The Adjustment Bureau -2011

Universal Pictures, Media Rights Capital, Gambit Pictures

Directed by George Nolfi

Cast:

David Norris – Matt Damon

Elise Sellas – Emily Blunt

Charlie Traynor – Michael Kelly

Harry Mitchell – Anthony Mackie

Richardson – John Slattery

Story : David Norris, a soon to be Senator from the State of New York, meets a lovely ballerina on a bus one day....and that meeting soon changes his life. He walks into his office to find a group of men in suits and hats doing 'something' to one of his staff members, and when he tries to run for help, he is unable to escape. They explain they are part of the Adjustment Bureau, a group of beings who work behind the scenes in history to keep mankind from destroying the planet. They also tell David he was not supposed to meet Elise, the dancer, and take her number away from him. They release him, and for three years he never sees her. Then, by chance on the same bus where they met three years ago, he meets her again. The Bureau has been watching, and when they discover he has found Emily, the set about trying to prevent them from getting together. But David and Elise are determined to meet, so David devises a plan to intervene and prevent the Bureau from their task.

Review: In case you are not aware of it, this makes Phillip K. Dick officially one of the most influential storytellers in the last 50 years. His books have inspired such Sci Fi classics as Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, and now, the Adjustment Bureau. At least 19 films and television episodes have been created from his works.

The story is an interesting take on the notion there is a God in the universe who is carefully directing the actions and happenings on the planet. Here, of course, the element of 'faith' is removed and instead the Chairman makes plans and has the Adjustment Bureau to make sure the plans are kept on track. These 'agents' merely interfere when they need to, making suggestions that set actions in place. Theology is not in the plan, just a pattern to prevent mankind from becoming extinct by their own hand.

This is a different type of Sci Fi film, and it would take an actor with the flexibility of Matt Damon to play David Norris. His confident yet humble portrayal of the politician is riveting and interesting throughout. Emily Blunt portrays the blossoming ballerina with verve and appeal, sort of a cross between the focused artist and the determined woman who puts her career ahead of herself. Anthony Mackie and John Slattery work well as the adjustment agents sent to sidetrack Norris from reaching Elise.

Overall, the film moves well, offers some interesting twists, and allows us the interesting perspective of predestination without the burden of deity. Rated PG-13 for language, some sexuality, and a few brief scenes of violence, I personally can't think of a single scene that would be too intense for a ten year old. Collectible is a little early to say, but certainly a film you will want to see again.

Dark Shadows - 2012

Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Infinitum Nihil

Directed by Tim Burton

Cast:

Barnabas Collins – Johnny Depp

Elizabeth Collins Stoddard – Michelle Pfeiffer

Dr. Julia Hoffman – Helena Bonham Carter

Angelique Bouchard – Eva Green

Willie Loomis – Jackie Earle Haley

Roger Collins – Jonny Lee Miller

Victoria Winters / Josette DuPres – Bella Heatcote

Carolyn Stoddard – Chloe Grace Moretz

David Collins – Gulliver McGrath

Alice Cooper – Alice Cooper

Story: Joshua and Naomi Collins came to the New World with their son and heir, Barnabas, in 1720 and established a fishing industry in New England. The industry flourished and the family became wealthy, naming the town Collinsport, and building a vast manor on the hill overlooking the town which they named Collinswood. All was well until Barnabas rejected the advances of one of the maids, Angelique, who was a practitioner of the black arts. Angelique murdered Joshua and Naomi, caused Josette, Barnabas' betrothed, to hurl herself from a cliff to the sea, and turned Barnabas into a vampire. To further torture him, Angelique turned the townspeople against Barnabas, causing them to riot and imprison him in an iron coffin and bury him in the woods. 190 years later, Barnabas' coffin is unearthed by a crew excavating for a new McDonalds restaurant, and Barnabas is freed. He is lost in this new world, and returns to Collinswood, only to find his family home in ruin and his descendants mere shadows of their former selves. Barnabas sets himself to restoring the family prominence, only to encounter Angelique, who has kept herself alive through the centuries using black magic. Secret after secret is revealed as the two square off in a battle for the former Glory of the Collins.

Review: Formula for a great movie? Tim Burton+Johnny Depp+Helena Bonham Carter+Michelle Pfeiffer = Terrific movie.

Now, I grant you, I was not an avid viewer of the adventures of Barnabas Collins in the 60's, although apparently every girl in my high school was. But I doubt that melodramatic soap had much relation to the film I saw, other than the names of the characters and the ever present scene of the waves crashing upon rocks on the New England shoreline.

Small matter. The film I watched was funny, spooky in a predictable sort of way, and the story was fresh. Depp once again creates a strange and unusual persona as Barnabas Collins, at once both the vicious, blood thirsty vampire and the refined gentleman of the 16th century. There are so many elements combined, the jeweled necklace reminiscent of Bela Lugosi's Dracula, the darkened eyes, the long claws of the Nosferatu, and Depp's uncanny ability to pull all these elements together to give us a comedic and enjoyable character we cannot help but like.

Michelle Pfeiffer was an excellent choice as the current head of the family, a sturdy, refined and resilient woman determined to hold her head up despite the fallen state of the once powerful Collins family. Eva Green as Angelique is marvelous in her role as the evil yet business savvy woman whose only goal in life is the continuing destruction of the Collins family and reputation. The children, played perfectly by Chloe Grace Moretz and Gulliver McGrath, present the internal conflicts of the Collins, Carolyn who comes off as a very typical teenager, and David, who speaks frequently with his dead mother. Bella Heathcote, who portrays both Victoria in the present and Josette in the past, is also an excellent actress, and gives us just enough weird to balance the prim and proper appearance she first presents.

Of particular note is Helena Bonham Carter and her role as the doctor. The blatant comic relief she provides once again demonstrates her ability and depth as an actress, and one can easily see why Burton and Depp apparently enjoy working with this talented lady.

Overall, the film grabs your attention and keeps it throughout. The dialog is entertaining to the extreme, and the photography and cinematography is exceptional, as one would expect of anything from Mr. Burton.

Rated PG-13 due to the language and violence, as well as several references to sexual situations, I think this film will add nicely to any collector of the trio's work. I have one on order as soon as they are released.

