Flashpoint (2007)

 

Detective Ma's partner had finally infiltrated a notorious gang and Ma enters the fray to go up against the leader before he takes over the streets.

 

Flash Point is a modern day action thriller so it isn't heavy on the martial arts, but it's there. Detective Ma (Donnie Yen) is a hot tempered badass detective who has no time to waste on bureaucracy. After his partner has his cover blown,  the gang makes an attempt to take him out. This of course enrages detective Ma and now he has even more of a reason to destroy. His only consolation was that they managed to get the head gangster, but once they kill his chief and try to blow up his team,  he decides that all bets are off.

 One of my personal mottoes in life: "If it stars Donnie Yen, I'm in."

There's only one film of his that let me down, 2010s Return of the Fist. That kinda sucked. Anyway, what I don't get I'd why it took me so long to watch Flash Point. Granted I'm not happy with the drama, but the fight scenes are so well worth it. Watching Donnie Yen play an arrogant dude was a treat and along with the fight scenes at the end and beginning of the film, that helped make things more enjoyable.

Violence? Yes

Explosions? Yes

Nudity? No

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Gangster Squad (2013)

Los Angeles, 1949: A secret crew of police officers led by two determined sergeants work together in an effort to take down the ruthless mob king Mickey Cohen who runs the city.

 
Gangster Squad, The Untouchables, and another flick or two that I'm sure I'm missing. There's just Something about cops being just as ruthless as the bad guys. Villains are not constrained by the law and that's their advantage. When the cops level the playing field however, shit usually gets real. It's just something that is necessary, but unthinkable in today's society.

Anyway, Gangster Squad was an enjoyable flick. There was drama (of course), but there were more action and gun fights to make up for it. In the climax, they shot up the lobby of a hotel. Twas good stuff. I feel like Emma Stone was a bit miscast but I've gained a new respect for Sean Penn.

Sean Penn is a man who I've never gave proper credit to. I don't like him, but I cannot deny his talent. 

Granted this was just a generic role for him, but for some reason I noticed him.

Out of Ten? 7

Violence? Some mook ate a shotgun to the face!
Explosions? Mofos were tossing dynamite like they were Looney Toons.
Nudity? No. Surprisingly.

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We Are The Night (2010)

The gritty nightlife of Berlin serves as the backdrop for this thriller about three women vampires intent on luring another into their immortal pact. All hell breaks loose when a cop discovers their secretive ways.

A young loner girl gets but by a vampire queen, yet somehow repels her. Unfortunately, she finds out the next day that sunlight hurts and that she now has a craving for raw meat. As the transformation takes hold, she heads back to the club to confront the queen. The other vampires convert her and explain how much better her life is now. Although she is fully transformed and is seemingly digging the life, she desperately holds onto her humanity. Once the police get to them, bullets fly and the group is eventually bloodily dissolved as she manages to find love, in the midst of all the chaos.
This movie lost my interest early. could have been so much better. So much sexier.

Out of Ten? 4

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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21 Jump Street (2012)

A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.

New to the force and proven to be screwups, the duo are transferred into a undercover squad where they are tasked with infiltrating a high school and stopping a new drug from hitting the streets. As they re acclimate themselves to high school, they find their roles reversed as Jonah Hill becomes the popular one and Channing Tatum becomes the nerd. A series of missteps threaten to blow the case, but with their jobs on the line, the pair do everything to solve the case and prove themselves real cops.

Three major problems I have with the film:

1. Hill and Tatum have good chemistry, but why are they in high school? Especially considering they graduated nearly 7 years ago in the story?
2. Why include a scene of them strapping up, including shotguns only to have them carry one gun when it mattered?
3. Ice Cube.

Overall 21 Jump Street was decent but definitely overhyped. It had its moments, but I felt that they were trying too hard to be edgy and funny. The Cameo appearances from the original cast, (including Johnny Depp and Holly Robinson Peete) helped bridge the gap between the series and the film and while I wouldn't call it a dud, I can say that I expected more.

