The Equalizer 2 (2018)

The Equalizer 2 (2018)

6/10

Starring

Denzel Washington

Directed by Antoine Fuqua

After the awesome viewing of The Equalizer (2014) (based on the TV series of the same name by CBS in 1985), I knew a sequel was imminent. Hey, studios like to make movies people love, especially ones that are successful at the box office.
So, the moment the date for The Equalizer 2 was set, I marked it as a must-watch. There’s something about Denzel’s style as a badass former operative turned vigilante kicking butt that’s just cool.

The first movie had a clear focus: Robert McCall (Denzel) met a woman he wanted to inspire to be a better person. After developing a guardian-like, father-figure relationship with her, one guy decides he has other plans—plans that include sex trafficking. McCall is forced to step up and take down the man and his team of villains. The fun isn’t just the story, but the action sequences that followed.

In the sequel, McCall is working as a Lyft driver, helping others with the aid of his friend, Susan. One day, while Susan is investigating a supposed murder-suicide with McCall's former partner, she is murdered in what appears to be a robbery.
Now, McCall is on the case to capture the people behind his friend’s death. He discovers it wasn’t a robbery but a murder. He also finds out that the case Susan was working on was actually a murder, not a murder-suicide. After submitting his findings, he too is attacked in an attempted murder, but the assailant fails.

Now, McCall has to put two and two together and figure out why Susan was killed and why his life is now in danger.

The first movie had other random acts of kindness here and there, but this new Equalizer has numerous acts of kindness that feel unnecessary. I prefer the first movie’s style of presenting our hero—focused on one main story, with other things happening on the side that require his expertise. Here, it feels like a never-ending series of good deeds, and at first, you’re left wondering what the main plot will be. This made the movie’s pacing less effective, even though Denzel’s acting and performance were still top-notch, and the action sequences were very cool.

This is the fourth collaboration between Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua. They previously worked together on the Academy Award-winning Training Day (2001), The Equalizer (2014), and The Magnificent Seven (2016).

I enjoyed this movie very much, even though there were many distractions from the main story.
I hope the movie makes enough at the box office to give us a third installment, one that’s as focused as the first. If you liked The Equalizer (2014), you’ll like this one too.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

8/10

Starring

Tom Cruise

Ving Rhames

Simon Pegg

 

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is the sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series and arguably one of the best of the bunch. Now, the movie is considerably long, so prep yourself to sit through over two hours—but don’t be alarmed, it’ll be worth it.
Do note, it’s been a long time since Tom Cruise has done something worth watching. Hell, it’s been a while since Tom Cruise starred in a movie that was a clear box office success.
This movie, however, is both critically and commercially successful, with stunts and cool action sequences that keep you glued. The story is nerve-racking, and the screenplay is inviting, making it clear that a part seven could be possible if the money recouped is good enough.

The story goes like this: Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is called in for a new mission, which, as usual, is off the books and almost impossible to pull off. After the capture of Lark (Sean Harris), his group—now calling themselves The Apostles—hasn’t given up. They’ve come into possession of three plutonium cores, which are believed to be intended for terrorist attacks.
Ethan and his IMF team are tasked with retrieving the plutonium cores. They come up with a plan, but everything falls apart when Ethan sacrifices the mission to save his friend Luther (Ving Rhames).
Unhappy with the turn of events, CIA Director Sloane assigns operative August Walker to Ethan's team to monitor the retrieval of the plutonium.

A new plan is put into action, but, as usual, things don’t go according to plan. Ethan is implicated and seen as the man behind all the crimes that have been going on for years. To make matters worse, he must help break out Lark.
His past also comes back to haunt him, as shadows from previous missions resurface, complicating his decisions and making his task even more challenging.

Many of the old team members are back for this installment. Alongside Cruise, Rhames, and Simon Pegg, we have Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Michelle Monaghan, and Alec Baldwin, all reprising their roles from previous films.
The fun addition to this crew is Henry Cavill as August Walker. He delivers a performance that made me see him in a new light—as an actor worth recognizing for a job well done.
This action spy film is written, produced, and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who also helmed the fifth installment, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015).

I took my time before seeing this movie, mostly because I’m not too much of a fan of sequels, but in the end, it was worth it.

The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

6/10

Starring

Mila Kunis

Kate McKinnon

Sam Heughan

Gillian Anderson

Justin Theroux 

 

Directed by Susanna Fogel

I do hope there will be a part two to this movie. I have to say, this is not a great movie, but it is good enough. The chemistry between Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon was just out of this world. The movie is funny, and this is the first time I’ve come to appreciate Kate McKinnon’s style of comedy.
The Spy Who Dumped Me doesn’t try to be more than what it is—an action comedy about two ladies (Audrey and Morgan) trying to fulfill the dying wish of Audrey’s ex, who happens to be CIA.
These two ladies have their lives turned upside down, and before long, they’ve committed murders, been involved in a car chase, and broken numerous international laws.

Audrey (Kunis) is dealing with a breakup from her boyfriend, Drew (Justin Theroux). She’s at her birthday party, thrown by her best friend Morgan (McKinnon), who suggests they burn all of Audrey’s ex’s stuff. Morgan then sends a text to Drew saying his stuff will be burnt. This makes Drew show up at their place, where he informs Audrey that he works for the CIA and that her life is in danger.
He tells her he cares for her and that when he realized his work could get her killed, he decided to dump her to protect her. Their conversation is interrupted by an attack on Audrey and Morgan’s apartment, and a man Morgan let into the apartment shoots Drew.
Before dying, Drew asks Audrey to take a trophy to Vienna for him and give it to a certain person at a restaurant if he doesn’t make it.

Morgan convinces Audrey to follow through on Drew’s request. The duo then journeys to Vienna, where they’re ambushed not just by the CIA but also by other bad people who want the trophy.
Now, the two are on the run from everyone and have no clue who to trust.

This isn’t the funniest movie I’ve seen this year, nor is it the most inventive spy movie out there, but it was fun to watch.
The pair get captured, tortured, and find a way to joke their way out of situations that go from bad to worse.
I just hope the movie pulls through at the box office and makes a profit because worse movies than this have turned a profit.
I enjoyed watching this movie, and I know you will too when you get to see it.