2013 Summer Movie Season - Fast and Furious 6: Review & Analysis

 
 
 
 

 

This Moment, We Own IT!!! Fast and Furious Crew Deliver Second Straight Franchise Gem!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I Need Your Help Dom...I Need Your Team."

 

 

 

Story

                Just months after pulling off a $100 million dollar heist in Rio, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), Han (Sung Kang), and Giselle (Gal Gadot) have all split across the world with their shares of the money. However, despite having their riches and luxurious lifestyles, they feel an empty space inside them from not being able to return to the US. But soon, things get interesting when DSS agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) appears to them. He has come asking for help bringing down former spec ops soldier turned mercenary Owen Shaw (Luke Evans) who has been creating chaos across Europe. Initially against the idea, Dom and the crew soon have a change of heart upon learning one of Shaw’s right hand team members is Leticia Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Dominic’s old flame believed to have been murdered during an undercover assignment. The gang must now travel to Europe to bring down Shaw and rescue Letty. Their Reward: full pardons allowing their return to the states. Up against forces way beyond their understanding, Dom and company set out on their most challenging and personal endeavor yet. All Roads Have Led To This.

 

 

 

 

Dom and Brian Discuss The Possibility of Letty Actually Being Alive.

 

 

Analysis

                After the release of Fast and Furious in 2009, the people at Universal Pictures came up with the Idea of turning a sluggish street race franchise into a blockbuster action behemoth. With an attempt to focus more on high octane heist rather than Generic Street races, Universal attempted to not only cater to current followers of the franchise, but expand its fan base beyond car fanatics. After the critically successful and historic performance of Fast Five in 2011, Universal gave new life to this slowly declining series of car films. As 2013 approached, they looked to build on their unexpected momentum and deliver another great installment. They did not disappoint. Fast and Furious 6 became an instant box office powerhouse during its opening run on Memorial Day weekend. In addition to earning the franchises second straight certified fresh award with a 72% critical score, Fast 6 set a Memorial Day record by earning $120 million dollars becoming the fourth highest Memorial Day opening as well as earning the #1 spot at the box office beating its competitors The Hangover Part III and Epic. As of May 28, Fast 6 has earned a total of $317 million worldwide. Critics have also given love to the latest installment. With production of the seventh film set to commence in the coming months, it will be crucial for the next one to continue to build on the very thing that has made the franchise relevant and stable.

 

 

"Uh Guys!!!...They Got A Tank!!!!"

 

Review

                Two years ago, I witnessed the amazing display that was Fast Five. With thrilling action, solid humor, and a new direction, it gave a panned car franchise a new identity tuning it into a high stakes action franchise with a now strong and growing fan base. With the release of Fast and Furious 6, I had high expectations that they would build on their success and momentum and deliver an equally great new installment. I’m happy to say they delivered just that. The Fast and Furious family have delivered yet another awesome addition to this rejuvenated series of car films. One of the film's biggest strengths was once again the chemistry between the main cast. The main cast didn’t miss a beat as they all came back together for another ride. It was great to see how all the characters grew after their successful job in Rio. Everyone played off of each other which made for some emotionally depth filled chemistry. I’m also convinced that Tyrese Gibson has established himself as the franchises ultimate comic relief. His antics and personality constantly have the audience laughing and keeps a light hearted tone throughout the film especially when he and Ludacris get together. Another huge plus was the action. The actions sequences went from thrilling to insane to “ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??”. Although the bank vault chase was probably the most insane action sequence in Fast Five, There were a hand full of sequences in this film that can be put on the same level. One in particular is the infamous flip car chase scene. Hands down it was the most pandemonium filled sequence in the film. This was a very well thought out action sequence that gave me chills and completely blew me away. But of course we also can’t forget the crazy Tank Scene headlined by Ludacris’ forever famous line. In addition to the vehicle scenes, it was the on foot action that was great too. This film had a number of fights that could be nominated for Best Fight at the MTV Movie Awards. Brawls such as Gina Carano and Michelle Rodriguez’s subway station debacle, Roman and Han getting double owned by one of Shaw’s team members, or the epic tag team featuring Hobbs and Dom, all these action packed rumbles were brutal, fast paced, and so much fun!!! In closing, Fast and Furious 6 is a great addition to what is becoming a guilty pleasure of a franchise to me. My hope is they continue to build on what has worked so far and continue to grow over time.

 

 

 

Rating and Final Thoughts

 

 

                By Building on what made Fast Five so great, The Fast and Furious family have delivered another knock out installment that has made all of Hollywood take notice of its ever growing rise. I won’t be surprised if we start hearing the Fast Franchise in the same conversation as other the big time Hollywood Film franchises.

