MOVIE REVIEW: THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE

Billed as a true story about a secret British World War II organization; the Special Operations Executive. Founded by Winston Churchill, their irregular warfare against the Germans helped to change the course of the war, and gave birth to modern black operations.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Cast: Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Henry Golding, Cary Elwes

Release Date: April 13, 2024

Genre: Action, Drama, War

Rated R for strong violence throughout and some language.

Runtime: 2h 0m

Review:

Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a pulpy WW2 throwback that uses real events as a launching off point for an exaggerated, stylized retelling of events that's more concerned with entertainment value than historical accuracy.  Ritchie makes that fairly clear right from the onset as he set up the story with a self-assured confidence that bleeds through the screen from the opening sequence.  It’s clear that he has a strong affection for the story and its gleeful band of rogues resulting in a sleek looking film that’s easy to enjoy even if it doesn't break any new ground in the genre.  There's a breezy pace to the whole thing, however those looking for an all out orgy of action might be a little disappointed as the film only has two, albeit large, action set pieces.  The majority of the film is split between Henry Cavill's photogenetic strike force's journey and the undercover duo of Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González.  Cavill is clearly having a ball letting loose as the leader of the unsanctioned group, sporting a rather impressive mustache, beard combo.  He and Alan Ritchson make for an imposing duo with each giving their characters a wide eyed, manic energy makes them far more watchable if they'd played it straight.  Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Henry Golding make up the rest of their group but don't leave as much of an impression with far more even handed characters.  Babs Olusanmokun and Eiza González's deep cover crew have solid chemistry together as they lay the groundwork for the group's arrival.  Olusanmokun carries a paternal sort of energy that fits well for his casino owner and González can play the intelligent vixen role in her sleep.  They're both fairly interesting characters but the script doesn't bother to flesh them out, which would have made them all the more fascinating.  Til Schweiger is saddled with the generic Nazi villain role as the SS commander in charge of the island compound.  The film stumbles a bit in its final act as the central operation unfolds at a methodically pace but lacking the kind of tension you'd expect.  Some judicious editing would have brought the sort of immediacy and tension that would have made the finale all the more thrilling.  Even with its flaws, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare proves to be a fun WW2 adventure which might peak enough interest to have people explore the true story behind this glamourized account.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: AMBULANCE

 

Needing money to cover his wife's medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that's carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive.

Director: Michael Bay

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González, Garret Dillahunt, Keir O'Donnell

Release Date: April 8, 2022

Genre: Action,Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for intense violence, bloody images and language throughout

Runtime: 2h 16m

Review:

Michael Bay is the kind of director whose better known for his cinematic excess more than the fact that he can create a fun big screen thrill ride.  Glossy, frenetic and over the top can describe pretty much any movie on his resume.  Ambulance sees Bay at his best and worst anchored by some fun performances from his central cast who are clearly having a blast playing in this wheelhouse. Bay directs this film with a coked out frenzy that starts immediately and rarely lets up during its overlong runtime.  The film works best during it's opening act bank heist which suits Bay's talents perfectly.  The camera flies around every scene like it can't stop or it'll die.  The action is loud and glossy with random dips into stark violence which is jarring when it pops up.  Still, its hard to ignore the insane cinematic energy on display especially when the cast is on the same page as the director.  Jake Gyllenhaal channels 90s Nic Cage by going all in on the crazy energy that last for the entire film, it's an impressive display of stamina to say the least.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is more subtle and measure, something rare for a Bay film, in his turn as he gives his character far more depth than the script does.  Eiza González fares far better than most of the female characters in a Bay film.  Sure she's the best looking EMT you've ever seen with make up that never smears regardless of what kind of madness she's gone through.  Like everyone else, her character is more of a caricature than anything else but then again nobody ever goes into a Michael Bay film looking for a character study.  Bayhem is in full effect once the movie hits the road with an assortment of car chases and crashes which are increasingly ludicrous as the film goes on.  Bay is the type of director that just can't help himself with the final act displaying his directorial hubris.  Ambulance works really well as cinematic junk food but its like watching fireworks for 2 hours, sometime less is more. 

