Karate Kidding around with the Expendables at South African cinemas today
It's a pretty good week at the movies, with five new films opening in South Africa today - each catering for a very different movie mood.
1) Going the Distance is a raunchy but sweet romantic comedy, starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. The film examines the perils of long-distance dating when career opportunities see this likeable duo forced to live on opposite coasts. Going the Distance was profiled on my blog this week, and the film is 51% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (which, for the record, is pretty damn solid for a big studio-funded romcom). I'm definitely watching this one, even if I have a suspicion it's going to upset me.
2) Character-driven Greenberg may surprise fans of funnyman Ben Stiller. In this low key comedy drama, from the writer-director of Margot at the Wedding, Stiller turns in one of his best, most nuanced performances - far removed from his typical, goofy mainstream work. The star plays directionless Roger Greenberg, a 40-something single man at a crossroads in his life. While house-sitting for his successful, married brother, Greenberg attempts to reconnect with old friends, and meets a kindred spirit (Greta Gerwig). 74% Fresh, but perhaps more suitable for people who enjoy quirky films about dysfunctional families and misfits.
3) Winter in Wartime is a highly acclaimed Dutch language drama based on the novel of the same name. Set in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during the last year of World War II, Winter in Wartime focuses on a 13 year old boy whose hatred of the occupiers, and frustration at his mayor father's passivity, results in him helping the Resistance - especially when they have to hide a wounded British airman. 60% Fresh rating for this Golden Globe-nominated coming-of-age tale.
That then leaves the two biggie releases of today:
4) The Expendables unites pretty much every major action star from the 1980s onwards. It's the Manliest Movie of 2010! And I'm not just saying that because they linked to my Expendables Trailer Tuesday post from the film's official site.
Written by, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables focuses on a group of cynical mercenaries who finally put justice before profit when a mission in an oppressed South American nation goes horribly wrong. For the record Stallone is joined by Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Eric Roberts and Steve Austin. And even Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger make cameo appearances.
Intended as a throwback to old school, excessive 80s action films, with their bloated body counts and even more bloated explosions, The Expendables is 40% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Apparently the film is exactly what its makers wanted it to be, and is just as flawed as its action ancestors. Fans of the genre should love it! Uninitiated casual viewers, perhaps not so much...
5) The Karate Kid is a coming-of-age martial arts drama, and, of course, a remake of the beloved 1984 film. It's apparently unwise, however, to immediately lump the new movie with other recent remake duds. In North America, The Karate Kid easily trumped The A-Team critically and commercially when the two movies were released on the same weekend back in June.
I've blogged about The Karate Kid remake before (as well as posted the trailer), but for the record, the film focuses on 12 year old Dre (Jaden Smith, Will's son) who moves with his mother from Detroit to Beijing. Despite being popular back home, in China Dre is a bullied outsider disparagingly referred to as "The Karate Kid" by his classmates. Quiet maintenance man Mr Han (Jackie Chan), however, takes pity on Dre and teaches him the empowering art of kung fu.
The Karate Kid 2010 is 67% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes. Although overlong at 140 minutes, the film is apparently a very satisfying crowd pleaser with appealing performances and impressive combat sequences.
1) Going the Distance is a raunchy but sweet romantic comedy, starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. The film examines the perils of long-distance dating when career opportunities see this likeable duo forced to live on opposite coasts. Going the Distance was profiled on my blog this week, and the film is 51% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes (which, for the record, is pretty damn solid for a big studio-funded romcom). I'm definitely watching this one, even if I have a suspicion it's going to upset me.
2) Character-driven Greenberg may surprise fans of funnyman Ben Stiller. In this low key comedy drama, from the writer-director of Margot at the Wedding, Stiller turns in one of his best, most nuanced performances - far removed from his typical, goofy mainstream work. The star plays directionless Roger Greenberg, a 40-something single man at a crossroads in his life. While house-sitting for his successful, married brother, Greenberg attempts to reconnect with old friends, and meets a kindred spirit (Greta Gerwig). 74% Fresh, but perhaps more suitable for people who enjoy quirky films about dysfunctional families and misfits.
3) Winter in Wartime is a highly acclaimed Dutch language drama based on the novel of the same name. Set in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during the last year of World War II, Winter in Wartime focuses on a 13 year old boy whose hatred of the occupiers, and frustration at his mayor father's passivity, results in him helping the Resistance - especially when they have to hide a wounded British airman. 60% Fresh rating for this Golden Globe-nominated coming-of-age tale.
That then leaves the two biggie releases of today:
4) The Expendables unites pretty much every major action star from the 1980s onwards. It's the Manliest Movie of 2010! And I'm not just saying that because they linked to my Expendables Trailer Tuesday post from the film's official site.
Written by, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables focuses on a group of cynical mercenaries who finally put justice before profit when a mission in an oppressed South American nation goes horribly wrong. For the record Stallone is joined by Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Eric Roberts and Steve Austin. And even Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger make cameo appearances.
Intended as a throwback to old school, excessive 80s action films, with their bloated body counts and even more bloated explosions, The Expendables is 40% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Apparently the film is exactly what its makers wanted it to be, and is just as flawed as its action ancestors. Fans of the genre should love it! Uninitiated casual viewers, perhaps not so much...
5) The Karate Kid is a coming-of-age martial arts drama, and, of course, a remake of the beloved 1984 film. It's apparently unwise, however, to immediately lump the new movie with other recent remake duds. In North America, The Karate Kid easily trumped The A-Team critically and commercially when the two movies were released on the same weekend back in June.
I've blogged about The Karate Kid remake before (as well as posted the trailer), but for the record, the film focuses on 12 year old Dre (Jaden Smith, Will's son) who moves with his mother from Detroit to Beijing. Despite being popular back home, in China Dre is a bullied outsider disparagingly referred to as "The Karate Kid" by his classmates. Quiet maintenance man Mr Han (Jackie Chan), however, takes pity on Dre and teaches him the empowering art of kung fu.
The Karate Kid 2010 is 67% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes. Although overlong at 140 minutes, the film is apparently a very satisfying crowd pleaser with appealing performances and impressive combat sequences.
Comments
I've watched The Expendables and Karate Kid, and have some feedback of my own.
The Expendables was very entertaining to watch. Story line is a bit "meh" but that easily forgiven with all the action and fighting going on to "blow" you mind :P
The new Karate Kid movie was god tbh, I enjoyed watching it. But looking at it from a technical point of view, they can't call it Karate Kid when he is taught Kung Fu... seriously.
Despite the title, Jaden Smith did well casting the character. His mother in the story probably could have been more of a drama queen, but I'm super glad she wasn't. I think Jackie Chan did well too in showing us the old, yet humble teacher. He even walked like an old man hehe.
Both these movies, despite some personal differences, were very good and exciting. I'd recommend watching them, especially The Expendables :)