Tag Archives: Action

22May/23

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3; Just in Time For Mental Health Awareness Month

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Starring: Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Bradley Cooper voices Rocket Racoon, Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary, and Vin Diesel as Groot. 

Synopsis

The Guardians must band together to save the life of one of their own. With the clock ticking, they must journey to various planets and face various powerful foes, all while each character deals with internal obstacles seen in the previous installments.

Is It Worth Watching?

I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t have “the feels” while watching Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (GGV3) because, boy, did it have some very emotional moments. Kudos to filmmaker James Gunn for unpacking so much in this film. Although our beloved characters are experiencing a lot personally, the collage of storylines is not overwhelming and, more importantly, won’t leave audiences confused. Let’s go through the good things about this film.  

The story focuses on the intelligent and quippy Rocket Raccoon and its origin. We finally gain insight into why Rocket is not only rude at times, but also guarded. Rocket has had some trauma in his life (which has been set up since his introduction). We find out how badly he was manipulated and abused by his creator, The High Evolutionary. Not only will we see Rocket’s past in this film, but we’ll also come to realize just how smart this character is. 

For the psychology majors and mental health professionals, I am sure the characters are of interest as the trauma and grief of Rocket and Peter Quill are explored in depth. We see Peter is still struggling to get over the death of Gamora and coping with the rejection of the alternate version of Gamora (the newest member of the Ravagers). Quill spends most of his time trying to convince the alternate version of Gamora that they once were lovers all while the team goes on an adventure to save Rocket. 

Starring: Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Bradley Cooper voices Rocket Racoon, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Vin Diesel as Groot, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Pom Klementieff as Mantis.

More character depth is explored with Nebula, as she is no longer the completely guarded and defensive soldier she was once built to be. Although she’s been souped-up with stronger battle gear and more damaging weapons thanks to Rocket, she is now more apt to try understanding the predicament at hand before unleashing her fury. 

Drax and Mantis continue to bring their fun banter and chemistry displayed in the highly praised Disney Plus Christmas special. While still hilarious, they also show some growth as characters. These are actually my two favorite characters (outside of Groot) because of their funny dialogue. At times, I did think that Drax was leaning too much into comedy and displaying less of the menacing, stoic persona we see in the comics, but this version works for him in the cinematic MCU.

The High Evolutionary is one of the top villains in the MCU because of his power and his no-nonsense attitude toward his work. This character is so powerful that he created worlds and populations of people; he is basically a god with a lust for perfection. He created Adam Warlock who, despite exhibiting some characteristics of a man-child, looks to be one of the most powerful beings in the MCU. Although I was not expecting the overpowered version of Adam Warlock seen in the comics, I was expecting more from this character. Adam is not in many scenes, but when he is on screen, his presence is felt with all his power and desire to please his creator. But I still felt the character didn’t have the same gravitas he does in the comics and needed to be, in my opinion, more insightful and less of an immature henchman. I would like to see if the MCU will bring Adam to his peak level as seen in the comics. It’d be nice to see if he could be effective against the Celestials.

This film had one of the best melee fighting scenes in Marvel history; there were double-team moves that were nothing short of exciting to watch. One of the best badassery moments came from Gamora when she went ape sh*t on some giant aliens. 

The CGI work was proficient, and the wacky worlds that the Guardians visit are both colorful and filled with cool visuals. The most unique of them all was the alternate earth that The High Evolutionary made. It consisted of anthropomorphic animals that mimicked behaviors exhibited on planet Earth. 

Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary

Conclusion

This emotional and fulfilling final film of the franchise, Guardians Vol.3, is a good out for James Gunn and the actors that play the colorful rag-tag bunch. With an open story arch for all of the characters, it will be interesting to see where their journey takes them and if any of the characters will be involved in the upcoming Secret Wars or the next installment of The Avengers. Given the amount of trauma and emotional obstacles that some of the characters had to overcome, the film release date was quite appropriate as we’re now smack in the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month. Although the first Guardians of the Galaxy is the best of the franchise (in my opinion), this film comes in second as the next best installment. With its Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% and 92% audience score, this film is no doubt worth watching. Check out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in theaters today. 

Warning: this film does contain some language not suitable for children.

24Mar/23

John Wick: Chapter 4… A Satisfying Swan Song

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Keanu Reeves as John Wick. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Cast: Keanu Reeves as John Wick, Donnie Yen as Caine, Bill Skarsgård as Marquis Vincent de Gramont, Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King, Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu Koji, Shamier Anderson as Mr. Nobody, Lance Reddick as Charon, Rina Sawayama as Akira, Scott Adkins as Killa, and Ian McShane as Winston Scott.

