Bloodshot (2020)

I figured before I start the 30 day film challenge tomorrow that I would check out a film that I wanted to see before the pandemic hit, but I just never got a chance to until it hit my local Redbox. Everyone knows that Marvel and Disney have dominated the box office for the last ten years or so and every once in a while a studio gets gutsy and they try to tackle a comic book title that diehard comic book fans know about which was the case with 2020's Bloodshot which is based off of the Valiant comic of the same name and directed by Dave Wilson (Avengers; Age Of Ultron). The film stars Vin Diesel (The Fast and The Furious) as Ray Garrison, a soldier in the US Army who thinks he was wife was killed by a terrorist and that he was murdered only to be brought back to life and given some superpowers. Unfortunately, there is always more to that story and if he finds out they are in big trouble. The film also stars Eiza González (Baby Driver) as KT, Sam Heughan (A Princess For Christmas) as Jimmy Dalton, Toby Kebbell (Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes) as Martin Axe,  Talulah Riley (Inception) as Gina Garrison, Lamorne Morris (Game Night) as Wiggins, Guy Pearce (Iron Man 3) as Dr. Emil Harting, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Game Of Thrones) as Nick Baris,  Alex Hernandez (Hemlock Grove) as Tibbs, and Siddharth Dhananjay (The Real Bros Of Simi Valley) as Eric.

I am going to be honest in saying that in reality it's only worth the price of a Redbox rental because I wouldn't have paid the price of admission at a theater for this. In the comics, it had been years of missions and getting captured by a rival for him to finally realize what had happened to him thanks to P.R.S.. In this film, we don't know exactly how many missions he had been on and it only seemed like a few until Wiggins who "awakens" him tells him how many he has killed. I am not sure if it was Vin Diesel that was the problem I had with the film or if it was the fact that Bloodshot looked nothing the comic books that was my problem. I understand that they were going for a more realistic look with him because a gray human being with a giant red spot on his chest would give him away everywhere he went, but even Captain America looked like Captain America. For what it was, it had some cool moments in the film particularly all of the fight sequences were pretty cool if I am being honest, but that is kind of where it ends for me. Guy Pearce played a good villain like usual, but the other villains were kind of uninteresting so you couldn't wait to see them get their asses kicked. I am going to give Bloodshot a C for a final grade cause it kind of let me down a bit.

Game Night (2018)

There is a reason why I chose the film that I did for today and it has a lot to do with sibling rivalries because it's a real thing. Anyone that has a brother/sister or multiple siblings knows that you are at least competitive with one of them in almost everything. That is the underlying subject matter in today's film in 2018's mystery comedy flick Game Night that was directed by John Francis Daley (Waiting...) and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses). The film stars Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) as super ultra competitive Max who seems to have it all , but one thing. All he has ever wanted to do is beat his big brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) at anything whether it be a game or just life itself. One night, Brooks decides to invite Max and the crew to a special edition of Game Night, but the only problem is that Brooks is kidnapped for real and Max and co. have to try and save him before it's too late. The film also stars Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls) as Annie, Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) as Sarah, Billy Magnussen (The Big Short) as Ryan, Lamorne Morris (New Girl) as Kevin, Kylie Bunbury (Tut) as Michelle, Jesse Plemons (Black Mass) as Gary, Michael C. Hall (Dexter) as The Bulgarian, and Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Donald Anderton.

In a world full of plenty of dumb comedies, I feel like Jason Bateman who may seem dry as far as his sense of humor, but it's smart comedy. I say that because I loved this movie and you pair him with anyone and it can be funny (well maybe not Identity Thief) just like they did here with the always beautiful Rachel McAdams. In my opinion, they made a great on screen duo that helped carry the film from the inception to the finish. There were other elements that helped in making if funny and it seemed like the perfect pairings like the dumb one with the smart Irish girl and the almost seamlessly perfect couple who have been dating since middle school and now have found a reason to not be so perfect thanks to a game of never have I. I have to give huge props though to Jesse Plemons who plays the off balanced, I'm still obsessed with my wife police officer because he did it so well and he made it unpleasant. There's plenty of fun filled action and plenty of twists that will leave you wanting more and just in case you wondering! They did leave it up to the studio if there would be a sequel, but I would be OK with one film. One of my favorite scenes has to be the bullet removal scene, the back and forth banter between them was just awesome and hilarious. I definitely suggest checking this one out if you need a comedy to watch and you want some adventure with it. I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade.