Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Year: 2011

Country: Hong Kong, China

Rating:

Starring: Donnie Yen, Wei Tang, Jia-Min Li, Wei Zheng, Zheng-Yuan Zhang

Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan

My Review: Original title was Wu Xia - Martial Heroes. A Chinese genre of Martial Arts set in ancient China. Written by Oi Wah Lam and Joyce Chan. Directed by Peter Ho-Sun Chan (aka Peter Chan (and many others) / Comrades: Almost a love story, The Warlords, Dearest). Starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Tang and others. I like Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro. I enjoy films featuring them. In this movie, Donnie Yen plays Liu Jinxi a humble papermaker who gets mixed up in a murder case concerning two criminals - The detective in charge (Xu Baijiu played by Takeshi Kaneshiro) suspects Liu is hiding something. The combat/action scenes are spectacular. Excellent choreography and wire work. The production was very well done. Excellent cinematography and an excellent story that blends genres. This isn't just a martial arts/kung fu action flick. It's also a murder mystery with a strong set of characters and excellent pacing. The story isn't entirely new, as many elements are cliched and reused from other movies in the genre. I enjoyed the blending of genres and the strong acting, but the ending fell apart when the writers tried to find an adequate resolution to all the disparate plot lines. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Summary: A papermaker gets involved with a murder case concerning two criminals leading to a determined detective suspecting him and the former's vicious father searching for him

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Year: 2015

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Walter Koenig, Adrienne Wilkinson, Manu Intiraymi, Corin Nemec, Gary Graham

Director: Tim Russ

My Review: This is a Fan-Fiction film based upon the Star Trek franchise. Creators are: Ethan H. Calk, Douglas Conway, Jack Trevino. Starring Walter Koenig (Checkov - From TOS), Adrenne Wilkinson, Manu Intiraymi, and many others. This series of episodes was made between 2015 - 2017. When I watched the available episodes in 2015, there were two (there's still two as of 2019, but they weren't finished until 2017?). As I mentioned previously, it's fan produced fiction, based upon the Star Trek franchise. This film is set a decade after the return of the U.S.S. Voyager (whenever that is…). It features a group of 'Renegades' who have to work illicitly with Admiral Chekov and Tuvok in order to prevent the downfall of the Federation. The enemy is external and internal. The seemingly unstoppable enemy is threatening the very existence of the Earth and the entire Federation. The movie features some former characters, played by the original actors, so that's a plus. Unfortunately, the direction and production are 'Fan-Fiction' quality, and the acting by some is very poor. This series / movie is clearly a pitch for a new Star Trek series, funded by crowdsourcing, the pilot was released for public viewing on YouTube in August of 2015. Being a big Star Trek fan, I had to see it. Unfortunately I can't rate this production at more than a 2 out of 5. I wouldn't want to watch it again. I left wishing that one day we'll have a proper Star Trek series again.

Summary: When a seemingly unstoppable new enemy threatens the very existence of the Earth, Admiral Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) is forced to work outside the boundaries of Starfleet's rules to combat this deadly new foe. When planet after planet winks out of existence, yet Starfleet refuses to act, Chekov turns to Commander Tuvok (Tim Russ, who also directs), the new head of Starfleet's covert operations division, Section 31. Together, they assemble a new elite strike-force, consisting of rogues, outcasts and criminals, led by the fearless yet haunted Lexxa Singh (Adrienne Wilkinson). The Renegades' mission is simple: take on an army and stop their leader, Borrada (Bruce Young), from destroying the Earth. Outnumbered and out-gunned, the ragtag crew is in an adrenaline-pumping race against time and space. But they soon find their foes are the least of their concerns: the real trouble may be coming from within!

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Year: 2015

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Irrfan Khan, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ty Simpkins

Director: Colin Trevorrow

My Review: Written by way too many people. Directed by Colin Trevorrow (Safety not guaranteed). Starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins and others. This movie takes place 22 years after the original Jurassic Park movie. The premise is that the park has been re-opened. Revealing the newest star attraction - Indominus Rex, a genetically modified hybrid - the park's owners hope that they will draw huge crowds of new victims - err, visitors. What could possibly go wrong? If you've seen any of the previews you've pretty much seen the entire movie. I didn't like this movie - It was dull, cliched and predictable. I was able to predict - with near perfect accuracy - every one of the victims approximately fifteen minutes into the movie. The movie was full of ridiculous non-scientific blunders - Like dinosaurs who are somehow able to crush concrete columns without any damage to themselves. There's no way the pterosaurs seen in the movie could possibly lift a human body off the ground - The lift produced by their wings couldn't possibly accommodate their weight plus that of a full grown human. Velociraptors were actually about the size of a turkey, not 9 feet long as depicted in the movie. These are just a few of the problems with this movie that was plagued with numerous production flaws - All of which pilled up on a weak plot to make the movie virtually unwatchable to me. The acting was lackluster, the characters seemed to be complete copies of the original movie; with new names. "Are you ready to jump? Let's do it together, Ok? On the count of three, one... two... Three, JUMP!" This particular line was one which demonstrates the poor writing of the script - Really, you're about to be eaten alive, so you stop at the edge of a cliff - You're only way out of a certain death scenario, in order to discuss the plan?! I give this movie a 1 out of 5. It was painful to watch.

Summary: Twenty-two years after the original Jurassic Park failed, the new park, also known as Jurassic World, is open for business. After years of studying genetics, the scientists on the park genetically engineer a new breed of dinosaur, the Indominus Rex. When everything goes horribly wrong, will our heroes make it off the island?

Genre: Comedy

Year: 1994

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Richard Jenkins

Director: Mike Nichols

My Review: Here's a classic horror theme (werewolf) turned current by setting it in today's competitive business world. The direction by Mike Nichols was fantastic. The acting by Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer and James Spader was great. The lines were pretty good, and the camera work and lighting was perfect. The opening sequence was outstanding. It really set a good mood for the movie. This was a wonderful mix of horror and drama with excellent pacing. The music by Ennio Moriccone was outstanding. This is a horror movie in the classic mode. Where dramatic character interplay, good camera work and great music all work together. You won't find flashy eye candy, skin tight black leather or any CGI effects. I give it a 5 out of 5

Summary: Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer star in Wolf, a wickedly funny, wildly romantic, white-knuckle thriller. James Spader, Kate Nelligan, Christopher Plummer and David Hyde Pierce co-star in this beastly tale of love and betrayal with equal measures of h