A shining star in the ever expanding genre of captor vs captee
353946
Little Doll isn't for those that cannot do dark. This book is dark, gritty and deals with subject matter that may not be suitable for some.
The story focuses on Laila, a 25 yr old on the cusp of a budding career when her brother disappears. Hell bent on finding him, she got more than she bargained for when she accidentally ran in to those out for vengeance. Laila's life would never be the same again. She's a feisty one that refuses to give up or give in.
Enter Aiden. I wasn't quite sure about him throughout the book. I loved him, hated him, trusted him, was leery of him..Melissa did an excellent job at channeling the emotions Laila felt about him as well. You get a real feeling of urgency as the story progresses. You just know something is coming and it isn't good.
There is a lot of story packed in these pages and you will not be disappointed. It does end in a cliff hanger but the second book is also released so no worries about waiting for the conclusion. A solid 4.5 stars from me. Loved it
4626698
This is a superb film in virtually every aspect.  The script is outstanding: the dialogue shines, the plot is always mesmerizing, and the final scene is just plain excellent.  Even Brian Singer's average direction cannot hamper this professional effort by all concerned.  The cast is a perfect ensemble.  Benicio del Toro is extremely memorable as a mumbling thug, Gabriel Byrne is quiet and intense, Stephen Baldwin is a cannon ready to go off, Kevin Pollock is an egocentric criminal who only maintains alliances for his own selfish gains, and Kevin Spacey sparkles as a crippled confidence man.  Kevin Spacey had perhaps the best year of his career (thus far) in 1995 with the release of this film, the psychotic thriller "Seven," and the sadly overlooked "Swimming with Sharks."  He won the first of his 2 Oscars for "The Usual Suspects," the second coming for "American Beauty" in 1999.  This film also won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.  This is a dazzling piece of updated film noir for the post-"Pulp Fiction" era.  This is easily one of the more memorable films from the '90s.  Amazing!
1017150
This is a great movie with wonderful performances by a handsome Cary Grant and a stunning Grace Kelly, who plays a witty young American (she's not playing!). That Kelly thinks of settling in Monaco in the film and later became the real Princess of Monaco makes one suspect that she wanted to make permanent the sort of life she acted in this brilliant psychological thriller. The theme of thievery is subtly parsed by hitchcock, who alludes to its erotic overtones and who, in general, is operating, like Shakespeare on a double level: you can enjoy it on the level of action and drama, and yet there is much more than meets the eye as jewels, money, possession, playing hard (and easy) to get, and the thrill of the chase are all mirrored in the register of romance. The cut to fireworks over the water outside the window as Grace wears fake diamonds but makes real love may have laid the way for the greatest cinematic cliche, but here it is far more than that: the shimmering water, shining eyes, crackling fireworks, and sparkling theme of beauty's temporary nature contrasted with desire's undying love come together perfectly. Like Shakespeare, Hitchcock's works seem infinitely rich and nuanced. A great, subtly deep romance from the master (watch for him on the bus early on) of film.
1889840
This is Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, The Professional) doing what he does best  taking a mash-up of film genres and seamlessly blending them into 128 minutes of pure enjoyment!! Luc Besson's directing is top notch, Scarlett Johannson acting is as always captivating (ALWAYS a plus to have a strong leading woman), and the special effects of George Lucas' former company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM  - Star Wars movies) are the best in the industry. What we get is a film that defies classification as it takes cues from so many genres including action, science fiction, drama, international crime thriller, super hero flick, Hong Kong streetfighter, police procedural, NPR Ted science segment, philosophy book, and a Luc Besson' movie (yes he deserves his own category!) to answer one thought provoking question  what would happen if I could use 100% of my brain's capacity. Due to a drug deal gone wrong we see Lucy being forced to become a drug mule carrying a new experimental drug formulation. After an Asian crime syndicate thug decides to cop a feel for the second time to a bound and bonded Lucy, she receives a powerful kick that breaches the contents of the experimental drug packets that have been hidden inside her, forever altering her. From there, the movie kicks into high gear as she escapes from the drug all the while experiencing changes to her mind and physical abilities as the drug gradually increases her brain's capacity. You really become engaged with Lucy on her quest to understand these changes and Morgan Freeman (portraying a leading scientist) plays a critical role in understanding the science and philosophy of it all. Of course no Besson story can be complete without an ample supply of angry drugs lords hunting their quarry, excellent car chase scenes, extremely creative hand to hand combat (with super hero telekinesis), superb over the top gun battles, multiple international law enforcement agencies, and of course the always strong leading actress! To that end, I have always enjoyed Besson's portrayal of strong, classy, well developed women and NOT damsels in distress for his leading roles. And in watching Besson's movies it always strikes me to the close similarities in terms of stories, visuals, and character development as you see reminiscent of French graphic novel titles from Humanoids who published such works as Alejandro Jordorowsky's The Incal, The Metabarons, Madwoman of the Sacred Heart, and Enki Bilal's The Nikopol Trilogy. All in all buy this movie!!!
3938768
A great art film by an incredible director, Red Knot is a wonderfully shot film.
The acting is true to character, with genius charisma between the main protagonists.
If the title and overall flow of the film aren't easily palatable, may I suggest going here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_knot