Meet Joe Black - 1998

Universal Pictures, City Light Films

Directed by Martin Brest

Cast:

• Joe Black – Brad Pitt
• William Parish – Anthony Hopkins
• Drew – Jake Webber
• Susan Parrish – Claire Forlani
• Allison – Marcia Gay Harden
• Quince – Jeffrey Tambor

Story: A wealthy and successful man, William Parrish is about to turn sixty five years old. But about a week before, he wakes suddenly in the middle of the night and feels a pain in his left arm. He rises to go to his bathroom to splash some water on his face, and he hears a voice whisper “yes”, but in spite of being startled, he returns to his bed. The next day in the office he feels a deep pain in his chest, and once again hears the voice whispering “yes”. That evening he hears it again, and the voice continues this time, saying he is standing at the front door to his penthouse and would someone please let him in. When he finally confronts the man whose voice he has been hearing, the man says he has been giving Bill the answer to his question. The question is “Am I going to die?”, and the voice providing the answer is Death's, who has come to offer Bill a deal. Death would like a tour of the living, and in exchange, he will grant Bill more time.

Review: Inspired by Death Takes A Holiday, a classic stage play that many of my generation read as teens for either English or Drama class in high school, this film marks, for me, the coming of age of Brad Pitt as an actor with depth. I know some people will point to A River Runs Through It, or even Seven Years In Tibet as the films where Brad showed true ability, but Death Takes a Holiday is a pivotal film where he has to reach into the unknown and his past to portray a “stranger in a strange land.” and he does it with a remarkable freshness and style. As an amateur actor, I know the importance of any production is to give the audience the illusion of the first time. Brad does that beautifully in this film.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that he is surrounded by an incredible cast, lead by the incomparable Anthony Hopkins. Jake Webber demonstrates his range as well, as do both Marcia Gay Harden and Jeffrey Tambor. Somewhere beyond perfect is Claire Forlani's portrayal of Susan Parrish, the younger daughter and medical resident who is attracted to Pitt's character, first in his portrayal of the young attorney freshly arrived in the big city, and then as Death personified in Joe Black.

The plot is straightforward, the photography exceptional (try filming a sex scene without revealing any body parts that shouldn't be seen), and the sets are exquisite examples of architecture. While certainly not an action film, the film moves forward briskly, without needless exposition or character development beyond what is needed. Rated PG-13, thanks to that incredible photography, this is a film for contemplation and reflection, and offers no religious allegories to good or evil. I own a copy, and I think it will be regarded as collectible.

Virtuosity - 1995

Paramount Pictures

Directed by Brett Leonard

Cast:

• Lt. Parker Barnes – Denzel Washington
• Madison Carter – Kelly Lynch
• SID 6.7 – Russell Crowe
• William Cochran – William Forsythe
• Elizabeth Deane – Louise Fletcher
• Wallace – William Fichtner
• John Donovan – Costas Mandylor
• Kari Carter – Kaley Cuoco
• Clyde Riley – Kevin J. O'Connor
• Media Zone singer – Traci Lords

Story: Even good cops have bad days. Lt. Parker Barnes had one, and is in prison for murder. But he is still serving the department: he and another officer are test subjects in a virtual program for training police officers. The program is totally interactive with the officers, and there's even a bonus for Barnes, namely SID 6.7. SID is a constructed criminal, a combination of some of the most terrifying criminals in history, including Matthew Grimes, the man who kidnapped Barne's family and led to his incarceration. Barnes keeps winning in the simulations, outwitting SID 6.7 at every turn, but SID has developed his own personality and doesn't like to lose. SID finds a way out of the virtual world and begins a scheme of terror designed to play against his favorite opponent: Lt. Parker Barnes.

Review: Set in the very near future, Virtuosity explores the evil fantasy of every science fiction addict by bringing an evil virtual villain out of the computer and onto the streets. Seventeen years ago, this was a wild fantasy. Today, with the way we are going with computers, not so much. But you have to enjoy the acting in this one as well as the plot, which is somewhat original. The cast is eclectic, with the powerful Russell Crowe as the virtual bad guy, a two dimensional creature bent on death and destruction, and Crowe brings a frightening believability to the role. Denzel wasn't quite the heart throb at the time, but his portrayal of Parker Barnes is excellent, and we get to feel the characters emotions and angst as he is taunted again and again by this evil construct. Louise Fletcher is the uncaring, evil woman in charge of the virtual simulations, and she is perfectly opposed by Kelly Lynch (aka Mrs. John Travolta) throughout the film. A cameo by Traci Lords and an early performance by a 10 year old Kaley Cuoco (Penny on Big Bang Theory) round out an excellent cast and make for an entertaining film. Rated R for violence, language, and disturbing content, including sex, this is one for an afternoon or evening when you are tired of the run of the mill fare. Collectible? Not necessarily, but worth a rental.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon - 2009

Imprint Entertainment, Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment

Directed by Chris Weitz

Cast:

• Bella Swan – Kristen Stewart
• Edward Cullen – Robert Pattinson
• Jacob Black – Taylor Lautner
• Charlie Swan – Billy Burke
• Angela – Christian Serratos
• Alice Cullen – Ashley Greene
• Jasper Hale – Jackson Rathbone
• Aro – Michael Sheen
• Jane – Dakota Fanning

Story: Summer has ended and Bella is back to school, and so is Edward. The subject of his immortality has come to bear on Bella, and she is wanting to be turned. But Edward does not want to be the cause of her fall from grace, for he fears he is damned for all eternity for being what he is. After an incident where Bella is at the Cullen's home for her birthday party and accidentally cuts her finger, Edward decides it is best for Bella that he leaves. The Cullen's depart, and Bella falls into a deep depression. When she comes up for air, she discovers whenever she is in a dangerous situation, Edward appears as a spirit. She is so desperate to see him she continues to take risks, until she jumps off a clif into the sea and nearly drowns. Since Alice cannot see what has happened, Edward believes she is dead and no longer wants to live, so he travels to Italy to ask permission of the Volturie, the leading council of the vampires, to die. Bella arrives in the nick of time to save his life, but the only way Bella can be allowed to live is by becoming one of them.

