Most January movie releases are simply just studios putting on junk they know is junk to make a quick buck. This January, the big studios have subjected audiences to the horrendous 'The Devil Inside' and the extremely corny 'Red Tails.' Even a semi-decent release like 'Contraband' was easy forgettable.
So when I hear that Steven Soberbergh is making a spy revenge movie with the likes of Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum (who I believe is drastically underrated because of his poor role choices), and Antonio Banderas, I had high hopes. But two thing worried me: the first is, as previously stated, it would be a January release, which didn't make the film seem all that appearing. The second was the fact that a total non-actor would be carrying the film, real life MMA star, Gina Carano.
I won't bother getting much into the plot (see the synopsis on the home page), but I will say that in order to get the full experience and be able to follow along, do NOT take any bathroom breaks or go to refill your popcorn. As an avid movie buff who's seen his fair share of complex plot lines, I was even confused as to who some of the characters were or what there tie in was to the plot, which is one of my few gripes.
But the fighting scenes in this movie were worth the price of admission alone. None of this computer-generated, unrealistic cliché Hollywood BS. The fights in this, while being incredbily awesome, also possessed a feeling of actual realism, which is very refreshingly this day in age. Soberbergh proves here that he's one of the best working directors in the ways that he does not continuously chop up the edits or add any unnecessary music.
As for Gina Carano, let's just say she can hold her own in a fight sequence. As beautiful as Angelina Jolie and Kate Beckingsale are, when it comes down to them being action stars, it's simply not believable that a woman of such a small stature can take down a 220 pound man. Carano, on the other hand, is completely believable. Not only does she kick plenty of butt (Soderbergh made the movie around her athletic ability), she doesn't look half bad doing it: which is the best combination for any action star.
My biggest problem with the movie itself is Gina Carano's voice, which was 'altered' (let's face it, dubbed) into a voice that almost doesn't sound human. At some moments in the film, it's passable, but at others, it almost sounds like a robot is talking. Why the voice altering happened is up in arms, but it pulled me away from the movie for a few short times.
For a January release, this is all you can ask for and more. Had this come out a month's prior, it could of made my top 10 of 2011, and that's high praise.
So when I hear that Steven Soberbergh is making a spy revenge movie with the likes of Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum (who I believe is drastically underrated because of his poor role choices), and Antonio Banderas, I had high hopes. But two thing worried me: the first is, as previously stated, it would be a January release, which didn't make the film seem all that appearing. The second was the fact that a total non-actor would be carrying the film, real life MMA star, Gina Carano.
I won't bother getting much into the plot (see the synopsis on the home page), but I will say that in order to get the full experience and be able to follow along, do NOT take any bathroom breaks or go to refill your popcorn. As an avid movie buff who's seen his fair share of complex plot lines, I was even confused as to who some of the characters were or what there tie in was to the plot, which is one of my few gripes.
But the fighting scenes in this movie were worth the price of admission alone. None of this computer-generated, unrealistic cliché Hollywood BS. The fights in this, while being incredbily awesome, also possessed a feeling of actual realism, which is very refreshingly this day in age. Soberbergh proves here that he's one of the best working directors in the ways that he does not continuously chop up the edits or add any unnecessary music.
As for Gina Carano, let's just say she can hold her own in a fight sequence. As beautiful as Angelina Jolie and Kate Beckingsale are, when it comes down to them being action stars, it's simply not believable that a woman of such a small stature can take down a 220 pound man. Carano, on the other hand, is completely believable. Not only does she kick plenty of butt (Soderbergh made the movie around her athletic ability), she doesn't look half bad doing it: which is the best combination for any action star.
My biggest problem with the movie itself is Gina Carano's voice, which was 'altered' (let's face it, dubbed) into a voice that almost doesn't sound human. At some moments in the film, it's passable, but at others, it almost sounds like a robot is talking. Why the voice altering happened is up in arms, but it pulled me away from the movie for a few short times.
For a January release, this is all you can ask for and more. Had this come out a month's prior, it could of made my top 10 of 2011, and that's high praise.