Empire State (2013)

When it’s over, the downfall of this potentially good story was the lack of good characterization and poor casting. Chris (Liam Hemsworth) and Eddie (Michael Angarano) are two childhood friends who decide to rob an armoured car depository to make ends meet, financially. What drew me to this film was the promising premise, the heist element - the idea of the how it was accomplished and for what reason and whether the robbers would get away with it. The film had these elements, but it had no heart, nothing that made me care about the characters. Hemsworth was just so-so, not leading man material. Angarano was aggravating and irritating to watch. His portrayal of wise-ass Eddie was a huge turn-off. Since the film claimed to be based on a true story, I was not sure if it was the character or the actor who made me want to smack Eddie. Dwayne Johnson was the NYPD officer investigating the heist, and if I was not persuaded by the story, I was definitely urged on by his presence in the film. Little good that did, since he was only in a handful of scenes, and none of which were memorable. Emma Roberts played Nancy, the waitress, who should have been Chris’s love interest, but ended up lost in the shuffle of random scenes. Originally set in the 1980’s, the film was not. There was nothing that made me feel I was in that decade. And if there was, it was too small for me to catch or remember. The film's only plus was the build-up to the end, the unknown element of how it was going to end and how they were going to get away with the heist. But, the ending proved to be weak and disappointing, and the film, not worth recommending at all, even if you are a fan of the cast. 

My rating: 2 out of 5

2 Guns (2013)

When it’s over, 2 men, 2 W’s - Washington and Wahlberg, and under 2 hours make this action film decently enjoyable. Every few years, Hollywood comes up with a buddy-cop film, which pairs 2 law enforcement officers with different styles, attitudes, and skin color. For 2013, it’s 2 Guns. DEA agent, Robert Trench (Denzel Washington,) and naval intelligence officer, Michael Stigman (Mark Wahlberg), are undercover operatives working to capture a powerful drug lord, Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). To do this, they try to rob Greco’s bank and steal his money, but instead, end up stealing millions from the CIA. What follows is a string of dead bodies and a lot of double crossing. The film has some interesting twists, which keeps the viewer on edge, but not the chemistry between the leading men to make the film memorable. Unlike buddy films like Lethal Weapon, Men in Black, and 48 hours, 2 Guns does not have that love and hate bonding, which is crucial to making the comedy and relationship work onscreen. Both actors deliver fine performances, but I am not sold on their pairing. I did like Bill Paxton as top ranking CIA agent, because he acts like a loaded weapon ready to go off any second. His character adds unexpected conflict. However, I did not like James Marsden as Michael’s boss, because his good boy image makes it hard for me to accept him as a backstabber. I think Marsden is a versatile actor, but he is wrongly cast here. Still, if you like action films with plenty of ricocheting bullets, then you will enjoy this film, but do not expect anything more than what it is – 2 men with 2 guns.

My rating: 3 out of 5

Thor: The Dark World (3D - 2013)

When it's over, I liked it, but I didn't love it. The story continued where Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012) left off. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must sacrifice everything to battle an ancient race, known as the Dark Elves, whose leader is set on bringing darkness to the universe. The main cast returned for this second Thor installment, but they did not get the development they deserved. Generally, the idea of a sequel is not only to move a story forward, but also to help the returning characters grow. In the case of The Dark World, I felt the characters had not evolved. Thor remained much the same. There were no prevalent changes in his character. Thor’s three loyal Asgard warriors, Fandral, Sif, and Volstagg (Zachary Levi, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson), had less presence in this film than the previous, which was a shame, since we got to know Thor previously, through their eyes. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) seemed passive, and I expected more from the feisty scientist and Thor’s love interest. Perhaps some scenes showing her willing to fight to survive would have helped. Instead, Foster was a helpless damsel in distress. I thought Loki (Tom Hiddleston) got the most development, and Hiddleston was fantastic. I loved watching his mischievous ways unfold. I despised him and relished his naughtiness at the same time. The visuals were great, and the unrelenting action never allowed for a dull moment, but its thrills were at a price. The fast pacing made the story move too fast, racing from beginning to end, leaving little opportunity for small scenes to become great. A perfect example would be the Asgard funeral(s), which took, maybe, five minutes onscreen. More thought, time, and emotional punch should have went into this critical scene, because it set in motion the actions Thor and Loki would take to claim their revenge and justice. Lastly, what happened to the love story, the chemistry between Thor and Jane? Their kiss or would be kisses felt staged. I did not get that sense of ‘Wow’ as I did in the first film. They acted more like friends than two people in love. A good sequel, but not great!

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)

When it's over, Sea of Monsters is a monster disappointment. I tried to give this series a chance, I really did, but this sequel is even worse than the first film. Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) and his friends travel to the Sea of Monsters, aka The Bermuda Triangle, to find the magical golden fleece. Their perilous journey is met with evil forces, as other half-bloods turned bad also want the fleece in order to unleash the powerful Kronos from his slumber. There are five books in the original Percy Jackson series written by Rick Riordan. The first film, The Lightning Thief, is decent and introduces the characters, and I was hoping this sequel would continue the characters’ and story’s development, but it fails on all levels. How is it possible to have a weak story when there is such good source material? The filmmakers only have to follow the story as it unfolds in the books. The seed of the problem is that the story is becoming more “loosely” based on the books, which hurts the film in a major way. Poor performances do little to engage the viewer or strengthen the story development. Lerman is a good actor, as demonstrated in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He just makes a lousy Percy Jackson. The action sequences lack the tight choreography needed to make them look believable. Plus, I am surprised a film that relies heavily on CGI fails to take advantage of the possibilities technology has to offer. Perhaps, for budgetary reasons? To be completely honest, the whole Percy Jackson series would work better as a television series, giving it the time it needs to develop. For young audiences, this film may be a fun adventure, because it has plenty of action, but all of it is low key. It will also incite an interest in mythology, which educationally speaking, is always a bonus. But for older children, the lack of thrills will be a complete turnoff.

My rating: 2 out of 5

The World's End (2013)

When it's over, the title has a double meaning, but that's as deep as this film gets. After 20 years, five friends (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsang), revisit their hometown to fulfill a failed pub crawl – drinking at 12 pubs in one night – which ends at a fabled bar called The World’s End. The task is not as easy as it seems, when they realize their old stomping grounds are inhabited by robots in human form.  What follows is a lot of decapitations, severed limbs, and blue blood.  There are some funny moments, mostly derived from silly behavior and dark British humor. If you are a fan of Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007), this film is a must-see, as the actors re-unite in their third screen outing to fight for the future of mankind. The World’s End is a departure from the previous two films with the inclusion of more special effects, blending a mixture of science fiction and the post-apocalyptic world. The fight choreography delivers the comical edge as it is meant to do. There is even romance to hook in the female audience. Alas, it cannot compete with Shaun, and I don’t think it tries to. It does stand decently well on its own, though. If you want a fun film to pass the time without too much depth, Pegg and his mates will keep you smiling to the world’s end.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5