This Means War (2012)

As you know, I'm not a fan romantic comedies but I like Reese Witherspoon, I have a crush on Chris Pine since I was twelve and Tom Hardy, well, he's hot, so, after putting it off literally for years, I finally gave This Means War a chance. 

The story follows two CIA agents who are also best friends, Tuck (Tom Hardy) and FDR (Chris Pine), as they hit the dating scene after being benched because an international criminal, Karl Heinrich (Til Schweiger) is after them. While the first tries online dating, the latter goes for the old "picking up a lonely woman at video store" approach, and they both meet Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), a product-testing executive with no luck in love. When the two friends find out they are dating the same woman, they begin to compete with one another to win her.

The storyline alone should be enough to keep people away from this but if you are weak like me and watch anything, any sort of crap for actors you like, then you'll find yourself barely entertained by This Means War's predictable and unexciting plot filled with holes, clichés, non-clever twists and a subplot involving a German terrorist —because Germans still are the bad guys, no matter if the story is not set during WWII— that is completely wasted and adds absolutely nothing to the whole thing.

The writers didn't put a lot of thought into the characters either so all the film has to offer is shallow, clichéd characters who, if it wasn't for the actors playing them, wouldn't even be that likeable. Not to mention the number of dumb things the three main characters, especially Tuck and FDR, do throughout the film considering that they are supposed to be smart, brilliant people. It's like watching a group of retarded morons.

20th Century Fox

As I said above though, the cast does a fairly good job. Chris Pine is charming as usual as the ladies' man, and Tom Hardy also shines charisma as the desperate, divorced single father. Reese Witherspoon, on the other hand, gives a pretty flat performance as the woman craving for love and eventually getting the attention of two hot men. Chelsea Handler provides good support as Lauren's constantly horny best friend. Yes, that's all the characterization these people have.

Unfortunately, the cast is pretty much the only good thing about This Means War as the dialogue is pretty awful, the banter feels forced, the jokes are predictable and fall flat most of the time, and the action scenes lack suspense and excitement —there are fights, chases and explosions, but it's all so bland, uninspired.

Venom (2018)

I already had lukewarm feelings about Venom so when critics flooded us with negative reviews, I decided to pass the movie and save some money. Then, many people I follow —either on Twitter or blogs— started posting their review and it didn't sound that terrible. At that point though, I didn't want to go to the cinemas and watch the dubbed version so I waited for home release. 

The film follows Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a news reporter who has just lost his job and girlfriend (Michelle Williams) because he went off-script while interviewing Carlon Drake (Riz Ahmed), the CEO of a bio-engineering corporation, the Life Foundation. When he tries to dig some dirt up on Drake, he becomes the host of a powerful, symbiotic alien, Venom, that gives him superhuman abilities. Venom and his species, however, do not come in peace.

There's nothing special about the story as it is a very simple one that features many clichés —the loser who becomes a (anti)hero, the alien parasite symbiote, the sappy romantic subplot— and it's as predictable as a comic book film can get and therefore the twists aren't a bit effective. And yet, despite all the flaws, it is a quite compelling and entertaining origin story.

Having Eddie Brock as lead character does help too. While he could have used more development and depth, he is a very likeable character as well as easily the most relatable comic book character portrayed in a movie so far as he is an everyday guy who screws up —just like every one of us— and wants to redeem himself. As for Venom, he makes for a wonderful, evil sidekick. And Tom Hardy does a very nice job playing both. He always plays these serioues and intimidating characters so it was refreshing seeing him play someone/something different this time around. Although he is not very believable in the role of a loser —just take a look at the man, will ya—, he gives such a funny and entertaining performance as Eddie/Venom. Also, the interactions between Eddie and Venom are hilarious —easily my favourite part.

Sony Picture Releasing

Unfortunately, Hardy and his characters are the only ones that make you have a good time. The supporting characters are terrible as they are dull and not a tiny bit interesting —why waste Michelle Williams like that?— and the villain, Drake/Riot is generic at best, not menacing at all, and Riz Ahmed's performance is pathetic to say the least.

As for the visual aspect, while the cinematography doesn't always make sense, the special effects are pretty good —I liked how the transformation was handled, and Venom looks pretty good. The action sequences range from mediocre to tense and entertaining. At last, the comedy. It doesn't always work and it often feels as if the filmmakers wanted to do what Deadpool did but didn't have the guts to go all the way. And it's pretty frustrating. Overall, though Venom is not as bad as I thought it'd be.

Watch: Final Trailer For MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Still looking amazing, the last trailer for George Miller's MAD MAX: FURY ROAD solidifies some story along with the spectacular action. In fact there's what seems to be a clip from the movie in it and it helps to give the movie some skeleton to all the muscle it's been showing.

Can't wait for this!

Here's the movie's storyline:
A apocalyptic story set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and most everyone is crazed fighting for the necessities of life. Within this world exist two rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order. There's Max, a man of action and a man of few words, who seeks peace of mind following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos. And Furiosa, a woman of action and a woman who believes her path to survival may be achieved if she can make it across the desert back to her childhood homeland.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD hits theaters on May 15.

I'm Hooked! New MAD MAX: FURY ROAD Trailer Brings Whole New Level Of Fantastic

Wow. I've been reserved about MAD MAX: FURY ROAD since the beginning. The stunts, explosions, grittiness and story elements I'd seen just wasn't cutting it for me. BUT NOW, after this latest trailer? MM:FR is definitely on my must see in theater list.

You see, I've seen many post-apocalyptic movies and many explosion for the sake of explosion movies. I want to see something I haven't seen before. Up until now MM:FR hadn't shown me anything that excited me to any great extent.

But this trailer... Wow. I think they may actually have a half decent storyline and stunts/action that are necessary to move the plot along. It's not just another yawner! At least I hope it's not.

Here's the movie's storyline:
From director George Miller, originator of the post-apocalyptic genre and mastermind behind the legendary “Mad Max” franchise, comes “Mad Max: Fury Road,” a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky.

Haunted by his turbulent past, Mad Max believes the best way to survive is to wander alone. Nevertheless, he becomes swept up with a group fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven by an elite Imperator, Furiosa. They are escaping a Citadel tyrannized by the Immortan Joe, from whom something irreplaceable has been taken. Enraged, the Warlord marshals all his gangs and pursues the rebels ruthlessly in the high-octane Road War that follows.

Tom Hardy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) stars in the title role in “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the fourth in the franchise’s history. Oscar winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “Prometheus”) stars as the Imperator, Furiosa. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult (“X-Men: Days of Future Past”) as Nux; Hugh Keays-Byrne (“Mad Max,” “Sleeping Beauty”) as Immortan Joe; and Nathan Jones (“Conan the Barbarian”) as Rictus Erectus. Collectively known as The Wives, Zoë Kravitz (“Divergent”) plays Toast, Riley Keough (“Magic Mike”) is Capable, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”) is Splendid, and supermodel Abbey Lee is The Dag, and Courtney Eaton is Fragile. Also featured in the movie are Josh Helman as Slit, Jennifer Hagan as Miss Giddy, and singer/songwriter/performer iOTA as Coma-Doof Warrior.

So have a look at the latest and definitely greatest trailer for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. It's coming in 3D and it looks MEAN. MM:FR opens on May 15.