Takers

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 27, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A con reunites with his crew after serving four years and wants in on the game one more time.

Review: This movie tries to lure in its audience with the ensemble cast of beefcakes. From Paul Walker (John) to Idris Elba (Gordon), Hayden Christensen (A.J.) to Chris Brown (Jesse), there's gotta be a bad boy for you. Even the cops are notable heartthrobs - Matt Dillon (Jack) and Jay Hernandez (Eddie). However, even this isn't enough star power to rock this movie. Oh, it was okay for a shoot 'em up flick, but it didn't have the same charisma as Ocean's Eleven. There was just no style or clever humor in this one. I don't think anyone, even Elba, could command a stage like George Clooney. The movie opens when Ghost (T.I.) is released from prison after serving his time for a robbery. He immediately contacts his boys and offers up an armored car job he's been planning since prison. The crew is hesitant, but the money is good (isn't it always?). They decide to risk it because that's what they do their entire lives. There's some great hand-to-hand action by Christensen (during which time I realized how thin he is). Chris Brown also does a good parkour act as he evades capture. But, some of the acting is really bad. The lines are pretty stilted. I mean, you can't necessarily blame T.I. for this because he's a newbie and all, but what excuse can the others give?

Watch It: For some ramped up action toward the end.

Skip It: Because despite the big names there are other movies of this ilk that are more exceptional.

District 13: Ultimatum / Banlieue 13: Ultimatum

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 18, 2009 (France) / February 5, 2010

DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010

Plot 411: Two unlikely friends reunite to save District 13 . . . again.

Review: This sequel was somewhat disappointing, especially since I thoroughly enjoyed the District B13. It seemed like they were desperately tyring to infuse the movie with a plot. Rather than just an all-out brawl with shocking stunts, they tried to develop a storyline. However, the execution wasn’t handled effectively. The story dragged on and stretched out the time between set pieces. I mean, this isn’t the kind of movie that audiences go to for mental stimulation and thought-provoking themes. We’re here for the action, and I feel they should’ve just stuck to that. This movie brought back the butt-kicking duo of Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) and Leito (David Belle), and once again they are tasked with saving District 13 from the corrupt government. This time around we get a better picture of the district, which is segregated into different ethnic groups all running illegal operations. These rival gangs must unite to fight the government and save their home.

Watch It: If you enjoyed the first one and want to see something similar.

Skip It: If you saw the first one and want to see something better.

District B13 / Banlieue 13

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: November 10, 2004 (France) / June 10, 2005 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 5, 2006

Plot 411: A cop goes undercover to disarm a bomb with the help of a guy who grew up in the worst part of town.

Review: OMG, this was the best effin action flick I've seen in YEARS!!! This is not an exaggeration (okay, maybe it is but this movie was still hella dope). I'm so amped up just from watching it (if you can't already tell). This movie stars David Belle as Leito, an honorable guy despite a less-than-ideal upbringing in the ghetto of District 13 in France. He and his sister Lola (Dany Verissimo) have grown up in an area without schools and law enforcement. Criminals rule the world and chaos abounds. When a bomb gets stolen by a local drug thug Taha (Bibi Narceri), a captain in the French police force (Cyril Raffaelli) is ordered to go into District 13 and get it back. He must team up with Leito to get in and complete his mission before it is too late. For once, I seriously couldn't give a rip about the plot. It was pretty thin all the way through, but at least the movie did attempt to develop it. At the core of this film are the action sequences that use parkour, "the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment," according to Wikipedia. Belle is one of the founders of this discipline. As it is used in this film, it is the most exciting, dynamic physical display I've ever seen. It rivals the artistry in films like Ong-bak. To me, it is completely amazing to see Belle and Raffaelli scale walls, jump through windows, jump from building to building and all these other feats without the use of CGI or wires. It's almost like a martial art in its fluidity of movement. If I had it my way, they'd incorporate more of this into films as it's unconventional (at this point) and really explodes visually on the screen. Besides all the action sequences, I should also note that there are some cool camera effects (done with CGI) and the overall look of this film is sleek despite the gritty nature of the setting.

Watch It: For jaw-dropping leaps and bounds that you swear must be faked but is all real.

Skip It: Because the plot is pretty thin.