Review: Yes, I know. I started with Breaking Dawn Part 1 and haven't even touched upon Twilight yet. My bad, I guess, but I find this second installment of the series much more intriguing than the first. Here we have actual drama, as real as a story about vampires can be, and real conflict. Bella is a teenage girl who acts like a teenage girl, and both Jacob and Edward act like teenage boys...which is sort of a real contradiction in Edward's case. I mean, after a couple of hundred years, don't you think a man might have some modicum of maturity? But maybe being a vampire retards your common sense in favor of your hormones. Hmmm. Wait a minute, what hormones? He's dead! Oh well, I could go on and on with the contradictions in this film, but who am I to rain on anyone's parade? This is a Romeo and Juliet set in the fantasy of seclusion and passion, a love that was written in the stars. The special effects are great, especially the transformation sequences with Jacob and the rest of the tribe. After all, you knew they were werewolves, right? And the addition of Michael Sheen as Aro, the head of the Volturie and Dakota Fanning as Jane, the evil inflicter of pain with a devilish smile, brings a new dimension of mystery to the story. Rated PG-13 for violence and dramatic action, this one is safe for the teens and even the 10 year old girls who are lovers of romance. Collectible if you have the original, and my wife and daughters own all four and are anxiously awaiting the fifth. (There you go, ladies, I reviewed it.)

Groundhog Day - 1993

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Directed by Harold Ramis

Cast:

• Phil – Bill Murray
• Rita – Andie MacDowell
• Larry – Chris Elliot
• Ned – Stephen Tobolowsky
• Buster – Brian Doyle-Murray

Story: Phil the Weatherman has a little problem. Okay, Phil the Weatherman has a lot of problems, but this particular one is unique. Phil is caught in a Karmic Loop. He has to keep living the same day over and over again until he gets it right. But he has no idea of what right is. Up until now, he has been a miserable excuse for a human being, selfish, self centered, and inconsiderate, thinking of other people as just a means to an end. His producer, Rita, and his cameraman, Larry, pretty much consider Phil as another never will be local broadcaster who works cheap enough to get by. For Phil, no matter what he does, he wakes up in the same room at six a.m. every morning. Slowly it dawns on him that he can do anything he wants, anything at all, and there are no consequences. Or are there?

Review: Groundhog Day is one of those films you either love or hate. No in between, no take it or leave it. Everyone has an opinion, and surprisingly they all appear to be valid. I fall on the “love it” side of the equation, but I am a huge Bill Murray fan. Everyone knows a Bill Murray, the guy who wants to do something just wrong enough to get him fired and just right enough to be fun. Bill's character in this film is at the stage in his life where he is totally focused on advancing his career, regardless of what happens to those around him, which is why he cannot advance his career. Chris Elliot as Larry the cameraman is resolved to his role in life, observing the lives of others and getting his paycheck at the end of the day. Maybe Chris wanted to try a straight role for once, maybe there was only room for one comedian in the film, but Chris actually contributes little to the film. Andie MacDowell is the naïve, wide eyed beginning producer who really doesn't care about her job as much as she cares about her own agenda. Only in her case, she isn't willing to step over or on people to get where she needs to be in life. Personally I like this film because it is an exhaustive study on the transition of a man through circumstance from an ass to a man. Rated PG for a couple of sexual situations and some violence, I'd say the teens would not be offended, but I doubt they will get it. Collectible if you like Murray, or just like an interesting play on Karma.

The Avengers - 2012

Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Albuquerque Studios

Directed by Joss Whedon

Cast:

• Tony Stark / Iron Man – Robert Downey Jr.
• Steve Rogers / Captain America – Chris Evans
• Thor – Chris Hemsworth
• Bruce Banner / Hulk – Mark Ruffalo
• Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow – Scarlett Johansson
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye – Jeremy Renner
• Loki – Tom Hiddleston
• Nick Fury – Samuel L. Jackson
• Agent Phil Coulson – Clark Gregg
• Agent Maria Hill – Cobie Smulders
• Pepper Potts – Gwyneth Paltrow
• Professor Eric Selvig – Stellan Skarsgard
• Jarvis – Paul Bettany (voice)

Story: Loki, the half-brother of Thor, has teamed up with an alien race to conquer and enslave the Earth. In exchange, he must provide the aliens with the Tesseract, the ancient cube of power once hidden on Earth by Odin, later discovered by the Red Skull to power his evil weapons, and now in the hands of SHIELD, thanks to the efforts of Howard Stark, Tony's father. He steals the Tesseract, and uses its power to gain control of Professor Selvig, who is experimenting with it, and Hawkeye, who is assigned to protect it. When Loki steals the Tesseract, Nick Fury reaches out to assemble the team of superheroes to retrieve it, but he faces an uphill battle from the Commission and the Superheroes themselves. Will the Avengers Initiative fail, or will the superheroes conquer the aliens?

Review: Yahoo! The legacy lives on and the story is great! I know there were some concerns out there regarding the former creator of Buffy and Angel doing the screenplay and directing, and there were also a few eyebrows raised when Disney took over the Marvel brand. But everyone can relax, because this flag is up the pole, and everyone is saluting.
Robert Downey Jr. is especially his arrogant self as Tony Stark, and I loved the scenes where he and Gwyneth Paltrow are acting like a couple. His interactions with Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo set the stage for the internal conflicts with each other and Samuel L. Jackson. The dynamics of the characters could not have been any better.
And speaking of the newest member of the Marvel character crew, hats off to Mark Ruffalo who took a role once played, poorly, by Eric Bana, and somewhat better by Ed Norton, and not only made it his own, but made Bruce Banner come to life in realistic ways. His persona as the more aggressive scientist with self control and determination lends to the idea such a being might be controlled, or at least directed.
Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston play beautifully off one another, which gives us the impression of the Asgardian egos and the depths to which they extend. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner are perfect as the bodyguards nee assassins who are as courageous as they are talented. And Clark Gregg reprises his role from Iron Man and Thor to remind us there are always dedicated men who are simply trying to do their job, in spite of extraordinary circumstances.
The story is fast paced, and wastes little time in exposition, with smidgens of personal lives and assignments interspersed in the film. Overall, the cinematography is exceptional, the graphics are phenomenal, and the entire film has the flow and character of the Comic Books (okay, Graphic Novels) of our misspent youth. I went in expecting an epic, and was not disappointed. Rated PG-13 for violence and a mild reference to drugs, anyone who ever read the stories and those of us who love the prequels (let's face it, folks, Iron Man, Thor, etc. were all prequels to this event) will love this film. I've already reserved a copy for my collection, and you should, too.