 

 

  Fans thankfully won’t have to wait long to see their favorite group of racers behind the wheel again for the Fast and Furious Family will look for the three peat next year in the seventh installment Fast and Furious 7. I’m also pretty sure that will be an easier task with the help of THIS guy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Summer Movie Season - Star Trek Into Darkness: Review & Analysis

 

 

Light within the Darkness!!! Enterprise Crew Returns To Deliver Year’s Biggest Epic!!!

Review By: Brandon Porter



"Have I Got Your Attention Now?"

Story

   Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the Crew aboard the USS Enterprise are continuing their adventure across the stars. However, after Kirk violates protocol to save Spock (Zachary Quinto), He now is faced with consequences that could cost him his position in Starfleet. But chaos soon overshadows the current events as fugitive John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) declares war on the federation with a series of deadly terrorist attacks. Determined to bring shim to justice, Kirk, Spock, Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Bones (Karl Urban), Hikaru Sulu (John Cho), and Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) set out to bring this dangerous criminal to justice and the ensuing journey will push the crew to their limits and truly show if true greatness can be found in the thickest darkness.

Kirk and Pike (Bruce Greenwood) have a heart to heart conversation.

Analysis

                As one of the top anticipated films of 2013, Star Trek Into Darkness had high expectations placed on it. Just four years after the widely acclaimed 2009 reboot, director J.J Abrams had a true task on his hands to deliver an unforgettable follow up. With most of the principle cast returning along with some new faces, Abrams was ready to deliver a solid sequel, which is exactly what he did. Star Trek Into Darkness opened up with an impressive but somewhat underwhelming $84 million at the box office earning it the #1 spot. The film also earned an 87% approval rating on rotten tomatoes being described as "visually spectacular and suitably action packed, Star Trek Into Darkness is a rock-solid installment in the venerable sci-fi franchise, even if it's not as fresh as its predecessor". Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as John Harrison drew great praise with critics such as Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers claiming him as a "tour-de-force to reckon with" and describing his character as "a villain for the ages. Overall, despite the film’s success, it was surprisingly disappointing for Paramount who felt the film should have did better than it did. Question now remains if Paramount will green light a third installment and hope for better the next go around.

 

 

 



Review

The USS Enterprise Clashes
With The USS Vengeance

  As a longtime fan of sci-fi and a fan of the 2009 version of Star Trek, there was no hiding the fact that I was extremely excited to see the return of the Enterprise crew in Star Trek Into Darkness. I was able to finally experience the film in IMAX 3D and the finished product…BLEW...MY...MIND!!! I have not seen a film this year that captivated me until now. J.J Abrams and the folks at Paramount truly out did themselves this time around with this behemoth of a film. Star Trek will always be one of my all-time favorite sci-fi films, but Into Darkness has already made its case as my top movie of the year so far. The amount of twist and turns the film takes you through puts you on a roller coaster of emotions. You’ll find yourself laughing, crying, shocked, and angry in most moments of the movie. As for the rest of the film, everything that made the first film great was dramatically improved tenfold. The action was fast paced, jarring, intense, and spectacular, the humor brought lots of light hearted laughs, and from an emotion standpoint, the film delivered some powerful moments that almost brought me to tears. Acting wise, all the key actors from the first film returned and gave great second performances all around. As for the newcomers, they were solid in their first voyage. Alice Eve delivered well as Carol Marcus and I look forward to seeing her grow with the character in future installments if there are any. However, the best one was Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as K-I mean John Harrison. He was brilliant in the role being the perfect blend of strength, intelligence, and insanity. I couldn’t be more pleased with his performance. He has got my vote for villain of the year. Overall, Star Trek Into Darkness is one of the best sci-fi movies to date. Though it may never quite be the classic the 2009 reboot was, I definitely see it as one of the year’s most thrilling and must see films.

Rating and Final Thoughts

                What Wrath of Khan is to the original trekkers is what Into Darkness is to the New Generation. A near perfect blend of spectacular action, solid humor, and strong emotion that translates into an unforgettable sci-fi adventure that has to be experienced.

 

 

 

 

J.J. Abrams Has Delivered A Rousing Sequel That Has Now Made Star Trek a Relevant Sci-Fi Franchise Once Again.
Now The Question Presents Itself: Can He Deliver The Same Magic In Star Wars Episode VII?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Summer Movie Season - Iron Man 3: Review & Analysis

 

 

You Miss Me? Armored Avenger Flies High In First Film of Marvel Phase 2

Review By: Brandon Porter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Stark: The Downed Avenger.