Synopsis: John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

The Best John Wick?

Chapter 4 has a 95% Rotten Tomato score, making it the highest-rated John Wick film in the franchise that premiered back in 2014. Not bad for an almost 10 year-old series. This installment wowed me with just about every aspect of its composition. I was not expecting this sequel to have such an unbelievably action-packed compelling story that would be better than the previous films. This film is star-studded and everyone played their role well, no wonder critics and audiences are talking about this blockbuster.

Shamier Anderson as Mr. Nobody photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Characters 

First things first, rest in peace to the amazing Lance Reddick (June 7, 1962 – March 17, 2023), who has been a part of the franchise since its 2014 debut. We thank you for contributing to John Wick and hits such as Oz, The Wire, and numerous voice-over characters. You will be missed.

The characters in this movie were completely badass and, in my opinion, the best set of assassins in the franchise. Let’s start with the Tracker (aka Mr. Nobody), played by Shamier Anderson. His sniper skills and weapons set made him one of the best long-distance snipers in film history. His backpack was akin to Batman’s utility belt. It had everything in it! You’d think it would limit his performance, but it didn’t. His fierce, charismatic dog was his best weapon (and the show-stealer). Providing laughs that came out of nowhere, this dog was one of the most memorable characters in the movie.

Unsurprisingly, Hiroyuki Sanada (as Shimazu Koji) was a tough, deadly character. His sword skills could only be described as superhuman. As the owner of the Osaka Continental, this man had everything from bulletproof sumo bodyguards to a cavalry of archers onsite. They all held up pretty well against a bunch of bulletproof suit-wearing soldiers. But aside from all the badassery, he still displayed his acting chops with a few well-done emotional scenes. This man can act! 

Rina Sawayama (as Akira, the daughter of Shimazu) was also a skilled fighter with her bow. Her melee attacks were impressive and smooth. Although her screen time was short, her portrayal was so compelling that I’d love to see her return in the upcoming spin-off.

Donnie Yen (as Caine, the blind assassin) brought his cunning tenacity to a role we’ve somewhat seen before. I’m reminded of Rogue One where he played the blind warrior Chirrut Îmwe. Caine was clearly one of the most feared characters in the film since the mere mention of his name had the same effect as saying “John Wick”. In fact, in this film, they’re old friends. His skill set was vast… brutal but swift. The most impressive of his weapons were the alarming motion sensors he used to take out a few enemies in the dark. He also gave Wick a good match-up in the film, even while blind. I wonder what he would be like if he wasn’t blind. Call me crazy, but I would not mind seeing a film starring this character… maybe a prequel featuring his history with John Wick. 

Bill Skarsgård (as the Marquis Vincent de Gramont) was a ridiculous villain and my favorite because although he seemed civilized, wealthy, and a mastermind, he was completely nuts! There were moments in this film when I thought, “he has to fear this person,” then he would go off the rails and even shock the other members of the High Table. I loved how the director had these huge elegant background shots to help reflect the character’s ego. It makes me wonder where this guy has been the whole time because, clearly, he is powerful and could’ve posed a threat early on in the franchise. 

In a fat suit, Scott Adkins (as Killa, the head of the German Table) was hilarious! I’m a fan of his movies, so seeing him in this role with the suit and german accent was different. He looked hideous and was a bit cartoonish, but it worked in this film. His character also delivered some of the most vicious blows to John Wick. 

Finally, as we’d expect of John Wick, Keanu Reeves was tough, vengeful, and compelling. Although we have seen Reeves in this role three times before, his character has become more human. He realizes how much his actions have affected everyone else, and he cares! Wick is no longer the seemingly emotionless hitman bent on killing everyone. With the acting of Reeves and the rest of the cast, I walked away feeling I had watched an action movie with substance. Not only that, but I cared about the characters. 

Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4. Photo Credit: Murray Close

Cinematography

John Wick 4 had some beautiful cinematography, especially with light usage. One of the best scenes in the film is when Wick is on the rooftop talking with Shimazu. The scene was set at night. There was a reflection of red lighting coming from structures around him, reflecting the danger Wick had brought into the lives of the people he’d encountered. There was also a fantastic scene with him and Akira talking on the subway. It was dark, with red and green lights reflecting throughout the subway, representing the anger and envy that Akira must’ve felt after evading a barrage of enemies. 