Midnight in Paris - 2011

Gravier Productions, Mediapro, Pontchartrain Productions

Written and Directed by Woody Allen

Cast:

• Gil – Owen Wilson
• Inez – Rachel McAdams
• Cole Porter – Yves Heck
• Zelda Fitzgerald – Allison Pill
• Ernest Hemingway – Corey Stoll
• Getrude Stein – Kathy Bates
• F. Scott Fitzgerald – Tom Hiddleston
• Salvador Dali – Adrian Brody

Story: Gil is a successful Hollywood script writer who longs for the romantic times of the 1920's in Paris. He and his fiancee, Inez, have “tagged along” with her parents to Paris. Inez is a domineering sort who presses Gil to go places he does not want to go, and do things he does not want to do, and he is so undecided about life he allows her to do so. But he regrets his choice to do script writing, and has been working on a novel for several years. He just lacks the confidence to show it to anyone. One night after a wine tasting, Gil decides to walk the streets of Paris instead of accompanying his fiancee and her friends dancing. As the clock strikes midnight, he is hailed into a older car by a group of folks out for a night on the town and finds himself in the company of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. They arrive at a party where Cole Porter is playing piano, and Ernest Hemingway is sitting to the side getting drunk. After an exhilarating night, he is back in his own time, with a promise from Hemingway to have Gertrude Stein look at his novel. Night after night, Gil returns to the 1920's to meet such legends as Matisse, Dali, and even travels to the 1890's for one night to meet Gauguin, Degas, and Toulouse-Lautrec in the infamous Moulin Rouge. When all is said and done, he realizes he does not belong with Inez, does not belong in the past, and remains in Paris to work on his novel.

Review: Woody Allen has a perspective that will never be duplicated or imitated properly. Not only is this story classic Woody, but the acting and perspective of the characters is so clearly his vision in this delightful comedy about confronting choices and taking risks. Owen Wilson gives a remarkable performance as Gil, the everyman who has come to the crossroads of his life and is uncertain about the path he has chosen. Rachel McAdams is so good at being the spoiled brat daughter of the well off parents, self absorbed, self aggrandizing, and totally unaware of anything she cannot control or seduce. The transitions from Paris of 2010 to Paris of the 1920's is seamless, without the mystical special effects of so many Hollywood productions these days. Gil is sitting on the stairs when an antique sedan comes by and the party goers call him in. The cast is a wonderful mix of American, French and British actors who all seem so at ease in the roles you would swear you had run into them in the street. The music throughout the film is perfectly suited to the city, and the photography is incredible. Kathy Bates stands out for her performance of Gertrude Stein, the groundbreaking author, patron of the arts, and openly gay woman who influenced so many of the artists of the "Lost Generation". And I would be terribly remiss if I did not commend Corey Stoll in his bold performance as Ernest Hemingway, who was Stein's opposite in so many ways. As romantic comedy goes, this film will become a classic in the hearts of anyone who appreciates a finely woven tale of awakening and redemption in the city of lights. Rated PG-13 for sexual references and smoking, I hardly think the teens will have a problem with this film. Rent it, buy it, and watch it when you need a great story to pick you up.

Resident Evil: Afterlife - 2010

Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films, Impact Pictures

Written and Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Claire Redfield – Ali Larter
• K-Mart – Spencer Locke
• Luther West – Boris Kodjoe
• Chris Redfield – Wentworth Miller
• Albert Wesker – Shawn Roberts
• Bennett – Kim Coates
• Jill Valentine – Sienna Guillory

Story: The clone Alice army has destroyed the Tokyo facility of the Umbrella Corporation in a daring move that kills everyone but Alice and Albert Wesker, one of the main leaders of the corporation. Wesker is also infected with the T-Virus, and like Alice, has incredible speed, agility, and healing powers. But as he is escaping from Tokyo, he is about to kill Alice on his escape plane when the plane crashes. Alice survives, even though she has been returned to human status thanks to an injection delivered by Wesker. Sic months later, Alice has located a plane and is flying to Alaska to find Claire and the others from the caravan. When she arrives, she finds only a deserted field with lots of abandoned planes and helicopters, and is almost ready to give up when she is attacked....by Claire Redfield. Claire and the others were captured by the Umbrella Corporation to be used as subjects for further development of the T-Virus. Together, Claire and Alice fly to Los Angeles, where they locate another group of survivors who are also looking for an escape to Arcadia. But Arcadia is not a city in Alaska, it is a ship off the coast broadcasting a signal to offer shelter and food with no fear of infection.

Review: Paul W.S. Anderson returns to direct this fourth installment of the incredibly popular franchise. Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter reprise their roles as Alice and Claire. Kim Coates is offered up as our resident “jerk”, a part he has played so well in so many films. And hats off to Shawn Roberts, who is the best villain of the series so far. While this film is far more expository that the first three, the level of zombie terror is maintained with the addition of mutated zombies who have grown mandibles similar to the Reaper strain in Blade 2. Overall, this film is less satisfying than the previous three, but does resolve some plot issues and returns Alice to humanity. Boris Kodjoe is excellent as the even tempered former basketball star who is trying to keep the small group alive in their fortress, and while Spencer Locke is in the film, her role is so small it barely merits credits. For the adrenaline junkies among us, the opening scenes of the film make the best use of the Alice clones, and the action there is excellent, although brief. The mutated baddie known only as the Axeman is an interesting contrivance, yet too easily done in by Larter and Jovovich. Consider this film a bridge between Extinction and Retribution, which is accented by the brief but ominous appearance of Sienna Guillory (hint: Don't skip the end credits). Rated R for violence and language, like Extinction, if you have them, you have to have this one for the collection.

Resident Evil: Extinction - 2007

Resident Evil Productions, Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films

directed by Russell Mulcahy

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Carlos Olivera – Oded Fehr
• Claire Redfield – Ali Larter
• Betty - Ashanti
• K-Mart – Spencer Locke
• L. J. - Michael Epps
• Dr. Isaacs – Iain Glen

Story: The T-Virus has run amok, spreading faster than anyone would have imagined, and the earth is dying. Alice is staying on the run, trying to hide out from the satellites of the Umbrella Corporation, but there are other evils about. She encounters a small group of people who have gone savage, using a radio distress call to lure victims in to rape and torture for their entertainment. When they are done, they feed them to the mutated dogs in their cellar, but Alice has other ideas. Her powers are growing stronger as well, psychic powers that she has not learned to control yet, but they are growing. After an incident where she loses her motorcycle, she stumbles on a caravan of survivors out in the Nevada desert led by Claire Redfield, and runs into her old friends Carlos and L. J.. She has found there may be hope in Alaska, on a tiny island that is free of the disease, but in order to get there, the caravan must resupply, and that means they have to go to a big city, where the zombies are likely to be. The Umbrella Corporation has also regained their signal on Alice, and are tracking her along wit the caravan. Alice must defeat the corporation once again while trying not to endanger the lives of the survivors.

Review:

Alternative Title:
Hot women with guns taking on zombies and the bad guys responsible for making them.

Milla Jovovich kicks butt and takes names in this third installment of the popular series. This time the virus has spread and has encompassed the world, so Alice is out and about, trying to avoid the undead. Now toss in Ali Larter, the tough, smokin' hot gal from Final Destination and Heroes, add in some Ashanti, and spice it up with the return of Oded Fehr and Michael Epps, and you have an action film that is sure to please. The Umbrella Corporation is well represented, with Iain Glen returning as the infamous Dr. Isaacs, the Frankenstein of all Frankensteins. When he learns Alice is still around, he tries every trick in the book to get her back. Be careful what you wish for, Doc. Great stunts, great action, and every bit as exciting as the first two films, Resident Evil: Extinction is sure to please the fans of the video game and the movies. And for us old guys, there is an "homage" to the King of Horror himself, Alfred Hitchcock, that is sure to please. Rated R for brief nudity, violence, and language, if you have the others, you have to have this one in your collection.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse - 2004

Constantin Film Produktion, Screen Gems, Davis-Films

Directed by Alexander Witt

Cast:

• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Jill Valentine – Sienna Guillory
• Carlos Olivera – Oded Fehr
• Major Cain – Thomas Kretschmann
• Angela Ashford – Sophie Vavasseur
• Dr. Ashford – Jared Harris
• L.J. - Mike Epps
• Terri Morales – Sandrine Holt
• Nemesis – Matthew G. Taylor

Story: We pick up where we left off in Resident Evil. The city is in a panic as the Umbrella Corporation evacuates key personnel and erects a wall around the city. Alice has managed to find an surplus store and is armed to the teeth. Meanwhile the police are trying to contain the panic, and a team of special officers known as S.T.A.R.S. are working in conjunction with Umbrella Corp. Special Forces to attempt to limit the spread of the disease. The zombies are winning, of course, and Alice is doing what she does best, kicking ass and taking names. When she rescues two STARS officers and a reporter from a mutant demon in a church, they all work together to find a way out of the city. Alice knows the Umbrella Corporation will sanitize the city with a 5 kiloton nuclear weapon at dawn, so they have that long to escape. Meanwhile, one of the scientists who created the T-virus is desperately seeking help to rescue his daughter from the city. He contacts Alice and her team and offers them a way out in exchange for the rescue of his daughter. When they have her, Alice must battle her counterpart, Nemesis, to survive.

Review: Milla Jovovich once again plays Alice, the genetically altered warrior whose powers are growing more and more powerful every minute she is alive. She is literally a one woman army, and her skills are impressive. Milla's character is bent on accomplishing one goal: Destroy the Umbrella Corporation. She exits the Raccoon City hospital and seizes a police shotgun out of an abandoned squad car, and begins to walk down the street littered with cars and other vehicles wrecked and destroyed. Meanwhile, Jill Valentine, a sexy and deadly STARS cop played by Sienna Guillory, is on alert as well, taking the initiative and shooting the zombies in the head. She and her partner are at the only exit from the city when a man becomes one of the walking dead and the gates are closed, sealing the city from the outside world. Oded Fehr and his team of commandos are pinned down by zombies and soon realize no help is coming. Jared Harris as Dr. Ashford has only one priority, to get his daughter out of the city. This film is as good as the first and perhaps a little better. Tina Gerussi and Robyn Ray deserve exceptional mention for their casting. Rated R for brief nudity, language, and violence, this is a must see if you liked the first movie, are a fan of the video game, or just like a good old fashioned high tech bloodbath with plenty of action.

Resident Evil - 2002

Constantin Film Produktion, Davis-Films, Impact Pictures

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Cast:

• James 'One' Shade – Colin Salmon
• Alice – Milla Jovovich
• Rain Ocampo – Michelle Rodriguez
• Matt Addison – Eric Mabius
• Spence Parks – James Purefoy
• Chad Kaplin – Martin Crewes
• Red Queen – Micheala Dicker

Story: We enter on a scene of someone operating Waldos in a laboratory, placing double helix shaped tubes carefully into a metal suitcase. As the individual retrieves the case from the sealed area, he heads toward the door and tosses a lone tube in the air. As he closes that door, the tube shatters on the floor. Within moments, alarms are going off, people are panicking, and the scientists and workers at “The Hive” are sealed off from the world and beginning to die. Cut to a young woman lying on a shower floor, the curtain draped in front of her. She wakes up, wanders through the rooms, and suddenly there is a policeman, dressed in civilian clothes. Moments later, a team of commandos enters by rappelling and smashing through the windows. They take the police officer into custody, and the leader is holding the young woman by the shoulders saying “I want your report, soldier. I want it now!”. Alice soon discovers she has been hit with a special nerve gas by the Red Queen, a computer system that controls The Hive. Two hours ago the Red Queen went homicidal, and the team is there to find out why. Since Alice is one of the two security agents assigned to protect the secret entrance to The Hive, she must accompany them on a journey into death, destruction, and corruption far deeper than anyone suspects.

Review: A movie based on a Video Game? Really? Let's face it, Doom sucked (No offense intended, Dwayne), Tron was so-so (Oh wait, that's right, the movie was the basis for the game.) and Lara Croft, well...Hmmm, maybe I better shut up at that. After all, Angelina is one of the hottest women on the planet. Speaking of really hot women, Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez are certainly in the top twenty or so. This film is a no excuses romp through all the zombies and evil creations any modern Frankenstein could dream up, and the players are all well versed in the action adventure genre. This is one of those films that brings together all the phobias of evil corporations, illegal experiments, and scientists backed by the military to produce horrific weapons of mass destruction that, as always, backfire. James Purefoy is the greedy bastard that starts everything in motion, but the Red Queen, a computer with the holographic persona of the designers daughter, is HAL and Skynet rolled into one times ten. One by one the rescuers succumb to either the Red Queen or the Zombies, and we are sitting on the edge of our seat waiting to see if anyone survives. Rated R for violence, language, and some brief nudity/sexuality, this film has spawned four sequels and who knows if more are coming. Powerfully entertaining and thrilling, I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good scifi flick with all the elements to keep it interesting. Definitely collectible.