 

Story

   In New York City, The Asgardian Loki brought the terrifying army known as the Chitauri and almost devastated the city. Luckily, the superhero squad known as the Avengers were able to intervene and stop the impending threat. Since then, all the members of the Avengers have disbanded and gone on to do their own thing. Unfortunately for Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr), the aftermath of the events have had a significant effect on him. Unable to sleep and constantly suffering from severe anxiety attacks, Stark is clearly shaken after his traumatic act of heroism which nearly cost him his life. To make matters worse, Tony’s sins of the past are now preparing to come to light and destroy everything he holds dear including his girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Now forced to face mega terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and a rival genius (Guy Pearce), Tony Stark must now face the threat and answer the question that has haunted him for years…Does the man make the suit?...or does the suit make the man?

 

 

 

 

Tony Stark Shares A Moment With His Lover and Friend Pepper Potts

 

Analysis

            As the official opener of the summer movie season and the first film in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 3 was clearly one of the year’s anticipated films. Just a year after the rousing blockbuster that was The Avengers, Marvel Studios clearly was eager to start down the road to their next installment. Safe to say, their off to a hot start, Iron Man 3 blew away the box office competition with an outstanding $174.1 million dollars in its opening weekend and garnered the second-highest opening weekend of all time behind The Avengers. It also holds the record for largest worldwide weekend in IMAX with $28.6 million. As of May 7^th, Iron Man 3 holds a total of $740,699,091 million worldwide. Critically, the film delivered a solid performance as well. With a certified fresh 77% approval rating, Iron Man 3 delivered most of the goods it promised. Fans have expressed their relief that the latest entry is an improvement over the disappointing prior installment Iron Man 2. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, stated “After nearly crashing and burning on his last solo flight in 2010, Iron Man returns refreshed and ready for action in this spirited third installment.” McCarthy also stated he was pleased with the film’s much darker and serious tone. Iron Man 3 may be the beginning of the road to Avengers 2, but it is pretty clear the folks at Marvel are putting their best foot forward.

 

 

Tony and Rhodey always got each others back in difficult situations...Even
if it's Tony that gets them into them.

 

Review

            Iron Man 3 was an obvious pick for my top 10 list for 2013. After seeing the avengers, I was eager to see how Marvel would respond to such a monstrous masterpiece that found itself part of the billion dollar club. After experiencing it in IMAX 3D, I have no doubt that Marvel Studios is not letting the honeymoon phase keep them from deliver another Marvel jewel. Iron Man 3 is an all-out adrenaline rush from start to finish. Fans who were disappointed with Iron Man 2 will be pleased to know that that the third entry is more action packed and sophisticated then the prior release. Acting was a strong element in this installment. Robert Downey, Jr delivered once again as Tony Stark. He captured Stark’s emotional struggles perfectly and was truly devoted to his role. I am now convinced that no one can play this character other than him. Guy Pearce was also solid as Aldrich Killian. He portrayed a very convincing villain in this one. I’m not surprised he pulled it off so well given he gave an equally sinister performance in Lawless alongside Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman. As for Ben Kingsley, I could tell he had a great time in his role as The Mandarin. Without giving anything away, he has one of the film’s biggest plot twist that will leave your mouth hanging open so be on the lookout. Other performances that included Rebecca Hall were also very good. Ty Simpkins did a great job as Harley in the film. He charmed the audience and added a lot more humor to the film. Plus, he and Downey, Jr seemed to have fun playing off one another. Gwyneth Paltrow was much more involved in her role as Pepper Potts being her character is able to do more this time around. Don Cheadle has grown tremendously as War Machine/Iron Patriot. He has fully embraced his role and made it his own. Hopefully, the rumor of him appearing in Avengers 2 are true. Now for the good stuff, Action!!! Marvel continues to push the envelope in delivering some of the best action sequences in film. Fast paced, thrilling, fun, intense, and eye popping are just a few words to describe the action in the film. One of the best action movies so far this year, Overall, Iron Man 3 is an improvement over the last entry and a great start toward the road to Avengers 2. Hopefully, Thor: The Dark World, due for release in November, will deliver the same thrills and be just as spectacular.



Rating and Final Thoughts

 

Robert Downey, Jr once again delivers big time as the genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist in this latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With three more films set to be released before the May 1^st arrival of Avengers 2, Marvel is clearly on the right path to making cinema history once again.

 

 

 

 

With the latest installment of the Iron Man franchise in the books, Only time will only tell if Robert Downey, Jr will return as the armored avenger or power down for good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Summer Movie Season: Special Edition

 

 

Bad Boys of Summer!!!

