Salt

Last night, I saw the movie Salt.


As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"

This movie is you typical spy movie fayre to be honest, although it was a fun movie to watch it wasn't exactly exceptional.  The movie has a good cast headed by Agelina Jolie playing the lead role.  If you are expecting a movie that is something different, then you will be disappointed, however if you want a movie you can switch your brain off to and just enjoy a little action then you should enjoy this movie.

Salt is rated 12A (the version in UK cinemas has been cut) and is in cinemas now.

The Expendables

This afternoon, me and Haunted Rock Cake went and saw The Expendables at Vue Cinema Festival Place, Basingstoke.


Barney Ross leads the "Expendables", a band of highly skilled mercenaries including knife enthusiast Lee Christmas, martial arts expert Yin Yang, heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar, demolitionist Toll Road and loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen. When the group is commissioned by the mysterious Mr. Church to assassinate the merciless dictator of a small South American island, Barney and Lee head to the remote locale to scout out their opposition. Once there, they meet with local rebel Sandra and discover the true nature of the conflict engulfing the city. When they escape the island and Sandra stays behind, Ross must choose to either walk away and save his own life - or attempt a suicidal rescue mission that might just save his soul.


This movie has been hyped for ages, a true all-star movie with the cast having names like Steve Austin, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke and brief cameos from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.  As with any action movie, there is a car chase scene, explosions, gun fights, fist fights and martial arts...everything the action junkie can ask for!


I really enjoyed this movie, it was good fun, and my fears about the movie being nothing but an ego-fest were totally unfounded.  It's the kind of movie that you don't have to think hard to enjoy, although despite my enjoyment I still felt there could have been more to it.


The Expendables is rated 15 (although it has been cut sadly) and is in cinemas 19th August.

Centurion

This evening, I watched the movie Centurion on DVD.


AD 117. The Roman Empire stretches from Egypt to Spain, and East as far as the Black Sea. But in northern Britain, the relentless onslaught of conquest has ground to a halt in face of the guerrilla tactics of an elusive enemy: the savage and terrifying Picts. Quintus Dias , sole survivor of a Pictish raid on a Roman frontier fort, marches north with General Virilus' legendary Ninth Legion, under orders to wipe the Picts from the face of the earth and destroy their leader Gorlacon. But when the legion is ambushed on unfamiliar ground, and Virilus taken captive, Quintus faces a desperate struggle to keep his small platoon alive behind enemy lines. Enduring the harsh terrain and evading their remorseless Pict pursuers led by revenge-hungry Pict Warrior Etain, the band of soldiers race to rescue their General and to reach the safety of the Roman frontier.


The movie is a great watch, with a good cast and is ideal for a lad's night in with a curry and a few beers...be warned it has a fair amount of blood and gore...this movie is not recommended for the squeamish.


I can't believe I missed this at the cinema (actually, I don't recall this being listed at any of my local cinemas at all) as this would have been great to see at the cinema.


Centurion is rated 15 and available on Blu-Ray and DVD now.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

On Friday, I decided to see The Sorcerer's Apprentice at Vue Cinemas, Festival Place, Basingstoke.


Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can't do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates hidden potential, as his reluctant protégé. The sorcerer gives his unwilling accomplice a crash course in the art and science of magic, and together, these unlikely partners work to stop the forces of darkness. It'll take all the courage Dave can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes The Sorcerer's Apprentice.


The first thing I will say about this movie is if you are expecting to see a live action version of the sublime Disney classic Fantasia, don't go and see this movie because you will be disappointed...although there is a nudge toward the film with the apprentice trying to clean with magic!


The cast was pretty good, Cage and Molina play off each other quite well, and it was nice to see Alice Krige in something non-Borg as well, and although you only see her twice quite briefly in the movie, she plays the part of Morgana well.


The movie is good fun, and there is a bit of a car chase, but I couldn't help but think that there was supposed to be more to this movie, so as much as I enjoyed the movie...I kinda felt I'd only watched half a movie.


The Sorcerer's Apprentice is rated PG and in cinemas now.