Immortals (2011)

We have the Gods & the humans on one side and the Titans & King Hyperion's Heraklion army on the other side. The Gods and The Titans are the immortals while the humans and Hyperion's army are mortals who obviously bleed.

The Gods live in the clouds and intervene only when the humans are really under trouble. The Titans were imprisoned by the Gods beneath Mount Tartarus. The Titans are later unleashed by Hyperion who is after the Epirus bow which will give him immense power.

Theseus is the chosen one to lead the humans. He is a mere peasant. Phaedra is the virgin oracle who gets visions of the future and she guides Theseus in his fight against the Heraklions. These two have intercourse and later have a son named Acamas.

The film ends with Hyperion's army being vanquished by the Gods and Theseus being given a place among the Gods for his sacrifice while killing King Hyperion. Probably a sequel might follow

The film has some glorious VFX, stunning set design and a surreal feel all over, much like Tarsem Singh's earlier '300'. In the action sequences, blood is splashed all over the screen and violence is both stylized and glorified.

The way The Gods have been portrayed is a style delight in itself. The action scenes involving The Gods and The Titans take the cake.

Freida Pinto is uber sexy and has such seducing eyes. Her one naked scene (supposedly a 'butt' double) where she reveals it all, is a glorious treat for all booty lovers. Henry Cavill has a sculpted body and 'Greek God' looks. Apt casting. Mickey Rourke as King Hyperion is menacing and the way he manipulates and terrorizes his army is awesome.

There are some inspiring war dialogs and in general the dialogs have a dramatic appeal.

VERDICT: A true visual delight. Much better than expected.  

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Whats it about:
The film starts off with Tony Stark reviving the Stark expo, to showcase the best inventions from around the world. He is also having trouble with the element palladium that is keeping him alive. His blood toxicity is too high. The Govt is also against the Iron Man suits saying that many duplicates can come up in other countries, which can post a grave danger. But Stark shrugs it off.
    Then comes Ivan Vanko with his dangerous technology based on drones and he poses a major threat to Stark. Vanko is on a personal vendetta mission. Hammer technologies' boss and Stark's business rival, Justin Hammer recruits Vanko to build something that can put Stark in the shade.
    In the meanwhile, Stark and his buddy Colonel Rhodes have a minor disagreement regarding the Iron Man suits and Rhodes escapes with one of the suits.
    Finally Colonel Fury and his SHIELD team help Stark counter the palladium problem. Stark sees one of his father's old videos and gets an idea for the future. He invents a new element to counter his troubles and succeeds big time.
   In the end Vanko's army of drones take on the Iron Man and his side kick, Colonel Rhodes in another Iron Man suit, and are wiped off totally. Hammer is also put in prison for putting the country in danger with his involvement with Vanko.
    The movie ends with Pepper Potts and Stark smooching and also a premise for another sequel is shown

                                                                         
Hits

• As usual Robert Downey Jr. is a style icon. This role is another cakewalk for the charming hero
• The technology, the visual effects and the production values are out of the world, as usual. The artificial intelligence at Stark's disposal is unbelievably advanced and awe inspiring. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson are the 2 leading ladies. Both have contrasting roles and are a pleasing sight to the eyes. Gwyneth is her cute self and Scarlett gets to show some action moves too. 
• Don Cheadle is a replacement in this version, as Colonel Rhodes. He has a couple of good lines
• Mickey Rourke as the brooding and macho Vanko is imposing as usual. 
• Sam Rockwell as Hammer excels in some scenes. But the scope of his role is limited. 

Misses

• Too much slam bang and not much finesse, particularly in the last 30 mins. Just a showcase of some mind blowing visual effects. 

VERDICT

Another movie that boasts of the best technical values, a huge star cast and great production standards. Watchable once. 

The Expendables (2010)

What’s it about:

A team of 5 mercenaries who call themselves “Expendable” are hired by people to free hostages, eliminate targets etc etc. Each of these 5 men have their own specialties. The common link being they are all extremely macho and proud men.

