BATTLESHIP

Ok to be 100% honest I was seriously concerned about this movie.  Namely b/c it is based off of the game from many of our childhoods.  This comes off as a bad idea.  To my knowledge, nobody asked for a movie about the game battleship.  This means they're off to a bad start.  The story is told over the backdrop of an alien invasion.  Always a step in the right direction.  I may be speaking for myself only, but I can't get enough of these.  Any and every interpretation of what the day looks like when we finally meet aliens; I can get my hands on, I want.


One positive point for me, This movie highlighted the Navy.  All branches of service deserve their fair share of shine.  Having been a while since we had a good Crimson Tide, the Marines are threatening to monopolize the entire market.

The story is a familiar one. A boy forced to grow up, and all it took was the death of his big brother and potentially the end of the world. Our villains left something to be desired.  When you're getting your invasion on, there is no room for mercy.  While I'm hopeful there's a reason behind it.  The aliens didn't get their hands as dirty as they could or should have.  Prolly the reason they lost. I'm assuming they wanted to keep down the violence on humanity to keep their PG-13 rating.


All in all, I wanted to see this movie b/c of the aliens.  Definitely worth a look.  Go check out Battleship!

SAFE HOUSE

Safe House is the newest release hitting Theaters today Feb 10th. Starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Renolds.  It's a spy movie where you don't know who's trying to kill you or necessarily why. Where by the time you figure it out, it may already be too late.

Denzel, who is a traitor, turns himself over to authorities in the midst of being pursued for his latest bit of Intel going to auction to the highest bidder. Before his extradition to the US, he is held at a safe house for, let's call it "aggressive questioning". 

Ryan Reynolds plays the custodian of the safehouse. Termmed a "House Keeper". He's on his first assignment for the agency and has spent 12 months watching a house with no guests. Begging for a promotion, Reynolds desperately wants to prove himself to his superiors. Today he finally gets his chance.

During questioning the safehouse is breached and attacked. The team that has brought in Washington has been killed.  And Reynolds is the only thing standing between his house guest and a bullet in the head.

Safe House is a fun action flick that will remind you exactly why Denzel is the man.  The fight choreography is bone breaking. The car chases are Earth shattering. And the DP's use of shadow definitely gives you a clear idea about how dark these characters are!  Safe House gets two thumbs up! Definitely worth the cost of admission.

Red Tails

This is the story of the brave souls who flew as part of the 332nd Fighter group of World War II.  More commonly referred to as the Tuskegee Airmen.  The first Black Aviators in American History.  This story is one we should be clamoring to see.  Red Tails itself, much like the men of the 332nd had an all uphill battle before them to get this movie made.  This "Black" movie.  With an all black cast.  No major white roles, and complete with a black Director.  This is exactly the kind of project that Hollywood says is not, cannot and will not be profitable.  Making this movie a success today sets ourselves up for more victories in the future.

As an African-American filmmaker I understand the implications of Red Tails' success, or lack of which thereof could have on the entertainment industry for years, as it applies to others; minorities or otherwise who have a story to tell.  But may not be able to get it out for logistics.  Or the bottom line not being profitable enough for investors.  I saw this film at a preview screening and am still planning to patronize it.  Because I want every dollar counted.  And I want to inform Hollywood that this type of movie ("Black") can be successful!!!

Red Tails is an important film not b/c of who it highlights.  But b/c of the inspiration it brings.  Let alone the pride it invokes in men to had to fight and die just to be considered equal by their peers.  The ONLY reason these men we permitted to become pilots was b/c of the Tuskegee EXPERIMENT. The higher ups in the Army did not think it was possible for an American Negro to pass the pilots exam, basic training and aviation training.  It was not until we proved we could, that we were allowed to.  And even then they didn't want to let us.

The success of Red Tails TODAY is just as important as brother Martin's marches 40 years ago.  It's success will demonstrate what power we wield yet so often yield.  That we support good quality work.  Stories about strong Black Legendary Characters.  That we have learned from our past. In aim not to repeat it.

HAYWIRE

Haywire, is Soderbergh's spy epic...  "A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission."  


Per the spy book 101 its up to said super soldier to prove her own innocence. Failure to do so will usually result in charges of treason, ones being disavowed or death.  Its not an unfamiliar story. But one so many of us are fond of.  The thrill, the mystery, the what and the why. Who can be trusted?  So why Haywire and what's so different about it? 


The answer to that, is two more questions. The Who and the How.  First the how; one way, a more traditional approach I suppose, would be with numerous shoot-outs. Your Jason Bourne, or True Lies kind of spy.  Shoot first, shoot later, then after nobody's moving get around to asking a question or two.  These heroes have earned their place as Cinema Americana, but as a whole I feel audiences are steering away from those types of story arcs because they too closely resemble the real world.  And when real world atrocities are no longer discernible from the demented creations of a prolific story teller.  Then its probably time to adjust our storytelling.  Movies are meant to be an escape. Movies should mirror real life; Not be outdone by it.  


Newcomer to the big screen Gina Carano is stepping up to the plate in an attempt to put a new twist on this familiar tale.  Gina's special addition to the role is that she's a retired MMA fighter.  Definitely adding some great technical fighting scenes to the story of this Spy.  From the first scene in the movie you can see she's a fighter.  And not too shabby either.


On the whole, the movie has it slow points.  I found myself dosing off, asking when the next fight was coming up.  But when it did I definitely wasn't disappointed.  The plot wasn't overly convoluted and left me feeling satisfied.


If your up for a girl, who gets down and splits wigs... Go and see HAYWIRE