‘Jack’ appropriate for most ages

Posted March 7, 2013

Hollywood often seems to suffer from a lack of originality. However, I have enjoyed the trend recently of taking myths and fairy tales and making movies out of them. Usually there is a twist to the story, something that makes it different from the original.

In the new movie, Jack the Giant Slayer, Jack the farm boy is the hero who saves a whole kingdom from giants. He is helped by the princess Isabelle and some of her guardians. The story is helped, as many today are, by special effects. The story is also helped by the acting, especially Stanley Tucci and Ewan McGregor.

Jack the Giant Slayer is an entertaining twist on the old story, and it appropriate for most audiences, although there may be a bit of unnecessary gore.

rrr

Posted Feb. 20, 2013

John McClane has been a well-loved movie cop since he first appeared on-screen in the ‘80s. Maybe it’s a combination of his “die-hard” personality, his quirkiness, his humor, how he gets the job done, or his loyalty to his job and family. Regardless of why he’s popular, there are now five movies starring McClane, played, of course, by Bruce Willis.

The newest one, A Good Day to Die Hard is set in Russia, where McClane travels — while on vacation, as he keeps pointing out — to find his son, Jack. If you thought Lucy, from Live Free or Die Hard, was angry at her dad, Jack’s anger is worse. It is one of the conflicts in the movie.

The other main problem in the movie is how to stop the Russians from getting uranium. Of course, since this is a Die Hard movie, the viewer should know that the McClanes will succeed. There are numerous explosions and gun battles along the way, of course.

I think the main thing that has kept the franchise going for so long is Bruce Willis. He has consistently played McClane with a sort of “aw-shucks” charm and rugged individualism, managing (barely, sometimes) to keep away from caricature and to keep McClane an interesting character. However, they do seem to be now scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to plot.

A Good Day to Die Hard is a good action movie, and will be especially liked by those who enjoyed the previous Die Hard movies. It may, however, be a little too ridiculous or violent for everyone. But I’m sure McClane would have a joke about that, maybe something to do with cowboys.

Woiwode, of Jamestown, shares her reviews of films, TV shows and books at reelquickie.areavoices.com

Tags: diversions, movies