jace_the_film_guy

When a re-cast character is telling a story to the second iteration of a character about his daughter (who hasn't been in the franchise in 17 years) and another re-cast character, I think that it is time for a fresh start.

All nit-picking aside, I didn't hate this movie. Anthony Mackie does a solid job of taking on the mantle of Captain America. Similarly, Harrison Ford does an admirable job filling William Hurt's shoes (RIP). The moments where the film leaned into espionage and politics were reminiscent of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". The fighting was decent, specifically when Cap was in the air with his wings.

On the other side, there are a lot of "pre-requisites" before watching this movie. If you haven't watched The Incredible Hulk, Eternals or Falcon and the Winter Soldier recently, you will probably be lost. The new characters introduced were bland (i.e., Ruth Bat-Seraph), some of the banter felt forced and Red Hulk's appearance was minimal.

In the end, I can't blame Marvel for their approach to this film. Unfortunately, it felt like a B-Story instead of the A-Story that usually accompanies movies with "Captain America" in the title. This film is just a sequel to The Incredible Hulk, which is one of my least favorite MCU projects.

Note: Where in the world was the Marvel title card? It made the whole thing feel off from the beginning.

Best Character: Sam Best Quote: "Steve gave them something to believe in, you give them something to aspire to." Best Scene: Reuniting with an Old friend Best Piece of Score: "Brave New World" (this score is exceptionally bland)

The concept behind Speed is a fantastic one: "A bus must stay above 50MPH or it will blow up." Simple. Interesting. Exciting. You know exactly what you are getting yourself into.

With that mindset going in, I found that I enjoyed 90% of this movie. The action is over-the-top, the bus is indestructible, the cast is full of surprises and the plot is pretty straightforward.

The acting is pretty bad in moments, mostly from Keanu Reeves Dennis Hopper. The interesting thing is that I didn't mind the poor line-delivery. It almost added to the charm of the movie.

My biggest gripe with Speed is everything that goes on outside of the bus. I just didn't care that much about Harry trying to find the bad guy, the romance and especially the subway scene. On top of that, there are too many plot-holes to count.

All problems aside, this movie is exactly what you would expect and I loved that. I'm a fan of "bottle episodes" of TV and films that take place in one location. For that reason, I loved the majority of this movie and would gladly watch it again.

Best Character: Jack Best Quote: "Pop quiz, hotshot." - Howard Best Scene: Getting on the Bus.

Heat is exactly what you want in a heist/crime film. You have high stakes, insane action and a profound amount of character depth. On both sides of the coin, the character motivations are clear and inescapable. While the two characters share little screen time together, their storylines are completely intertwined with each other.

The film is long and it takes its time to develop the plot, but it is all necessary. The intricate details, the edge-of-your-seat moments and the complexity to the story make for a phenomenal movie.

Best Character: Neil Best Quote: "No matter what, you will not get in my way. We've been face to face, yeah. But I will not hesitate. Not for a second." - Neil Best Scene: The Diner Scene.