DarthSkywalker
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But is it Raid quality?
Charlize Theron teaming with John Wick Directors for 'Atomic Blonde'
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kguillou
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I dont think any movie will ever measure up to the Raid, especially Raid 2. Thats just way too high and exceptional a bar.
I have little doubt I'm not going to love this. I'm a martial arts/action film lover (good and bad). But I have to admit from some reviews i've read i feel a slight bit concerned. Some reviews have indicated that the movie's all about the final action scene that supposedly goes on for 5 minutes in one take and is allegedly jaw dropping, but it seems to imply that the rest of the movie drags to get to that point.
Also, the reviews seem to say that Theron's character has no personality, and is just a stone faced machine. Which, btw, I wouldnt have a problem with if it was like John Wick, a guy who doesnt say or emote much but you're invested in him because of his story and the "wounded dog" vulnerable screen prescence Keanu gives him. I'm worried Theron wont have that same likeability and that could make the film drag for me if I'm not invested in the main character.
But we'll see
I have little doubt I'm not going to love this. I'm a martial arts/action film lover (good and bad). But I have to admit from some reviews i've read i feel a slight bit concerned. Some reviews have indicated that the movie's all about the final action scene that supposedly goes on for 5 minutes in one take and is allegedly jaw dropping, but it seems to imply that the rest of the movie drags to get to that point.
Also, the reviews seem to say that Theron's character has no personality, and is just a stone faced machine. Which, btw, I wouldnt have a problem with if it was like John Wick, a guy who doesnt say or emote much but you're invested in him because of his story and the "wounded dog" vulnerable screen prescence Keanu gives him. I'm worried Theron wont have that same likeability and that could make the film drag for me if I'm not invested in the main character.
But we'll see
DarthSkywalker
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The trailer seems to hint heavily at her "having feelings".
Black Narcissus
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Incarnadine
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dark_b
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Rowsdower!
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Well, hello Charlize. Hot damn.
jaymes_e06
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It's Emma Motha effin' Frost in the flesh right here.
Loki882
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It's probably one of those "she does have feelings, but she's been doing this stressful morally-ambiguous job for so long that she's learned to bury them underneath a layer of coldness and cynicism" type of deals.
AVEITWITHJAMON
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Charlize looks damn good in white
Sawyer
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Charlize in white, this brings back memories of her in 2 Days in the Valley.
2/10 would not bang
Asr
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I caught an advance screening of the movie last night. Got into it a bit late, so I missed like the first 5 minutes.
I wanted to like this movie but ended up feeling that it was just ok. Maybe 6/10 for me. Granted, the action and fights were solid, and there was that one long-take fight scene which was just brutal (and went on long enough without any cuts that I was honestly amazed more by the lack of cuts than the action itself). But there wasn't anything new or inventive about the action scenes, and they came across as uninspired.
Don't get me wrong here, I really liked the first John Wick, and Keanu was awesome in his role. But I thought JW2 was a slightly lesser movie than the first, and Atomic Blonde felt a cut below JW2. The fight choreography wasn't very good, and there were times when it was hard to tell what was going on, in contrast to JW1 where it was always easy to tell.
Also, John Wick as a character felt more fleshed out in those movies than Charlize's Lorraine in this movie. Keanu definitely had more personality as John Wick than Charlize did as Agent Lorraine. You know that line in JW where Keanu says "People keep asking if I'm back, yeah I'm thinking I'm back!" That sort of meta self-awareness was sorely lacking in Atomic Blonde.
Also it was downright hilarious how inconsistent Charlize's British accent was, and it wasn't obvious if that was done on purpose or not.
The acting was solid all-around, and serviceable for the type of movie it was, but no one was particularly awesome. I'm sure some will like James McAvoy's performance, but for me it was nothing special. For some reason it reminded me of Paul Giamatti's character in Shoot Em Up, but without any of Paul Giamatti's charisma and cheesiness where he singlehandedly made that movie so entertaining.
The worst thing about the movie by far was the script, which was overwrought to the point where not much made sense and someone went to the effort to make it seem more complex than it actually was. It was like one of those movies where the scriptwriters try to write a plot that they think is clever and intelligently twisty, but in actuality comes across like a hack job and not genuinely clever in any way. Overall a classic case of scriptwriters shooting way above their talent level.
The best thing about the movie might be the soundtrack. Plenty of 80s hits for anyone who grew up in the 80s to feel nostalgic, as I certainly did.
And anyone going for the lesbian sex scene between Charlize and Sofia will be disappointed. It didn't really show much and was kinda short as well.
The said action scene was good, I'll give it that, but I didn't think it was especially amazing. The only thing really notable about it was how brutal it was.