The Prophecy: Forsaken - 2005

Castel Film Romania, Dimension Films

Directed by Joel Soisson

Cast:

• Allison – Kari Wuhrer
• John Reigert / Satan – John Light
• Dylan – Jason Scott Lee
• Stark – Tony Todd
• Simon – Jason London

Story: Allison is living in Romania, protecting the book, when the angels come again to recover it so they can know the name of the antichrist and kill him before he begins Armageddon. This time an angel named Stark is using a hit man named Dylan to do his “wetwork”, but Dylan is one of the resurrected and slowly dying who is acting out of duress. When he meets Allison, he does everything he can to foil the angel's plan. Allison heads toward the only ally she has, Satan. But Satan has his own agenda and is not in the mood to protect her. The battle between the forces of good and evil continues, and soon Allison is revealed as the only weapon needed to foil the angel's quest.

Review: In this second and final episode of the Prophecy “homage”, all the confusion and blanks spots from “Uprising” are filled in. When you realize that both films were released in 2005, and went straight to video, you have to wonder if Soisson was doing all this to fluff up his resume. The first ten minutes are the same footage from the first film, so our next actions are “in media reas”, and Satan is once again walking to and fro about the earth, causing trouble. The cast now includes the excellent Jason Scott Lee as Dylan, the reluctant hit man trying to protect Kari Wuhrer, and the exceptional Tony Todd, an often underestimated character actor who shines in this performance. Overall, the film moves well, and the action is much smoother in this second installment. But one question comes to mind. If Allison is a Nephalim, why would she still have a scar on her cheek? In the third Prophecy film, the Nephalim was said to have spontaneous tissue regeneration, so the scar should have healed years ago. Okay, okay, I'm nit picking, but let's face it, if you can't point out the obvious errors, where is the fun in that? Rated R for violence, language and a semi amusing scene of nudity with a young lady whose film credits include ONE film...this one. Collectible? Hardly, unless you are a fanatic Prophecy fan.

The Prophecy: Uprising

Dimension Films, Neo Art & Logic

Directed by Joel Soisson

Cast:

• John Reigert / Satan – John Light
• Dani Simionescu – Sean Pertwee
• Allison – Kari Wuhrer
• Simon – Jason London

Story: In Eastern Europe, a priest has hidden an angelic bible deep in the mysterious room where only he can find it. This bible is not finished, but as the priest leafs open the pages, new words begin to form on the final pages. This is the completion of the book of Revelations, the book that will reveal the name of the Antichrist, the man who brings the earth to Armageddon. The priest dies a horrible death, and the book is given to Allison, who is the long lost half sister of Dani Simionescu, a policeman who steals from drug dealers to give the money to the church. John Reigert leads Dani on a quest to find Allison and reveal to her the truth of her nature. As always, the forces of heaven and hell are at odds with man over the outcome.

Review: While based on the original “Prophecy” movies, this fourth installment features new characters and an interesting plot twist. Unfortunately, the film opens slowly and does not give us the same introductions as the first three. You have to stay with the film through some pretty uninteresting footage for about 20 minutes before the story takes hold. Missing is the comic element of the original, as well as the appeal of Christopher Walken, who has personally saved more than 20 films simply by being in them. I offer as evidence Suicide Kings and The Rundown, to name just two. John Light does a very passable job as Satan, although that isn't revealed until late in the film, and Sean Pertwee presents well as the man attempting to atone for his sin of informing on his parents to the communists when he was a child. Kari Wuhrer is the character who will join us in the fifth film, and she does a fine job of preparing us for the character to come. Jason London as Simon is interesting, but lacks passion in his performance. Overall, this film is less than adequate to follow in the footsteps of the original trilogy, which is why it lacks the numeral sequence to identify it. Rated R for violence, disturbing images, and language, I don't see this as becoming collectible, even to fans of the original series. But if you liked the first three, you'll probably enjoy this new venture into the battles between angels.

The Prophecy 3: The Ascent - 2000

Dimension Films

Directed by Patrick Lussier

Cast:

• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Zophael – Vincent Spano
• Danyael – Dave Buzzota
• Maggie – Kayren Butler
• Joseph – Steve Hytner
• Zealot – Brad Dourif
• Pyriel – Scott Cleverdon
• Mary – Moriah Shining Dove Snyder
• Madge – Sandra Ellis Lafferty

Story: The Nephalim is fully grown and preaching. Young Danyael, who was orphaned when Molotov cocktails were thrown through the window of his home, is preaching against God to the homeless and disenfranchised when a zealot in the crowd opens fire and shoots him. Gabriel, who is mortal, defends the young prophet, and takes steps to clear his path as he comes back from the dead. Maggie, his companion and mate, is disbelieving, but soon realizes Danyael is not merely a “talking monkey” like the rest of us. The rebellious angels, now led by Zophael, must prevent Danyael from defeating Pyriel, the angel who has been chosen to lead the human race into genocide. When Danyael travels to meet Pyriel, he meets Mary, the native American girl, who prophecies to him. As Gabriel travels to observe the battle, he stops in to the same roadside cafe as the first movie, and has a meeting with Madge, the waitress. In the end, Nephalim and Angel must battle for the future of mankind.

Review: This final chapter of the trilogy brings together all the unanswered questions of the first two films. Walken, Hytner, and, delightfully, Sandra Ellis Lafferty reprise their roles with amazing clarity. Walken is the mortal Gabriel who was cast to earth after the final scene in Prophecy 2, and he makes it apparent whose side he is on. By becoming one of the “talking monkeys”, he now understands the value of their existence and realizes he can no longer oppose God's plan. Dave Buzzota, in his premier performance, is intense and powerful as the Nephalim who soon discovers he has been “kicking against the pricks”. When his destiny is revealed, he throws himself into the role with such vehemence that you get caught up in his mission. The characters are consistent with the first two films, and the overall feel of the movie is enticing and thrilling. Rated R for violence, language, and some brief nudity, this is a good film for followers of modern horror and a must see for anyone who enjoyed the first two film. Collectible with the set, meaningless without the others.