Once you've grasped a general understanding of the nomenclature behind the working title, it's easy to spot the overt similarity and subtle parallels behind the name.  I won't spoil it for you, but the film will definitely have a different perspective.  Happy viewing!
2557531
Dwayne Johnson certainly is improving his acting skills. Plenty on believable action kept us glued to the screen
103161
Peter Bowman was sent to South America to engineer a dam for the local people to stop the flooding, one day he was taken while driving to work, now its up to his wife Alice and a K&R (kidnapped and ransom) agent Terry Thorne to try to get Peter back home in one piece.
Although the whole ransom thing has been done before, but nothing like this, being kidnapped in a foreign land where help is scarce, now that is a scary thought.  I'm not a fan of Meg Ryan, but her portrayal of the helpless Alice Bowman was wonderful, every emotion and every gesture brought out her character's loss, and a hope that her husband will be coming home.  David Morse demonstrated his versatility in the various roles he's taken, and in Proof of Life Morse gave a solid performance, trapped and held in the mountains, with no hope of rescue.  Russell Crowe plays the confident and resourceful Terry Thorne, a great follow up to his excellent work in Gladiator, Crowe is still going strong.
Beautiful landscapes and a fitting soundtrack, the story drags on a bit but finishes with a bang.  I definitely recommend you to catch it in the theater.
2849061
Leave it to Michael Mann to create classy, intelligent thrillers. At a time when most thrillers forsake characterization and genuine suspense for car chases and repetitive gun fights, it's refreshing to see directors like Mann take the action genre seriously as an art form. Mann has given us the terrific "Heat" and "The Insider"; now joining that pair is "Collateral", which ranks as Mann's third major contribution to the thriller genre.

Set between 6:30pm to 5:40am in Los Angeles, "Collateral" stars a mesmerizing Tom Cruise as Vincent, a contract killer hired by a drug cartel to eliminate four witnesses and a prosecutor before the break of dawn. To get the job done, Vincent forces an innocent cab driver named Max (Jamie Foxx in a masterfully subtle performance) to chauffeur him on his murder spree.

It is a stroke of genius for Mann to cast Cruise in a villainous role. Even in his best movies, there was always something bothersome about Cruise's arrogance, his amoral mechanism that can be seen in "Top Gun" and "A Few Good Men". Here, Mann skillfully uses Cruise's trademark cockiness to create a chilling character. As Vincent, Cruise reveals the nihilism and coldness in his killer, one who belittles others (particularly Foxx) for their staid but decent existence, mocking them for their inability translate their eloquence into a better life. Cruise's interplay with Foxx is the heart of the picture, especially when Cruise indirectly forces Foxx to stop lying to himself, to stop pretending to think that his temporary job is guaranteed to lead him to a future in limousine service. Foxx deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor nomination as Vincent's foil, especially in the pivotal car speeding scene where he transforms from a likable but impotent cab driver to a strong hero who rebels against Vincent's philosophies.

The real star in "Collateral" is Los Angeles. Rarely has Los Angeles looked more decadent than in "Collateral". The helicopter shots of the roaming freeways, the skylines, the barren streets akin to a ghost town, all present Los Angeles as a city losing its way as a civilized metropolis. The scene where three coyotes cross the streets says it all: beneath the veneer of Los Angeles' civilized society lies a cold savagery that lurks behind every corner.

And for fans hungry for some action, there are two excellent action sequences that'll whet your appetite. The first is the shootout in the nightclub where the FBI is hot on Vincent and Max's trails. The second is the climatic chase scene where Max has to save the last target from Vincent. Both action scenes are edited to achieve a relentless pace and propel narrative momentum. One minor quibble would be that Max's attempt to save the last target would be best reserved for another movie but it at least provides a chance for Max to act like a hero after being forced to become Vincent's chauffeur for the first 80-90 minutes of the movie.

Michael Mann's "Collateral" is a beautifully crafted, terrifically acted and immensely entertaining thriller that stimulates the mind and rattles the emotion. Like "Heat", this movie rewards upon multiple viewings so anyone that missed the meanings can watch it again to find them. "Collateral" is a triumph and one of the best movies of 2004.

Strongest recommendation.
3961446
Devi (Salman Khan) is an adrenaline junkie and does every thing he can to get a kick.  After breaking up with his girlfriend (Jacqueline Fernandez), he becomes a daring thief known as "Devil" who risks it all on high profile escapades.  Randeep Hooda plays the police officer who has made it his personal goal to catch Devil.

