The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Genre

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Director

James DeMonaco

Country

USA

Cast

Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, Betty Gabriel, Terry Serpico, Edwin Hodge, Kyle Secor, Liza Colon-Zayas, Jared Kemp, Ethan Phillips, Adam Janitor, Christopher James Baker, Brittany Mirabile, Raymond J. Barry, Racquel Devonshire

Storyline

Two years after he stopped himself from killing the man who killed his son, Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) has become head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), a Presidential candidate targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.

Opinion

I am a huge fan of the Purge. Of the series of course, not the fictional day of the year when you can commit any crime and get away with it. So of course I was excited for this third installment, after all the man behind all of this is still James DeMonaco. But like I just said, third entry aka chances are the film isn't going to be good. Sadly I have to say that last night my fears came true.

"The Purge: Election Year" is a predictable, slightly entertaining film that tries to deliver a political message only to destroy a good film series.

The film doesn't make a lot of sense, it's just some random purge visuals scrambled with something that is supposed to be a story but it's not. Anyway, that story is very clichéd and boring, not to mention the complete lack of tension. I have to start reading plots before watching films so to know what I'm getting myself into.

I was expecting more violence and more purge/science fiction moments, it's a horror after all, and that's how the previous films were. Instead I got a political message that overshadows the whole thing and eventually ruined the film for me. It doesn't matter whether the film's message resonates with me or nor, politics should have had no part in this.

The dialogue is miles away from being good, and the characters are just stereotypes. I'm white, but in 2016 there shouldn't be such awful and offensive stereotypes.

I made pretty clear the fact that the script isn't good. But it wouldn't be fair to put all the blame on it. The actors often deliver lines in a laughable manner. I get it, the script is poor, and you have to work with that, but can't you really try to improve it a little?

The Fly (1986)

Genre

Horror | Sci-Fi

Director

David Cronenberg

Country

USA

Cast

Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz, Joy Boushel, Leslie Carlson, George Chuvalo, David Cronenberg

Storyline

Brilliant and eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is working on teleportation, but just when he thinks he's ironed out the last bug in the system, one of his experiments goes horribly wrong.

Opinion

I've seen this film for the first and only time when I was a kid - yes, my mother thought and still thinks today that it was okay for me and my brother to watch this when we weren't even ten - and never watch it again, not that I didn't like it - to be honest I loved it - I just wanted to watch new movies. I'm glad I rewatched it now that I'm fully grown because now I'm able to understand the film and appreciate the genius behind it, David Cronenberg.

But let's get into the review. "The Fly" is a fascinating, superb yet terrifying and disturbing film that is arguably one of the best horror films ever made.

Unlike what it may sounds like, the story isn't a dumb horror-creature story, but a brilliant, engaging and disgusting science fiction tale of a man whose body slowly transforms into a fly. But it's also a tragic and emotional love story.

The main character's metamorphosis is surprising and frightening at the same time, and generates suspense as well as will have you having both feelings of disgust and compassion towards the character. And it is fascinating because his body starts to metamorphose not into a fly, but into a hybrid, half a human half a fly. 

Kafka's influence in this is pretty evident - Seth Brundle, the main character, is literally going through a Kafkaesque metamorphosis - as well as what Cronenberg tries to show with the film which is the social exclusion of a human being because different and that same person trying to be something different but can't.

Thirty years later, the make up and special effects are jaw-dropping and still impressive and they don't look the least bit dated.

The leading duo is excellent. Jeff Goldblum is phenomenal as Seth Brundle/the Fly, and Geena Davis gives an equally good performance as Seth's love interest. Also their chemistry is wonderful.

The Sugarland Express (1974)

Genre

Crime | Drama

Director

Steven Spielberg

Country

USA

Cast

Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, William Atherton, Gregory Walcott, Steve Kanaly, Louise Latham

Storyline

A woman (Goldie Hawn) attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband (William Atherton) escape prison and together kidnapping their son. But things don't go as planned when they are forced to take a police hostage on the road.

Opinion

Before "Jaws" made him famous, Steven Spielberg made his feature film directorial debut with "The Sugarland Express", a film that may have flopped at the box office, but that is totally worth checking out.

In fact, the film is a unique, very funny but also very sad road-chase kind of film that engages from beginning to end.

With the help of the screenwriters - whom later would win at Cannes -, Spielberg brings to a simple yet true story the realism needed, but also manages to keep it fun and to give the film that sense of adventure. Watching this, it's pretty obvious what influenced films like "Thelma and Louise".

The story is about two not that bright criminals running from the law, putting a lot of lives at risk. Along the way there are tons of people celebrating and hoping they will manage to get their son back, and the characters are so well written and portrayed, it'll feel like it's a duty to care for and take the couple's side.

And like I just said, the cast does a great job. A young Goldie Hawn gives a great performances as Lou Jean Poplin, the woman who can no longer distinguish fantasy from reality. She is funny and very entertaining, but she is more tragic than comic. The other great performance comes from Ben Johnson as Captain Harlin Tanner, the crusty police officer who leads the pursuit of the two escapees. William Atherton does a fine job as Clovis Michael Poplin, the submissive husband and he's well paired with Hawn. Michael Sacks does okay as the junior patrol officer who is taken hostage by the couple. 

Fast Five (2011)

Genre

Action | Crime

Director

Justin Lin

Country

USA

Cast

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Matt Schulze, Sung Kang, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Joaquim de Almeida, Elsa Pataky, Tego Calderon, Don Omar

Storyline

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) plan a massive heist to buy their freedom while in the sights of a powerful Brazilian drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida) and a dangerous federal agent (Dwayne Johnson).

Opinion

After several unappealing films, and when one would have never expected anything good, Justin Lin comes back with his third entry in the franchise, and it's surprisingly good. I am not saying "Fast Five" is Oscar worthy, but it definitely does what it is supposed to do, it entertains, which is not that granted considering the previous entry(ies).

Once again the plot isn't particularly strong or witty, but it is quite decent and it involves one of my favourite things ever on films, a heist. Sure, it isn't "Jackie Brown" or to stay on topic "The Italian Job" - yes, I like that film - but it is pulled off nicely.

The film also features something that resembles character development. The personalities of the main characters are kind of explored a bit, and fear, vulnerability and humour are shown.

Another huge improvement on its predecessor is the action. There is no lack of races or fast and beautiful cars, and the action sequences are actually gripping - they sure will draw your attention.

As for the acting, there isn't much of an improvement here. Dwayne Johnson is a great addition to the series and Vin Diesel sure can do action films, but the acting still leaves much to be desired.