B Movies
Bourne Identity (2002)
We loved this movie when we saw it for the first time earlier this year, and it is one of those movies that gets better each time you see it.
When we rented this movie, we didn’t have any expectations. It had kind of slipped through the cracks of my “To Watch” movie list and we just got it on a whim. We were blown away.
Matt Damon plays a black ops agent that, at the beginning of the movie, can’t remember who he is or where he came from. The story is told through his eyes as he finds clues and makes a friend in a lowly American gypsy girl. They piece his clues back together all the way back to Paris, but not without major resistance.
Matt Damon, or Agent Jason Bourne, is the number one and his creators can’t just let him go without a fight. High speed chases in little cars through the streets of Europe, blinding fight scenes between trained killers, and a believable performance by Damon as this driven, calculating, confused killer trying to figure out what he was and what to do with that knowledge.
The movie comes to an end when Jason Bourne kills off another agent who is hunting him, (Clive Owen) and then turns and becomes the hunter to set things straight and make sure he is left alone.
Action, espionage, dark secrets, with a just a dash of lust, a great popcorn movie that doesn’t ever make you say, “Yeah, Right”.
Basic (2003)
This movie came highly recommended from my co-workers, and when I found it on the shelves, I was surprised that I had never heard of it before with stars like John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
That said, I thought this movie was ok. It had a whole bunch of twists where you never knew which way was up, and to tell you the truth, by the end I was so turned around that I didn’t really care.
The basic jist is that Samuel L. Jackson is an un liked Navy Seal officer who is killed and John Travolta is trying to find out who did it. There is corruption in the ranks, drug trafficking, and everyone’s favorite, a graphic scene of vomiting blood from Giovoni Risbi (Who did an excellent job).
Engaging, but I wouldn’t watch it again. I just can’t turn anything away with John Travolta in it.
Bring It On (2000)
The opening cheer in this movie is the complete encapsulation of why any guy would even bother. Pre Mary Jane fame, this is Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku in a movie about, well, cheerleading and finding some integrity.
I was at a friend’s house over the weekend and she had this movie so as we caught up I popped it in. It was weird to feel really
old as I saw how young some of the people were in this movie. But I still enjoyed the dance like cheers that involved people flying all about and the music of time period.
But of course there were the typical girly things with romance and boys, and even Elisa wasn’t very believable as the “bad girl” from out of town. This movie may not be most people’s “thang”, but every once in awhile with a good glass of wine in hand, they can be fun.
Bourne Supremacy (2004)
A fallible hero, a hero that chooses not to kill, and a hero that is driven by loss and wanting to life of peace makes this action packed movie something we can all relate to. It also just happens to have the best action car scene ever and with intense filmography this is a great follow-up to the Bourne-Identity.
Backdraft (1991)
I saw this movie for the first time in TV edited version soon after we moved to Grand Haven in the early 90’s. It was a really awesome movie then, and I think I watched it at least a half dozen times on my taped version before I kind of forgot about it. Then we recently saw Ladder 49 and I knew that I had to see the original classic of all firefighting movies again for the first time.
Starring Kurt Russell, Robert Deniro, and a Baldwin brother, this is a high paced movie where fire has it’s own personality and seems to interact with each character differently. Russell is the older brother that has the no holds barred attitude about life and frequently takes chances with his life trying to prove to everyone around him that the fire will never take his life like it took his dad. Brian (the Baldwin) spends the movie trying to figure out if he wants to be his father bad enough to take the risks that his brother takes.
All the while these dramas are unfolding, there are homicides being committed with fire. Sudden explosions caused with a instant breath of air to an awaiting fire, bodies are being roasted left and right. Deniro is trying to track down the killer and soon enough Brian joins his side to figure out what is going on.
In the end it is the highest level of extortion for money at the expense of the firefighters, and what one does to strike back that costs him his life.
A touching movie where Russell eventually passes the torch to Brian who finally discovers his place in life. Like hard nosed movies where “boys will be boys”? Then you will like this movie. Like exaggerated condensed fire related action sequences? Ditto. Don’t like unnecessary swearing and images of toasted people left and right, well then pass on this one. But with such a great ensemble cast and movie that was way beyond its time, I saw give it a shot.
