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brandon-mcanally
Reviews
The Book of Eli (2010)
Great cast, Great story, Great rental
Second Look Review: The Book of Eli (2010) Denzel Washington is a lone wolf that has to suddenly deliver an important message based on a matter of importance. He carries a backpack, a book, and most importantly, a sword he bought at a zombie survival store just before the radiation / hot sun apocalypse happened. So, he keeps the sword anyway and commences to trotter about.
Denzel must deliver this message 'somewhere west'. His message delivery mission is set against the backdrop of a wasteland desert America, probably already somewhere out west. He swords some guys in the face and finds a pair of shoes off a dead guy. Denzel comes across some unsavory types that try to take advantage of him in a bar. He takes one of their hands, I think. I do remember he makes his presence rather known to the town's unofficial leader, played by a ticked off Gary Oldman. Don't tick off Gary Oldman. He's looking for a book but his henchmen can't find it. This book is the bible, obviously. Gary knows that he needs that thing to get the full backing of the entire populace because if he has God's word then everyone will listen to him. If you want to participate in the business of hope and crowd control, become a religious leader.
Denzel then finds Tom Waits. This film has Tom Waits in it as a gravelly (surprise) shopkeeper that charges Denzel's batteries for him. Not those batteries, actual batteries. He's a good guy, that Mr. Waits.
Denzel tries to leave the town but Gary Oldman wants the book he has. Titus Pullo tries to shoot Denzel. Denzel then has to fight the bad guys. Denzel escapes, but Gary Oldman eventually catches up with him and fate catches up with Gary Oldman.
Denzel eventually makes it to the spot where he delivers his message and the movie ends. There is a lot to love about this film. It has a fun, weekend-viewing premise and is backed by a great cast. Also, Mila Kunis is in it.
Bonus: Malcolm McDowell reprises his role of post-apocalyptic community organizer (Doomsday, Tank Girl, Cyborg 3: The Recycler, and Entourage (TV)).
The Man with the Iron Fists 2 (2015)
Fun and not bad.
It's a bit heartbreaking to see this movie trashed so readily by ungrateful curmudgeons wallowing in their sedentary lives on the couch.
If you go into this expecting an escape from your boring life, then you will be setting yourself up for success. Know a few things first. - This is a B movie - This is a martial arts movie sequel to a movie titled "The Man with the Iron Fists" - It's a well executed, rated R, modern take on the samurai genre - If you're some hoity-toity film buff elitist expecting to see the sequel to The Artist, you're going to be let down
The exposition drags a bit but bear through it and the second half certainly pays off. It really is not necessary to see the first film. This movie continues the tale of one man, but the plot is completely separate from anything that happened in the first. Overall, this is a great rental and extra fun to have playing in the background in your basement gym.
Any Day (2015)
what in the f
I spent 5 minutes of my life resetting my IMDb password to tell you that this is the most bizarre and stupidest movie I've ever seen. There is no defined tone. The protagonist is flat, flat, flat. This movie is whiter than the movie White Girls. What was going on in that house party / dance scene? just what. There is a scene transition every 30 seconds with the strangest music. The kid plays a robot playing a kid. I am so sorry for the people involved in this film. Someone did them very, very wrong. Of all the Sean Bean movies that he dies, his character survives this, but we'll see if his career does. I'm still just very confused about how this got made. Do people read scripts anymore?