The fact that the phrase ˜the Taken franchise' is a truth in the film industry is possibly the most baffling thing in recent movie memory. The first Taken film was a standalone story; an ex-secret agent's daughter gets kidnapped by a ring of Albanian human traffickers, and so he goes on a crusade to shoot some bad guys, torture some bad guys, and pretty much murder half of … [Read more...]
Review: Lucy (2014)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00LDYOXHS][/pullquote] Luc Besson has had a difficult few years. His most recent film as director, The Family, was a critical and commercial dud, while the Taken franchise on which he's a producer saw considerable diminished returns with its second instalment. … [Read more...]
Review: The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2010, France)
The character Adèle Blanc-Sec first appeared in a series of comic books in the 1970s, written and illustrated by the French artist Jacques Tardi. In 2010, she was brought to the screen in The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, written and directed by Luc Besson, the man responsible for Nikita, Leon and The Fifth Element. … [Read more...]
Review: Colombiana (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0064OUFKQ][/pullquote] Luc Besson is probably most famous for Leon, starring Oscar-winner Natalie Portman in her first major role. His films tend to have certain similarities, there's always a strong female character, the dialogue is cliched and unrealistic, the … [Read more...]