Movie #341 - Kill Bill, vol 2

Kill Bill: Vol. 2
2004 - Rated R - 2 hr 16 min
Director: Quentin Tarrantino
Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Samuel L. Jackson

More blood and guts and gore and violent death! Hooray!  We get the rest of the epic tale in this second part, and it's got a nice twist at the end.  It throws the Bride (that's Uma) and the audience for a loop, while also complicating matters.

And as she fights her way up to the top (that's Bill, or David Carradine), we get more and more backstory and lots more action.  Plus, the Bride makes the best escape of her life.... from a coffin buried six feet underground. What?!

I get that these movies are not exactly for everyone, but I happen to love a good action flick with butt-kicking chicks and a good plotline.  This ranks right up there.

Movie #331 - Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park
1993 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 7 min
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight

Oh, I love this movie.  I'm not a big fan of horror flicks, but this one's more action/adventure with a sprinkling of dinosaur horror than a straight-up suspense/horror movie. It's also a touch sci-fi.  And it has some comedy too, kinda.

I first saw this movie in the theater when I was 12.  Loved it then, still love it now.  Considering that it was made in 1993, the dinosaurs are pretty well done.  The concept of the movie - mixing preserved dino DNA with modern DNA to bring back these prehistoric beasts - is pretty cool. And as I remember, there was a lot of buzz around that time of people wondering if it was even possible.  To the untrained layman, it seems pretty plausible.  I hear it's not really, but who cares? Makes a heck of a movie, in my opinion.

With a great mix of characters,a fantastic cast, and the perfect predators as the bad guys (hello, velociraptors!), Jurassic Park is the whole package.  Still love it.

Movie #317 - Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2
2010 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 4 min
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L Jackson, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Leslie Bibb, Gary Shandling, Jon Favreau

Sequels are always tough... and I usually approach them with great trepidation.  But when I heard about Iron Man 2, I was pretty psyched.  Thankfully, the movie doesn't disappoint.

While it lacks the fun creation sequences of the first movie, the technology doesn't stop advancing and the Iron Man suit has a few updates, like unfolding from a case that travels pretty light.  There are new bad guys, including scary Mickey Rourke, and new good guys, including Scarlett Johansson.  Tony Stark's troubles with his heart machine thingey (yes, that's the technical term) are more complicated, the ties to the Avengers are strengthened just a tiny bit, and the relationship with Pepper Potts grows as well. 

It's not as good as the original, but I think it continues the plot and everything that surrounds it in believable ways.  Everything takes a step forward, from the technology to the characters, so it's a great movie with lots of treats for fans.

Movie #306 - The Incredibles

The Incredibles
2004 - Rated PG - 1 hr 55 min
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T Nelson, Samuel L Jackson, Holly Hunter, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn

This one's got a lovable cast, creative premise, and the genius of Brad Bird. What's not to love?  This has always been a favorite of mine - retired superheroes and their children come out of hiding to defeat the forces of evil.  Of course, there's much more to it that makes this family of superheroes likable and, heck, even realistic.  The love between Bob and Helen, the everyday struggles these superkids face in extraordinary ways, and even the troublesome infant... it's normal stuff made not normal with the addition of super powers.

The villain is kinda lame: a childhood fan of Mr. Incredible who gets shunned by the superhero.  He's older now, plus he's evil. He's been killing other superheroes and has finally tracked down his old "nemesis" and hopes to eliminate him as well.  Is Mr. Incredible too out of shape to triumph over evil?

As with most Disney/Pixar creations, this movie is fun for kids but also appeals to adults, almost effortlessly.  And Edna Mode is just hysterical no matter how old you are.

Movie #212 - Formula 51

Formula 51
2001 - Rated R - 1 hr 32 min
Director: Ronny Yu
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Meat Loaf

Did you know Meat Loaf's last name is Aday?  So... a Meat Loaf Aday keeps the doctor away?  I can't be the first person to think of that.  I really hope he gets that joke all the time.  Too good to pass up.

In any case, he features prominently as the bad guy in this movie.  A caftan-wearing bad guy, too. Poor form, Meatie, poor form.  (Do you think that's his nickname? Meatie?)

This is a fun one. Who doesn't love Samuel L. Jackson in a kilt? The premise is interesting, culminating with a nice twist ending, and made much more lively by a couple of Brits.  Yeah, it's the guy from The Full Monty. Woo!

Did this enrich my life? Was I better for watching it? Maybe not. But it's a good time. End of story.

Movie #162 - Die Hard: With a Vengeance

Die Hard: With a Vengeance
1995 - Rated R - 2 hr 11 min
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Jeremy Irons, Samuel L. Jackson

With the director from the first one back in charge, this movie franchise gets back on track.  This is my favorite of the Die Hard movies and, even though they resisted the urge to call it Die Hardest, I still like the title.

Brotherly revenge is a vicious thing and Jeremy Irons carries the villain role well throughout the film... even if the movie is a bit longer than it needs to be. Seriously, McLane is the original Jack Bauer and he goes through about as much in this movie as Keifer Sutherland does in an entire season of 24. And you know, in the face of a crisis, either one of those guys would save the day.

And did I mention how much I love Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson's pairing in this movie? The racist comments are priceless from Jackson and they bicker like an old married couple half the time.  It keeps this adrenaline-heavy movie from becoming too much to handle.  You know, you need something to break up the explosions, car crashes, and shoot outs.  It might as well be something entertaining.

I've got a while until I get to Live Free or Die Hard (which I haven't seen yet), so it's nice to leave John McLane on a high note.  See you in the L's, John.

Movie #77 - Black Snake Moan

Black Snake Moan
Paramount
2006 - Rated R - 1 hr 56 min
Director: Craig Brewer
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake

After the first time we saw this movie, we bought it.  Now, watching it again for the first time in a while, I remember how much I enjoyed it.  Did you know Samuel L. Jackson could sing the blues? You will after you see this movie.

There's a spiritual overtone to this movie that doesn't impede the characters' development, but rather enhances it.  I never feel like Lazarus's rehab/confinement of Rae is for any other reason than that he sees someone who needs to understand love and what it is to love herself... not just sleep with everything that moves.  The relationship that forms between them feels genuine and real.  And it's also a lot of fun to watch them duke it out along the way.

Justin Timberlake is pretty good, too... so good you forget who he is for a bit.  Not only does he act, but he does it well. His panic attacks seem real and painful - well done.  And Christina Ricci is just insane in this.  Even as a drugged up, strung out, half-naked sex addict, she manages to stay likeable.  You're rooting for her character almost the whole time.

I really enjoyed watching this again and recommend it if you haven't yet seen it.

Movie #53 - Basic

Basic

Sony Pictures

2003 - Rated R - 1 hr 38 min

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: John Travolta, Connie Nielsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Daly, Giovanni Ribisi, Taye Diggs, Harry Connick Jr.

Ok, I feel like I've been watching a lot of "mindless" entertainment so far, but here's one that will get you thinking for sure. Military intrigue is always a good time, and Basic does not disappoint.

If you haven't seen this one, I don't want to give too much away. I really recommend giving it a peek. Basically, the plot centers around the murder of Samuel L. Jackson and the special ops team that's accused of killing him. From beginning to end there are many twists and turns, and you'll be surprised to find out what's really going on here.

Travolta is great, Jackson is so good you want to punch him yourself, and the supporting cast are spot on. Well done all around. Definitely a favorite!