Bruce Willis stars in ‘Looper,’ one of several September releases that looks promising.
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Bruce Willis in 'Looper' could be one of September's best movies
Bruce Wilis has an interesting interview style. Sure he’ll take your questions, ponder them and give you a steely, action-star answer, but he’ll also commandeer your audio…
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Bruce Willis Talks Movies, Family and Takes a Mic to the Head
“RETIRED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS”
Starring: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren,
Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker, Brian Cox, Ernest Borgnine and Richard Dreyfuss
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language
Genre: Action/Thriller, Comedy, Thriller and Graphic Novel
Running Time: 1hr 51min
Distributed by: Summit Pictures
Opens: October 15, 2010
By John Delia
If you can find a funnier action adventure movie than RED from this year’s releases, drop me a note, because I must have missed it. This film has all the power of big name acting, excellent directing and outstanding writers that make danger funny. If you need a comedy thriller fix, scoot on over to a theatre to see RED.
Frank (Willis), Marvin (Malkovich) and Victoria (Mirren) close in on their adversaries
It’s been several years since Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. When they get a lead as to by whom and what reasons the quartet of ex-spies are set up for elimination, they gang together for a reprisal.
Malkovich, Freeman and Willis interrogate Richard Dryfuss
The lead actors could not have been cast any better for the roles in this D.C. Comics graphic novel caper. I had a terrific time laughing and enjoying some of the most outlandish situations in which the characters found themselves. Each actor brings his expertise to the film, with Willis doing his best John McClane (Die Hard), Freeman giving us a bit of Sloan (Wanted), Mirren shows us her Rose (Shadowboxer) but with a bit more verve, while Malkovich puts on his Tom Ripley (Ripley’s Game) mask, a little more paranoid, and with a lighter side to his ‘killing machine’.
Directing here by Schwentke is perfect with great pacing, comedic timing and a strong hand that keeps his A List actors on their mark. One of his best scenes involves a fight in the freight container yards in Miami. With all characters involved, the fight gives new meaning to armed reprisal.
Karl Urban in a scene with Bruce Willis
In support, Karl Urban plays a determined CIA agent that just won’t give up. He’s out to prove that being the best agent is the one that can take down the legend. The comedy surrounding his depiction of the frustrated William Cooper gives the film that extra punch needed to make it in my top comedy choices for 2010. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Mary-Louise Parker does a great job as the hapless Sarah Ross who finds herself along for the comedic roller coaster ride.
The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence and brief strong language, but although it may seem harmless to most, may be a little over the top for the very young.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Take the ride; it’s a doozie! (5 of 5)
“AN EXPLOSIVE SKY ROCKET”
Starring: Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Owen Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Will Patton
Directed by: Michael Bay
Produced by: Jerry Bruckheimer
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action Thriller, Sci Fi
Blu-ray Release date: April 27, 2010
By John Delia
It doesn’t seem possible that Armageddon can be more explosive than in theatres, but seeing it on Blu-ray comes close. I was totally blown away with the detail, color and picture quality that this movie delivers in a home setting. The movie is a classic with an all-star dream cast, imaginative storyline and awesome special effects/CGI.
A meteor heading for New York City
You probably already know the story but here is a thumbnail just in case you have not seen this film in a long time. NASA’s executive director, Dan Truman (Thornton), realizes the Earth has 18 days before it’s obliterated by a meteor the size of Texas, he has only one option – get a ragtag team of roughneck oil drillers to volunteer to put a hole 800 feet deep on the meteor and drop a nuclear warhead into its core. The job goes to Harry Stamper (Willis) and his band of mismatched heroes, who suit up, train and take a shuttle to the hurling rock.
Patton, Willis, Afleck and Wilson
The casting for the film is brilliant, teaming up Willis with excellent support actors that make the film funny and dramatic all at the same time. The film is one of my all time favorites and seeing it in Blu-ray made the experience even better than I thought aside from seeing it at a movie theatre.
The Blu-ray has only one bonus feature and that’s a music video by Areosmith. If you’re wanting a lot of bonuses on the film your best bet is to get hold of Armageddon The Criterion Collection DVD that has over 15 features.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Armageddon on Blu-ray turns up the thrills. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)
“ROBOT GAMERS”
Starring: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe and James Francis Ginty
Directed by: Jonathan Mostow
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller
DVD Release Date: January 2010
By John Delia
I think that Bruce Willis is probably the best all around film star that has survived nearly three decades without a dud. And with Surrogates it’s a near miss. Just eking above average, the film survives with some awesome special effects and Willis’ creative performance. If you like science fiction that goes hyper realistic, then Surrogates should be on your DVD short list.
