"The Raid 2" (2014)

One of the more enduring types of films are the ones which take a simple concept, yet add heart and passion to the work. 

Movies like “Ip Man” work so well because they don’t try to add in an enriching story or flashy effects. “Ip Man” stands out above most other martial arts movies because it sticks to what it knows and draws the audience in with the main character’s love for his family and work. These types of movies don’t have much depth to them, but they don’t need to.

Another recent film to do just that was “The Raid: Redemption” a martial arts film out of Indonesia that offered up a simple premise: A group of cops storm a large apartment complex filled with attendees hopped up on drugs, in an attempt to get the gang leader at the top of the building. 

What made “The Raid” work so well was the stunning and well-choreographed action sequences, with each fight feeling wholly unique. On top of that, there is doubt amongst the cops as to who is corrupt and working for the gangs. Yet there is no doubt that the lead character, Rama (Iko Uwais), is straight and is fighting solely for his wife and unborn son. 

“The Raid” very quickly gained a cult following and is now been hailed as one of the best martial arts films in decades. Naturally, the popularity has not gone unnoticed and has led to a sequel, “The Raid 2.” Going in, I expected more of the fun stuff that made the first film so enjoyable. Imagine my surprise when I found “The Raid 2” was so different from the first, yet just as entertaining. 

Directly following the events of the first film, Rama has decided to purge the city of all its corrupt cops and gang leaders. To do so, he must now go undercover and infiltrate the Jakarta crime syndicate by befriending the son of the biggest mob boss, Bangun (Tio Pakusadewo). This includes going to jail and protecting his son, and later becoming a hired body guard for the family, all while learning that the son, Uco (Afrin Putra), no longer wishes to live in his fathers’ shadow and make a name for himself, even if that means destroying everything his father has built. 

“The Raid 2” differs from its predecessor by its detailed focus on the story of Rama and the Bangun crime family. The story of “The Raid: Redemption” was basic and to the point, never adding in anything that was not necessary. The new film takes the time to develop the relationships between Bangun and Uco, and even on rival gangs and how they plan to overthrow Bangun’s empire. 

The fighting is still as excellent as it was in the first film, with each fight contributing something different. The stand out fights here are ones that involve a rival gangs top assassins fighting Rama, with each assassin having a different quirk. One always has his hood up and likes to fight with a metal baseball bat and has befriended a deaf girl who loves to dual-wield hammers. 

One of the more standout characters is a Bangun hired assassin, nicknamed ‘Koso (Yayan Ruhian). He has spent the last fifteen years working as the go-to source for killing, but he doesn’t do it for the money or the thrill, but because it was the only way he knew to provide for his son. Though due to his profession, he could never see his wife or family and was forced to live on the streets as a bum. 

This tragedy eventually leads to an extended action sequence with ‘Koso fighting over a hundred guys in a night club with any weapons he can find, including beer bottles, tables and throwing guys off of the second floor. 

Many more moments in “The Raid 2” stick out to me than from “The Raid” because of the distinct characters and their fighting styles. There weren’t many people that stood out in the first film, because it was much more about the martial arts. This time around, there is a bigger focus on the story of Rama and his need for vengeance in his city. 

The motivations of each characters seems justified and no one is so over the top to the point of being ridiculous. It is just the right amount of drama and tension to make the action sequences have plenty of weight and strength to them. 

Final Grade: A-

Film Pet Peeves: Wrestlers As Actors

Imagine for a moment, during the 1950s and Hollywood is bigger than its ever been, that as a way to pull audiences in even more, studios suddenly started to hire boxers like Muhammad Ali in starring roles.

Any film like that would have been laughed off screen long before opening night. So why do we tolerate nowadays?

Since the late 1980s, Hollywood has certainly been hiring many wrestlers and martial artists for leading roles in their films. One of the first instances I can think of is Roddy Piper taking the star role in John Carpenter’s 1988 film “They Live.” This would eventually lead to acting careers for people like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and many others. 

Most of this came about when filmmakers realized that professional wrestling was, shock-of-all-shocks, fake. The fights were scripted and pre-planned far in advance, with most wrestlers having to memorize lines for speeches and pretending to have actual emotions and feelings towards other wrestlers. 

To Hollywood, this screamed that wrestlers had acting potential. If they could pretend to fight in the ring, then why couldn’t they pretend to fight on camera? 