There are times when this action packed film is a bit confusing (keeping up with locations, for instance) but that doesn't detract from the fun.  Khan is wonderful in his role, as is Hooda. Though Fernandez is not as strong an actor as the other two, she acts naturally and believably.  The songs (with the exception of "Hangover") and choreography are average, but the filmography is grand.  Overall, this thriller will keep the viewer thoroughly entertained.
924029
Ask your standard movie fan which Alistair MacLean adaptation they prefer and the vote would most likely be split between THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and WHERE EAGLES DARE, but, whilst I absolutely love the latter of those two, my personal favorite has been for many years WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL - a spy thriller penned by MacLean in the late 1960s and filmed with Anthony Hopkins in the lead role in 1971.
I saw the movie many years ago on British television and always longed to see it once more. My prayers were answered when it was finally announced for DVD release in Region 2. Armed with a new region-free DVD player, I ordered it and anxiously checked my Maryland mailbox every day until its arrival. UPDATE - Kino Lorber have announced this movie is to be released in the US in 2016 on both DVD and Blu-ray - I am over the moon with excitement.
Watching it once again after all these years my passion for this action adventure is unfailing, I consider this to be the best spy thriller that [Bond producers] EON Productions NEVER made.
With a simply superb cast that sees Hopkins joined by Robert Morley (as a rather snobbish boss) and Jack Hawkins (as a suspicious millionaire) this movie is simply brimming over with "Bondian" elements that include beautiful girls (bad and good), thrilling action, underwater battles, building suspense and a roaring soundtrack. It's the most entertaining couple of hours of spy thriller action that I have had the opportunity to enjoy in almost two decades.
Hopkins plays secret agent Calvert who travels to the coast of Scotland disguised as a marine biologist to investigate the disappearance of bullion ships in the Irish Sea. There he encounters a colorful array of characters, both friend and foe before a climactic battle in an underground boathouse.
The Region 2 DVD sports a fine transfer with only the theatrical trailer as a special feature. Still it is very entertaining and well worth putting your hard earned cash for. I simply cannot recommend it strongly enough.
1412616
Surrogates - Touchstone

Bruce Willis has been lucky to have continuous career in Hollywood, with as many ups and downs as you can imagine, and it is in the action movies that he has been able to prevail. Whether or not that's good for him, you need to ask the star. The very exciting "Surrogates" should be another triumph for Willis. It is smart and engrossing entertainment, two of the reasons of why I go to the movies for.

The story takes place in the city of San Diego, California, somewhere in the present or the near future. Science has evolved to a point in which robots are now a reality, and are part of society. They are referred to as surrogates, and they are the ones doing all the work, which keeps the country going. The owners, meanwhile, stay home, connected to machines that monitor and record their surrogates every move. Of course, there are people against this way of life. They live in areas known as Human Coalition Reservations, in which surrogates are not accepted.

Bruce Willis is FBI agent Tom Greer, who partners with beautiful Peters (Rhada Mitchell). Both of them stay home, while their surrogates do the actual police work. One day, the surrogate of the son of Canter (James Cromwell), the man who created the surrogate system, is assassinated. However, by killing the surrogate, its actual owner (Canter's son) also dies. This is unusual, and Greer and Peters - their surrogates, that is - are sent to investigate. Unfortunately, while trying to rescue the weapon that is capable of killing both owners and surrogates from the criminals, Greer's surrogate is destroyed. This forces the real Tom Greer to get out of his apartment to solve the crime, an endeavor that may change the course of mankind.

Director Jonathan Mostow did a superb job in recreating the surrogate society, aided by the fantastic futurist cinematography of Oliver Wood. Willis is remarkable in acting both as a human and as a surrogate, although at the beginning, when you see Willis for first time, you can't help but ask yourself, "Why the hell is Willis using that silly hairstyle?" It turns out that we are looking at the surrogate, which makes perfect sense. The surrogates are much better looking that their actual owners, who, most of the times, look unhealthy and unhappy.  This is another fascinating look at what can be our future, which kept me glued to the screen to the very end. It also kept me thinking afterwards. The DVD also includes audio commentary by the director and a music video by Breaking Benjamin. (USA, 2009, color, 89 min plus additional materials)

Reviewed exclusively by Eric Gonzalez for [...] on January 24, 2010.
3114804
Recon 2022: Mezzo Incident takes movie making to the next level. The acting is worthy of an Oscar on all counts. The SFX would make George Lucas and James Cameron blush. The creative use of a sock puppet is simply out of this world. The scenes on the ice world Mezzo remind one of the scenes on the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, only Recon 2022 takes the cinematography and action in these scenes to the next level. I simply cannot state how top notch the acting is in this movie. The dialog flows from one scene to the other, and the writers simply must be commended for this. To be sure, there are some nude scenes in this, but, they add so much to the story.  I can't wait for the next movie in this series, and hope that instead of a direct to DVD release, the sequels are released to theaters. A movie like this deserves the full IMAX 3D treatment.
957521
Star Trek Into Darkness is simply a fun, multi-layered adventure that is well cast, directed, acted and grounded in great special effects. It's a drama sprinkled with appropriate comic relief  (Simon Pegg and sidekick, Spock and Uhura liaison), adventure, moral and ethical quandaries, and familiar, yet newly-spun threads between the crew members and Captain Kirk. (Oh, and did I mention that Chris Pine is perfect as the brash and energetic young Kirk? Or that, as always, Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a stunning performance, as Khan?)