Another great shot I loved was the overhead shot of Wick taking out enemies in different rooms. He took them out creatively, as this sequence of shots featured the dragon’s breath shotgun. This was one of my favorite weapons in the film because it completely engulfed its victims in flames. I thought I was watching a live-action Soldiers of Fortune video game.

What would a John Wick film be without travel and beautiful scenic environments? The film travels from the deserts of Egypt to New York and then to Paris. All the places visited were filled with some supped-up technology, but this film never had a dull scene or location.

Action 

John Wick had to have died 20 thousand times in this film from falling off buildings, getting hit by cars, and falling down steps; he should be wormfood by now! But for the film’s sake, he survived with little bruises. Nonetheless, I was thoroughly entertained by the fight choreography in this film and enjoyed the weapons. 

Final Thoughts

Besides a few corny one-liners, some misplaced dialogue, and the fact that other civilians didn’t react to a large amount of violence surrounding them while Wick is being attacked in the street, John Wick: Chapter 4 is one of the best films in the franchise. It also serves as a swan song for the John Wick character as we know him. If you are looking for an action-packed, beautifully shot film, I’d say catch this movie in theaters this Friday, March 24th. You will get all the bang for your buck and then some!

08May/22

Kamal Angelo Bolden On NBC’s New Hit, ‘The Endgame’

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THE ENDGAME SYNOPSIS: A pulse-pounding high-stakes two-hander about Elena Federova, a recently captured international arms dealer and brilliant criminal mastermind who orchestrates a number of coordinated bank heists throughout New York City for a mysterious purpose. Her antagonist is Val Turner, the principled, relentless, and socially outcast FBI agent who will stop at nothing to foil her ambitious plan. The gripping heist drama reveals how far some people will go for love, justice, and the most valuable commodity in the world: the truth.

While watching the pilot of the new NBC series, The Endgame, all I could think about was the relationship between lead character Val Turner (played by Ryan Michelle Bathé) and her husband, Owen Turner (played by Kamal Angelo Bolden ). The show gives us this loving couple who’d been together for years, and now Owen is divorcing Val. All the while she is having a cerebral chess match with a crime boss in custody and orchestrating multiple bank heists involving hostages all over New York City. Just brutal! Luckily for Taji Mag, we were able to sit down with actor Kamal Angelo Bolden and ask him “what’s up with Owen in The Endgame?”

Dapper Dr. Feel (DDF): How did you get involved with this project?

Kamal Angelo Bolden (KAB): My agent hit me up with the opportunity to audition last summer while I was in Chicago filming a TV show for AMC (61st street) and I read the script. I was lucky enough to get a script. At the time, the Owen character was named Elgin. That’s a little Easter egg for some people. The first time we encounter Owen, he’s issuing his wife divorce papers inside a correctional facility. And I was automatically like, “Wait a minute. What is this? I thought this was going to be, like, network television”.

It’s hard-hitting and not like your typical show. I was like, “this is kind of deep!” because the further I read on, I found out that his relationship with his wife goes back to when they were about five years old. So they’re, like, not just only high school sweethearts, but they’ve known each other their entire lives.

After getting to know more of the story, it was something I had never ever had an opportunity to explore or relate to. You automatically question, “How could Owen divorce his wife (Val) like that, with all that history? So, I was already taken by the script and I was like, “Okay, I’m gonna do my best…if I get this particular callback.”

I got a callback and the dominoes kept falling in place because I got the screen test while I was at home in Peoria, Illinois (my mom’s house). Obviously, I knocked it out of the park. I felt God sent the job my way.

DDF: How would you describe Val and Owen’s relationship to someone who hasn’t seen the show?

KAL: Their love is deeper than words can describe. When you encounter these two individuals who have been together their whole lives, they have a certain amount of trust to make it as far as they have.

So when you see the pilot, there’s a sense of betrayal. But they’re both fighting for something bigger than themselves. Val, played by Ryan Michelle, is fighting to keep their relationship while trying to bring down Elaina Federer over the international arms dealer who’s seized seven banks across New York City. And in the same point, she’s also dealing with some of her personal paths with her father and her mother. And then she’s also trying to figure out why her husband is in prison, you know, ’cause I’m a former FBI agent who [was] accused of stealing money.

So there’s a lot going on there. She’s trying to figure out if I’m on her side or if I’m on the side of the other people who are running these heists. And for me, I can only divulge so much information to her, even as she comes and visits me while I’m in prison.

