BLOODSHOT

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: March 13, 2020

Director: Dave Wilson

Stars: Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Guy Pearce

Plot: A tech firm brings a soldier back to life, but the person responsible for the scientific breakthrough has alternative plans 

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

This is exactly what you think it is. It is a comic book turned action flick that doesn't bother with things like character development or worry about massive plot holes. The whole premise of the movie is so far-fetched that you can easily suspend disbelief and just roll with it. 

If you are into action flicks, this is a perfect film for you. It has all of the gadgets and explosions you could ever want. It even has all of the cheesy one-liners.

There isn't anything great about this movie, but there isn't anything terrible either. It's fun, it's exciting, and it is an escape from reality. What more could we all want right now? 

THE RHYTHM SECTION

Rated: R

Release Date: January 31, 2020

Director: Reed Morano

Stars: Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown

Plot: A woman bent on destroying her own life, after the tragic death of her family, finds out the event wasn't an accident, and turns her destructive desires towards the people responsible

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release

The number one rule of an action flick is that there should be a lot of action. This movie breaks that rule, and so many others. 

To say this movie is slow would be an understatement. A better description would be to say that this movie gives you an incredible opportunity to enjoy a 110 minute nap. 

I will say that it is not the fault of the actors that this flick is so bad. They all do a pretty good job in their roles. Unfortunately, the writing and directing are just plain terrible. The writer got the pacing and the plot all wrong from the first act, and was not able to recover. The director tried to be unique and artistic with the film, but instead it looks like the whole thing was shot by amateurs. 

The story spends too much time focusing on the main character trying to get well enough to be able to do anything. This is fine in most films, but in this one, it lasted 3/4 of the movie. It isn't until there are about 15 minutes left in the film that the quest finally gets on track and starts moving forward. By then, it's way too late to salvage the movie. 

If you saw the trailer and were hoping for an action flick with a powerful female protagonist, you will be thoroughly disappointed. 

THE GENTLEMEN

Rated: R

Release Date: January 24, 2020

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Matthew McConaughy, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Henry Golding

Plot: A group of criminals get swindles by a reporter with no scruples

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release, and make someone else rent it

The movie trailer lies!

This is one of those films that looks like it is going to be action-packed, filled with witty dialogue, and teeming with effervescent chaos for 115 minutes, thanks to the trailer. Instead, the first 45 minutes are an utter snoozefest, and the last hour does little to snap you out of your slumber.

I will never understand why writers and directors choose the "Unreliable Narrator" gimmick to lead you through the story. 95% of the movies that use it aren't any good. They fall flat, because half of the film is just some guy talking about something that happened instead of it being show to us. And then, he's unreliable, so you know that some of the information you are getting is false, because he's trying to save his own skin. 

I wish that was the only issues with this film, but it is full of terrible decisions. For example, we never see the outcome of one of the main characters. A certain thing is about to happen to him and it's never mentioned or shown again. Throw on top of that a ton of racist jokes, and the constant use of the nastiest word in the English language, and this movie becomes thoroughly unpalatable.

It's slow, it's barely funny, it's not nearly as smart as it would like you to think it it, and it's offensive. Pass on this one.

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

Rated: R

Release Date: January 17, 2020

Director: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah

Stars: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jacob Scipio, Vanessa Hudgens

Plot: Two hero Miami cops must stop an assassin that is killing high-level government employees

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

It's been 25 years since bad boys Will Smith and Martin Lawrence gave a couple of fantastic performances in a movie that was almost ruined by director Michael Bay. It's been 17 years since Michael Bay messed up BAD BOYS 2. Now it is 2020, and we have a third installment in the franchise, and the great news is Michael Bay had nothing to do with this film except for one uncredited cameo! 

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE is easily the best of the three films in the BAD BOYS franchise. It's still not a fantastic film, but for an action flick it is above average.

One of the things that makes this movie better is that the guys are older now and have to rely on their wits and experience more than their muscles. Not to mention that middle-aged guys doing physical comedy is so much more funny than when people in their 20's do it. Don't get me wrong, it's still filled with a ton of action and mayhem, but it has balance as well.

Martin Lawrence proves once again that he can be amazingly funny even in the midst of a high-drama scene. He has so many great one-liners that you'll probably need to see this one a second time to catch them all. 

Will Smith gives his best performance in years by giving us a new and improved Mike Lowrey. He straddles the line between straight guy and comedian with precision. It never feels like he is trying to do too much or to out-funny Lawrence.

