Mad Max: Fury Road (2012)

Back in 1978, Australia joined the league of kick-ass action movie-producers with the one and only ultimate action road adventure known as Mad Max. Led by the young Mel Gibson, it told the story of Max, a loving family man who turned vigilante kick-asser extraordinaire in the barren wasteland of the future, battling horrific bad guys on the road with his side kick dingo in his V6 engine black vehicle of destruction. This was a milestone for the Aussies as back in the day, they weren't that well known for action movies. Only long, boring, incomprehensible flicks with a lot of people crying (or maybe not). Whatever it is, Mad Max is a historic pivotal point for not just Australian cinema, but also ALL action flicks with its superior and brutal road action scene.

The Skinny: The future is dark, grim and very dangerous.

The Helmer: George Miller - original Mad Max helmer for both Mad Max, and Mad Max: Road Warrior.

The Cast: Tom Hardy as Mad Max and Charlize Theron as his moll (?)

The Prediction: Please, please don't screw this up. Mad Max is an institution in itself, showcasing one of the finest road battles ever committed to movie reels. If its an update, well and good, but if its a POLITICALLY CORRECT update, then we are doomed. I don't see the relevance of having an A-list female star along side Max because Max has been a loner throughout his violent career since the loss of his wife and family. New chicks don't and shouldn't enter frame.

Things You Should Know about Mad Max

The Director

Contagion (2011)

An all-star cast led by Matt Damon in this new action adventure flick by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. What can go wrong? Not much.
 
The Skinny: A team is set up to counter the global threat of a new disease.

The Helmer: Steven Soderbergh - The Last Time I Saw Michael Gregg (2010), And Everything is Going Fine (2010), The Informant! (2009), The Girlfriend Experience (2009), Che: Part One (2008), Che: Part Two (2008), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), The Good German (2006), Bubble (2005), Ocean's Twelve (2004), Eros (2004), K Street (2003 - TV 10 episodes), Solaris (2002), Full Frontal (2002), Ocean's Eleven (2001), Traffic (2000), Erin Brokovich (2000), The Limey (1999), Out of Sight (1998), Schizopolis (1998), Gray's Anotomy (1996), Fallen Angels (1993 - 1995 TV), Underneath (1995), King of the Hill (1993), Kafka (1991), Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989), Winston (1987), Access All Areas (1985 V), Yes: 9012 Live (1985 V).

The Casts: Matt Damon (Thomas Emhoff), Jude Law (Allen Krumwiede), Marion Cotillard (Dr. Leonora Orantes), Kate Winslet (Dr. Erin Mears) Gwyneth Paltrow (Beth Emhoff), Laurence Fishburne (Dr. Ellis Cheever)

The Prediction: The last time we had an action-packed movie about diseases was Dustin Hoffman's excellent "Outbreak", where there was a monkey, several choppers, Kevin Spacey dying in a spacesuit and running against time, and a big bad bomb. It did well at the box office and made Hoffman, for a very brief moment, an action hero. Although he did not kick any ass. So this time around we have a very strong cast, helmed by a very competent director, on a very current subject matter of global pandamic. I'm going to risk it and recommend that this movie is worth the price of admission because its going to be good. So there you have it: Matt Damon hot off the Green Zone kick-assery battling viruses. Now whose ass is he going to kick, I wonder ...

Information

Soderberghs Contagion to go 3D

Red (2010)

Bruce is Back! After the recent action comedy "Cop Out" with Tracy Morgan, and the brief stint in the Gorilaz "Stylo" music video, he's back home on the action-kick-ass front. This time around he's supported by an outstanding casts of award winner Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman in the movie adaption of graphic novel by British comic writer Warren Ellis in his Wildstorm series.  

The Skinny: Bruce is Frank Moses, a retired government assassin who finds himself smack in the crosshair of the agency he used to work for. Naturally all hell breaks loose as he teams up with ex-hitman from the same agency to find out just what the hell is going on. The titular "Red", appears to be an acronym for RETIRED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

The Helmer: Robert Schwentke - The Time Traveler's Wife (2009), Lie to Me (2009 - TV), Flightplan (2005), The Family Jewels (2003), Tattoo (2002), Heaven! (1993).

The Casts: Bruce Willis (Frank Moses) Helen Mirren (Victoria), Morgan Freeman (Joe Matheson), John Malkovich (Marvin Boggs), Richard Dreyfuss (Alexander Dunning).

The Prediction: This looks and sounds like a good movie and possibly it is. Its also sympthomatic of the the current trend in recycling old action stars where they'r put in action movies and played up to the max making it part of the plot.   The Expendables and Righteous Kill are recent examples. But its fun, and it shows that old dudes can kick ass, still. And thats not a bad thing is it?  

Red Trailer

What You Need to Know 

Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan has become a brand unto himself; anything he does, or touches assures a new experience in cinema whether its the direction or the writing. From his black and white short 'Following', to the enigmatic 'Memento' to the hugely successful 'Dark Knight'. He's like the latter day Spielberg, only less emotional but big on mind expansion ... 

The Skinny: Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a specialist in the field of ideas extraction. That is, he delves into the sleeping minds of his target and takes things out. Or in this case, puts things in, not unlike Neo entering the Matrix to do stuff. Warner Bros Pictures explains it much better: "Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming."

The Helmer: Christopher Nolan - Dark Knight (2008), The Prestige (2006), Batman Begins (2005), Insomnia (2002), Memento (2000), Following (1998), Doodlebug (1997).

