ENTRAPMENT(1999)

The film starring SEAN CONNERY and CATHERINE ZETA JONES was released in the year 1999. It premiered alongside of many great films such as FIGHT CLUB, AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE MATRIX- the summer blockbuster of the year and failed to be in the first league.

Due to the incident of an highly protected Art theft, Catherine Zeta Jones(Virginia Baker), an insurance agent goes undercover to join the league of an aging Master Art thief, Frank MacDougal (Connery). The plot then goes very intriguing as both the parties try to con each other. The way they con each other is expertly depicted. It is the only thing in the film that keeps you at the edge of the seat.

The direction of the scenes in which the duo train were superb and also the stunts performed in the film was very good and directed really well. The screenplay could have been made more intriguing. The sequence where they prepare to overcome the laser protection to steal to the mask and also the finale of their theft were excellently acted and portrayed. Although the chemistry was good between the two, their love affair scenes could have been given less attraction.

Finally the plot hangs on to find who conned whom and who succeeded. Sir Sean Connery performed the role with its utmost perfection. The way he delivered the dialogues were so perfect and kept me really interested in the conversations. With his experience in the industry, it looked as if he did the role effortlessly where as the rest of the crew could have put in a lot of effort.

My favourite quote:
Cathy: I said this is called entrapment.
Connery: No, actually it's called blackmail. Entrapment is what cops do to thieves.


The verdict is the movie is worth to watch it once at the least for the performance of Sir Sean Connery.

My Rating - 6.2/10.

The Last Samurai (2003)

 Director: Edward Zwick

Writers: John Logan (story), John Logan (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe and Billy Connolly

My Review:

            This film is one of my favorite films which starred Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. The Last Samurai is one of the few American films that portray the beauty of the Japanese culture. The plot of the film happens in 1870’s when the long American civil war had just got over. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is an American civil war veteran who is hired by some Americans who wish to sell gun powders to the Japanese Emperor. But this westernization of the Imperial army has been condemned by the Samurai Warriors who are devoted to the sacred dynasty. Nathan Algren is hired to train the first set of combat soldiers in firearms and lead them in the attack against the Samurai Warriors. Samurai Warriors are led by Samurai Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), a legend who is feared by everyone in Japan. Algren admires the Samurai tradition and their skills in fighting. The film narrates a story similar to that of 300 but in a different style.

            The performance of Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto was outstanding and it fetched him an Oscar Nomination. Tom Cruise also delivered a good performance as a lonely American in the midst of a number of Japanese. The drama in the film was beautifully portrayed by Edward Zwick. The background score composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer, added flavor to the film. The sounds and the scenarios were really awesome. The way the story was narrated and the climax sequences were the best. To sum it up, a good film from the bag of Edward Zwick with Ken Watanabe gaining prominence in the Hollywood.

My Rating: 7.9/10

Crank (2006)

Directors: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Writers: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Stars: Jason Statham, Amy Smart and Carlos Sanz

My Review:

                Crank is a cent percent pure action film. This film stars Jason Statham as Chev Chelios who is a professional assassin. Chelios is injected with a poison by the villain Verona which is going to kill him in hours. Chelios comes to know of this and urges the issue to his doc friend Miles. Miles asks Chelios to keep his adrenaline in an upper level to survive. Chelios with the help of his girlfriend Eve tries to stay alive and seeks Verona at the same time to kill him.

                Action in this film takes the vantage point. Every minute you can hope for a fight scene to come out of nowhere. Jason Statham who is known for his performances in Lock Stock and Two Smokin Barrels, Transporter series and The Bank Job has given action pumped performance in this film. The stunts and the climax of the film were the best parts of the film. The MPAA has given the rating R for the film for Sexuality, Nudity and Drug use. The film was a blockbuster hit in America and is rated above 7/10 in IMDB which is quite a feat for an action film.

My Rating: 7.2/10

The Condemned (2007)

Director: Scott Wiper

Writers: Scott Wiper (screenplay), Rob Hedden (screenplay)

Stars: Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones and Nathan Jones

My Review:

            The Condemned is film based on the plot of the famous series Survivor but with extremely dangerous rules and special contenders. A wealthy television producer purchases 10 convicts who are condemned to live on this planet and are awaiting their death penalty. One of them is Jack Conrad (Stone Cold Steve Austin), a ex-US military personal lost in mission is a death row inmate in a corrupt prison. Now the ten convicts are dropped in an island with a rigged anklet in their leg and are asked to kill each other. The only one who survives after 24 hours will have his death penalty revoked.