Right now we are further along into the series and finding out some really, really deep, intricate stuff about Owen and Val’s relationship.

Kamal Angelo Bolden as Owen Turner

DDF: What is going through Owen’s mind while he is going through all this?

KAL: What I think Owen is really experiencing while he’s behind bars is a sense of struggle. There’s like a battle between feeling helpless and protecting his wife from the inside of this correctional facility, but there’s this sense of optimism that it’ll all be worth it in the end. There’s this plan that Owen has.

And so every day is a battle. It’s a struggle inside there. You’ve lost your freedom. You are in there with other criminals, and being an FBI agent in a facility like that, you’re not a welcome, you’re a persona non grata. He has got to watch his back all the time, but at the end of the day, he’s trying to work towards getting his wife.

DDF: I’m trying to get you to think objective now. Who would you choose: team Val or team Elena?

KAL: So we have two strong cerebral women that are competing against each other. You know, it changes each episode in a way. Objectively, when you start off in episodes one and two, I think it’s pretty easy to be team Val.

The thing is whether you’re team Val or team Elena, you know that both women are very strong for different reasons and have very strong motivations for why they go head to head.

So you root for Val because she has the smarts, she has the intuition, and she has the, like, stamina to go after these things with such a passion and ruthlessness.

As for Elena, she is slick, smooth, and she’s pulling off stuff that you’re like “how does she pull it off?” Because she thinks so many moves ahead! They’re both playing tough. So it was kind of like watching two chess masters go against each other.

In the end, I don’t care who wins. This is just an exciting match to watch.

DDF: What’s been your favorite experience while shooting this series?

KAL: Shooting in New York. First of all, there’s that. It’s a different energy to the city of New York, you know? I’m from Illinois. It’s just something about New York that reminded me of Chicago, but just a little bigger and a little bit more energy.

My favorite part is just the people. Everybody from the cast and crew is super dope!

They’re super goofy. We have a lot of fun, but then even our hair and makeup people…they’re hilarious! They keep the day going. And our crew is hilarious. Shooting in New York is super fun and super dope. And I think we make good TV.

DDF: In a previous interview. You said your favorite character you play was Emile Griffin. Would you be interested in turning it into a film?

KAL: Absolutely! I would love to direct it and not have to play the lead. I would be honored. I believe his story 100% deserves, like, a $50 million, a $100 million budget. His story is absolutely phenomenal. He was a great human being, but he was also coming through in a time where his sexuality and his humanity were not only questioned but attacked.

It was easy for people to kind of paint him a certain way because of what he did for a living, which is boxing. And of course what happened to him, tragically, against Benny “The kid” Paret is heartbreaking. It’s a beautiful story, man.

DDF: Say you are doing an action film? Who would be your sidekick, love interest, or villain, and who would direct it?

KAL: That’s a crazy question, man. Who would be my sidekick in this bad boy? You know what? I’ll cast for this movie right now. If I’m filming an action film, I’m going to say I want Don Cheadle to play my pop. Right. Okay. Um, I’m going to have Lisa Nicole Carson play, even though she is not old enough, to play my mother but we can figure something out. As for my sidekick, I would have to go with my boy Aaron J. Who would be my nemesis? Let me see? Dang. You got me on that. Oh, you know what? I might go with either Yaya or LaKeith Stanfield.

That’s a good question, man. That’s a good one.

DDF: Okay. So who’s going to direct this big-budget, phenomenal film?

KAL: I think I might have to go with Ryan Coogler.

Until he shoots his dream action film or biopic film, you can catch Kamal Angelo Bolden as Owen Turner in The Endgame on NBC and Peacock. Hopefully, Owen will redeem himself because where he is in early episodes is not a good look.

01Jan/22

Matrix Resurrections Is Far From Just a Nostalgic Sequel

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Matrix Resurrections
Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros.

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS SYNOPSIS: Return to a world of two realities: one, everyday life; the other, what lies behind it. To find out if his reality is a construct, to truly know himself, Mr. Anderson will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more.

My rule of thumb for movie franchises is do not bother to make movie trilogies because they are unlikely to be successful. In the case of The Matrix Resurrections, it has proven to be one of the exceptions as the fourth installment of The Matrix franchise. I have to admit, I was curious to see how the storyline would develop with one of the most iconic movie heroes, Neo (Keanu Reeves), playing alongside a re-casted Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). If you are a new reader, I must warn you there are spoilers if you haven’t seen the film already. And if you haven’t seen the movie, shame on you because it’s been out since last month on HBO Max! Just kidding! Here at Taji Mag, expect my honest review of the film, including a few things I didn’t like.  

