The Number Station (2013)

The Number Station (2013)

4/10

Starring

John Cusack

Malin Akerman

Directed by Kasper Barfoed

The movie is not that good, I have to say that from the start.

Number Station features some very high-level performances from John Cusack and Malin Akerman. The movie makes good use of its environment, delivering fun shoot-outs in enclosed areas. Most of the time, we’re watching just the two leads, John Cusack and Malin Akerman, but they manage to keep you engaged and awake as you eagerly wait for the movie to end.

Number Station is a British-American thriller that doesn’t rely on intense car chases or a bunch of men slugging it out. Instead, it’s about a guy letting his critical thinking get the best of him and a woman who chose the wrong career. The film’s slower pace might not appeal to everyone, but it does create a sense of tension that builds gradually.

The story follows disgraced CIA black ops agent Emerson Kent (John Cusack), who is reassigned to protect a code operator (Malin Åkerman) at a secret American numbers station after failing to kill a witness during an operation. This setup feels a bit clichéd, but the actors make it work.

Before they start their shift at the station, they discover it has been compromised. The previous shift’s crew has been killed, and 15 numbers have been sent out to other black ops agents to carry out missions. The stakes feel real, even if the execution isn’t always gripping.

Emerson and the code operator stumble upon recordings captured during the attack on the station. These recordings help them piece together what happened, but they’re still trapped inside. With unauthorized codes sent out, they must find a way to cancel them and escape alive. The confined setting adds to the tension, though the plot sometimes drags.

I wouldn’t rate Number Station highly, as the plot feels dry and it’s hard to like. While the leads are top-notch, the screenplay isn’t. That said, the movie boasts some fun cinematography, and the directing is good enough to deserve a mention.

After over 100 minutes of screen time, I can confidently say this isn’t a movie for the cinemas, nor is it one I’d look back on and feel glad I watched. It simply wasn’t worth the time I invested.

That said, it’s rare and almost surprising that John Cusack ends up being the best thing a movie has to offer, but here he is. His acting is well done, his mannerisms fit the role perfectly, and overall, he delivers a solid performance. Malin Akerman also holds her own, though her character feels underdeveloped.

The Number Station is not a must-see. If you haven’t seen it yet, consider yourself lucky. It’s a forgettable thriller that doesn’t quite live up to its potential, despite the efforts of its talented cast.

Superman Unbound (2013)

 

Superman Unbound (2013)

4/10

Starring the voice of

Matt Bomer

John Nobel

Stana Katic

Directed by James Tucker

Superman Unbound was no better than any other 20-minute-long cartoon we’re used to. Why DC decided to go ahead with this movie beats me, and why some people cheer and say it’s good also goes over my head.

The first issue is the story. Brainiac is a computer program that devours worlds for their knowledge and technology. He then stores a part of the world as specimens and destroys the planet itself. Of all the story arcs to develop into a movie, DC picked this one.

There’s no biff, but this isn’t one of my favorite Superman stories. This animation is based on the "Brainiac" five-issue comic book story arc written by Geoff Johns, which saw the death of Jonathan Kent and Clark taking on an old nemesis, Brainiac, with the help of Supergirl. Now, this movie didn’t include the death of Jonathan Kent, but it felt like taking a dull story and blowing it up on the TV screen.

The animation wasn’t half bad, and the lines were just okay. But while watching, I don’t see any reason why DC decided to aim for a mature audience. This movie could have passed for a younger audience, but with Lois giving Brainiac the finger, it felt totally uncalled for.

There’s nothing in this animation that thrilled me, as the story is nearly identical to that of the comic. This might be a plus for some people, but not for me. The story features our hero Superman and his cousin Supergirl. Supergirl is acting up, dealing with the trauma of losing Krypton, as if it happened just last year.

A probe was sent to Earth to scan its life forms. The probe ran into Superman, and he disabled it. He took it to his North Pole lair, where Supergirl saw the probe and immediately remembered seeing something similar on Krypton before Kandor (Krypton’s capital) vanished.

Superman decided to scan outside Earth and located Brainiac’s ship. From there on, it was a battle of survival. Who will win: the machine Brainiac, who has the knowledge of thousands of worlds, or a single Kryptonian whose love for Earth surpasses that of any other creature?

My final take is, DC better step up. Batman is all they have going for them in the live-action world, and now in the animation world too. I just hope the much-hyped Superman film (Man of Steel) will live up to expectations

Rurouni Kenshin (2012)

Rurouni Kenshin (2012)

7/10

Starring

Takeru Satoh

Emi Takei

Directed by Keishi Ōtomo

In the 90s, there was an anime series that I and my peers looked forward to watching daily. We tried not to miss an episode of the swordsman, the one-time Samurai Hitokiri Battōsai, as he went about helping villagers and bringing down oppressors.