Out of Ten? 6.5

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Fallen (1998)

Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.

After being sentenced to death, a murderer creates his own stay of execution. casting a spell, he moves his soul after death to the next person and he can switch bodies with a touch. He then uses his gift as an opportunity to track down and torment his arresting officer. (Denzel)

After being led to a former officer, he gets information from his daughter about the voodoo that Reece used.
As the bodies pile up, the clues lead denzel to an abandoned house in the woods where he finds the word "Azazel," The Demon who moved by touch. So, the question he has to answer now is: How does one stop a killer that could jump from body to body with a single touch? He could be anyone and anywhere.

Eh. At some point, every major star either will do or has done a supernatural thriller. But Clocking in at a little under 2 hrs, Fallen didn't really offer much. There was a demon, aramaic, people touching each other and Tony Soprano sporting a ridiculous mustache:

Would you just look at that thing?

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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12 rounds - 2009

Detective Danny Fisher discovers his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Fisher's past, and he'll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release.

WWE's John Cena as an action hero? Meh. Why not? Let's see what happens...

In twelve rounds, the villain takes his wife and tells him he wants to play a game with him. The game is called...you guessed it, 12 rounds.

 

My first thoughts were of how much John Cena looks like an older Channing Tatum and how terrible movie was.

Even for movie time, the timing in this movie is unrealistic. Cena has 7 min to get from A to B. 15 minutes later he gets arrives. There is a bomb on a timer. It hits zero. 5 minutes later it explodes. Don't they pay people to check this stuff?

Watching 12 Rounds until the end, you'll realize something. The film is a low budget Die Hard 3. A bad guy sends the good guy on a wild goose chase "game" as a distraction towards his ultimate goal, a bank vault
full of money. The FBI agents are dicks who know more than they let on. Miles Jackson Is just as cold and calculating as Peter Simon and John Cena is a beefier John McClane, an everyday cop forced into a bad day situation. (Who also happens to pull off the most insane stunts and never seems have a scratch on him.)

For a WWE produced film starring John Cena, it isn't terrible, but it is just a little longer than it needs to be. If you're in the mood for a watered down version of Die Hard 3 you'll like it.

Out of Ten? 6

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Retro Review: Taking of pelham 123 - (1978)

Four armed men hijack a New York City subway train and demand 1 million dollars - which must be delivered in 1 hour - for the train and the lives of the passengers held hostage. Lt. Zachary Garber of the New York City Transit Police must contend with City Hall red tape, the unrelenting demands of the hijackers, and the ever-ticking clock in his efforts to save the passengers and bring the hijackers to justice.

In what is believed to be a near impossible scenario, a NYC train is hijacked and held for ransom. It helps that our bad guys tend to have a knowledge of the subway system and almost all NYPD security measures for such a situation.

Now, I've read somewhere that this is one of those movies "that you end early because you want to see the bad guys win" and it really is. You'll grow attached to the characters and by the end you'll wish you had ended it early. The "bad guys" earned their money for once.

The original Pelham is a lighthearted crime thriller that does not take itself too seriously. Chances are, it is probably better than both remakes (tv + film). Stay tuned, I'll get to them sooner or later...But probably much later.

Violence? At the end
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Tactical Force - 2011

In this nail-biting action flick, a Los Angeles SWAT team on a training mission finds itself trapped in an abandoned military complex without effective weapons or access to outside help, just as two violent gangs close in on their location

Stone Cold as a police officer is something that needs to be seen to be believed. But with the typical SCSA badassness, him, Michael Jai White and his SWAT team easily dispatch three would be hostage takers. Just how badass is his SWAT team?  Well, there's only 4 members. For.The. Entire. City.
 

"Boss, we're surrounded." Yeah, Well, that's bad news for them."