Its homage to earlier Trek movies and storylines is apparent, with the bending of time and space, modernizing it for the current fan-base of Trekkies. I am an unabashed J.J. fan, so my take on the film is very likely prejudiced. That being said it is a tight piece of work, enjoyable on many levels.

So often when I watch a film, especially those based on previous characters, worlds, or storylines I am struck by incongruences, or weaknesses in characterization, which, for me, bring me out of immersion in the film. I did not experience this at any time, but felt fully engaged as the story unfolded.

It is a great, enjoyable film and (for me) deserves high placement as the current incarnation of the Star Trek universe.

[BTW:I am a very happy Amazon Prime member, and I fully take advantage of the benefits to stream films. If you are not, it is well-worth all the benefits to buy in to Amazon Prime.]
1483130
Jeanne Eagles is so captivating. Her expressions and movements reach beyond the screen and the viewer is one with her in all her moods. Eagles makes sympathetic the self-centered amorality of Leslie Crosby, a lovely European woman socially isolated on a rubber plantation outside Singapore driven by jealousy and boredom to homicide. The misogynistic Somerset Maugham was a whiz at creating viperish, sexually hungry female characters, but Jeanne Eagles, fierce and frail, wrings all the sympathy possible from an essentially unsympathetic role. She is a treat to watch; this is no imitating of emotion, she draws them up from deep within. THIS is acting!
379053
Very few movies made in the last 10 years possess a certain "charm" to them that make me want to watch them again and again. Collateral is one of them! Cruise plays a slick, fearless hitman who oozes of confidence and charm, while Foxx is just a decent, regular guy. Both actors give fantastic performances and make this flick really fun to watch. Cruise's character, while ruthless and amoral, is intelligent, charming and quick-thinking. And he's a jazz music buff to boot! One of his marks is a noted local jazz trumpet player, and Vincent (Cruise) makes it a point to have Max drive him to the jazz club early enough to enjoy the trumpet player's performance, and even buy the musician a drink and talk about Miles Davis, before doing him in. Talk about a great script...just when you think Vincent is softening up a bit and deciding to bag his work for the evening, BAM! It's obvious he's not opposed to knocking off anyone, no matter how much he likes them! Somehow, though, it's hard NOT to like Vincent, he's just so cool in his own way. What's troubling about liking him (aside from the obvious fact that he's a vicious killer, of course) is that since Max knows that he's doing all of this killing, Vincent is going to have to knock him off, too, before the night is over. As others have noted, great character development!

Foxx's character (Max) is understandably freaked out when the trouble first begins, but rises to the occasion more and more as the story evolves. Even though the two characters are completely different, the chemistry between the two is nevertheless quite entertaining. The way Max borrows tough-guy one-liners from Vincent when his own "tough" gets going is also quite amusing!

As others have indicated, not the most realistic movie, but for sheer entertainment value, it's top-notch! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1875150
This is a wonderful movie!  In this current cultural nadir in which an admitted sexual assaulter/grabber/pervert has been elected to a very high position, this film which explores the world of dominant/submissive - CONSENSUAL relationships is riveting.  To see Maggie Gyllenhaal's character evolve from a self-destructive and acutely suffering soul into a woman awakened by newfound love - is to behold cinematic wonders and intrigue.  I cannot say it often enough:  Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader make this movie a sheer delight.
548750
It has been a long time since I have seen a movie so worthy of a five star rating!  After seeing Bruce Willis so many times in action films, it is wonderful to see him in such a heartfelt and believable role.  His ability  as an actor shines through in his role as Malcolm Crowe, and Haley Joel  Osment is wonderful in his role as Cole.  A heartfelt hooray to Toni  Coltette as Cole's mother.  She brings the torment of her dealings with  Cole's "problem" right into your home.  Anyone who wants a  "hold your breath until the end jaw dropping thriller" should see  this film.  Be prepared to jump, laugh, cry and be amazed! If you like this  film, try Stir of Echoes with Kevin Bacon.  It has many of the same ideas,  starting with Kevin's character's tormenting dreams after a hypnotism gone  wrong, but without the knock your socks off ending.