Posts Tagged ‘Rambo’

Reel Rumbles #38: ‘Terminator Salvation’ vs. ‘Alien Resurrection’

25, Aug 2011

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In This Corner…

In recent years, there’s been a number of once-dormant franchises – particularly franchises that began in the 1980s – being resurrected with a third sequel. Not every franchise warrants a fourth movie, but we’ve recently seen Rambo, Live Free or Die Hard, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull…to varying degrees of success. (Surely, it will not be too much longer before some genius decides to make Back to the Future Part IV.)

There are two science fiction franchises, however, that share a very similar pattern of quality in their four movies. The first two films in both series are widely considered classics (and, in fact, all four films rank in the Top 100 of Flickchart’s list of the Best Films of All Time). Both had their reputations tarnished by a lackluster third film (yet even those movies have their defenders). And both had pretty definitive trilogy conclusions blown open by the arrival of a fourth film.

These “fourquels” might be considered unwarranted, even unwanted. One promises “resurrection”, the other “salvation”, but the results may be somewhat less than heavenly. Yet, some people may find them better than the disappointing third movies. And when you are presented with them on Flickchart – and you admit that you’ve seen them – the question is, “Which is better?” Care to find out? Step in to the Reel Rumbles ring as we pit Terminator Salvation vs. Alien Resurrection.  Read the rest of this entry »

Sucker Punch: A Flickcharter’s Movie Review

29, Mar 2011

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You will be unprepared.

That’s a tagline full of promise, all right. Though I have to say, I never felt “unprepared”. There was very little in Zack Snyder‘s Sucker Punch that I didn’t expect in the wake of the trailers promoting this movie. It takes big event movies across multiple genres – a pinch of The Matrix, a heaping helping of Kill Bill, a splash of Terminator, a dose of Rambo, a dash of The Lord of the Rings, a dollop of Fight Club, a touch of Inception – and tosses them in a blender. The result is a movie that certainly looks cool, but with a narrative that may seem as cobbled-together as the visuals if you start to think about it too hard.

Watch the Trailer >

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New Releases – DVD, Blu-ray, and Netflix Instant: July 27, 2010

27, Jul 2010

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What’s new to the Blu-ray and DVD Release Schedule This Week?

Clash of the Titans

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: #4245
Times Ranked: 5007
Win Percentage: 35.69%
How Many Top-20′s: 5 Users

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger mythology nut than me, so catching this (on a easy to see 2D Blu-ray) is a major priority. If you also dig on mythology and flicks, the book “The Ancient World in the Cinema” by an old professor of mine is a great read.

Repo Men

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: #6699
Times Ranked: 1370
Win Percentage: 48.68%
How Many Top-20′s: 0 Users

It’s Repo! The Genetic Opera but without the opera. Despite my massive love for musicals, I personally was not a fan of that flick but completely understand why 14 year old girls like it. This one looks like it’s much more “serious” and more of a straightforward action flick.

Operation: Endgame

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: #12462
Times Ranked: 1
Win Percentage: 100%
How Many Top-20′s: 0 Users

Rob Corddry and Zach Galifianakis in a spy-thriller? That’s just crazy enough to work. The movie has an incredible ensemble cast and looks, to me at least, to be a fun way to kill a couple hours. Check out this clip for some proof of the funny.

Batman: Under the Red Hood

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: Just Added
Times Ranked: -
Win Percentage: -%
How Many Top-20′s: – Users

Animated superhero movies are the best. There’s nothing better to throw on one monitor, while I get some work done on the other. The only conceivable reason I would ever want kids is so I could buy movies like this without getting dirty looks when I get to be in my 40′s.

IP Man

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: #6749
Times Ranked: 287
Win Percentage: 68.81%
How Many Top-20′s: 1 Users

The story of a very successful, real-life martial arts teacher. The man taught Bruce Lee everything he knew, so hopefully there’s an interesting movie in there somewhere. Flickcharters seem to be responding to it very positively so far, so I’m guessing it’s worth a look.

The Art of the Steal

How does it stand up against the Best Movies of all time?

Flickchart Ranking: #11835
Times Ranked: 33
Win Percentage: 37.78%
How Many Top-20′s: 0 Users

Documentary about the struggle to control a $25 billion private art collection. The collection was started by a dude who made his money creating a treatment for a sexually transmitted disease in the 1800′s. Flickchart rankings aren’t great right now but it looks interesting.

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