The Hitokiri Battōsai manga series was successful enough to spawn an anime (cartoon) series, and after a long wait of 13 years, this wonderful live-action movie of the tales of Hitokiri Battōsai (Rurouni Kenshin) was made.

Continuity is the movie’s strong point, and that’s nothing compared to the fluidity of the fighting style displayed. The fight coordinator and director, Keishi Ōtomo, made sure that the fame and skill of Hitokiri Battōsai—which we’ve seen and read about in the anime and manga—were well portrayed. The actor, Takeru Satoh, was also a high point in the movie. Transforming from anime to live action can sometimes be difficult, as some of the motions in a cartoon can’t be easily adapted, but Satoh tried, and it was impressive.

The film, like the manga and anime, focuses on fictional events that took place during the early Meiji period in Japan. It follows the story of Hitokiri Battōsai, a former samurai who gave up fighting and now uses a reverse-edge sword to avoid killing.

The movie shows how he tries to live a sword-free life but keeps falling into situations where he has to draw his sword again.

After the Samurai X days in the 90s, all that many of us fans had were memories of the past. Many collected the entire anime series to watch as often as they pleased. So, when I happened to stumble on this movie, I was curious to see if they would do justice to one of the best cartoons of the 90s. While watching this film, I actually believe the producers did a good job, and I do hope a sequel will be made.

The sad thing I had to face while watching this movie is that I had to wait over 35 minutes to see Kenshin take on a gang. I can understand the need to give the viewer some form of suspense, but I thought it would have been better served with a fight early and then the long wait. That first fight scene was so impressive that I just had to rewind to see it again. This is one of the coolest movies to watch, and I recommend it to all Samurai X fans.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Iron Man 3 (2013)

7/10

Starring

Robert Downey, Jr.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Don Cheadle

Guy Pearce

Directed by Shane Black

I haven’t been a huge fan of movies that drag on longer than two parts, so I delayed watching this new Iron Man. In fact, the last one wasn’t so great, so I wasn’t expecting much here—but boy, was I impressed.

When Disney took over Marvel, this was one movie I knew took a lot of cash to make, and I was skeptical. To me, cash doesn’t make good movies; good stories do. Well, Iron Man 3 had a good story, and the supporting cast was just off the hook.

The movie had a nice comic feel, and the action scenes were relentless. The writers kept leaving me speechless with the twists and turns, making me eager to see where the movie was going.

The writers decided to keep everything grounded in science. In the Iron Man comic book series, the Mandarin is his archenemy, portrayed as a genius scientist and an extremely skilled martial artist. The Mandarin showcases powers sourced from ten rings, adapted from the alien technology of a crashed spaceship. Here, in this movie, the Mandarin is just a front for the true villain, with no evidence of him having any common sense. The real mastermind is a pure scientific genius hiding behind the face of the Mandarin.

The movie picks up with a flashback to when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) was hosting a New Year’s Eve party. There, he met scientist Maya Hansen, who was working on an invention called Extremis—an experimental regenerative treatment intended to allow recovery from crippling injuries. Maya wanted to work with Stark to perfect the drug, but Stark rejected the offer.

Years later, Stark’s experiences during the alien invasion of New York left him restless. As a result, he built several dozen Iron Man suits, all designed to work with his subconscious. This act created friction with his girlfriend, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

A terrorist called the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) has been orchestrating a string of bombings, all carried out with no forensic evidence to trace the type of bomb used. When Stark Industries’ security chief, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), is badly injured in one such attack, Stark overcomes his stupor and issues a televised threat to the Mandarin.

This leads to the Mandarin retaliating by destroying Stark’s home. The world believes Stark is dead, so he uses his presumed death to hunt down the Mandarin. In the process, he discovers that the Mandarin is not who he thought he was.

This movie is raking in cash at the box office, and I believe it will cross the $1 billion mark soon. So, if you haven’t seen this movie yet, I wonder what you’re waiting for!

Se7en (1995)

Se7en (1995)

7/10

Starring

Morgan Freeman

Brad Pitt

Directed by David Fincher

There’s no crazier movie from the 90s that can make you feel as uneasy as Se7en did. Se7en used imagery and your ability to imagine the insanity level of the perpetrator to thrill you.

The whole idea of using gore scenes to take up the majority of the movie’s screen time—just to satisfy the weird nature of some viewers—was totally eliminated. Instead, the movie focused mostly on character development, which many might see as boring, but it still managed to become a masterpiece. When you see how the co-stars interact, you’ll bow in respect to their mastery of acting. Morgan Freeman played the old father figure, a detective who has seen too much of the streets and is eager to retire and leave it all behind. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt played the younger cop, full of energy and ready to jump off rooftops to chase down bad guys.

