Ant Man

Spanks – 5

Director – Peyton Reed

Writers – Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish and Adam McKay & Paul Rudd

Starring – Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson & Michael Peña

Release Date – 17 July 2015

MPAA Rating – PG-13

Run time – 117 Minutes

I was a little concerned with Ant Man because of the behind the scenes stuff that went on. Not long before production was set to begin the writer and director left because of creative differences. In the end the film came out great. They didn’t change the script to much, and it still had the feel of an Edger Wright movie. My only complaint is that it started a little slow, but after the first 20 minutes or so the pace speed up and turned into a great film.

Ant Man tells the story of Scott Lang. He is a former engineer who was arrested for burglary. Upon release from prison he has a hard time getting a job and is recruited by scientist Hank Pym to “break into a place and steal some stuff.” Dr. Pym is the creator of the Ant Man suit and teaches Scott how to use it so he can save the world.

The movie is very funny. I think it is the funniest of the Marvel movies to date. They also used macro photography for the scenes when Scott is in shrunken form which gave the film a different look then just using CGI. Paul Rudd was a perfect choice for the title roll, even though you wouldn’t look at him as a superhero, which is probably why it works. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next for Ant Man and where that will happen in future Marvel movies.

Haywire

Spanks – 5

Director – Steven Soderbergh

Writer – Lem Dobbs

Starring – Gina Carano, Michael Angarano, Channing Tatum ,Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton and Ewan McGregor

Release Date – 20 January 2012

MPAA Rating – PG

Runtime – 93 Minutes

Haywire is an ass-kicking good time.  The film follows Mallory Kane, an ex-marine who now works with a private firm that does special missions for the United States Government. After a successful mission to save a kidnapped journalist she is asked to take an easy assignment in Dublin.  During this mission she realizes she is being set up.  Mallory doesn’t like this, and sets out to find out by who and why and to get revenge and clear her name.

The film is very raw.  The action sequences are not filmed in the standard Hollywood style.  They is  very little camera movement or cuts.  No music either, so you hear every punch, kick, and sound when Mallory is fighting. The fighting is real, with no crazy wire work stunts.  Gina Carano who plays Mallory is a retired mixed martial arts fighter and this her first starring role in a motion picture.

The writing keeps you guessing who is involved in the conspiracy and why.  I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.  It is a movie that you want to see again when the credits start, now that you know the outcome of the movie and you want to see what you missed.