Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge

                        You know you got your Mortal Kombat gameplay going when you've just witness an awesome yet enjoyable Mortal Kombat film. And know I'm not talking about the original 90s film nor the TV series Mortal Kombat Conquest (which now I kind of want to re-watch that series). Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge focuses around your favorite demon ninja Scorpian along with Liu Kang, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade for which takes place around the very first Mortal Kombat story-line where four characters take a journey through choices and fate brings them together to fight the forces of evil. Now I'm a big Mortal Kombat junkie I love the video games through the PS2 versions through the latest Mortal Kombat and even the Moral Kombat arcade collection on the PS3. And I will go in debate and say that Mortal Kombat is a hundred times better than Street fighter, so if you love Mortal Kombat than you'll love this latest animated film. And let's not forget Soup legend Joel McHale is the voice of Johnny Cage, now not physically right for the role but voice wise I'd by that.
                      Mostly focuses around the three Earthrealm warriors Liu Kang, Cage and Sonya Blade. But, gives the origin story to Scorpian. After witnessing the massacre of his clan, horrified by the death of his wife and child by the hands of Sub-Zero. Hanzo Hasashi goes through hell to give a chance to seek his revenge unfortunately he gets his opportunity with the help of Quan Chi, he is granted new life and a new name Scorpian. Along with the other warriors Liu Kang Cage and Blade, they both begin to realize that this tournament they are fighting for, is real a fight for the fate of the world. With Scorpion concerned about his vengeance he must chose whether to continue his quest for blood live in the future and fight for the sake of humanity.
                      Now I will say this till the day I die that Mortal Kombat is one of the greatest video game series ever created by human hands and I will even say a hundred times better than Street Fighter so if your a huge street fighter fan furthermore offended by what I just said then feel free to express your opinion. Now that being said I still enjoyed the movie from start to finish and yet I still have some major issues about the movie, what I loved about the movie is that there's so much gore and blood in the movie that you definitely could not see in a live action film and the animators did a fantastic job in staying true to that source, what I also love about the movie is the fact that it's not just Scorpion's origin story that gives credit but it also gives credit to the earthrealm warriors back story as well for example Sonya who we see go through her hole life being bullied and abused in the army, because she's a woman furthermore we see her drive to succeed, rather than just being a woman consumed with vengeance or non trust to others. The major problem I have with the movie is the portrayal of Johnny Cage and yes he's suppose to be this egotistical actor whose all about himself but with this movie he's just way to dumb and I myself found that a terrible idea and no offense to Joel McHale's performance because he did a good job playing the egotistical part of Cage but I kind of wanted to see a different version of him that I've never seen. The other thing I didn't like about was the ending to the film and don't worry I'm not spoil anything but there were just some moments but the fact that there no huge battle involved just Scorpian's is kind of a let down to be honest almost like Kitana just being in five minutes of the film and then disappears with out a trace. Now that being said I really enjoyed the movie had a blast with it since hell I'm no back to playing Mortal Kombat again so obviously this movie was fun, so if your a huge fan of the MK games than you have a blast with this animated film.
       

Once Upon a Time in the West

                      