B-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Godzilla vs. Kong

My dear reader(s), the week just passed brought us Godzilla vs. Kong, a film that — by its very name — made a return to the big screens of the cinema seem imperative.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or if you've ever watched a monster movie before.

As the title indicates, Godzilla vs. Kong pits one giant creature against another, with puny humans serving as catalysts and comic relief.

A disclaimer: I wanted to see this movie on the big screen. I had every intention of seeing this movie on the big screen. I think this movie is 100% worth seeing on the big screen. BUT...for reasons including (but not limited to) Easter weekend always being crazy busy and my cinema still having weird Covid hours, I was forced to watch it on my reasonably-large television. *sadface*

For a movie like this to meet my needs, all it really has to do is have huge creatures, solid effects, and well choreographed battles. Plot doesn't mean much, and people are merely a distraction. Godzilla vs. Kong executes its mission to a "T." Both titular titans look very big and very, very good in this film. Showdowns between the two are magnificent. There are a fair number of consequential humans ("consequential," for my purposes, meaning named characters with at least a little dialogue), but the people are mostly unobtrusive, despite being portrayed by such notable names as Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Demian Bichir, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, and Alexander Skarsgard. Sound effects are nearly as impressive as visuals; however, in order to get the dialogue even barely audible, I had my volume so high that action sequences and music rattled the walls. I find that's the norm these days, both with movies and with television, and I have to think it can't be so hard to do better. Godzilla vs. Kong is fun and well paced, a series of epic action jewels strung together with thin human string. Oh, and the *real* titan here is Elvis Presley, whose "Loving Arms" makes a...peculiar...appearance.

Godzilla vs. Kong clocks in at 113 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language."

If massive creatures, colossal clashes, and unimaginable destruction are your cup of tea, Godzilla vs. Kong is just the ticket. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla vs. Kong gets eight.

Godzilla vs. Kong is now playing in cinemas and streaming on HBO Max.

This review is dedicated to my wonderful friend David, a Godzilla scholar who has probably forgotten more about this character than I could ever know, and to my dad, who would have loved this movie more than anything.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: GODZILLA VS. KONG

 

Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home. Along for the ride is Jia, an orphaned girl who has a unique and powerful bond with the mighty beast. However, they soon find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla as he cuts a swath of destruction across the globe. The initial confrontation between the two titans -- instigated by unseen forces -- is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the planet.

Director: Adam Wingard

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler,  Demián Bichir

Release Date: March 26, 2021

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language

Runtime: 1 h 53 min

Review:

Godzilla vs. Kong is the type of film that is very open about what kind of film it is and it never pretends to be anything else.  Adam Wingard’s film uses the thinnest of a story to get the action moving.  Wingard moves the film at a steady pace so that you don’t think about the exposition heavy human sequences too much since it’s all fairly nonsensical.  Wingard is smart enough to see that people who sit down to see Godzilla vs. Kong want to see the two titans fight in epic fashion.  He delivers some truly impressive action set pieces between the two behemoths in well staged mayhem.  These action sequences are the primary lifeblood of the entire film so if they didn’t work the film would be a failure.  The human side of these films are typically afterthoughts at best and the same holding true here.  The cast is populated with familiar faces who are barely straining one ounce of talent into their roles.  Demián Bichir does manage to leave a lasting impression in the villain role that’s only missing a dash of mustache twirling.  Deft actress Kaylee Hottle leaves the biggest impression in a small but pivotal role. Her portion of the story with Kong is the beefiest of story threads but it’s not explored in any great depth.  Godzilla vs. Kong isn’t the type of film that’s interested in any sort of in depth storytelling just massive mayhem and it delivers the big dumb action you’d expect from these types of films. 

B-