          The CIA hires them to go to an island called Vilena and eliminate General Garza and James Munroe, 2 men who control a big drug empire in the island. 2 of the expendables, Barney and Christmas go there and survey the place, return and decide that it is too dangerous to take up this mission. But a young woman Sandra, the daughter of Garza stays in Barney’s mind. So, the Expendables go back to the island, finish off all their innumerable enemy targets, ensure Sandra’s safety, come back unscathed and sign off in style with their bikes.

                                                                         

Hits

• Absolutely terrific action from a male audience’s point of view. Fast paced entertainment.
• Among all the expendables, it is Jason Statham who makes the best mark. His stunts from atop the plane are mind-blowing. His knife wielding style is awesome too. Jet Li has his funny moments too.
• Mickey Rourke has the best among the many cameos

Misses

• Sadly an over weight Arnold makes a “blink you miss” kinda cameo appearance. Bruce Willis also makes up the cameo numbers.

• All this slam bang gunning might not appeal to all of them.

VERDICT

Sylvester Stallone says in the end that “I promise I’ll always be around”. I would love to see my hero hang around forever even if he is obviously old and jaded. Nice to see such pure adrenaline pumping stuff.  

Sin City (2005)

Whats it about:
This film is a graphical depiction of Frank Miller's comic series of the same name. There are 4 tracks that are shown. But the primary focus is on three episodes
      The film opens and ends with The Salesman stalking and killing 2 separate women.
      In the second track which continues at a later time in the movie too, ageing police officer John Hartigan who is also having a medical condition, is in pursuit of a psycho killer Roark Junior who rapes and murders young girls. Hartigan is on a mission to save Nancy a 11 yr old girl. In the ensuing shoot out, Hartigan shoots Junior's ears, hand and genitals. Hartigan is also shot
      8 yrs later, after serving a jail sentence and recovering in the hospital, Hartigan is again out to nab Junior who has become an ugly looking Yellow Bastard due to many medications to grow his organs back. Nancy writes to Hartigan every week during his jail sentence and Nancy is really grateful to Hartigan for saving her life and is also in love with him. Nancy is now an erotic dancer. Haritgan eliminates Roark junior and also sacrifices his life knowing very well that Junior's father Senator Roark wouldn't spare him.
     In the third track of the film the macho, animal-like Marv is out to nab the killer who eliminated Goldie, his one night sweetheart. He comes to know that a young silent stalker Kevin and the cardinal Patrick Roark are behind all these killings. Marv avenges them brutally for Goldie and her twin sister Wendy's sake. But Marv is captured and is made to confess that he is behind the murders of the girls too and is electrocuted.
    In the fourth track, Dwight is after Jackie Boy, his girl friend Shellie's abusive ex boyfriend, for harassing her. After a terrific chase, he kills Jackie not knowing that Jackie is a cop.  The prostitutes of old town are also involved in this murder of the 'hero cop'. To prevent the mob and the cops from waging a war in Old Town due to this murder, Dwight and the prostitutes lead by Gail and the superhero like Miho, kill all the Irish mercenaries and salvage themselves.
      All the 4 tracks are interconnected.

                                                                            
Hits

• The making style is terrific. Such surreal visuals thanks to the film's unique color processing, which rendered most of the film in black and white but retained or added coloring for select objects. 
• Unique depiction of the violence and all the blood and gore thanks to the unique color processing.
• Some terrific macho stuff from the old warhorses Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis and Clive Owen, as Marv, Hartigan and Dwight respectively.
• Seriously sexy babes. Such dangerous exposure of skin. Just WOW. Particularly Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson and many many more. 
• A real celebration of revenge. We do get the kick seeing all the glorious retribution being panned out on screen by some really macho characters.

Misses

• The track involving The Salesman (Josh Hartnett) though having a small connection with the rest of the tracks, isn't exciting and thrilling as the other 3 tracks. 

VERDICT

The most stylish way to show normal revenge stories. Surreal visuals make it a real dream like experience even while witnessing so much blood and gore.