The Villains of the Summer Movie Season!!!

 

Hey there followers, before the release of Iron Man 3 tonight, I wanted to take this time to do a special post about the villains you’ll see in this year’s summer films. These seasoned actors are highly respected award winners and up and coming future stars. They plan to deliver engaging and intimidating performances that will send chills up audience’s spines. Here are four actors who look forward to being good…at being bad!!!


 

 Ben Kingsley (The Mandarin in Iron Man 3)

Ben Kingsley is the epitome of a versatile acting talent. For those who don’t know him, he is best known for his Academy Award winning performance in Gandhi where he played the peaceful activist and lawyer. Now, Kingsley is taking a break from being peaceful and showing his sinister side as ultra-terrorist The Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Given Kingsley’s versatility as an actor, this role shouldn’t be a problem for him. For those who have read the comics, The Mandarin is considered to be Tony Stark’s arch nemesis. With him making his debut on screen, The Mandarin is looking forward to causing havoc in Stark’s personal life.







Benedict Cumberbatch (John Harrison in Star Trek Into Darkness)

Early on during filming for Star Trek Into Darkness, Benedict Cumberbatch drew much speculation about the role he was playing in the sequel. Lots of Trekkers thought he was cast in the role of Khan, the most distinguished and celebrated Star Trek villain. However, J.J Abrams stated that Khan had no part in the film. Eventually, Cumberbatch’s character was revealed as John Harrison, a former Starfleet officer turned hardened fugitive. Benedict Cumberbatch is actually well known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC crime show Sherlock. Based on trailer footage, Cumberbatch shows a cynical ruthlessness that shows he has no mercy and doesn’t plan to stop until he gets what he wants. I have a feeling we are in for one of the best villain portrayals of the summer.





Luke Evans (Owen Shaw in Fast and Furious 6)
Luke Evans is starting to get notoriety for his growing talent. He has stared in the 2011 film Immortals and the 2012 film The Three Musketeers. But this year, he takes on the role of former spec ops soldier Owen Shaw in Fast and Furious 6. Evans will be going toe-to-toe with Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson in the latest entry in the Fast and Furious franchise. After years of playing the good guy, it’s good to see him stepping into the dark side and creating a little mischief of his own.

 

 

 

 

Michael Shannon (General Zod in Man of Steel)

In the biggest film of June, Michael Shannon comes in as ruthless kryptonian warrior General Zod. Prior to this film, Shannon has been in many notable films like 8 Mile, Kangaroo Jack, Bad Boys II, and Pearl Harbor just to name a few. He was recently seen last year alongside Joseph Gordon Levitt in the thriller Premium Rush. He is now taking on the role of villain in the new Superman flick. Shannon will be looking to bring down Clark Kent and anyone else who gets in his way as he brings his destructive wrath to earth.

 

 

 

 

 

These are only a handful of the baddies you’ll see at this year’s summer movie season. Be on the lookout for these guys and others when you’re at the movies this summer. Be sure to stay tuned for the reviews of the summer movies coming soon. Until Next Time Followers.

 

 

 

2013 Summer Movie Season - Month 1 Preview (May 2013)

A Hero’s Trial!!!

Starfleet Crew and Lone Avenger Face

Overwhelming Odds in Season Opener

 

 

 

Afternoon Followers. Well, we are officially in May. It’s hard to believe isn’t it? This year is going by so fast. In about two days, Summer Movie Season 2013 will be officially underway. May brings tons of amazing potential blockbusters with the continuation of the J.J Abrams’ directed Star Trek installment in addition to the start of Marvel Phase Two. With So Much happening in these five weeks, here are the big time films set for release this month.
 

 

Robert Downey .Jr and Don Cheadle return as Rhodey and
Tony Stark in the next installment of the Iron Man Franchise

Iron Man 3 (Paramount Pictures/Marvel Studios, May 3rd)

The most beloved member of the Avengers is now getting suited back up in Iron Man 3, the third installment of the Iron Man franchise and the official start of phase two in Marvel’s cinematic universe. A year ago, Tony Stark and the rest of the Avengers helped save New York from Loki and his army giving the world a brand new superhero tandem to call their own. Unfortunately for Tony, the after effects of the events prior have left him very shaken and disturbed. Unable to sleep or think straight, Stark has found himself in a state of post-traumatic stress. To make matters worse, things get more out of control when a mysterious mega terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) begins to slowly and surely break Tony Stark emotionally and physically. Forced to fight impeccable odds, Tony must find the strength within himself to conquer his new found enemy and be the hero he is meant or supposed to be. Iron Man 3 looks to be the official kick starter to the road to The Avengers 2. The franchise sees a ton of new faces including Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, and Rebecca Hall. With the sequel to Thor coming out in November and the sequel to Captain America in 2014, Marvel looks to build on the success of their mega blockbuster from last year and pave the road for a repeat in 2015.

