The Beekeeper (2024)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

 

VERDICT – 1/5

 

 

PROS –
1) A retired operative of a secret organization known as “Beekeepers” sets out on a vengeance trail, when his elderly neighbour commits suicide after being a victim of cyber-crime. Things get interesting when the main culprit turns out to be the son of the POTUS.
2) Taylor James as Lazarus, a formidable opponent to the Beekeeper.

 

 

CONS –
1) The plot is John Wick. The hand-to-hand combat action is mediocre. Nobody (2021) did the same thing much better.
2) Except Jeremy Irons, the supporting cast is full of terrible “diversity hires”.

 

 

QUOTE –
Adam Clay: Stealing from an elderly person is like stealing from a child. In some ways it’s worse. When someone hurts a child, there are people who care, parents to step in. When someone hurts an older person, they are often left to face the hornets alone.

Old Dads (2023)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

 

VERDICT – 2/5

 

 

PROS –
1) 3 middle-aged men struggle to navigate a changing world of culture, career and fatherhood.
2) The passive aggression the old generation is facing beyond acceptable.

 

 

CONS –
1) A half-baked effort.

 

 

QUOTE –
“Three cardinal rules of friendship. Don’t bring up politics. Don’t bring up religion. And don’t try to tell people how to raise their kids.”

Wrath of Man (2021)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

 

 

VERDICT – 3/5

 

 

PROS –
1) The boss of a crime syndicate is caught in the middle of an armed robbery where his son is killed and he himself got injured. To track down the robbers and avenge his son’s death he starts to work in an “armored truck company”.
2) A mediocre revenge story is elevated to another level by the non-linear screenplay and majestic gun-action that keeps the audience at the edge of their seat.
3) Jason Statham keeps the genre alive.

 

 

CONS –
N/A

 

 

QUOTE –
We’re built for combat, not daytime TV. The Afghanis treated us better than our own. I wish I was back in the unit. Boredom’s more dangerous than bullets. Give me an enemy can fuckin’ see.

The Quiet American (2002)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

 

VERDICT – 2/5

 

 

PROS –
1) A love triangle set in 1952 between a British journalist, an American covert CIA agent, and a young Vietnamese woman against the backdrop of the French Vietnam War.
2) Watch it for Michael Caine as an unengaged reporter narrating the entire plot.

 

 

CONS –
1) The young Vietnamese girl is supposed to be an exotic femme fatale beauty. But the actress who played the crucial role of Phuong doesn’t fit the role.
2) Brendan Fraser is miscast.

 

 

QUOTE –
Hinh: Sooner or later, Mr. Fowler, one has to take sides, if one is to remain human.

The Gentlemen (2020)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 1
CULT – 1

 

 

VERDICT – 5/5

 

 

PROS –
1) A cannabis baron [Mickey] decides to sell-off his empire to a billionaire for $400 million. The billionaire plans to lower down the offer by disclosing one of the locations of Mickey’s operation. This starts a chain of action involving a Russian oligarch, a Chinese gangster, a tabloid editor, a private investigator, and a street gang led by “Coach“.
2) Guy Ritchie in all it’s glory with a Tarantinoesque non-linear screenplay.
3) Opening credit song : David Rawlings – Cumberland Gap, and El Michels Affair – Shimmy Shimmy Ya
4) Excellent casting. Colin Farrell’s character Coach deserves his own spin-off movie.

 

 

CONS –
N/A

 

 

QUOTE –
Mickey Pearson: There’s only one rule in the jungle: when the lion’s hungry, he eats!

Adventureland (2009)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 0
MUSIC – 1
CULT – 0

 

 

VERDICT – 1/5

 

 

PROS –
1) A young graduate with a literature degree starts to work part-time at a local amusement park. The premise is a workplace rom-com.
2) The 1980s soundtrack is the only good thing about this movie.

 

 

CONS –
1) A promising workplace comedy wasted by the director of Superbad (2007). All the boring and sappy sub-plot were highlighted while the most colorful characters played by Kristen Wiig & Bill Hader were sidelined.
2) A pretentious movie without anything new to offer.

 

 

QUOTE –
Sue : What are you majoring in?
Joel: Russian literature and Slavic languages.
Sue : Oh wow, that’s pretty interesting. What career track is that?
Joel: Cabby, hot dog vendor, marijuana delivery guy. The world is my oyster.

Duplex (2003)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 0
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

VERDICT – 0/5

 

PROS –
N/A

 

 

CONS –
1) While the movie appears like a normal home-invasion comedy like The Ladykillers (1955), Home Alone (1990), or Mousehunt (1997), this movie darker and disturbing than any of those mentioned. This reminds me of The Cable Guy (1996) which by no means was a comedy movie.
2) As the movie progresses, the misery of the young couple getting their life devastated by the trio of real-state scammers makes it unbearable to watch.

 

 

QUOTE –
Nancy Kendricks: Okay, come on. We don’t have that much time.
Alex Rose: I know. She’s running errands. That only gives us twelve hours.

Mrs Brown (1997)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

VERDICT – 3/5

 
PROS –
1) A grieving Queen finds solace and comfort in a confidant servant. A walk in a park role for Judi Dench as Queen Victoria.
2) The conversation between Disraeli and John Brown on top of the knoll is one of the highlights of the movie.

 
CONS –
1) While the performances of each actor are praiseworthy, the movie covers a trivial part of Queen Victoria‘s colossal history.
2) Billy Connolly’s performance as the Scottish John Brown is decent but someone like Sean Connery would’ve made it everlasting.

 
QUOTE –
Benjamin Disraeli: Princes and lords are but the breath of kings. An honest man is the noblest work of God.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 1
CULT – 1

 

VERDICT – 5/5

 
PROS –
1) A heart-rending father-son movie for generations. The right blend of comedy and despair. One of the best Holocaust movies ever made.
2) A man trying to protect his son using his wit and humor in the most desperate times. This movie belongs to the ranks of The Kid (1921) and Bicycle Thieves (1948).
3) Life Is Beautiful – (Main Theme) by Nicola Piovani
4) The ominous first hour of the movie appears like a Disney movie with the amusing performance of Roberto Benigni.

 

CONS –
N/A

 

QUOTE –
Guido: What are your political views?
Man: Benito, Adolf! Sit down! Sorry Guido, what did you say?

Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

VERDICT – 2/5

 
PROS –
1) A well made spoof movie
2) Marlon Wayans as Loc Dog

 
CONS –
1) A one time watch affair with cliched and caricaturish characters

 
QUOTE –
Loc Dog: Name: Loc Dog, baby. Height: Six-deuce! Age: 19. Father’s name: mmm… I dunno. Sex: hell yeah, nigga! Salary desired: 3 million dollars! Cash!