Movies out today: Big action stars, big waves and big issues
Six new films open today, including musical documentary Beyonce: Life is But a Dream - which is at select Nu Metro cinemas for just 1 week - and thinly disguised showreel Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (46% Fresh) which is screening in 3D. In terms of proper movie fare though, here's the 4 to choose from this weekend...
The Last Stand:
He's back! The Governator hangs up his suit and hauls out a chain gun in his big return to action movies. Arnie plays the sheriff of a sleepy border town that suddenly becomes the last hope in stopping a drug lord (Eduardo Noriega) and his violent henchmen from escaping from the US into Mexico. Also with Johnny Knoxville, Luis Guzmán, Forest Whitaker and Jaimie Alexander.
Although The Last Stand was a commercial flop, apparently it's no turkey. With a aggregated review score of 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is apparently flawed but nonetheless delivers the tongue-in-cheek escapism you'd expect. Dumb, bloody, undemanding fun. Pity about the co-stars though, according to Kervyn at TheMovies.co.za.
6 Bullets:
Another 80s action hero comes out of the mothballs for this straight-to-DVD thriller - and Taken wannabe. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as an ex-mercenary hired by an MMA fighter (Joe Flanigan) to find his missing daughter in Eastern Europe.
Evidently 6 Bullets is quite watchable if you're into B-grade actioners. Standard, but definitely amongst Van Damme's better efforts of the past decade.
Fanie Fourie's Lobola:
This South African comedy about race relations centres on a young Afrikaans man (Eduan van Jaarsveldt) and Zulu woman (Zethu Dlomo) who fall in love and have to deal with the judgement of their very traditional, very prejudiced families.
The premise of Fanie Fourie's Lobola may sound overdone but the film actually looks pretty great in its trailer - with its humour taking an edgy, dialogue-driven form as opposed to braindead slapstick. The handful of online reviews so far have been complimentary about the film too.
The Impossible:
Finally there's this Oscar nominated drama, based on an harrowing true story. Centered on the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play parents who find their family separated by the disaster. The film chronicles their attempts to find one another in the chaotic aftermath.
The Impossible has been highly acclaimed, particularly in terms of its performances. The film is apparently compelling but definitely not an easy watch. You'll be put through the emotional wringer with this one, even if its story is simplistic. 81% Fresh.
The Last Stand:
He's back! The Governator hangs up his suit and hauls out a chain gun in his big return to action movies. Arnie plays the sheriff of a sleepy border town that suddenly becomes the last hope in stopping a drug lord (Eduardo Noriega) and his violent henchmen from escaping from the US into Mexico. Also with Johnny Knoxville, Luis Guzmán, Forest Whitaker and Jaimie Alexander.
Although The Last Stand was a commercial flop, apparently it's no turkey. With a aggregated review score of 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is apparently flawed but nonetheless delivers the tongue-in-cheek escapism you'd expect. Dumb, bloody, undemanding fun. Pity about the co-stars though, according to Kervyn at TheMovies.co.za.
6 Bullets:
Another 80s action hero comes out of the mothballs for this straight-to-DVD thriller - and Taken wannabe. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as an ex-mercenary hired by an MMA fighter (Joe Flanigan) to find his missing daughter in Eastern Europe.
Evidently 6 Bullets is quite watchable if you're into B-grade actioners. Standard, but definitely amongst Van Damme's better efforts of the past decade.
Fanie Fourie's Lobola:
This South African comedy about race relations centres on a young Afrikaans man (Eduan van Jaarsveldt) and Zulu woman (Zethu Dlomo) who fall in love and have to deal with the judgement of their very traditional, very prejudiced families.
The premise of Fanie Fourie's Lobola may sound overdone but the film actually looks pretty great in its trailer - with its humour taking an edgy, dialogue-driven form as opposed to braindead slapstick. The handful of online reviews so far have been complimentary about the film too.
The Impossible:
Finally there's this Oscar nominated drama, based on an harrowing true story. Centered on the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play parents who find their family separated by the disaster. The film chronicles their attempts to find one another in the chaotic aftermath.
The Impossible has been highly acclaimed, particularly in terms of its performances. The film is apparently compelling but definitely not an easy watch. You'll be put through the emotional wringer with this one, even if its story is simplistic. 81% Fresh.
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