER ALERT  - Kai  (Now that’s romantic, right?)
• When a crime goes unpunished, the world is unbalanced.  When a wrong is unavenged, the heavens look down on us in shame.” – Oishi
• “My father told me that this world was only a preparation for the next.  All we can ask is that we leave it, having loved and being loved.”  - Mika

Things to look for:

• wooden Japanese shoes worn by the King Lord guy
• Samurai wear 2 swords
• Did you know Keanu Reeves is half-Asian?  He really is!

Tips for parents:  No profanity and mostly bloodless fighting.  It features honor and loyalty, but also revenge.  It’s certainly an opportunity to discuss those values as a family.  Young children may get a little bored.  

If you saw this movie, I'd love to hear what you thought about it!

In case you're interested in learning more about this famous Japanese story, check out these other versions of the retelling.  One of the most popular ones is Inagaki's Chushingura" Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (1962).