This third film also has the best story of the three. Michael Bay was more interested in showing off explosions and girls in bikinis than he was in actually telling a story. Thankfully, the new directors gave us a movie that has a compelling plot that will keep you entertained through the end credits.

If you liked the first two movies, you are going to love this one. If you are an action flick fan, you'll want to see this in theaters. 

JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: December 13, 2019

Director: Jake Kasdan

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Awkwafina

Plot: Four friends return to the game, but this time there are more players and the game has changed

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

Yes! They did it again! The cast of JUMANJI is back with a few new players and a whole lot of fun for everyone. While I didn't like this one quite as much as the first film, this one is still very good and well above average. It's more like an A- compared to the A of the first one.

Once again we see the cast having to act like other people in the film and they all do it so well. Dwayne Johnson as Danny Devito is funny in every way possible. We also get the addition of Awkwafina who has become an acting force this year, and will probably be up for several acting awards for her role in THE FAREWELL. She is a blast to watch in everything she does. 

The rest of the cast is stellar, and this time we get to see them interact a lot more with each other. The dialogue is funny and fast-paced. All of the actors bring something special to the film that makes it better. 

The story is exciting, the action is awesome, and the ending will make you wish the third film was already out. So, gather up the family and go have a great time at the theater this weekend. 

21 BRIDGES

Rated: R

Release Date: November 22, 2019

Director: Brian Kirk

Stars: Chadwick Boseman, J.K. Simmons, Sienna Miller

Plot: A NYPD detective is tasked with finding 2 cop killers in Manhattan, but he only has a few hours to do it

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

First things first, Chadwick Boseman is a beast. He is great in everything he does, and he makes every movie he is in better. Not only is he fun to watch, but it is obvious he works hard at his craft in order to give us the best possible version of every character he portrays. 

As for the movie, it's pretty good. Not great, but not terrible either. It's one of those movies that is filled with excitement, action, and suspense. And because it is filled up on those things there isn't much room for things like compelling dialogue, character development, or any emotions other than fear and anger.

If you are going for the fun stuff then go for it. You'll enjoy this movie for sure. It's filled with great chases, fights, and explosions. If you are hoping to see a smart film you should look elsewhere. This film is formulaic from beginning to end. They even had a wonderful opportunity to steer away from the typical police procedural plot with this one, but chose to stick with the same old thing once again. 

This isn't the kind of movie that is going to win any awards. It's not the kind of movie you'll be dying to see again once it comes out digitally, but it is a movie that can be really fun to watch once. 

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

Rated: R

Release Date: November 1, 2019

Director: Tim Miller

Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes

Plot: A new and better terminator has come from the future to kill a girl that could destroy their future, but she has unexpected help

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

If you've seen one TERMINATOR flick you've seen them all. The plot of this one is about 95% the same as the original. It almost feels like they wanted to give the franchise a reboot, but also wanted to tie it into the original series somehow.

As with all of the other films in this franchise, you go for the action. If you are going for any other reason you will be left wanting more. The plot is regurgitated, the plot holes are massive, and the acting is average at best. The good news is this film is full of action, explosions, fighting, huge weapons, and cheesy one-liners. 

Thankfully, the studio spent money on making most of the special effects look right. There are a couple of scenes where the CGI doesn't work, but for the most part the effects are amazing. I just wish the same could be said for the rest of the movie. 

Yes, it is fun to see Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a movie together again, but it would be much more fun if the film were better.

If action flicks are your thing, this one will satisfy. If you need something to think about while watching a movie, think about seeing something else. 

GEMINI MAN

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: October 11, 2019

Director: Ang Lee

Stars: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, Benedict Wong

Plot: The best assassin in the world must stay alive while his much younger and more agile clone is trying to kill him

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release

Will Smith is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history. Ang Lee is an Oscar-winning director. One would hope that a team like this would make an amazing film.

They didn't.

Yes, this movie does have some good suspense and an intriguing story line, but there is so much more about it that is below average.

First, the effects are just plain terrible. It looks like they pulled out the CGI software from 2005 and decided to give it another shot. The young Will Smith never looks right, to the point where every time he was on screen it pulled me out of the story. The action scenes are just as bad with the effects moving faster than reality. Your eye knows when it is seeing something moving faster than it should be, and in the case of this movie almost all of the effects move too fast.