Matrix Resurrections
Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and Bugs (Jessica Henwick) Photos Courtsey of Warner Bros.

The Matrix Resurrections * Spoiler Alert *

Enter the Matrix

The film’s introduction starts off with the opening scene of The [first] Matrix movie, except the audience looks on from the perceptive of a new character, Bugs (Jessica Henwick), who is communicating with Sequoia, the operator of the Mnemosyne. The introduction of Morpheus as one of the agents during the first act was a surprise but is a nice setup for his storyline. He eventually fights Bugs before taking the blue pill, transforming into full Morpheus, a modal program based on the original Morpheus. 

The team of Neo, Bugs, Morpheus, and other freedom fighters set Trinity free from The Matrix with the help of an adult Sati (from Matrix: Revolutions). Once freed, Trinity discovers she has powers similar to Neo’s and together they go on to fight through the Matrix with the help of Smith: a collaboration I’m confident in saying no one expected.

From there, the two break Neo out of the Matrix where he exists as a video game developer named Thomas Anderson and is working on a game called The Matrix which is based on the real Matrix story. Neo’s partner/CEO, who is actually Agent Smith, also begins to display signs of deja vu while slowly disconnecting from the Matrix. Trinity (Carrie Anne-Moss) is now Tiffany, a love interest that Neo admires from afar because she is unavailable, married with two kids. Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) makes an appearance as the leader of the new Zion. Keep in mind it’s been 60 years since the war with the machines from the last installment, so she’s aged a bit. 

Lights, Camera, Action! 

What can I say about the action? It is spectacular! In the first installment, The Matrix exposed audiences to new graphics and fighting styles. Resurrections built on the franchise’s strong foundation of action. I personally enjoyed the fight scene in the old buildings where Neo and his new team fight off The Frenchman’s henchmen and Agent Smith (a recast version of the Agent Smith we know from previous films). Am I the only one who found it funny how the Frenchman resembled a dried-up dirty gym sock on a tirade about how Neo’s previous actions led to his decline into poverty?

The graphics were excellent! The updated form of transportation into and out of The Matrix through mirrors definitely looked smoother than using payphones as we saw in previous films. (Wait! What’s a payphone??)

The flashbacks in the film were also edited well and didn’t make me feel like I was force-fed nostalgia like other films have done in the past. These flashbacks were vital for showing the differences between the original Matrix and where we are today while Neo and other characters continue to discover their true identities. 

Matrix Resurrections
Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie Anne-Moss) Photos Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Matrix Resurrections In Character

I was disappointed Lawrence Fishburne did not return as Morpheus because I’m truly a fan of Lawrence. Yes, ever since Cornbread Earl and Me. However, Yaya is such a talented actor that his character’s portrayal felt organic. The scenes where the new Morpheus and Neo recreate their sparring scene from the first film were very cool. Plus, we get to see some of Neo’s new powers.  

Reeves and Moss as Neo and Trinity continue to have on-screen chemistry. Their evolution into a super-powered couple was a great plot twist. The montage of Neo in his other life as Thomas Anderson is hilarious as we get a sense that Warner Bros is poking fun at itself. The video game company wants another sequel with or without its creator and the suggestions pitched during his meetings are resemblant to real life. 

I believe Smith could’ve been a whole new character since Agent Smith just doesn’t feel the same without Hugo Weaving. It was still nice to see Weaving in the flashbacks because the development of the Smith character has always felt significant to me. 

The Analyst was the perfect villain, primarily due to Neil Patrick Harris’ excellent portrayal. He was annoyingly arrogant…as a good action movie antagonist should be! 

Bugs (Jessica Henwick) had incredible charisma and was the strength of the Freedom Fighters. It was fitting to have such a strong-willed character lead the warriors of new Zion. She was an excellent addition to the story and carried her weight much as she did in the Iron Fist series.

The Power of Love

In the third act of the film, there’s a scene where the mind-controlled civilians hold Neo and Trinity apart as they reach for each other. In my mind, for some reason, I heard the song “Power of Love” by Luther Vandross playing. Of course, we discover that the love between Neo and Trinity is stronger than the Matrix, and (as we already assumed) they are indeed destined to be together. 

To summarize, Resurrections is excellent entertainment that will please audiences everywhere. I’m very interested to see where this franchise goes, but I would also be ok if it ended right here. So, log into HBO Max and watch it today!