Here’s the thing: While a good wrestler might be great at reading lines, that does not make them actors. A wrestlers job is to put on a good show; to entertain the audience while they are on stage and to contribute to the atmosphere of wrestling. 

The job of an actor is far different. An actor should not just entertain or please the crowd, but convince the audience that this is an actual person, with flaws, needs, wants, strengths and a past that we should care about. They are not just putting on a persona, like a wrestler, but stepping into the shoes of another life. 

Something like that is tricky to pull off and even more difficult to make the audience care and relate to this person. The sign of a great actor is when you believe you are no longer watching someone pretend to be another person, but that this is the other person. Tom Hanks does a wonderful job of this in many of his roles, including “Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away,” “Saving Mr. Banks” and “Saving Private Ryan.” 

While I don’t expect a wrestler to ever reach the level of acting of Tom Hanks, I do expect a certain level of quality acting when I watch any movie. I’ve yet to see any former wrestler give a decent performance in any movie. 

In the case of any performance by Dwayne Johnson, his acting is stilted, unnatural and often comes across like he’s filming a commercial instead of a movie, with him playing towards the camera as if he’s trying to break the fourth wall. Other wrestlers, like Hulk Hogan or Roddy Piper, just give cringeworthy pieces of dialogue that either make me squirm or laugh at the movie instead of with it. 

The only times I remember wrestlers being halfway decent actors is when they’re playing wrestlers, like Randy “Macho Man” Savage playing Bonesaw in the first “Spider-Man” movie. His exaggerated facial expressions match with an over-the-top performance to give us a fun little scene. It only lasts a few minutes but it is a hilarious few minutes. 

Outside of those types of roles, I do not think wrestlers should ever be used as actors. Performing to a crowd and performing for a camera are two very different things. If someone is able to pull both of those off, that is outstanding. I’ve yet to see a wrestler make the transition to cinema and make it work. 

Unless they have a history of acting classes, they should just stay in the ring.

The Dilemma with Sherlock

One of the biggest television hits of the last five years has been the BBC’s version of “Sherlock.” 

This is due to a multitude of things, including taking the classic detective and moving him into modern-day London without really changing who he is. He is still the most intelligent man in the room, carefully analyzing every little detail about the human behavior, yet still having the social behaviors of a three-year old. 

Another reason is the actor playing Sherlock Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch. His energy and passion for the role really leaks onto the screen as he gives long speeches of information and deductions at lightning fast speeds. Cumberbatch makes the role of Sherlock fun, down to even his little facial expressions as his eyes light up when he gets a case. 

These two elements combine, alongside others such as the wonderful writing by Steven Moffat and still captivating mysteries, and you get a timeless tale of an insane detective. 

Yet it seems that other television studios have realized the popularity of this show and have done their best to ride its success, whether they know it or not. 

Two shows immediately come to mind: CBS’s “Elementary” and Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow.” The former more so, because it is literally taking the same premise: Sherlock Holmes in modern day, except he has relocated from London to New York. 

While “Sleepy Hollow” is another classic tale of mystery and intrigue, but updating it so that the creators could make interesting situations. In this case, it is the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman (though most of what I’ve seen shows him not riding a horse, so could he really be called a “horseman”).

Another possibility is ABC’s “Once Upon A Time” which takes classic fairy tale characters and puts them into modern times as well, though most are not aware they are from fairy tales. To be fair, “Once Upon A Time” is taking its own spin on it with juxtaposition between the real world and the tales and not just completely copying the source material. 

So why has “Sherlock” spawned so many other shows trying to copy its success?

The answer is elementary: Television producers have been doing this a long time. This is nothing new.

One of the more recent cases is “The Office,” which was originally a 14-episode series in the United Kingdom, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but eventually spawning an American series of the same title, which lasted nine seasons and over 200 episodes. Heck, this sparked a trend in ‘mockumentary’ television shows, which would eventually lead to programs like “Modern Family” and “Parks And Recreation.” 

Or how about the family sitcom boom of the early 1990s? Shows like “Roseanne” and “Married...With Children” were some of the instigators to other big name shows like “Home Improvement,” “Saved By The Bell,” “Boy Meets World” and “Full House.” 