As for the acting, Smith does a fine job. Benedict Wong steals the show with his funny one-liners. Unfortunately, the entire cast had to work with a horrible script. There are so many eye-rolling line delivered that it got to the point where the audience was laughing at lines that were never meant to be funny.

This is a film that will quickly be forgotten. There is nothing that makes it worth seeing in theaters, and there is no way anybody will call this a great film. It is mediocre at best, and well below average for a Will Smith movie.

We are getting to the part of the year where a lot of great films will be in theaters. Save your money and wait for one of those.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD

Rated: R

Release Date: September 20, 2019

Director: Adrian Grunberg

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Yvette Monreal

Plot: Rambo must return to his violent ways after his niece is taken by Mexican human traffickers

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

Do you remember that scene in HOME ALONE where the kid is looking over a map of his house and plotting all of the traps he is going to set for the bad guys? And then we see little Kevin setting up the house of horrors? Well, imagine that movie all grown up and every trap that gets set is going to kill someone in a brutal and gory way. 

RAMBO LAST BLOOD, meet HOME ALONE. You two are going to get along great, you have a ton of stuff in common.

Here's the deal. If you are wanting nothing more than a bunch of explosions, some cringe-worthy death scenes, and a couple of good fights then you will get everything you want out of this flick. If you are a person who cares about things like plot and intelligent dialogue this film should be avoided at all costs. 

While I did want to keep referring to Rambo as Killer Kevin from HOME ALONE, for the most part I found the action to be fun and exciting. However there was one major exception. The end of the big fight near the end of the movie is absolutely hilarious...but it isn't supposed to be. It is so ridiculous and insane that all you can do is laugh at the stupidity. 

As far as action flicks go this one is middle of the road at best. It's not one that will stick with you or become a cult classic like the original. Maybe it's just best if we all pretend that this one doesn't even exist. 

ANGEL HAS FALLEN

Rated: R

Release Date: August 23, 2019

Director: Ric Roman Waugh

Stars: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Nick Nolte, Danny Huston

Plot: When the President is attacked his top security detail is framed and must fight to clear his name

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

This is the third film in the "FALLEN" franchise. You would think by now that the President would realize that his number one security guy is incredibly terrible at his job, because people have almost killed him in massive plots three different times. 

Just fire the guy already!

As for the movie, it's the same stuff as before, just a different setting. Lot's of explosions, lots of gunfire, and about a thousand laws broken, but none of that matters in the end, because the good guy finally gets his man. 

The best part of this movie is Nick Nolte. He completely steals the show. He is hilarious and heartwarming. And he adds a much-needed element of humanity to the story. Without him this film would be stiff and unbearable. 

As with most movies of this ilk, it is full of plot holes and moments of convenience. Just ignore those and go with it if you want to enjoy the film.

If you like high-stakes action flicks then you'll probably enjoy seeing this. You might as well see it in the theaters, just so you can get the full, body-shaking effect of stuff blowing up. If you are hoping for a smart, political thriller you should keep your money in your pocket and wait for something else to come along.

HOBBS AND SHAW

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: August 2, 2019

Director: David Leitch

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Vanessa Kirby, Idris Elba

Plot: Two former enemies must work together to save the world from a deadly virus and a mad man

Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this in theaters now

Sometimes in life you just want something brainless, ridiculous, and stupid to satisfy your cravings. This is the perfect movie for that. It is, in every way, brainless, ridiculous, and stupid. But it is also a good movie. 

The banter and jokes thrown between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Staham are fantastic, funny, entertaining, and awesome. I have no idea how they managed to shoot several of the scenes without cracking up every single take. 

One of the best additions to this film, and the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise is the appearance of Helen Mirren as Shaw's criminal mastermind mother. She is brilliant in the role and perfectly hilarious, too. 

Vanessa Kirby also brings new blood to the franchise in more ways than one. Her fighting skills are on par with the guys three times her size, and she is faster and smarter than everyone she encounters. Plus she has a very interesting relationship with both Hobbs and Shaw making for some great comedic tension.

Idris Elba plays the over-the-top bad guy as well as anyone has ever played the bad guy in a movie like this. He goes to the extreme without it becoming too campy. And because of his character we get to see a ton of cool stuff blow up. 

I'm pretty sure I lost brain cells while watching this film, but I'm completely okay with that. This is 100% awesome fun. It is insanely funny, overflowing with ridiculous action, and packed with high levels of testosterone and stupidity. What more could anyone possibly want or need in a summer popcorn flick. 

This one is so fun you may even want to see it twice.