The movie also made use of an array of supporting actors who are stellar enough to star in their own films. Actors like Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey were also onboard in this thriller.

Se7en features newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt) and soon-to-retire William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) as homicide detectives who become deeply involved in a case about a sadistic serial killer. His meticulously planned murders correspond to the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust, and envy.

The movie’s name is Seven, but it’s mostly stylized as Se7en, and it’s a must-see on many levels. The thrill it brings and the chemistry between the co-stars is something you won’t find in just any movie. Se7en became the first of three films that director David Fincher and actor Brad Pitt did together (as of 2013). The others were Fight Club (1999) and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).

The movie was a massive hit in the 90s, achieving both critical and commercial success. Its $30 million budget brought in over $327 million at the box office. Andrew Kevin Walker received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and editor Richard Francis-Bruce was nominated for an Academy Award for Film Editing. Se7en also won the MTV Movie Award for Best Film in its year.

If you haven’t seen Se7en before, or if you’re in the mood for another fun, thrilling ride as we chase down Kevin Spacey, then make time to watch this movie again.

Inception (2010)

Inception (2010)

7/10

Starring

Leonardo DiCaprio

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Marion Cotillard

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Inception is like a chess game with two players: the dream thieves and the dream owner. It’s truly one of a kind, and the way the movie plays out is a reminder of why Christopher Nolan (Memento (2000) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)) will be remembered as one of the best filmmakers out there.

Inception’s cinematography and special effects will definitely wow you, and the way the story unfolds will make you sit up and refuse to blink, fearing you might miss something. This joy while viewing doesn’t happen all the time when watching a movie.

As classic as it is, funny enough, it didn’t win Best Picture at the 83rd Academy Awards, losing out to The King’s Speech that year. I have to give kudos to the directing and writing (both done by Christopher Nolan himself). While watching this film, I knew we were looking at an advanced world. I understood that “dream extraction” was happening, and the excitement didn’t make me care about any loose ends. All I cared about was how the film would play out.

The movie starts by introducing the key players in the business of dream extraction, led by Leonardo DiCaprio. Alongside him are Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine. DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, a thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets.

Cobb has been unable to return home to his family, so when he’s offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task called “inception”—where he and his crew must plant an idea into someone’s subconscious—he takes it. The task is deemed impossible, but Cobb insists it can be done, and he and his crew take it on.

As far as acting goes, no one can say Leonardo DiCaprio isn’t up to the task. His performance and the professionalism he brought to the movie stand out. That takes nothing away from his co-stars, as this well-ensemble cast around him held their own.

Nolan chose to end the movie in a way that leaves the viewer wondering whether everything they saw was real or just another dream.

So, if you’re like me and know that Nolan is too good a filmmaker to ignore, then what are you waiting for? If you haven’t seen Inception in this century, then you haven’t seen one of the best thrillers to hit the silver screen.

Collateral (2004)

Collateral (2004)

7/10

Starirng

Tom Cruise

Jamie Foxx

Directed by Michael Mann

Collateral is one movie I will always remember watching.

It’s a beautiful thriller, and Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of his character is so compelling that it earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Collateral is a crime thriller film from one of the best directors around, Michael Mann. His directorial ace is how he paced the movie, not to mention the magical way the plot unfolds. Tom Cruise did very well in his portrayal of a villain—his composure and speech make it clear that this individual is ready to do anything to get the job done.

Collateral follows a hired assassin who takes a ride with a taxi driver named Max (Jamie Foxx), all to make a few stops and take out some individuals he was paid to eliminate. Max, on the other hand, had no idea that the passenger he was so eager to pick up would be one he’d never forget.

Vincent (Tom Cruise) is the name of the passenger, and he offers Max $600 to hire him for the night. Max, a cabby for 12 years, sees $600 in one night as a great deal, so he takes it. Not long after, things start to go south, and Max soon regrets his decision. He also has to stand up to Vincent, which takes some guts. In the end, we learn that if something sounds too good to be true ($600 for a night of stops), it probably is.

Collateral approaches the story from the perspective of a hired assassin, solidifying the idea we often have of them: heartless psychopaths with no morals at all. As you watch the movie’s buildup to the eventual fallout between the assassin and his unwilling apprentice, you’ll marvel at how the story keeps flowing without ever sending you to sleepyville. The usual happens in this movie, where the men fall out of favor with each other because of a girl.

Repetition is one thing this movie has, though it doesn’t get tiring—you’ll just notice it. This otherwise great thriller does have some cinematography flops, especially during close-up shots, which look amateurish. That was the idea, mind you, but it still wasn’t cool.

The whole idea of a bad guy in a suit with white hair was just cool—Cruise looked sharp in his portrayal.

Collateral is one movie I will always remember watching. If you haven’t seen it, I’m wondering why.