The release of these shows are normally not coincidences, but studios seeing a television show is popular and doing their best to draw in the same people who like those shows. 

A good show though will do its best to make the similarities between the two programs hardly noticeable, which is why “Modern Family” feels so distant from “The Office.” Then you get a studio that won’t even try to hide that they’re blatantly copying something, and then you get “Elementary.” 

So, in the end, I hold nothing against “Sherlock.” It is still a wonderful show and it’s not the shows fault that studio executives wanted to copy it. That’s just the way television works and Steven Moffat and his crew should be flattered for that. 

My biggest flaw as a critic

Nobody is perfect. We all have our own flaws and weaknesses. Aspects of our lives that are not as good as they could be. This includes myself.

One thing film critics should do is to be sure to look at all the aspects of a movie. Every scene, meaning, performance, hidden subtext and so on. While I try my best to get as much as I can out of watching a movie, I admit that I will never get as much out of it as other people.

This cuts into my biggest problem as a critic and a big flaw as a person: I cannot read body language. At all. 

I cannot tell when someone is uncomfortable, happy or content just by looking at their body. Hands crossed or legs folded tells me nothing, because I feel that it could mean anything. I need verbal confirmation to understand how someone feels or what they think. 

As a critic, this does mean that I’m oblivious to certain things. Performances, for example, that use mostly body language (or lack there of) are lost on me. Like Renee Jeanee Falconetti’s performance in 1928’s “The Passion Of The Joan Of Arc” uses almost entirely body language in her role. Most critics have said this is one of the greatest performances in all of cinema, but I don’t get anything out of it. Just a lot of her staring blankly at the screen with huge wide eyes and moving like she hasn’t slept or ate in months. 

That performance meant nothing to me, because I don’t understand body language. 

I freely admit this is a flaw as a film critic. I should be observing the body language of actors and actresses to pick up the subtleties of their roles. It might bring something new to life that I wouldn’t notice otherwise. The truth is that I cannot. 

It is like I’m staring at a dictionary to an alien language, being told to understand every word, but not having the most basic rudimentary understanding of their language. 

This is rather personal, but I believe I understand why this foreign language escapes me. I have Asperger Syndrome. It is a mild form of Autism that mostly effects my social skills and behavior. One of the most common symptoms of Asperger Syndrome is impaired nonverbal behaviors and an inability to recognize them. 

The best way to describe it is that my brain is wired differently than most people. I was diagnosed with Aspergers when I was seven years old. When I was a kid, the most noticeable thing it did for me was, when I got excited, I lost control of my arms and flailed wildly. In the years since then, I’ve learned to control it and only let it go once I am alone.

Another thing it did, and this was something I wasn’t even aware of, was I would develop a deep love and attachment to things that caught my interest. This is usually limited to very few things, but as a kid, that was Godzilla, Power Rangers and Star Trek for me. I learned everything I could about those three subjects and was usually only interested in talking about those topics. Everything else was unimportant. 

When I was younger, these were the only two symptoms I was aware of. Even more have come up as of late, thanks to many studies and research. The lack of knowledge on body language is something rather new to me, but it makes sense given my past with movies that use much body language and my distaste for those films. 

I do know this, I refuse to use my Asperger Syndrome as a crutch. Just because I have a personal flaw or make a mistake does not mean it is okay to blame it on my Aspergers. To say that would be like saying I am someone with Autism before I am Paul Sell. 

And I say screw that. 

We are flawed creatures, but our strength comes from recognizing those flaws and being able to correct them. I may be terrible at body language, but it is something that can be learned (at least I hope so). 

I am proud to be a film critic, but I’m even more proud to be willing to admit to my flaws and learn to be a better person because of them. 

"Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014)

When you think about it, good and bad are extremely abstract concepts. What does it mean to be good or evil? Unless we’re talking about stereotypically evil, people always believe they are doing the right thing. We always say that we are the good guys and anyone who opposes us is evil. 

For example, as destructive as the Nazis were, they felt they were doing the right thing for the betterment of mankind. 

Right and wrong are ideas that change wildly depending on who you ask. If you fight for something, like freedom for all people, you are going to make some enemies. Because others will fight for their beliefs. In the end, who is really the good guy?

This is the point of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” as the famous patriot fights for the same values he has always believed in, only to find that the world has changed, and so has its beliefs. 

