If you didn't catch 2014's surprise action hit “John Wick,” launching Keanu Reeves right into a Liam Neeson-style career rebirth, it's OK. Peter Stormare is here to explain “John Wick” to you at the beginning of “John Wick: Chapter 2.” Playing a Russian gangster, he serves as a connection to the prior film, wherein retired assassin Wick killed everyone in sight while avenging his dog. In fairness, the dog was really cute. Stormare serves as an audience proxy, a fan of Wick. “He killed three men in a bar with pencil!” And in the way that every character recognizes him on sight, uttering “John Wick…,” it's like they all saw the first movie, too. Writer Derek Kolstad and director Chad Stahelski are back for the sequel alongside Reeves, brewing up more of that uniquely Wickian magic. The screenplay is once again taciturn, nearly wordless; Wick speaks infrequently, in monosyllables (perfect for Reeves' stoner intonation), and new co-star Ruby Rose doesn't utter a word.
But the film is noisy, speaking in the whine of motorcycles, rumbling engines, gunshots, knife swipes and text message alerts announcing a bounty on John Wick's head. Like its predecessor, “John Wick: Chapter 2” is a symphony of violence, a ballet even, and the visuals are abstracted to the surreal. The camera doesn't cut often, eschewing the rapid fire editing typical for this genre. In long takes, it methodically follows Wick as he works, smashing and stabbing and shooting. He is talented, but it is work he detests; he's compelled by his reputation and his skill set into action. Reeves plays the autopilot assassin with a haunted despondency. His skills are remarkable (you gotta see him with a pencil), but he limps and heaves and bleeds. His hurt, inside and out, is all over his face. Where “Chapter 2” stumbles is in its plotting. The beauty of the first film was in the simplicity of story married to Reeves' quiet persona and performance. Avenge the dog — that's it.
This film involves sibling rivalries, long cons, pawns, bounties and double crosses. It ends, then ends, and ends again, extending the exercise far beyond its welcome. It should have taken a note from its star and kept it simple, stupid. Starring: Keanu Reeves, Common, Riccardo Scamarcio, Laurence Fishburne and Ruby Rose. (Strong violence throughout, some language and brief nudity) — Katie Walsh, Associated Press Heath Ledger's Joker uttered those words all the way back in 2008's "The Dark Knight." Welp, good luck taking "The LEGO Batman Movie" seriously. The film is not only crammed full of jokes, imagination and heart but also measures up brick by brick to any family-friendly comedy released this decade. I lost count of how many times this wickedly talented voice cast made me giggle. "The LEGO Batman Movie" does what a lot of comic book movies wish they could do. Simply put, it cuts loose. The animated movie is unhinged in a way that allows it to act however it wants whenever it wants.
That sorta freedom fits so well in the Lego universe. It feels like the film's master builders walked up to a pile of Lego blocks, were handed the instructions and then threw them out the window. It's almost as if the whole script was peppered with insights and riffs from "Mystery Science Theater 3000" robots. Try keeping a straight face when villains shoot lasers with accompanying "pew pew" sound effects. Chris McKay of TV's "Robot Chicken" fame was a fitting director for this Lego entry. "The LEGO Batman Movie" successfully lampoons the superhero world while using the genre's staples to its advantage. You know that annoying thing where a superhero film jam packs its cast with too many villains and characters? "The LEGO Batman Movie" does it, too, but in a way that makes room for fun, ridiculous players such as the Condiment King, Sauron and Lord Voldemort. Jokes are thankfully balanced with a touching message. The Caped Crusader can't do everything alone and learns to open up his life to a new family.