The movie definitely dragged, I feel like at least 10-15 minutes could have been cut from it without losing much, if anything. And it was really noticeable how much personality Charlize's character lacked, especially if you've seen the John Wick movies. Charlize is a beautiful woman, and great to look at on screen, but might as well have been replaced by a robot. Her character does show humanity, but not any personality.
I wanted to like this movie but ended up feeling that it was just ok. Maybe 6/10 for me. Granted, the action and fights were solid, and there was that one long-take fight scene which was just brutal (and went on long enough without any cuts that I was honestly amazed more by the lack of cuts than the action itself). But there wasn't anything new or inventive about the action scenes, and they came across as uninspired.
Don't get me wrong here, I really liked the first John Wick, and Keanu was awesome in his role. But I thought JW2 was a slightly lesser movie than the first, and Atomic Blonde felt a cut below JW2. The fight choreography wasn't very good, and there were times when it was hard to tell what was going on, in contrast to JW1 where it was always easy to tell.
Also, John Wick as a character felt more fleshed out in those movies than Charlize's Lorraine in this movie. Keanu definitely had more personality as John Wick than Charlize did as Agent Lorraine. You know that line in JW where Keanu says "People keep asking if I'm back, yeah I'm thinking I'm back!" That sort of meta self-awareness was sorely lacking in Atomic Blonde.
Also it was downright hilarious how inconsistent Charlize's British accent was, and it wasn't obvious if that was done on purpose or not.
The acting was solid all-around, and serviceable for the type of movie it was, but no one was particularly awesome. I'm sure some will like James McAvoy's performance, but for me it was nothing special. For some reason it reminded me of Paul Giamatti's character in Shoot Em Up, but without any of Paul Giamatti's charisma and cheesiness where he singlehandedly made that movie so entertaining.
The worst thing about the movie by far was the script, which was overwrought to the point where not much made sense and someone went to the effort to make it seem more complex than it actually was. It was like one of those movies where the scriptwriters try to write a plot that they think is clever and intelligently twisty, but in actuality comes across like a hack job and not genuinely clever in any way. Overall a classic case of scriptwriters shooting way above their talent level.
The best thing about the movie might be the soundtrack. Plenty of 80s hits for anyone who grew up in the 80s to feel nostalgic, as I certainly did.
And anyone going for the lesbian sex scene between Charlize and Sofia will be disappointed. It didn't really show much and was kinda short as well.
The said action scene was good, I'll give it that, but I didn't think it was especially amazing. The only thing really notable about it was how brutal it was.
The movie definitely dragged, I feel like at least 10-15 minutes could have been cut from it without losing much, if anything. And it was really noticeable how much personality Charlize's character lacked, especially if you've seen the John Wick movies. Charlize is a beautiful woman, and great to look at on screen, but might as well have been replaced by a robot. Her character does show humanity, but not any personality.
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kguillou
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Chris Stuckmann gave it a C+, he pretty much echoed what I'm hearing: fantastic action sequences and stylistic cinematography but not much character, Charlize's character has no depth and your not invested in her. He also says the movie's told in a very weird way that takes the tension out.
Oh well, I think I'll still have a great time with this as long as the action delivers and it hard hitting.
Oh well, I think I'll still have a great time with this as long as the action delivers and it hard hitting.
StormC
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A coherent story isn't much to ask for in a summer blockbuster. At least, I don't like the "turn my brain off and enjoy it" mentality for movies. A movie like GOTG2 or Wonder Woman is perfectly coherent.
LoganGambit87
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Rjones1325
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Can we have Charlize Theron be the poster child for badass women everywhere? Next womens march I will gladly walk out with a poster with a collage of Charlize Theron as*various characters*like Furiousa, Æon Flux, Queen Ravenna, and now Lorraine Broughton.
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://rendyreviews.com/movies//atomic-blonde-review
FULL REVIEW HERE: https://rendyreviews.com/movies//atomic-blonde-review
DarthSkywalker
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I liked the movie. The action is great, as is McAvoy. But this movie is way too style over substance. The story is really thin, as are the characters other then McAvoy, and that include's Theron's. There are scenes so clearly looking for that "cool" moment with the action and music syncing. It is like they are going for the club scene from the first John Wick all the time, and it doesn't work the majority of the time. It also spends too much time with pointless arthouse transitions that simply extend the runtime.
It is basically what I feared John Wick would be. It lacks the story, the world and Keanu's magnetism in the role. Theron is good, but she is missing that underlying tiger. I don't quite buy her as the well worn killer she is suppose to be here. I don't know if that is her or the material, because the big one take action scene, she delivers beautifully.
It is basically what I feared John Wick would be. It lacks the story, the world and Keanu's magnetism in the role. Theron is good, but she is missing that underlying tiger. I don't quite buy her as the well worn killer she is suppose to be here. I don't know if that is her or the material, because the big one take action scene, she delivers beautifully.
