Dangerous is just another run-of-the-mill direct-to-video film that had its moments and at least was moderately entertaining if only for Scott Eastwood and Mel Gibson in his brief screen time.
The Vault is an entertaining heist-thriller that might not reach the levels of an Ocean’s Eleven but still worth checking out.
The Postcard Killings is a movie that I would’ve lost any interest in if not for a respectable cast, led way by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the film at least did have a couple twists, though the final act it does lose quite a bit of steam.
Primal may not be a fantastic thriller and the core plot is convoluted, but I did find some of this to be entertaining enough and it does seem like Nicolas Cage was actually trying rather than mailing it in for the paycheck.
I Spy is a half-baked TV-to-movie adaptation that flopped at the box office and it’s easy to see why, not only does it feature a weak plot, but the chemistry between Wilson and Murphy was not there.
The Poison Rose is just another failure in John Travolta’s ever fading career, and I say that with no glee or happiness as he has shown to be a fantastic actor so I can only hope a Tarantino or Nolan might re-vitalize his career one more time.
House on Haunted Hill actually was an okay flick for the first two-thirds which had some nice and sometimes spooky atmosphere aided by some nice set designs, but all that is thrown out the window with a finale that was so dumb combined with some laughable visual effects.
This X-Men: 3-Film Collection is okay and does come with good video upgrade and already solid audio, however the big downside with this set is that the studio failed to port over the second discs for each film which contained some expansive documentaries.
The Show is a movie that thinks it’s some kind of 21st century version of Network or something but instead it bangs you over the head, a bit too much even by satire standards, with its message culminating with a laughable last line.
Once Upon a Time in Venice doesn’t quite work either as crime or comedy, but I have to admit to chucking a few times here and there and can appreciate the cast, though the likes of John Goodman and Famke Janssen were underutilized.
Taken 3 is a weak sequel and really the epitome of a money grab with a template screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kasen and frenetic direction by Olivier Megaton of some truly generic action scenes. It is disappointing that the series has devolved to this level but I suppose if you like Neeson and can set aside some of the absurd plot points, Taken 3 might make for throwaway entertainment.
Lord of Illusions is an uneven yet admirable little supernatural-thriller-horror that Barker himself described as a cross between Chinatown and The Exorcist, and although in the end I wasn’t that enthralled, the director’s cut is still well worth checking out.
The Wolverine is a marketed improvement over X-Men Origins: Wolverine in some places, but I felt the story could’ve been tightened up as it dragged in many scenes.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter had an interesting and different premise but from the beginning it never quite found its footing. For one thing, I didn’t buy Renner and Arterton in their roles although the script didn’t help matters so their performances are somewhat forgivable. All told, sadly this is a downright forgettable movie with nothing to offer except for Famke Janssen’s hammy, yet fun, performance.
Taken 2 had so much potential and plenty of goodwill after its amazing predecessor, however what we got instead was a lazy half-assed screenplay that simply did a find and replace combined with uninspiring direction. The main saving grace is that Liam Neeson once again gives it his all and really saves it from being a dud.