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The3rdWoman
Reviews
No Time to Die (2021)
Great movie, slightly rushed ending
The movie is struggling due to changing times and lack of audience interest especially for fans of the Bond films (like me). The movie looks great with terrific location photography, the title is cool and female element are strong role models, albeit with a slight anomaly in the woods (would have liked to have seen the current 007 helping). Other than that, this movie has a lot to offer. The story isn't overly interesting and the villain is probably the weakest.
"No Time to Die" is very much in the tradition of Bond, but didnt understand why he needed to send his family with 007, they could have left any time.
American Made (2017)
Wonderful and interesting
American Made was a good watch - the story keeps a good steady momentum, the direction and editing are vibrant and dynamic. It has the vibes of something like Wolf of Wall St or a Guy Ritchie film, where despite the nature of the events you find yourself rooting for a criminal and laughing at the black comedy of how things unfold.
I had watched Narcos so I had a bit of information on the background and would have been cool to have those actors reprise their roles, but it stays firmly in the mode of fast-paced 'zany' without ever really digging into emotions, desperation, or any human reflection. Barry Seal as a character remains a breezy, zany blur. Its just that kind of film. I think Cruise has a lot to do with that - his vanity as an actor, having to be seen as either confused- smiley or cool-intense in any given moment limits his courage to do anything else (Born on the Fourth of July was a real anomaly for him in terms of range).
Its as entertaining as any two episodes of Narcos - but without Narcos' complexity and variance. Good but not great, definitely worthy of a viewing.
Prey (2022)
So Cool and pretty good
People really need to think when they write a screenplay. What could have been a great movie, perhaps as good as 1 and 2, rather than the pablum that followed, is just a foot note in predator history. The cast was really good, and the story was very interesting.
Our hero is a great tracker, ever but makes mistakes as we all do. I will watch this again and then 1 and 2. Even when the 7 foot tall predator went toe to toe with a 5 foot tall woman, dont mess with the women.
The Irish Connection (2022)
Fun and bit goofy
"The Irish Connection", the second in the Danny & Jay movies with Moussaka & Chips being the first, is arguably a bit better than its predecessor, but not better enough to compete with Bond films.
The production is once again colorful, with some truly beautiful shots and some neat gadgets (stalking your neighbour device!); the plot is more elaborate and not fully revealed until the second half of the movie; and the sexism has been considerably toned down - and despite Aureille mocking the idea that women could rule the world, she acknowledges the value of men and even counts on their athleticism to assist her on the mission). Rosa Coduri is very good in her fight scenes; the problem is that, just like in "Mousakka & Chips", those fight scenes make up about 20% of the total action. The direction and pace is frenetic, and there are certain scenes that just play on too long like the final torture scene.
The result is a movie that looks good, but feels like a race to the finish.