Of course, with badassness comes.recklessness and their actions eventually pisses off their captain who suspends them, and sends them for re-training. Their training site is the location of some shady dealings and they are pinned in as two teams of gangsters are there looking for a briefcase full of illegal goods. The situation gets worse as each man calls on their respective gangs for assistance.


(pic)This douchestache manages to play everyone against each other

There's a few things about this movie that I don't get. Mainly, if you are trapped in a building with killers, why on Earth, would you take off your protective gear? It just doesn't make sense.
Outside of that, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Michael Jai White? Pfft. I'm in.

Out of Ten? 7
Solid popcorn flick. Not the best, but it will do in a pinch.

Violence? Yes
Explosions? One
Nudity? No

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The Raid: Redemption (2011)

A SWAT team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.

There is a story, but does that matter? Dudes are getting bodied left and right.

Really?

Fine. Okay, here's the story:

There is an apartment complex controlled by a notorious drug kingpin. There is a swat team assigned the task of taking him out and stabilizing the building. Once inside, the kingpin offers free rent for life to anyone that takes them out. The mission then becomes a fight for survival as the team tries to escape the building alive.

The best part?: They get that shit out of the way within 10 minutes. There's nothing but action after that point and this has to have been one of the best pure guy films I have ever seen. I can overlook the so-so ending, because the start to finish action easily overshadows it.

The Raid: Redemption is currently getting a limited run in theaters, and by the time you read this, it may be over. If you should happen to come across it, know that it is highly recommend it.

Here's the trailer if you haven't yet seen it:
**(BTW it is subtitled.)**

Violence? Fuck. Yes.
Explosions? Of Violence
Nudity? No

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Luther - 2010 (TV Series)

In this BBC series. Idris Elba wrecks shop as Luther, a self destructive cop who sits firmly in the gray as it relates to his job. The show follows the case of the week format for a few episodes, then it jumps into a cat and mouse style battle of wits as the brilliant but flawed DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Luther matches wits with the equally as brilliant but obviously flawed psychopaths of the city. As unorthodox and or unethical as it seems, he gets shit done.

Make no mistake, Luther is a cerebral show. But the twists and turns it takes to resolve its cases will draw you in and help you appreciate quality shows such as this. So far, there are 2 seasons or series as they are called across the pond, and I look forward to another two. Maybe it is because the quality of our TV has really gone down, but I'm realizing that the BBC has really stepped up their game lately. Between this show, Sherlock (2010),  Jekyll (2007), and Dead Set (2008), I am 100% impressed and open to viewing nearly anything they have to offer.

Luther definitely cracks my top 10 series list (top 5 in british shows).
It is currently on instant watch. Why not give it a shot?

                                                                      

Violence? Yes. Psychopaths abound. People die.
Explosions? Rarely. There may be one or two
Nudity? There may be a titty or two. The british aren't as uptight about showing boobs as we are.

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Edison Force - 2005

Upon discovering a den of corrupt policemen, a fresh-faced journalist makes a shaky allies in a jaded reporter and investigator for a powerful district attorney.

Classic Corrupt police force vs journalist story. Believing himself to be a good writer, timberlake searches for that one story that would make his career. Said story land in his lap and he runs with it. Unfortunately, the police have a good thing going and they won't let him ruin it. So he becomes public (private) enemy #1 and eventually learns the dark side of journalism.

In one scene, he is accosted outside of a night club. My only thought was, "daaammnn." Either McDermott is a super strong cop or Timberlake's girl can't take a punch. Comatose. Either way, the camera dude immediately cut to out her medic alert bracelet.

That's a baaaadd man.