            The film is full of action and the stunts were really good. Stone Cold Steve Austin was great as an action hero. His fighting scenes were best. My personal best scene is where he takes on a giant psychopath. The screenplay was good. Overall a nice action film to watch

My Rating: 6.2/10

Kick-Ass (2010)

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Writers: Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn

Stars: Aaron Johnson, Lyndsy Fonseca, Chloe Moretz and Nicolas Cage

My Review:

                Kick-Ass is one of the best films of 2010. This is a super hit action-comedy film starring Aaron Johnson, Lyndsy Fonseca and Nicolas Cage. Dave Lizewski (Johnson) is a geek studying in High School. Being a fan of comics and having suffered at the hands of muggers, Dave thinks of becoming a superhero and buys himself a costume and names himself Kick-Ass. Kick-Ass becomes popular when his ass gets kicked trying to save a complete stranger from three punks. Dave loves Katie (Lyndsy Fonseca) but she does not. One day Katie asks him about comics and asks him out for a coffee. Dave and Katie become friends and many of Dave’s dreams come alive just because of one lie.

                When Dave tries to do a favour for Katie, he meets two other super heroes namely Hit Girl (Moretz) and Big Daddy (Cage), who are really good at fighting and also the villain Frank D’Amico is introduced. Big Daddy was an ex-cop who was framed and arrested for Drug Trafficking by D’Amico. Hit Girl was his daughter and he takes revenge against D’Amico.

                The performances were above average but the plot and the comedy sequences were hilarious. The chemistry between Dave and Katie was good. The stunts and action scenes were also good. The film was well directed by Matthew Vaughn. The stunts at the climax were great. So to sum it up, Kick-Ass is a good film, worth watching.

My Rating: 7.7/10

7 Seconds (2005)

Director: Simon Fellows

Writer: Martin Wheeler

Stars: Wesley Snipes, Tamzin Outhwaite and Deobia Oparei

My Review:

                7 Seconds is an action film which failed due to poor direction. With Wesley Snipes in the lead as Jack Tuliver, a thief who steals the expensive, precious Van Gogh painting is hunted by many gangsters to acquire the painting from him. In the events that follow, his friend gets kidnapped and Tuliver plans and executes an escape plan. This summarizes the movie. The movie is full of Action and car chase scenes which were let down just because of poor direction and screenplay. Wesley Snipes was the only good thing in the film.

My Review: 4.7/10

The Marksman (2005)

Director: Marcus Adams

Writers: Travis Spangler (story), Tyler Spangler (story)

Stars: Wesley Snipes, William Hope and Emma Samms

My Review:

                The Marksman is an action film starring Wesley Snipes in the lead as The Painter. The plot of the film is that Chechen rebels take control over a Russian nuclear Plant. A team of Special Forces is assigned along with the painter (Snipes) to take down the plant. Snipes has to place a marker in the plant which would be brought down by a missile.

                This film lacked the usual action scenes of Wesley Snipes. In fact Snipes was seen in action in a very few scenes. Te performances of the other actors were a let off. The plot, screenplay and direction were really not good. The only best scene in the film was the climax.

My Rating: 4/10

Flightplan (2005)

Director: Robert Schwentke

Writers: Peter A. Dowling, Billy Ray

Stars: Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard and Sean Bean

My Review:

            Flightplan starring Jodie Foster in the lead was released in the year 2005. This film is a fast paced thriller in Hitchcock style. Kate Pratt (Foster) who lost her husband recently is flying home her husband's coffin from Berlin along with her daughter Julia. After three hours of sleep in the journey, Pratt wakes up to find that her daughter is lost. She queries the flight Attendants about her daughter who inform her that Julia did not travel with her. Then Pratt takes the matter in her own hands and searches throughout the flight.

            The best scenes of the film were when the villain is identified and the events that take place after that. I like the plot of the film very much. The film's success in the Box Office was hampered by the release of great Blockbuster films like Batman Begins, Sin City, Harry Potter and Others. Year 2005 was one of the golden years for the film industry and this film though well written was just good enough to have survived the year as a hit. Foster and Sarsgaard gave good performances.

My Rating: 6.5/10

Recommendation: Watch it!!! You will not be Disappointed.

The Last Legion (2007)

Director: Doug Lefler

Writers: Jez Butterworth (screenplay), Tom Butterworth (screenplay)

Stars: Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley and Aishwarya Rai

My Review:

            The Last Legion is one of the few Hollywood films which starred Aishwarya Rai(Mira), an Indian actress who was crowned the miss world in the year 1994. This film also starred Colin Firth in the lead as Aurelius and Ben Kingsley as Merlin. The story of the film happens in circa 460 A.D. in Constantinople. Mira, an Indian born fighter is recruited to assist the Roman Commander Aurelius to plan the escape of 12-year old Romulus Augustus Caesar from a prison in Capri. Aurelius, Mira and Merlin team up along with some soldiers to work out the escape and hand over Aurelius to Roman Senator Nestor. The things that unravelled then made the three to protect Romulus from there too and the film goes like this. This film is just an Entertainment film. The story and screenplay was only average. Aish, Kingsley and Firth gave average performances. The good things in the film were the stunts and the scenario in which the story take place.

My Rating: 5.7/10

Recommendation: Its an entertainment film with lots of action and stunts in an Historic setting