Summer 2010--Attack of the Kicking Remakes

KARATE KID-2010
ACTION/DRAMA---REMAKE

I did not see the original movie (yes, I know I should have seen it) so I am just writing about the current film. It is about Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and his mom (Taraji P. Henson) who gets a job in China and has to move there. At school he is bullied and he ask Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) to help him learn kung-fu to defend himself, and gets involved with a martial arts tournament. It is good and Jackie Chan is great. He plays it straight, and it shows!!! Jaden Smith is Will Smith’s son!! He is charming and has star quality. It is refreshing to see a young black actor in movie not involving drugs or ghetto life. Should you see it? If you like these kinds of movies--yes, but if you can wait--wait.

A-TEAM
ACTION COMEDY---REMAKE
WOLF,WOLF ACTION HOUNDS REJOICE!!!

I really dislike Hollywood with remakes, reboots and reimagings, but sometimes they actually work, and the 80’s remake of The A-Team is one of them. The story is about the best Special Forces squad there is, but they get framed and have to clear themselves. Plot is not really important here, but action and BIG explosions are!!! The cast is very good. Liam Neeson( Zeus in Clash of Titans)is outstanding as Hannibal Smith, the leader. He is a good replacement for the late George Peppard. Bradley Cooper (Hangover) as “Face” is not only good looking but smart too!! That wasn’t in the series!!

Sharlto Copley (District 9) is an excellent ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock and UFC champion Quntion “Rampage” Jackson is pretty good as B.A. Baracus, but he's nothing like Mr. T. He swears a lot to show his attitude. Jessica Biel is not bad as Captain Charissa Sossa. She is just there to provide a pretty female in the macho movie. The villains are okay. Patrick Wilson (The Owl in Watchman) as Agent Lynch, Brian Bloom (As The World Turns, and co-wrote the movie) as Pike and Gerald McRaney (Simon and Simon) appears as General Morrison. Director Joe Carnahan (Smoking Aces) did an excellent job. I know people and critics say this movie isn’t good. For me it IS a popcorn movie.

SPLICE
SCI-FI/THRILLER---SPECIES REMAKE?

This movie is not good as a thriller, because you have seen this before. A science couple (Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley) mix different DNA to help fight disease, then they create a creature that evolves very quickly with bad results. As humanity tale, it's better because it shows man should be feared more than what it creates. When Dren is small she is cute like a baby, when it grows they treat it like a child, when it becomes a teen and rebels, they cage it, when it becomes sexual the male doctor screws it, and when it becomes dangerous they try to kill it!! It all sounds very good, until you watch it!!! The film reviews have been mixed because (depending on taste, or what you're concentrating on) it is very bad as an executed drama, but too very good (as a concept). This is a movie that is best reserved for DVD or Blu-ray. Why? Because you'll think it is very good, or you wasted your eyes for 90 minutes.