Share FilmPulse's profile
FilmPulse
FilmPulse's stats
- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewJanuary 22, 2012
- Last reviewJanuary 22, 2012
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3
FilmPulse's Reviews
Overall rating
4
/
5
PostedJanuary 22, 2012
FilmPulse
Steven Soderbergh has made a name for himself in Hollywood not only for his big budget blockbusters like the Ocean’s 11 movies and Traffic, but he also likes to work on small projects such as Full Frontal, Sex Lies and Video Tape, The Girlfriend Experience, and now Haywire.
It seems pertinent to mention Soderbergh’s previous work, because like nearly all his other films, Haywire has his signature style attached from the beginning. But can he translate this style into a hardcore action film? Read on to find out.
Haywire stars first-time actress and MMA fighter Gina Carano as an operative for hire who gets burned by her handler and vows revenge while clearing her name. If this plot sounds familiar, it is. Fortunately, this film has more than enough action to make up for what it lacks in plot.
And boy does it have some action. Gina Carano kicks so much ass in this film, I felt bad for the actors and stunt doubles that had to go up against her. The fight scenes are amazing and brutal, and are often presented as very short and quick bursts of violence resulting in someone getting their face pounded by the film’s heroine. The other very interesting thing about the fight scenes is that there is no music during them. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but when you see the first fight in the film, you realize how real and visceral it becomes when the only thing you hear is the brutality you’re witnessing on screen.
As with all Soderbergh movies, we’re given an incredible cast with this movie. Michael Douglas, Ewen McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Bandaras, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, and Michael Angarano round out the cast and all give decidedly good performances. Channing Tatum seems like a pretty decent actor when compared to Gina Carano, but she does a passable job for her first acting gig.
This film is unfortunately not without flaws however. The plot is weak and at times it felt like we were just seeing filler until the next action set piece began. I feel that with this much talent behind, and in front of, the camera we could have seen a more engaging story. The film’s climax also felt a bit strange. The final showdown seemed like it was supposed to be more epic, but something happened in the interim. The sad thing is that the film started off so strong but hiccuped at the end.
Haywire is a good movie that had the potential to be a great movie. That being said, it’s still a good movie and is definitely worth checking out. With some of the best fight scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie, and a very cool car chase scene, Haywire is an absolute must-see for anyone wanting to see some top-notch action.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
2
/
5
More of the Same
PostedJanuary 22, 2012
FilmPulse
Kate Beckinsale reprises her role as the death-dealing vampire Selene in Underworld Awakening, the newest in the popular Underworld franchise. Set 12 years after the second film, Selene awakes from a cryogenic sleep to find the humans have nearly wiped all the vampires and lycans (werewolves) off the map. Upon breaking free from the facility that was keeping her captive she discovers a 12-year-old vampire/werewolf hybrid child that turns out to be her daughter. Selene must then stop at nothing to keep her protected from the evil scientists that are trying to capture and clone her daughter, and create stronger, more genetically superior lycans.
As one might expect, this film is a complete mess from start to finish. It can be assumed that one doesn’t go see an Underworld movie for the plot, or because it’s intellectually stimulating, but that aside, it’s still not a good movie. The action set pieces are more of the same stuff we’ve seen in all the previous films. Tons of slow-motion Matrix-esque flips and twists coupled with buckets of digital violence and stylized fight choreography. Although, the fights in the movie are fun to watch, they’re nothing new, and don’t make up for everything else in-between.
This Underworld is shot like every other Underworld, in that everything is seen through a blue filter. I understand that it’s simply the style of this movie, but I think the filmmakers should have done something to set this one apart from the others. At least in Rise of the Lycans the film took place in the middle ages, even if it was blue. Forget having to deal with vampires and werewolves, I’d hate to live in this world simply due to the lack of any color other than blue. And the fact that this one is shot in 3D doesn’t make it more impressive. Unlike films like Hugo that use 3D technology to enhance an already great story, Underworld Awakening uses it as a gimmick. If you decide you just have to see this movie, don’t waste the extra money on the 3D version.
A film’s second or third sequel is usually a death sentence, and this holds true for Underworld. The amazing thing about it however, like the Resident Evil series, is that it makes a ton of money. Here’s a tip to every movie-goer out there: Stop paying to go see them and they’ll cease to exist.
No, I do not recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.