                      All fans of westerns should know Sergio Leone's groundbreaking Western trilogy about the Man with No Name. Well this film of his pretty much fell off my radar, thank goodness we have Netflix. And even though I have mixed thoughts about this movie I can't denies its well crafted direction and great standoff through out the entire film, also some great performance work from both Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda. Furthermore a really good performances from gorgeous, Claudia Cardinale. So if you’re a huge fan of the Dollars Trilogy or all of Sergio Leone's films than this will definitely be a movie to watch in our time of madness of staying in doors.
                     While heading towards her future family, later to find them being massacred by a mysterious gang. Jill (Claudia Cardinale) tries to find ways to survive only to later find that a mysterious gunslinger (Charles Bronson) and a well known bandit (Jason Robards) have a lot in common. As an ill Rail Baron (Gabreile Ferzetti) plans to make a move in buying the property that Jill's late husband was planning to use due to the water that's been discovered. Though wanting to claim fast, his enforcer (Henry Fonda) decides to gun down Jill's family anyway. Now realizing that the property is worth something, each one tries to make a profit while each one tires to settle vengeance and betrayal with blood. But as everyone knows that in the West one will stand, but who will be the one that will fall.
                      I will say this is by far a really good furthermore fascinating movie I've seen as always it's beautify directed by Sergio Leone, but yet with this movie he really does a great job creating characters with different motives also diving deep into the mind of a ruthless gunfighter. Also we get to see some great performances from veteran actors and some unknown actors, especially Henry Fonda whom I watched the Wrong Man one time, a film by Alfred Hitchcock who played a man worried about being convicted of a crime he didn't commit but is worried to the core about finding witness in his defense. But in this movie he's just savage as a ruthless gunfighter who’s trying to get ahead in the world even trying to overthrow his boss. Charles Bronson does an amazing playing a gunfighter whose mysterious past begins to drive Henry Fonda's character nuts in not knowing who he really is until the very end of the movie. And I have to admit Bronson's character is the best character in all westerns created, second only to Ethan Edwards in the Searchers. Claudia Cardinale who plays Jill does a great job playing women who do anything to survive even if it means picking a side with some of these worst people though some have heart, and does a great job flaunting her stuff. A side from this being a good movie from start to finish probably my biggest complaint I have with the movie was does it really have to be that long I mean sure it has some really great moment's and great intros and scenery but there's hardly much happening in the movie, like if your going to make a movie that's long at least have a blend of story and action when it comes to westerns. All and all this is defiantly a great movie from start to finish with great characters plus great performances also directed by the master of the spaghetti western's, so if your a fan of westerns and paranoid of this madness of being able to not doing anything fun I would suggest watching Once Upon a Time in the West though I also suggest drinking a ton of coffee maybe three cups max.

                          

April Recommendation: The Death of Stalin

                  


                    When I saw the wonderful news that this amazing well crafted dark comedy has finally arrived on Netflix I was jumping on my couch and screaming thank you God, and also Shivakanmini Somakandakram, The League check it out on Hulu. And now that is film is out on Netflix I as my sworn duty man of recommending great films, to review this movie. The movie I'm referring to is The Death of Stalin, a great politic dark/satire about what happens when the second worst dictator in history suddenly dies, and who will be the one to win the future of the Soviet Union and who will be the one to dig his own grave.
                   Set in the year 1953, Soviet Union after a night of drinking and watching old John Wayne movies. Dictator Joseph Stalin mysteriously dies, now major players of the Soviet politics are in chaotic tensions. With acting General Secretary (Jeffery Tambor) Georgi Malenkov is needed to take his place despite note sure of it, Stalin's main architect of terror Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale) encourages him to take the leadership even though using Malenkov as puppet so Beria can succeeds in his goals. Political head Nikita Krushchev (Steve Buscemi) doesn't like the fact that Beria is using Malenkov for his personal uses. Now with Stalin's funeral almost near, Krushchev develops a plan that will change the course of history and the future of Russia.
                   A lot of people don't know the work of writer and director of the movie Armando Iannucci, he's well know for making ground breaking political satire's like as a ton of people well know like a certain HBO show Veep, but what got him huge success was his British version to Veep, The Thick of It for which starred the Twelfth Doctor himself Peter Capaldi, than later used Capaldi's character for his amazing movie In The Loop. So that was short bio of Iannucci's work let's talk about his well crafted film and why everyone on Netflix needs to see it. What really makes this film great in essence is the fact that a lot of the comedy work goes through the time and life of living in Soviet Union and wherever you go or say people are basically concerned if you said the write thing or the wrong thing, furthermore I think that's what makes this film funny is the fact that everyone is living in terror of Stalin's reign but yet too afraid to say the right or wrong answer. The entire cast in the movie makes this film great as well, now I know actor Jeffery Tambor is or still is in trouble for sexual allegation again I'm not quite sure if he still is, but to be honest I thought he does a great job playing a politician whose clearly a weak man when it comes to political power furthermore has has no idea what's currently happening in the term of events especially when he's being used. Simon Russell Beale does a tremendous job playing the wicked and dangerous Beria, who becomes extremely out of control once Stalin dies, though I should comment that Beale's character is by far scarier historical figure than Hitler and Stalin. Steve Buscemi is what makes this film amazing, moreover does a great job playing Krushchev and also if you haven't seen movies like Fargo, Reservoir Dogs or The Big Lebowski than your missing out, but bottom Buscemi does a great job with a lot of the dramatization of the movie as well. Even Jason Isaacs does a great job as well, I remember him first seeing him in the theaters as villain British soldier in the Patriot, and so in this he does great playing a bad ass like character but has a great blend of comedic work as well. So look, since we're all in contamination due to the madness that's happening right now. I'd suggest taking the time you have, and watch this great political satire.
                             

