Faster (3.5)

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I love a good action movie. These days I really look for the hand-to-hand combat, any form of chase scene and gun handling. After watching more than my fair share of action flicks I need to see something unique, impressive and ultimately cool to be impressed.

This movie impressed me. More than I thought it would.

To start, Dwayne Johnson (Fast Five, The Other Guys) is a badass in action movies. I think he has a certain way about him that no one else has right now. I, unlike most, love that he can go from playing the Tooth Fairy in a kids movie to being this badass tattoo covered killing machine in movies like Faster. I thought he was great in this role and I saw some extra emotional depth that I haven't seen from Dwayne yet. Thus, hat tip good Sir. Keep it up.

The story has been done a million times and that was going against this movie. He wants to revenge his brother and goes around killing those involved. Been there, seen that.

That being said, the combat and action in this movie had a nice, new spin on it at times. There were some cool moves with hand-to-hand and the car chases were actually pretty interesting. As a plus, I could see everything that was going on. I HATE that about newer action movies, how they blur everything and speed it up so you can't make out what's actually going on (aka the cheap way out). Good action in this movie.

Ultimately, this film surprised me and I liked it a lot more than I thought. I've never liked Billy Bob Thornton though so I didn't like him in this movie. Not sure why, I have never ever liked him, even back in the day. meh.

If you like action, watch this. If not, you probably wont find much to love about it.

3.5/5 ADSENSE HERE

Antichrist (4)

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2009 horror/drama by Lars von Trier.

This movie is messed up. It was really interesting at the start and you think you know what's going on and then shit just explodes and the craziest (and most disturbing) things start happening. I don't want to say too much but you will be verbalizing your discontent and disbelief when things start going down.

Willem Dafoe has impressed me for some time. He is a weird looking dude but he can really act and this movie proves it more than any other. His character is not as complex as he seems at first but this isn't an easy role to play. You'll see what I mean when the last 30 minutes of the movie slaps you across the face.

I have only recently noticed Charlotte Gainsbourg but there is something about her that I like. This performance was beyond amazing. I don't want to give too much away but lets just say that she is the MAN (that's right) for doing this movie. Her character had some many layers and sides and yet still surprises you. She flips emotions more than a pancake and I just couldn't even look at her near the end without feeling sick. Bravo!

I guess I should mention here that this movie is basically a porn. Well, not really, but there is a super up close and personal shot of some serious action within the first 2 minutes of this movie. There are a LOT of sexual scenes and some of them are literally too much to bare. One in particular made me gag for real and made me think twice about ever having sex again (I imagine it is even worse for guys). You are warned.

There seemed to be a lot of background metaphors, symbolism, hidden analogies with deep and dark intellectual thinking throughout this movie. It looks at mankind in a way that I never thought of before. For that I can see why this film is in the Criterion Collection. That and some of the scenes are goddamn beautiful to watch. Some shots actually gave me goosebumps.

Only thing I frowned about was the ending...they lost me there and in a way ruined where they trapped my mind previous to the ending.

This is a whole new take on the thriller/horror scene with an intellectual and dark spin on life and people. This movie is so messed up. You will not forget this film.

4/5 ADSENSE HERE