Captain America (Chris Evans) has now joined S.H.I.E.L.D. as a full-time agent as a way to protect the innocent. But after learning of the new Hellicarriers they have been developing, Cap begins to question who he should be working for. Things change when Director Nic Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is targeted for assassination by a mysterious soldier with a mechanical arm. 

I should probably mention that, since this is a sequel, I particularly enjoyed “Captain America: The First Avenger.” It was a warmhearted and well-appreciated film about a man would fight for his belief that all men are created equal. It was brief and kept its dialogue and scenes to minimum, much like Captain America himself. Only speaking when he absolutely has to and only saying what needs to be said. I respect the film for that.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” does not try to emulate its predecessor at all. While the first film was a war movie, this one is more of a political thriller and how values, much like the world, have changed wildly over time.

Some of the better scenes in the film come when Cap is taking a tour of the Smithsonian and finds the hall dedicated to him and his companions. We see the work of Captain America is appreciated and respected, but how it is now a relic. Something that is no longer of use and belongs in a museum. 

It is really a testament to Chris Evans’ acting, as he observes everything he did, and gets so much emotion across without saying a word. Perhaps he sees himself as another relic, as only an artifact of the past, in both time and beliefs.

I find it difficult to discuss other plot points in this film without spoiling it. Many of the emotional moments hinge on the plot twists and where characters true alliances are. 

A big point in this film is to not trust anyone, which Nic Fury advocates to Cap with a speech about his grandfather liking people, but never believing in them.

This was a smart move on Marvel’s part, because it adds another dimension to the one-note character of Captain America. Don’t get me wrong, I think Cap is a great superhero who will always for the right thing. But what if he didn’t fight for that? In a world full of corruption and distrust, can there really be a right thing?

Not even Captain America is sure of that.

Overall, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was a fun, smart, sophisticated approach to a classic superhero and made his role more ambiguous in the world. The action sequences were well choreographed, the acting was good all around, the comedy was consistent and it kept me enthralled from the first action sequences to the standard Marvel credit sequence. 

Final Grade: A-

The Coen Brothers and their problems

This is something I’ve briefly talked about in the past, but I find the Coen Brothers films to be extremely mixed. Some of their films are magnificent and timeless, like “Fargo” and “No Country For Old Men.” While others leave a bad taste in my mouth and ultimately feel like nothing was accomplished, like “Miller’s Crossing” and “Inside Llewyn Davis.” 

I feel there is a common thread amongst the Coen Brothers goods films and their bad ones: The presence of good and strength in an otherwise cruel and unforgiving world. 

There is a phrase from that has stuck out to come for quite some time. “You are alone in this world, and the world does not care.” I feel that the Coens’ films follow this to a tee. Their films are about, more or less, solitary struggles to survive in a world that is uncaring, unsympathetic and will probably take a shot at you for good measure. The characters work independently and are often afraid of outside contact, in fear that they will turn on them as well. 

My problem with this type of philosophy though is that it doesn’t necessarily reflect real life. We are not alone. There are always those who care and appreciate others. If someone has ever reached out to help you in any way, shape or form, that is proof that you matter to someone. Because humans are compassionate and understanding creatures, among other things. 

However, that does not mean we should be blind to the cruel aspects of life as well. The world can be harsh and dark, thus making the journey difficult. We’ve all had instances in life where things didn’t go the way we wanted it to or have had tragedy befall us. The power of life and its twists and turns comes from your ability to come back from these hardships and learn from them. To be able to pick yourself up, realize what happened, admit your mistake and make your life better because of it. 

This is the backbone of the good Coen Brothers movies. In “Fargo,” you have Marge Gunderson, a cop who sees the terrible acts of selfishness and greed that people commit. She is the best cop around, easily outsmarting her fellow cops and is able to find out information in minutes that other officers couldn’t find out all morning. Yet, she has the most pleasant attitude and demeanor to all of it, always going in with a smile and seeing the best in people. Even better, she is seven months pregnant and has a caring husband who is always there for Marge, even willing to get out of bed at four in the morning to make her some breakfast. 

