Zoomed off to catch a couple of action movies yesterday, and was rather looking forward to see how a new gen action flick would do against one from a waning (in more ways then one) stars'. Here goes.
Green Zone, the latest offering from director Paul Greengrass who teams up yet again with Matt Damon (they worked together on the last 2 Bourne movies), is credited to be inspired by "Inspired Life in the Emerald City" by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Telling the story of how Chief Miller (Damon) leads his team on the search for WMDs after the initial landing of US and other forces in Iraq in 2003, Greengrass serves up quite the similar effects and style of visualisation that he's come to be famous for. Quick hand held camera action and staccato editing makes a very intense action film seem to race by at a pulsating rate.
I was impressed with the action scenes, although at times it was kinda too shaky for me, but seemingly realistic gun fights, and chases (There has been some info from interviews Damon made that the team accompanying him are played by actual soldiers!), combined with a hollywood-ised 'real' story made for very good entertainment, while trying to portray the truth as far possible as it could.
Damon doesn't do much wrong in this flick, and judging from recent performances (Invictus, Informant, etc), i can only predict him to go on to be a bigger star. Kudos!
Verdict: worth every popcorn bite!
Edge of Darkness, however, portrays aging action man Mel Gibson in a role we've seen him do all too many times (Ransom, Payback, Patriot anybody?) but still manage to pull off a believable performance.
The story here is all too predictable, with some reference to corporate America trying to hide some unpatriotic research which is uncovered by a tree-hugging outfit, which of course involves Mel's daughter. Story begins there, with patches of detective work and then some expected action scenes. Overall we know where the story is heading, and director Martin Campbell fails to build any anticipation towards the end.
Only bright spark is character David Jedburgh, played rather mysteriously by Ray Winstone(Departed, Indiana Jones, Beowulf) as an agency man(not disclosed which one though) who played judge and jury behind closed doors.
Well after an absence since Signs and We Were Soldiers, maybe looking upon this outing, Mel should probably start to play less action, and concentrating on directing them instead. (The man can direct u know). He can act, but maybe lay off the action mate.
Verdict : watch it if you're a Mel G fan or if you're bored.
oh on a side note, caught this one over breakfast. Hugh Grant plays himself in other movies, and SJP seems to be caught up in her Carrie role, this fare is almost enjoyable for small parts (very small parts).
Loved Mary Steelenburgen and Sam Elliot's roles as the Sheriff's who take in the Morgans under witness protection. But that's about it.
Verdict : watch it at home over breakfast, downloaded or borrowed.
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