Of Zod and Zombies

MAN OF STEEL

ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY

PLOT:  A reimaging of Superman.

If you don’t know Superman’s origin you shouldn’t be reading this.  It is the most action-packed version I have ever seen.  Director Zack Snyder who did Watchmen knows what the fans want and he does a great job.  Henry Cavill does a good job of being Superman but it is Michael Shannon who plays the evil General Zod and his equally evil assistant Antje Traue as Faora-Ul who steal the show.  If you like Superman you will see this regardless any reviews but it is good popcorn movie.

THE PURGE 

SCI-FI/THRILLER

PLOT:   For one night everything illegal even murder is legal.

                In the future employment is down, crime is down but the price is 12 hours every year you can commit a crime without jail time.  The premise is better than the movie.  It stars Ethan Hawke as James Sandin (Sinister) and Lena Headey (300 and Game of Thrones) as his wife Mary.  They have two annoying teens and the family goes on lockdown that night but a homeless black guy (Edwin Hodge) begs and one of the teens invites him in with deadly consequences. 

There are two good reasons to see this movie –one, we are all barbaric when extremely pushed and two Rhys Wakefield as Polite Stranger who scares you. MAJOR SPOILER the black man LIVES!!!  The film shocked Hollywood insiders for it was low budget-all the carnage happened in the house and made money.  Rumor there might be a sequel.

WORLD WAR Z

ACTION/HORROR

PLOT:  One man tries to stop virus that turns people into zombies.

                Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) works for the United Nation as a crime investigator to find out where the virus started and how to stop it before ALL humans into zombies.  The film is based on a book by Max Brooks.  Always read the book because movies condense and change the novel.  The zombies are not slow, attracted to sound and don’t sound human. Some action sequences are frightening and kinetic.  I don’t know why Mr. Pitt would make a movie like this but he is believable as Lane scared yet determined to find the cure.  Daniella Kertesz is interesting as Segen as a tough female soldier.