The Prophecy II - 1998

Dimension Films, NEO Motion Pictures, Overseas FilmGroup

Directed by Greg Spence

Cast:

• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Valerie Rosales – Jennifer Beals
• Danyael – Russell Wong
• Izzy – Brittany Murphy
• Samayel – Glenn Danzig
• Joseph – Steve Hytner
• Michael - Eric Roberts

Story: Four years have passed and Lucifer is tired of Gabriel's presence in Hell and releases him to walk the earth again. Meanwhile, the angel Danyael has come to earth with a very specific mission, to create a Nephalim, a being born of a human female and an angel. Valerie Rosales, a nurse in a hospital, is driving her car when Danyael falls out of the sky in front of her. As he recovers in her hospital, they become close, and after several weeks he walks her home, and they make love. Within a week, she discovers she is pregnant. Nearly 4 months pregnant. Gabriel is on the move, wanting to eliminate the Nephalim as an abomination who might change the balance of heaven and earth and end the second war. He kills Samayel, and angel sent to watch over Valerie, and when the corpse is brought to the coroner's office, Joseph, the coroner who was a close friend of Thomas Dagget, recognizes who the body is and tries to warn Valerie about the angels and what is happening. Danyael must take Valerie to Michael, who guards the now polluted Eden with his angels, and Valerie must trust the voice of God to save her child.

Review: I'm not usually a big fan of sequels, but the continuity of story line and the introduction of some new characters keep this one fresh and intriguing. I was a little disappointed they could not get Elias Koteas back to reprise his role as Dagget, brief as that part is, but was pleasantly surprised to see Steve Hytner back in the role of Joseph, the coroner. Walken, of course, is consistent as the stars as Gabriel, and brings back a near corpse in the form of Brittany Murphy, who does a much better job in this film that others I have seen her in (In my opinion, the epitome of her career was in Uptown Girls, where she was totally upstaged by Dakota Fanning). Russell Wong is strong in his portrayal of Danyael, with the perfect balance of passion and aloofness. He cares for the human female, but realizes she is mortal, while the Nepahlim they create will not be. Jennifer Beals could have been a bit more passionate in the role, but her performance is passable and doesn't detract from the film's overall theme. Finally Eric Roberts does what he does best, let's his personality shine through, which is to say dispassionate, cold, and ambiguous. But that works here, and since the role is brief, does not detract from the plot or the action. Rated R for sexual situations, language, and graphic violence, this film is a worthy companion to the first, and if you own The Prophecy, this will make a nice addition. But as with all sequels, its a toss up. Definitely worth a viewing, but I suggest you rent it first before you buy a copy.

The Prophecy - 1995

First Look International, NEO Motion Pictures, Overseas FilmGroup

Written and Directed by Gregory Widen

Cast:

• Thomas Dagget – Elias Koteas
• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Katherine – Virginia Madsen
• Simon – Eric Stoltz
• Lucifer – Viggo Mortensen
• Jerry – Adam Goldberg
• Mary – Moriah “Shining Dove” Snyder
• Rachel – Amanda Plummer
• Joseph – Steve Hytner

Story: A young man is about to become a priest. He prostrates himself before the cardinal, is prepared to say his vows, but suddenly a vision comes over him, a vision so bleak and full of despair, he cannot continue. Flash forward several years to this same young man, now a Los Angeles police officer, who is called to a murder scene normally off his shift. A man has been run over by a car in an alley and smashed into a wall. In the room the man has jumped, or was pushed, from, is a copy of a book written by Thomas Dagget, the police officer who wanted to be a priest. The coroner informs Dagget of some irregularities with the body. He has no, nor has ever had, eyes. His bones have no indication of growth. And in his possessions is a hand written Bible with an extra chapter that refers to a second war in heaven. Soon Dagget discovers he is caught in the crossfire in a war between angels over the right of man to be in heaven.

Review: After his incredible success with the Highlander franchise, Gregory Widen wrote and directed this incredible eerie tale of suspense and horror. The characters are crisp and fresh, and the cast depicts them with an eerie sense of reality. Elias Koteas is incredibly adept at his role, portraying the disillusioned Dagget with a humanity we can all associate with. Eric Stoltz is adept at his role as Simon, the angel from the forces loyal to God's will concerning man. Christopher Walken is the perfect Gabriel, smiling and deceptive, treating us “talking monkeys” with the same sort of casual disdain as one may treat a retarded child. Virginia Madsen plays the lone teacher for what remains of an abandoned mining town, and she portrays the role in such a manner as to have us believing she has taught school for years. While the remainder of the cast is proficient and talented in their roles, special mention has to be made of Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer. He delivers his lines with such precision of depth and directness, you can believe he is the devil incarnate. Rated R for violence, gore and language, this is truly a work of art. Collectible as the first in a series of five films, or by itself as just an incredible work of fiction and the imagination of Gregory Widen.

A Knight's Tale - 2001

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Escape Artists, Finestkind

Written and Directed by Brian Helgeland

Cast:

• William Thatcher – Heath Ledger
• Count Adhemar – Rufus Sewell
• Jocelyn - Shannyn Sossamon
• Geoffrey Chaucer – Paul Bettany
• Kate – Laura Fraser
• Wat – Alan Tudyk
• Roland – Mark Addy
• Christiana - Bérénice Bejo
• Colville / Prince Edward – James Purefoy
• John Thatcher – Christopher Cazenove

Story: We are in medieval times, and the squires of a certain knight, Sir Hector, have discovered he is dead, just moments before his final match in the joust. If the knight wins, he would receive a prize of gold and his squires would be able to eat, which they have not done in three days! So William Thatcher, one of the squires, decides to don his armor and compete in his place, a dangerous decision. If he is discovered, the powers that be would have him hanged, for only persons of royal birth can compete in the joust. They manage to pull off the deception and win the match, but William is determined to continue and keep jousting. On their way to Rouen, they run into Geoffrey Chaucer, who has a bit of a gambling problem, but is a skilled writer and offers to forge patents of nobility for William in exchange for food, clothing, and a chance to travel about. William is successful and gains great renown, but he makes an enemy of Count Adhemar. a knight who finds him very annoying and sets out to destroy him in any way he can. William, of course, falls in love with a beautiful, wealthy girl who admires his skills and honesty. Soon they gain the company of a skilled woman armorer and blacksmith, and our merry band is on the way to the world championships in London.

Review: Probably one of the most original movies ever made, this tale compares modern sports to the realm of jousting in medieval times, and pulls it off magnificently. Heath Ledger is perfect in the role of William Thatcher, a young man hired out to a knight as a squire to “change his stars”. The story has everything, including romance, comedy, and drama. Rufus Sewell as Count Adhemar is the perfect dissociated royalty who cares little for the common folk. He loves the adoration of the crowd and their subservience, and considers them beneath him. Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Alan Tudyk, and Laura Fraser complete his band of Merry Men and do so with a flair seldom seen in actors who are at the beginning of their careers, but perhaps that is the magic Helgeland was able to conjure here. Personally, I would have reversed the roles of Jocelyn and Christiana, since I think Bérénice Bejo is much hotter than Shannyn Sassamon, but I grant you that is a matter of taste. James Purefoy as Edward the Black Prince plays the role to the hilt, and adds the icing on the cake to this already perfectly baked confection. Toss in perfect photography, excellent costuming, and a soundtrack that evokes all the action of modern day sports, and you have a perfect movie. Rated PG-13 for language, violence, and a brief sexual innuendo, I personally don't see a problem with most preteens watching this. Definitely a collectible film, both for the fans of Heath and the rest of us who just like a good movie.

