"Runner Runner" is stacked with a deck of familiar stars. Unfortunately, these famous names, along with this crime flick's gorgeous locations, are only able to paint a good vibe for the first few minutes of the tale. It actually starts off with a solid draw, but it easily folds on the flop a couple of scenes later. Amidst the technically pleasing presentation, this cinematic offering is unable to hold up to the needed excitement and suspense expected for the material.
Crime
Blu-ray Review: ‘Django Unchained’
The 2012 western picture "Django Unchained" arrives on a two-disc set featuring its Blu-ray, DVD, iTunes digital, and UV digital copies, along with a handful of supplements. This critically acclaimed film by Quentin Tarantino stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Don Johnson. It won the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. It also garnered three other nominations, including the much-coveted award for Best Picture. Set two years before the Civil
Blu-ray Review: ‘Gangster Squad’
"Gangster Squad" debuts in home video format via a two-disc set housing the film's Blu-ray, DVD, UV digital, and iTunes digital copies. This 2013 picture's theatrical release was infamously delayed for a few months in the wake of the tragic Aurora theater shooting in 2012. The production decided to reshoot its mid-movie shootout in order to remove the sequence involving a massacre in a movie theater. Ruben Fleischer helms this period actioner that stars Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Emma
Blu-ray Review: ‘Bangkok Revenge’
Releasing on a single-disc Blu-ray package, the 2012 action movie "Bangkok Revenge" revolves around the story of a vengeful man trained to become a killing machine. This film directed by Jean-Marc Mineo showcases many moments of adrenaline and appealing athleticism. It stars Jon Foo, Caroline Ducey, and Michael Cohen. As a young boy, the main character witnessed the brutal murder of his parents. After getting shot at point-blank range during the same tragic event, he miraculously survived the bullet in his head.
Blu-ray Review: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’
The highly controversial 2012 picture "Zero Dark Thirty" comes out on a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack hosting its Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copies. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow as a follow-up to her acclaimed war thriller "The Hurt Locker," this intense and thrilling piece of cinema chronicles the decade-long hunt for Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks until his death at the hands of the Navy SEALs. The story focuses on the life of
‘Ocean’s Thirteen’ Film Review: The odds of guilty pleasure
For "Ocean's Thirteen," watching the inventive and spontaneous bunch of professional men pulling off an impossible heist for the third time is a guilty pleasure to watch. The usual suspects known for delivering their witty lines in effective, nonchalant ways, as well as doing impossible tasks in various capacities, are back with sophisticated humor, peppered ironies, comedic suspense, and contagious energy that has marked the franchise since "Ocean's Eleven." Centering the saga on male camaraderie, team loyalty, and cool professionalism, this follow-up offering has
‘Domino’ Movie Review: Acid trip with a Bounty Hunter
Keira Knightley is the socialite-turned-bounty hunter Domino Harvey in this Tony Scott movie. The life experiences of Domino Harvey taught her not to invest too much emotion on any certain thing — but she couldn't get away with it. Similarly, director Tony Scott seems to have invested too much in creating visual flair for “Domino,” making it too loud and exaggerated beyond measure. Oozing with tomboy spunkiness, Keira Knightley plays the character of the late Domino Harvey, the daughter of British actor Laurence Harvey.
‘Transporter 2’ Film Review: Escapist ride
Jason Statham's Frank Martin offers that monosyllabic intensity for the usual understated hero. "Transporter 2" maintains the typical formula: the good guy chasing the bad guys. Its B-movie plot twists are like an assemblage of action-sequel clichés carefully endorsing the car brand Audi. Frank Martin's (Jason Statham) monosyllabic intensity as the usual understated hero effectively moves around in fierce car chases and impossible martial arts sequences. This doesn't stop the movie from being absurdly pleasurable. It suspends disbelief for a one-and-a-half hour
‘Ong-Bak’ Film Review: No doubles, no strings, no CGIs
This Thai action picture highlights the art of Muay Thai in this Southeast Asian country's contemporary scene. "Ong-Bak" amazes and defies the Hollywood cheats of stunt doubles, using CGI and animation, and working on strings while shooting on chroma to let the characters' actions fly and soar high. This action fare shows the real deal — what a premier martial artist can really do without resorting to any of action cinema's magic tricks. The film presents the centuries-old art of Muay Thai in a contemporary scene. It carries on the
‘Nasaan si Francis’ Film Review: Theatrical techno punk
With its relatively convincing cast and some animation to boost plot points in its drug addiction theme, “Nasaan si Francis?” creates a punk's world with enough comedic proportion. A couple of animation inserts, various kinds of split screens and intercuts, play of colors and contrast, and visual exaggerations work at times, but in a few scenes, the too theatrical appeal could have been left within the stage. Originally a play by its director Gabby Fernandez, “Nasaan si Francis?” is adapted from