ROBIN HOOD MEN IN TIGHTS (1993)

It's been a while since I last looked at a really good skit and better than this they do not easily come. Mel Brooks is a master satirist and among his work count some of the best spoofs ever made. Just think of movies like Blazing Saddles (1974), Silent Movie (1976) and Spaceballs (1987). He was also the mastermind behind the Get Smart TV-series of the late 1960's.

As Robin Hood Men In Tights is basically a parody on the legendary tale told over many years in many books and films as well as on stage and television it is not necessary to go into the details of the story itself. Most everybody is familiar with the hero of Sherwood Forrest and his band of merry men. However, nobody has ever told it the way it is done in this movie. It is simply hilarious!

So, if you haven't seen it yet, and you are in the mood for a good belly-aching laugh, then do yourself a favor and watch this film. Even if you have seen it before, it will make you laugh all over again. And sometimes a good silly laugh is all that is needed to uplift the most downtrodden of spirits. Therefor, I merit this DVD with a well deserved 4 out of 5 stars. 

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGl84rHFcbM

 Robin and his band of merry men

 

THE AVENGERS (2012)

Anyone who knows anything about Marvel's Comics' superheros will know who the Avengers are. But for the benefit of the uninformed, they are some of the most well known of these superheros who are called upon as a group to defend earth against any alien-type attack. And under the command of the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury (portrayed by Samuel L Jackson) the team consists of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). S.H.I.E.L.D is a secret government agency and the acronym stands for "Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division".

In this the first episode, Thor's mischievous brother, Loki (played by Tom Huddleston) gets hold of a mysterious power source called the Tesseract. With it he then teams up with an alien army in order to take over the universe. That is when the Avengers are assembled to thwart him in his efforts.

Typical of all comic based movies, the action is fast paced and spectacular and this is no exception. There are enough thrills and spills to keep any action junkie glued to his or her seat right through to the end. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOrNdBpGMv8

The gang...

THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015)

In the second chapter, the gang is back but this time they have to do battle against themselves.

Tony Stark or Iron Man (still played by Robert Downey Jr) inadvertently creates Ultron (James Spader), an android with artificial intelligence. The idea behind inventing this robot is to somehow achieve world peace. But due to a mishap, the machine wakes up before it could be properly programmed according to Tony's design. So, with its own idea of how to achieve his intended goal, Ultron goes on the rampage with mass human extinction in mind. It is thus up to the Avengers to stop him. However, their old arch enemy and nemesis, Baron Strucker, throws a spanner in the works in the form of the supernatural Maximoff twins who themselves have a bone to pick with Tony Stark. They manage to mess with the minds of the Avengers to such an extent that they start fighting each other.

Although much the same recipe is followed as before, there are a few interesting twist and turns in the plot. The only thing that bothered me a bit in this one was the speed of the action sequences. Apparently director Joss Whedon never heard of a thing called slow motion. Or maybe it is just me showing my age... Nevertheless, I still give it 3 out of 5 stars also. 

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD8lWtcgeyg

 

Ultron in action... 

   

BATTLESHIP (2012)

It was only because I saw the name of Liam Neeson among the basically unknown cast that I gave this DVD a second glance. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I watched the movie.

In an attempt to establish contact with intelligent life somewhere in the universe, earth is instead invaded by a malevolent alien race. This happens to coincide with a joint naval exercise of the USA and Japan. But when the alien enemy puts up an impenetrable force field, trapping two US destroyers with their own war machines, it is up to the two youthful human crews to do battle with the aliens.

Now, the story is not something we have not seen before. War Of The Worlds (2005) and Independence Day (1996) immediately springs to mind. But this one has something different about it. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it is the the fact that it is full of tongue in the cheek humor without making a mockery of the suspense line. Or it can also be the excellent performance by the relatively young and unfamiliar cast.

Whatever the reason, in the end it is a feel-good movie that leaves you satisfied that human ingenuity and gusto can overcome any adversity. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. 

Trailer link:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp3646Zf8rg

Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch and Rihanna

THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS (2014)

Late last year I looked at part one of The Maze Runner (see post on 04/11/15). There we met a very confused Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) caught up with some other equally confused youth in an isolated place called "The Glades". Eventually he and a few others make their way through the perilous maze that surrounds them to what they thought lead to freedom. But, of cause, that was not the case. Instead, at the end of that movie, the viewer is left with more questions than answers.

In this, the second part, the group find themselves in what at first seems to be some sort of holding facility, supposedly awaiting transfer to safety. But they soon realize that everything is not what it seems and has to flee yet again. This, in turn, lands them in a desolated ruin of what apparently was once a great city. So their frightening journey continue...

My main gripe with part one was that there seems to be little point to the story. It is as if it was not leading towards anything and plays more like a violent video game. Fortunately, a lot more becomes clear and starts to make sense in part two. But I don't want to give anything away. So, you have to watch it for yourself. All that I can safely say at this stage is that I look forward to part three. I rate this delivery in the series 3 out of 5 stars as well.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44_igsZtgU

 A somewhat precarious position...?