RED

Directed by: Robert Schwentke
U.K. Release: 22 October 2010
U.S. Release: 15 October 2010
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Mary Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban



IMDB Page

She said:

If you are one of those people who finds it tough to suspend their disbelief then this might be a film to avoid (but then again you should probably avoid all action films all together!). This film is topped to the brim with dangerous exploits and, while I may have some reservations, I haven't seen a good ol' "how many rounds can we get through in one scene" action film in some time so for me - this was quite a fun one.

My only real issue with RED was that the cast and crew clearly got carried away with the theme of old age pensioners jaunting off with machine guns on one more quest before biting the bullet (well... one more quest until the sequel of course). I have a sense of humour and I understand the comedy in seeing Helen Mirren talking about being a CIA assassin but I think they went overboard. It is a clear joke that didn't need to be flashed in our eyes with big ol' neon lights.

The film had a fantastic mix of actors. I wasn't convinced that Bruce Willis and Mary Louise Parker could pull of a romantic relationship but I actually think I was wrong! Karl Urban was fantastic as the current CIA agent trying to stop the oldies in their tracks. I would be surprised if he wasn't back in a sequel.

Before I give my score I have to admit my personal revulsion to guns is probably skewing it quite a bit because overall I did enjoy this film and would probably watch it again. I give it {{{2.5 out of 5}}}

He said:
Every now and again it does this film goers soul good to sit down and enjoy a completely nonsensical film. RED fits that bill to the T. Much like this summer's 80's Action hero throw back-Expendables there are a ton of familiar faces that quite often steal rather than share the limelight as they do here.

The cast all shared a chemistry and embraced the ridiculousness that was the plot of this graphic novel adaptation. This is a fun film that you would be hard pressed to not at least chuckle at the complete absurdity of a bunch of senior citizens with a License to Kill and the firepower required to do just that.

Karl Urban (2009's Star Trek's Bones Macoy) and Mary Louise Parker (best known for her role as Nancy Botwin on Showtime's Weeds) both do a fantastic job taking the baton from the previous generations headliners. I really enjoyed this film I give it [[[4 out of 5]]]


They said: Obviously there is a lot of foul language and a sizable helping of gun violence that not all families want to expose their children to; but over all this is a fun film and worth renting at the very least. We give it {{{6.5 out of 10}}}

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: SO TELL US REALLY... HAVE YOU EVER FANTASIZED ABOUT BEING A SECRET AGENT?

Gosford Park (Directed by Robert Altman)

Watched: March 1st

Starring: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon , Kristin Scott Thomas, Kelly McDonald, Emily Watson, Clive Own, Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Jeremy Northam, Laurence Fox, Ryan Phillippe, Stephen Fry, Eileen Atkins, Helen Mirren, Richard E. Grant

IMDB link

She said:

Gosford Park is one of those rare gems - a film I can watch over and over and never tire of. With a list of characters as long as your arm it takes about ten viewings to work out who is married to whose sister and whose valet corresponds to whose lady's maid and who comes under the kitchen staff and who the butler is.

Repeat viewings also allow you to fully appreciate the politics of the upstairs/downstairs dynamic and of the upper class economic situations. This might sound dry and boring but I can assure you this is a film full of wit and humour.

This clever wit is the charm of the film - all the characters are full of familiar dysfunction. The upstairs guests are all trying to be top dog with the most money and don't care which of their family members need manipulating to get it. Below stairs the staff are dutifully bound to people that they destest and despise. The outsiders such as the murder detective and Mr Wisemann (a Hollywood producer) are trying to be 'insiders'.

This film is essentially a murder mystery drama but the comedy is what stands out. I have seen it maybe 15 times and haven't stopped chuckling along yet. Watch it and fall in love equally with characters who are harmless and characters who are quite vile. I give this film <<<5 out of 5>>>

He said:
This film reminds me a lot of the Eighties film Clue (after the board-game with the same name, known as Cluedo in the UK) The mystery of who the murder or murderers actually are, is half of the fun. The Mr Wisemann character spends the majority of the film talking to Studio big wigs back in the states trying to green light a film dealing with the idea of British upper-class in the country for his Detective Charlie Chan films.

This is a fun film with so much going on in any single scene I can definitely see the appeal of multiple viewings. There are too many top notch British actors to list here but even the casual American viewer will know the majority of names listed during the opening credits. (I myself was only unfamiliar with one of the names listed)

I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone looking for an unexpected laugh or a murder mystery. I give {{{4 out of 5}}}



They said:
A fun film worth watching more than once. you will not be disappointed.... we give it {{{{{9 out of a possible 10}}}}