Movies I haven't seen in a While: Resident Evil: Apocalypse

                   I'm trying something new for this mad house of a year, re-watching movies I haven't seen in quite some time. Now with movie I know it's a little too soon with what is happening in the world today. But if there was any film, I need to look back on its the Resident Evil sequels furthermore talk about the one that started this unnecessary saga. Now don't get me wrong I like the first film despite its humongous false and people never seeing a zombie movie before, I mean if this is set in the real world don't people have lives in which they've seen any of George Romero's films. Anyway, I was a young teen in my junior high years, and I thought the early Resident Evil movies were awesome, but now I kind of need to re-look at some movies I was obsessed with in my high school years.
                Set after the events of the first movie, the idiots of Umbrella Corporation also known as the worst people you should trust. Decided to see what went on down in the Hive, again worst Corporation ever to trust specially when they let all the infected zombies and bio-hazard monster loose. Now the infection is spreading faster, Umbrella seals everyone off and leave them for dead. AGAIN, NEVER TRUST A CORPORATION THAT'S DESTROYING THE WORLD. So now a group of survivors led by Alice (Milia Jovovich) who somehow has super powers with the T-Virus, are on a mission with the help of the original creator of the T-Virus (Jarred Harris) whose daughter is trapped and Alice plus the others need to rescue her before Umbrella goes all Chernobyl on the city. Again, if Umbrella existed in the Cold War era, we'd all be screwed.
                Now when I was a young teenager this was, I consider an amazing film and just blew my mind and that's basically what Resident Evil did for me I really believed that women can really pull off action movies instead of being the damsel in distress. And don't get me wrong the first movie was and always ridiculous, but at least that movie followed elements of the game. But with this sequel when you combine women doing mindless action plus using kung-fu martial arts on slow moving zombies, you’re not really doing anything new you’re just following in the footsteps of Stallone and Arnold and they can tell you scouts honor that some of their mindless action films like Commando and Judge Dredd was a terrible decision they made in their lives, though having to pay the bills is always the option but doesn't clean the lack of respect. What I don't quite understand is people's ability to not know what a zombie is, like if this is set in the real world wouldn't any normal person be able to have witness any of George Romero's movies, moreover if you see a person that doesn't look right or is walking funny or is making mindless growls then that's what we like to call a mindless zombie, and I'm sorry but using that kind of dialogue with today is not right at all. I mean if Paul W.S. Anderson was trying to take this seriously or taking the Uwe Boll route and being just supper lazy. Speaking of being lazy when we see action sequences we're all of the police forces are continuing to waste their bullets at the zombies and not having the slightest though of running, that alone is just hard to watch because me as an adult is screaming in my mind say why aren't these people running I mean for the love of God do people not know what the zombie apocalypse, if you’re in that world that means it every man for himself can't worry about taking out a horde of zombies unless you have explosives so then you can take them out. Even director Alexander Witt makes a small cameo as a sniper whose about to kill the survivors and really if I was in his mind, I would have said time to end this terrible movie, until Milia goes all Dikembe Mutombo on him, saying "not in my house", then running down on that stupid sequence. Now if I had a time machine I would go back to my junior high years and slap myself around and tell my teenager me to rethink your life and not pursue loving the Resident Evil movies. Though before closing it was nice to see Sir Jorah Moremont, aka Ian Glein making an appearance in the movie though it's a shame he needed the money to come back. So, in closing if you feel offended that I attacked this movie please tell me so I can ask you when the last time was, you saw this film.