FBI Agent Greer tracks down a killer
The movie goes something like this. People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates — sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves. It’s an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don’t exist. When the first murder jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate and enter the robotic realm risking his life to unravel the mystery.
In a world of surrogates hardly a crime has been committed because those controlling their alter lives are free to lie down on a special bed and just visualize what they want their surrogate to do. Similar to I Robot the film depicts millions of robots working, playing, and controlling the police and government in this pristine town. The reality of it all however, goes way beyond anything that’s desirable and that’s where the film goes off kilter and drags a bit until the interesting finale.
Blonde haired Willis
I like Bruce Willis’s acting and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where as the main star he had a bad performance and in Surrogates he continued the streak for me. Making his character tough, relentless and his surrogate vigilant and manipulative, Willis dominates the screen. However, with robots it’s hard to feel anything for them so you loose any empathy for the heroes. It’s like watching radio controlled cars, airplanes and action figures on a huge screen. The only emotion comes from side stories that affect the manipulators of the surrogates, and there aren’t enough scenes to make the film a very good movie.
The special effects and make up involving the surrogates is quite special. It
Surrogate Rosamund Pike
was fun watching a young Bruce Willis with a head of blonde hair. Wow, right out of Photoshop to the big screen. And how much can you do to make Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike more gorgeous than they already are? Oh, you make their non-surrogate bodies more ordinary and that was a great make-up accomplishment as well.
There are a couple of bonus features on the disc and I recommend you check out the music video “I Will Not Bow” by Breaking Benjamin.
The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene so if you feel your children should not see the movie send them to bed.
FINAL ANALYSIS: It’s a slightly above average film on DVD and Bruce Willis’s performance is worth watching. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)
“IT’S RAINING ROBOTS”
Starring: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe and James Francis Ginty
Directed by: Jonathan Mostow
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller and Adaptation
Release Date: September 2009
By John Delia
Well they did it again, the movie industry jumped to a level beyond science fiction with Surrogates. It’s called unrealistic. When you make an unrealistic film, you expect the audience to get suckered into a plot so unbelievable that their fantasy brain buds take over and accept what they are watching. Well you could have fooled me here, but NOT! Teens and Bruce Willis fans will probably have a great time with this average film.
FBI Agent Grier
The movie goes something like this. People are living their lives remotely from the safety of their own homes via robotic surrogates — sexy, physically perfect mechanical representations of themselves (Hmm Ok, do I really get to have sex, breathe fresh air and does the ice cream taste delicious?). It’s an ideal world where crime, pain, fear and consequences don’t exist. (Well, that’s sounds great do I have unlimited dollars to spend or do I just walk into a bank and walk out with the loot?) When the first murder in years jolts this utopia, FBI agent Greer (Willis) discovers a vast conspiracy behind the surrogate phenomenon and must abandon his own surrogate, risking his life to unravel the mystery.
Pike as Maggie Greer Surrogate in production
In a world of surrogates hardly a crime has been committed because those controlling their alter lives are free to lie down on a special bed and just visualize what they want their surrogate to do. How absurd and boring can that be? The film depicts millions of robots working, playing, and controlling the police and government but for what purpose? It’s not realistic and that’s where the film fails. It would have been a great idea if only a few had surrogates, but that’s another script called I Robot.
I like Bruce Willis’s acting and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where he had a bad performance and in Surrogates he continued the streak for me. Making his character tough, relentless and his surrogate vigilant and manipulative, Willis dominates the screen. So what else is wrong with the movie? With robots it’s hard to feel anything for them so you loose any empathy for the heroes. It’s like watching radio controlled cars, airplanes and action figures on a huge screen. The only emotion comes from side stories that affect the manipulators of the surrogates, and there isn’t enough to want me to like the film’s protagonists.
Willis as Greer surrogate
The special effects and make up involving the surrogates is quite special. It was fun watching a young Bruce Willis with a head of blonde hair and smooth hairless skin on his face. Wow, right out of Photoshop to the big screen. And how much can you do to make Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike more gorgeous than they already are? Oh, you make their non-surrogate bodies more ordinary and that was a great make-up accomplishment as well.
The film is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, sexuality and a drug-related scene so if you feel your children should not see the film they may save some money.
FINAL ANALYSIS: It’s an average film but Bruce Willis’s performance is worth watching. (3 of 5 Palm Trees)