Blade: Trinity - 2004

New Line Cinema, Shawn Danielle Productions Ltd., Amen Ra Films

Written and Directed by David S. Goyer

Cast:

• Blade – Wesley Snipes
• Whistler – Kris Kristofferson
• Hannibal King – Ryan Reynolds
• Abigail Whistler – Jessica Biel
• Danica Talos – Parker Posey
• Drake – Dominic Purcell
• Jarko Grimwood – Paul “Triple H” Levesque
• Dr. Edgar Vance – John Michael Higgins
• Ray Cumberland – James Remar
• Sommerfield – Natasha Lyonne
• Zoey – Ginger Broatch (as Haili Page)

Story: The Vampires, as usual, are up to no good. Not only have they finally located the final resting place of Drake, the original Vampire (known as Dracula or Dagon), but they've managed to set up Blade so he kills a familiar, and they get it on tape. So now Blade has to deal with law enforcement as well as Vampires, and when they raid his base, they capture him while Whistler is killed in the process. Blade is being held in police headquarters when a group of vampire hunters named the Night Stalkers intervenes for a rescue. When they complete the rescue, Blade discovers Whistler was in cahoots with this group as backup for Blade in case something happened to him. The group includes an ex-vampire named Hannibal King and an adept archer named Abigail Whistler...Whistler's daughter. This group is tech savvy and has advanced weaponry and a plan to thwart the vampire nation, a biological weapon called Daystar. The only problem? The DNA from the turned vampires is too thinned out to be of use. Unwittingly, the vampires have brought back the only source of vampire DNA pure enough to make Daystar effective: Drake.

Review: Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristofferson reprise their roles and the hybrid vampire hunter and his partner / armorer. While this film lacks some of the more visceral elements of the first two, it makes up in action what it lacks in darkness. Dominic Purcell is perfect in the role of Drake, the true immortal who is risen from his sleep by the desperate Danica Talos, played by Parker Posey. Parker does a nice job if you take into account a vampire like that might be a bit on the emo side, and the sarcasm between her and her former lover, played nicely by Ryan Reynolds, plays a major part of the script. Reynolds role is non-stop smart ass, and it suits him well. Triple H does an adequate job as the strong arm vampire, but my advice to Paul is not to give up his day job. Jessica Biel shines as Whistler's daughter, and her acting is one of the saving graces of the film. All in all, we do have to remember this is a comic book based in an alternate universe (Canada qualifies, I do believe) and the characters are two dimensional, which is expected. The cinematography and photography are great, the action scenes are exceptional, and we get the impression Blade may not come back to the screen. But who knows, there may be another threat coming up soon. Rated R for violence, language, and brief nudity (Jessica Biel in the shower....oh yeah), this is a collectible is you are a fan of Blade or just a fan of the comic (graphic novel) genre.

Die Hard 2: Die Harder - 1990

Gordon Company, Silver Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Directed by Renny Harlin

Cast:

• John McClane – Bruce Willis
• Holly McClane – Bonnie Bedelia
• Richard Thornburg – William Atherton
• Col. Stuart – William Sadler
• Maj. Grant – John Amos
• Capt. Carmine Lorenzo – Dennis Franz
• Leslie Barnes – Art Evans
• Mr. Trudeau – Fred Dalton Thompson
• Marvin – Tom Bower
• Samantha Coleman – Sheila McCarthy
• Sgt. Al Powell – Reginald VelJohnson

Story: John McClane is at another airport on Christmas Eve, but this time he's picking up his wife, Holly, as she is flying in. This time it's Dulles in Washington D.C., where Holly's parents live. Apparently John is now sporting an LAPD badge, so we can safely assume he has moved to LA to be near Holly as she continues her career with the Nakatomi corporation. Alas, John can't turn off the cop instinct and notices something amiss as he is waiting in the lounge...three men wearing military boots and acting suspiciously. He follows two of them discretely, but they enter a restricted area and he has a janitorial worker open the door and sends him for the airport police. As he approaches the two men who are busy doing something to a panel, they begin shooting, and a battle ensues, one that leaves one of the men dead while the other escapes. The airport police are treating this like a random luggage thief incident, but McClane uses a ink pad and gets the prints off the dead guy. He faxes the prints to Sgt. Powell in LA and asks him to run them. Powell reports back a little later, this guy is dead. Actually, the government says he died two years ago in a helicopter crash. So how was he alive and in the airport? McClane reports his information to the airport police Captain and the supervisor, Mr. Trudeau, but just as Trudeau orders Lorenzo to bring in all his shift commanders, the runway lights begin to go down, systems throughout the control tower shut down, and an ominous voice on the FAA frequency hot line warns them they are in control, and they have two minutes to tell their planes to circle at the outer marker. Col. Stuart and his crack squad of commandos have taken over the airport to free an inbound military general, and John McClane must once again save the day!

Review: At first, I thought the producers had lost their minds. Renny Harlin instead of John McTiernan on a Die Hard? But this one is as good as the first, if not better. Bruce Willis reprises his role as the indestructable John McClane, and like Al says, the insurance companies are getting nervous. This time McClane is up against a top notch crew of black ops commandos who have figured out every angle, except McClane. John is the fly in the ointment, and he does his best to counter every move the commandos make. The action scenes are exceptional, and the actors are perfectly cast. William Atherton and Bonnie Bedelia reprise their roles as well, and their interaction on the plane while John fights the bad guys on the ground adds an additional tension to the film that peaks your interest from the start. Dennis Franz as the irascible airport police chief compliments Fred Dalton Thompson as his boss. John Amos as the changeling Army major sent to foil Col. Stuart is priceless, and even plays up with McClane's character. Marvin the janitor is a perfect substitute for Argyle the limo driver, and the entire film proceeds with the pace and tempo that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what the heck is going to happen next. Rated R for violence, brief nudity, and a whole lot of language. Definitely collectible as #2 of the set of four.