 

 

James Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) stare
down a contained John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch)
aboard the USS Enterprise.

 

Star Trek Into Darkness (Paramount Pictures/Bad Robot/Sky Dance, May 15th)

Beyond The Darkness is where true Greatness Lies. Captain James T. Kirk has become a full-fledged captain of the USS Enterprise. However, he still has a lot to learn for he continues to show that recklessness and overconfidence that is really eclipsing his true potential. But soon the entire Federation is thrown into utter chaos when former Starfleet officer turned fugitive John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) delivers deadly and devastating blows all over the world. Determined to bring him to justice, Kirk, Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Bones McCoy (Karl Urban), and the rest of the crew aboard NCC-1701 set out on a vicious man hunt that will truly show if Kirk is the leader he believes he is or just an arrogant young captain leading his crew to the grave. J.J. Abrams’ follow up to 2009’s critically acclaimed reboot has gotten major buzz over the past few months. Every trailer show the potential this film has at not only being better than the first but also setting the foundation for a long lasting and healthy franchise.

Mary meets Grub for the first time in
Chris Wedge's New Animated Film

Epic (20th Century Fox/Blue Sky, May 22nd)

There is a world hidden within our own. Brave warriors protect and watch over us and the forest they inhabit. However, this has never been seen up close…until now. Young Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) has heard her father go on for years about a world within the forest. He has devoted his entire life to studying and observing them. Mary strongly ensures that it’s all make believe until a certain event shrinks her down and puts her right in the middle of it all. Now, Mary finds herself in the presence of the Leaf men, protectors of the forest as the fight a war against the Rot led by the evil Mandrake (Christoph Waltz). Alongside Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles), rookie warrior Nod (Josh Hutcherson), head soldier Ronin (Colin Ferrell), and snails Mub and Grub (Aziz Ansari and Chris O’ Dowd), Mary joins a fight that will not only save the forest world but our world as well. With a phenomenal collection of voice actors, Epic is looking to be a sleeper animated hit. We’ll see if the film lives up to its title when it comes to theaters on May 22nd.

 


Dom (Vin Diesel), Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson),
and Brian (Paul Walker)
team up again in Europe in the sixth
entry of the Fast and Furious Franchise.

Fast and Furious 6 (Universal Pictures, May 24th)

After a successful $100 Million dollar heist in Rio, Dom, Brian, and the crew have disbanded to do their own things with their shares of the money. However, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) seeks them out to assist him in bringing down Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), a former spec ops soldier and leader of a group of ruthless mercenaries. Now faced with a much more difficult venture, Dom and company are in for more than they bargained for they face not only Shaw’s highly trained team but also his new second in command…Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez). Fast and Furious 6 sees the return of series veterans Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Ludacris, and Gal Gadot in addition to new members Gina Carano and Luke Evans. After the surprise success of Fast Five two years ago, this is the perfect opportunity to give the franchise a much more promising future. Hopefully the sixth time will be the charm when Fast Five arrives in theaters on Memorial Day.


 


Jaden Smith and Will Smith on screen together again
in the sci-fi survival adventure film from Colombia Pictures.

After Earth (Columbia Pictures, May 31st)

Ever since he can remember, Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) has always wanted to be like his father General Cypher Raige (Will Smith). However, Kitai has a reckless attitude that hinders his growth as a soldier. While traveling through space, Kitai and Cypher’s vessel crash lands on a deserted planet killing everyone on board except them. With his father mortally wounded and running out of time, Kitai must travel through dangerous jungles and brave vicious predators to retrieve the emergency beacon that could be the difference between life and death for the both of them. Forced to face physical and emotion challenges, Kitai must now set out into the primitive planet known as Earth. Will and Jaden Smith set out on their second film together directed by director M. Night Shyamalan (also known as the man who killed Avatar: The Last Airbender). So much skepticism surrounds this film despite its strong acting duo. One can only hope that the film can rise to the occasion when After Earth hits theaters on May 31^st


As you can see, there is A LOT of stuff coming out in the opening month of the Summer Movie Season. I look forward to seeing these films when they are released. Check back soon for the reviews of these films and check in tomorrow for a special look at the villains of this year’s summer flicks. See You Soon.