The Casts: Leonardo DiCaprio (Dom Cobb), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Arthur), Ellen Page (Ariadne), Tom Hary (Eames), Ken Watanabe (Saito) Dileep Rao (Yusuf), Tom Berenger (Browing), Marion Cotillard (Mal).

The Prediction:  I like Nolan, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this looks like a good movie. You just can't lose: great cast, great story, great director and from the trailer, amazing usage of special effects, i.e. CGI utilized as a mind-expanding experience. And any movie which tries to bring back Tom Berrenger is okay in my books.

Inception Trailer

Official website

The American (2010)

Clooney in action mode is always a treat to watch, even though we haven't seen much of that in a long while. The last real action mode he was in was the 1997 Peacemaker, which preceded the hugely entertaining Dusk Till Dawn. Since then, its been a series of romantic comedies, comedy drama and light situational action comedy as seen with the Ocean series. That's all well and good, but a leading man of his stature has an obligaiton to the action-genre.

The Skinny: George Clooney assassin Jack on sabbatical in Italy to wait out a job. Whilst there, he befriends locals and picks up a romantic liaison with local beauty Clara. But, being a man in a job that involves violence and treachery, he soon comes face to face with his past.

The Helmer: Anton Corbijin - Linear (2009), Control (2007), Metallica The Videos (2006), The Work of Director Anton Corbijin (2005), U2: The Best of 1990 - 2000 (2002), One Night in Paris - Depeche Mode (2002), Depeche Mode : The Videos (1986 - 1998), Don Van Vliet: Some Yo Yo Stuff (1994), Depeche Mode: Devotional (1993), Bryan Adams: Waking up the Neighbours (1992), U2: Achtung Baby (1992), Strange Too (1990), Strange (1988).

The Casts: George Clooney (Jack), Violante Placido (Clara), Thekla Reuten (Mathilde), Bruce Altman (Larry)

The Prediction: I like the combination of the story and Clooney. You just can't go wrong with the two. Which is why the choice of director for this project is odd - a music video director? It could either be a dumb choice, or an inspired one.

Official website

The American Trailer

Predators

The original Predator was a gun-toting masterpiece of pure firepower, machismo and big Arnie in accordance to the action coda of the 80s. Directed by John Mctiernan, it made big money at the box office and earned its place as one of THE action piece of its time. The movie had everything action junkies AND audiophiles wanted: kick-ass 101, thumping bullets, whupping chopper blades, blazing wall of fire and the decimation of a primary jungle. And it had the coolest alien to ever, a cross between a professional wrestler and the Creature from the Black Lagoon fitted with modern milirary gear. Inspiring.

The Skinny: A bunch of trained killers from various parts of Planet Earth are siphoned off to a games reserve on another planet to be hunted down and killed for sport by vicious alien predators. Whatever skills, kill techniques they've learned over the years will be put to the ultimate test just to stay alive. Led by the very efficient mercenery Royce (Brody), this group of dangerous individuals must not only survive the hunters but themselves.

The Helmer: Nimrod Antal - Armoured (2009), Vacancy (2007), Control (2003), Biztositas (1998), Bohocloveszet (1994)

The Casts:  Adrien Brody (Royce), Topher Grace (Edwin), Alice Braga (Isabelle), Walton Goggins (Stans), Laurence Fishburne (Noland), Danny Trejo (Chuchillo)

The Prediction: This should be good - as I see it as a reimagination of the the franchise, but with latter day special effects and spiritual integrity of the orignal. Forget the Alien Vs Predators crap, this is old school stuff. Interesting choice of leading man with Brody, as he is pretty much on the skinny side. But he is supported by Mexican bad-ass Danny Trejo. So yeah, I'm looking forward to this.
The Verdict: Great stuff. Though I like Brody, I kinda wished it was someone a lot more buff than him. I'm old fashioned that way. I'm also wondering why they brought in Laurence Fishburne. I'm not exactly sure if he's character was necessary in the whole piece, unless of course if its to explain some origins stuff on the predators themselves. The nice little twist nearing the end makes up for the strange choice of having Topher Grace in the mix of some seriously dangerous people. All in all - ***/*****

Predators Trailer

Official Website

The Expendables

This is the one action junkies from the 80s have been waiting for, for a long long time. Sly Stallone is a generous man; from what he has received over the years, he's giving back with this homage to all things kick-assery.

The Skinny: Sly Stallone heads an all star cast of action heroes for an all out assault on a South American dictator. Joining him is Jason Stathom, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Arnie (in a bit role) and their kick ass brethens.

The Helmer: Sly Stallone - Rambo (2008), Rocky Balboa (2006), Rocky IV (1985), Staying Alive (1983), Rocky III (1982), Rocky II (1979), Paradise Alley (1978)

The Casts: Sly Stallone (Barney 'the Schizo' Ross), Jason Statham (Lee Christmas), Jet Li (Yin Yang), Dolph Lundgren (Gunnar Jensen), Eric Roberts (James Monroe), Bruce Willis (Mr. Church), Arnold Schwazenneger (Trench)

The Prediction: Its like a roll-call of ALL the action heroes of the past; a reunion of heavy hitters which includes for the first time in mainstream action cinema Terry Crews who has finally come home to the action genre. Jean Claude Van Damme was invited to join this blood fest but he turned it down to act in his own movie, which sucks as his participation would have completed it. Forget the story line, forget the plot, just sit back and enjoy the mayhem.

The Expandables Trailer

Official website