Sure, it's a bit cheesy and Batman constantly tries too hard, but the story is handled with a gravity you wouldn't expect from plastic blocks. It's not a huge departure from 2014's "LEGO Movie" either, but this Batman entry is just as thoughtful and engaging as anything Michael Keaton or Christian Bale did behind the mask. Voiced by: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. (Rude humor and some action) — Nathan Poppe, The Oklahoman R 1:55 Not screened for critics When a wounded Christian Grey tries to entice a cautious Ana Steele back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian's past start to circle the couple, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together. Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Hugh Dancy, Eric Johnson and Jennifer Ehle. (Strong erotic sexual content, some graphic nudity, and language)
Lego bricks are generally awesome, and by all accounts The Lego Movie, opening this weekend, is as well. So we thought we'd make sure the folks at Lego didn't get too full of themselves by reminding the world of the worst toys, figures and building sets they've unleashed upon the world. JUST NO. I have no idea what possessed a single Lego engineer to create this cast-off from the Island of Dr. Moreau, let alone what made the company release it on an unsuspecting world. Or why they thought the two white round bricks underneath the nose-piece would represent two buck teeth and not some kind of abnormal growth. All I know is that all of these decisions were made in hate and fury. I put this is in quotes, because as you can see, while Lego assures us that this 1997 set is of a fire truck, it clearly looks nothing likeOh, it's red, and it is a vehicle, but that's pretty much where And what good is a completely bizarre fire truck without an
equally bizarre fire chief? Admittedly, this fire chief is too good to ride on the truck with his peons, and has his own mini-vehicle, without doors or even sides, to travel on. He also has his own little hose for… little fires? he's out fighting fires by himself? Because all the other Lego firemen think Call me crazy, but I think I'm got a pretty good idea how the robber could break into this bank. Or out, I guess. they behind the bars or in front of them? Is this guy trying to break into to access an ATM, or is he trying to get the endless void on the other side? either case, this thing sucks. Back in 1979, Lego created Fabuland, a line full of anthropomorphic animals, as sort of an intermediary set between Duplos andThey're kind of terrifying, like if Hunter S. Thompson had designed a toddler's Lego line while high on mescaline. But nothing is more chilling that The Fabuland Big Band set, featuring Peter Pig and Gabriel Gorilla.
monsters would listen to a band consisting of nothing but a drummer and tuba 6) Star Wars Final Duel IIYes, now you can recreate the thrilling action of Luke Skywalker's final duel with Darth Vader and the Emperor by… watching him walk down the hallway to his final duel with Darth Vader and the Emperor? long as he walks no more than four steps, because that's all the hallway In 1998, Lego introduced their K'nex-like building sets called Znap, because Zs make everything cooler. Indeed, the line wasn't overall bad — most of the kits looked all right, an they had crazy things like a Dino-Jet a giant ant along with the hover-subs and other vehicles. this piece of crap — which Lego tried to pass off as a "Jet-Car" — even more 8) Jack Stone Red Flash StationOkay, Lego, now you're not even fucking trying. Remember back in the early '00s, when Lego started trying to make sports games out of Legos? One of the earliest catastrophes was the NHL
Slammer Stadium, in which sentient giant head statues from Easter Island played a rousing game of hockey. But what's worse is the rink itself — a flimsy cardboard rink, surrounded by an even flimsier wall. If only Lego has some kind of more durable building material to work with! Horse and Clara Cow's Ice Cream Shoppe Another Fabuland set, obviously, begging a very disturbing question: Where does Clara get the milk to make the ice cream? Well before Lego Friends, Lego tried to reach girls with Belville set, a 1994 series which focused more on figures and playsets moreThe problem was the figures were godawful and the sets were a weird mix of fairy tale stuff and standard, mundane doll activities. Lego exhausted the traditional beauty salons and stables, they threw together this — sure, an interior designer is a pretty progressive progression for a doll to have in the '90s, but it kind of undercuts the message when her design
equipment consists of a stand-alone sink, a bathtub (the hell?) and a brush. can think of a sadder image than a girl trying to brush her ugly, tiny doll's plastic hair helmet, please let me know. I wasn't lying about the dolls. If Artoo had a skeleton, this is what it would look like. Lego couldn't be bothered to make a single piece that would prevent him fromFeel free to insert a C-3PO/Phantom Menace "I'm naked!" joke here, if you're a bad person. 14) Jack Stone Fire Response SUVDoes no one at Lego know what a goddamn firetruck looksOr an SUV, for that matter? In 2002, Lego had big plans for a new toyline call Galidor. They were so confident that they ordered a CG cartoon and had it on the air, about two teens named Nick and Allegra who are transported to an alien world threatened by evil aliens. It didn't do well at all, and I'm confident it wasn''t helped by this promotional figure of Nick, which looked like Chinese bootleg