This movie boasted a nearly all star cast. Plenty of heavyweights, yet it went straight to DVD.
Just look at this cast list:

Morgan freeman
Kevin Spacey
LL Cool J
Dylan McDermott
Justin Timberlake
Cary Elwes
Roslyn Sanchez
Piper Perabo

So...yeah. I had to watch it. I couldn't understand how a movie with all of this star power went straight to DVD. After I watched it. I understood. Freeman and Spacey carry with them a certain cinematic weight which can bring a film legitimacy. Specifically, Freeman's presence is intense. In one scene when he's berating Timberlake's character, and eventually fires him, I felt like he fired me. I was seriously depressed for like 1 min. Unfortunately, none of that weight helped this film. LL Cool J is always himself in these movies, so he wasn't the issue. It came down to three things: plot, direction and Timberlake. Sadly, I get the plot, I do. But things could have been made clearer. Idk exactly what they were trying to accomplish but something felt... off.

Out of 10? 5.5 

I want to say six, but I didn't enjoy it all that much. And curiosity plus it's cast list was the only reason I checked it out. I don't feel letdown, it was just about what I expected and part of this grade was due to the 5 minute scene of Morgan Freeman dancing. Dude was getting down. But here's the thing, as funny as that was to watch, I never want to see anything like that again. Morgan fucking freeman should not be dancing.

Lucky for me, unfortunate for you, I can't find that clip, so I've attached this one instead:

Violence? Yes. Corrupt Cops bring the Pain!!!
Explosions? No
Nudity? I think there was a scene in a strip club, but don't quote me.

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The Good Guys - 2010 (TV Series)

Jack is a by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position with the Police Dept. His partner Dan, a drunken, lecherous veteran hangs onto his job only because of one heroic act years ago.

The good guys is a buddy comedy about a burned out 70s super cop and his straight arrow partner who have been named partners due to their previous transgressions.

Dan Stark is a "Screw procedure! Let's bust some punks!" type of cop and his partner Jack Bailey, (played by Colin Hanks) is a by the books straight arrow cop. The comedic timing/pairing of this odd couple only gets better as the crimes on the petty crimes list they've been assigned to suddenly become much larger and dangerous.

This show was unfortunately canceled after it's first season and that's only because no one watched it. Which, again is partially my fault, as well as yours. I, like all red blooded Americans, didn't believe anything starring Colin Hanks would be worth my time. Then I found this show. Unfortunately, it was way too late to save it.

The Good Guys is currently available on netflix instant watch. If by the time you read this, the show is not there, find some other way to watch it. It's worth it.

Also, the quietly foxy Jenny Wade costars.

How can you pass this up?

Out of Ten? 5

Solid cop show. Plenty of laughs and a lot of action scenes. 

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No.

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The BBC

BBC programs have been some of the better produced and higher quality shows in existence. Foreign entertainment in general, may be an acquired taste for some, but believe me when I tell you that there is some really good stuff overseas.

American Television has a way of stealing the works from other countries. Knowing that, I figure maybe you'll like the originals better. To that end, I've put together a small list of a few BBC shows that I've really enjoyed. Idk whether or not you're interested in things made outside of the States, but you should give these shows a chance.

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Reno 911: Miami - 2007

 The cast of the hit TV series takes it to its next logical conclusion...a movie. (via)

Plot (via):

A rag-tag team of Reno cops are called in to save the day after a terrorist attack disrupts a national police convention in Miami Beach during spring break. Based on the Comedy Central series.

...And you better believe they save the motherfucking day.

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La Soga - 2009

A cop works against his country's corrupt government in order to find justice on a case.

La soga is a tale of a Dominican mercenary who is secretly contracted by the police force yet operates outside of the law. As a child, he witness a drug dealer kill his father. Since being recruited by the Police General, his sole purpose is to kill drug criminals who have been deported back to DR. You'll learn that his father was killed by a drug dealer and that is what set him on this path. He waits for the deportation of that same criminal who is now in NYC so that he can finally have his vengeance. To clarify, he doesn't just hunt criminals, there is (of course) a procedure. If you fuck up in the states and get deported, just pay the gov't a protection fee and you're cool. If/when you don't pay, you get to meet...La Soga.

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