Marge and her husband, Norm, are what make “Fargo” the masterpiece that it is. If they were removed from the film, it would just be a dark comedy about a group of incompetent losers who can’t figure out how to handle a proper kidnapping. When you add in Marge and Norm, you see that, amongst the pathetic people in the world, there is solace. These two have their lives figured out. They may not have the most extravagant lives, but they are content with where they are and happy to have someone who cares for them. They don’t need money or objects to tell them that they’re doing good, they have each other for that. 

I find that Marge is comparable to Atticus Finch of “To Kill A Mockingbird” in this respect. Both of them live in a world that is cruel and selfish, yet they only wish to see the good in the world. They don’t want wealth, just happiness and an equal world for all. They are both people far ahead of their time and represent the best of humanity. 

In a not-so-similar way, you have Llewelyn Moss from “No Country For Old Men.” While he may not be morally up there with Marge, he does sit higher than most other people in the film. Some people are so confused and angry at the world that they are unsure what to do once danger comes and then there’s the danger itself, Anton, who is clever but only interested in killing. Unmerciful, crazy and dedicated to the craft of death that even he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing. 

Llewelyn finds a large case of money and intends to use it so he and his wife can live peacefully. It isn’t until he is hunted down for the money that he takes action. He doesn’t seek it out, it comes to him. He does not fight back for a selfish reason, but for his wife and their happiness. He is strong, incorruptible and, most importantly, confident. 

These are the characters and traits that make the Coens’ films so appealing to me. Its not just the dialogue, the worlds they create or the smart blend of comedy and dark elements, but the ability to find strength and kindness in the world when there is none anywhere else. To take the time to enjoy the smaller aspects of life, such as your husband bringing you a bag of night crawlers for fishing or sharing a beer with your wife. 

When these elements are not present, suddenly the film is only about the cruelness of life and how unforgiving it can be. Films like “Barton Fink” or “Blood Simple” offer only the unpleasant elements of life and give us very little reason to care about the outcomes. As a result, these films stick out far less than “Fargo” or “No Country For Old Men.”

The reason I hated “Inside Llewyn Davis” as much as I did was not because the main character was insufferable and the pacing was atrocious. I could forgive those elements, if it weren’t for the film constantly insulting its characters and being pessimistic about every little detail. To me, that is not fun to watch. If there is no hope or gleam of light, a sign that things are not as bad as they seem, then why should I care about the outcome? 

There is certainly a place for those kinds of stories, but they will always leave a rotten taste. Which is why I think the Coen Brothers are so hit-or-miss. When they focus on merely the nasty elements of life, then you get a dark comedy. When they bring in thoughts of strength into a feeble world, then they get a masterpiece. 

A New Direction and New Interest

After much consideration, it is with a heavy heart that I must discontinue my blog posts. It has been a good run, but all good things must come to an end. 

The film landscape just isn’t doing anything for me anymore and I feel like my time can be spent on bigger and better things. Which is why I’m happy to announce my new interest and passion in life. 

I’ve always believed that one must find the passion and love in their life. Something that you could cherish for all of your life, never get tired of and always have an interest in, and then make that the focus of your life. I once believed this passion was for movies, but now I understand myself a bit better. 

Which is why, effective tomorrow, my blog will be renamed “Light Up My Life” and focus on the many lanterns and light sources within society. I’ve always been fascinated by the ever constant glow of a lantern and how it can cast a whole new shade of light on a situation. That with just a sheet of colored paper, the mood and atmosphere of a room can change. 

China has been perfecting their designs for years, and I feel like that are getting very close to nailing it. With any luck, we’ll hear something out of there in the coming years and we can have a perfect light source which would remain constant and luminous for decades. 

My absolute favorite find of lantern is one with a set pattern cut out of it, like stars or even animals. To see the light construct these bodies makes it feel like you can create whatever you want. It gives me a feeling of order in the universe and one that I always get a rush out of.

Heck, lanterns are so important in society that they even got their own superhero, the Green Lantern. When combined the human will power, a lantern becomes the most powerful weapon in the galaxy. You know there is strength in a light source when it could take down someone like Batman.

I feel there is much to discuss on lanterns, which is why I decided to do this switch. If you liked my movie thoughts and reviews, I apologize, but I feel there isn’t much that can be done about that. 

All I can say is follow your heart and interests, please don’t hate others for their differences and...

Oh wait...this article is coming out after midnight my time, which would make it April 2. It’s not April Fools' Day anymore. Then, that means....