Sheep Movie Review: ANNA (2019)

ANNA (2019)

Jun 21, 2019 

Directed By: Luc Besson
Written By: Luc Besson
Cast: Sasha Luss, Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, Helen Mirren, Alexander Petrov

Rating: R (for strong violence, language, and some sexual content)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
Runtime: 118 minutes
Studio: Summit Entertainment

Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins. An electrifying thrill ride unfolding with propulsive energy, startling twists and breathtaking action, ANNA introduces Sasha Luss in the title role with a star-studded cast including Academy Award Winner Helen Mirren, Cillian Murphy, and Luke Evans.

Went to see Anna with my husband and 18-year-old daughter. I didn't have high expectations for the movie, but was pleasantly surprised! We all enjoyed it.

It was a little formulaic but Anna is a female John Wick...a Jane Wick. If you liked John Wick, you will probably like Anna. Who can say no to a murder-model music montage?

I'm not a big fan of the storytelling format they used. You watch a scene then they show you a flashback to what happened leading up to the scene. But it works for this movie.

There are great action scenes, a pretty woman, and Luke Evans...can't go wrong with that! You can probably figure out the twist at the end but it is still satisfying.

If you want to get out of the summer heat this is a good way to spend two hours in a theater. But it will be just as good on DVD if you need to save your movie-going-dollars for Spiderman coming up next month!

Holly gives it 4 1/2 Sheep

Don and I give it 4 "Bi*ch" Sheep

SharonS

Three Sheep Movie Review: Dracula Untold (2014)

Dracula Untold (2014)
92 min - Action | Drama | Fantasy

10 October 2014 (USA) 
Director: Gary Shore 
Writers: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Bram Stoker
Stars: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon

Facing threats to his kingdom and his family, Vlad Tepes makes a deal with dangerous supernatural forces - whilst trying to avoid succumbing to the darkness himself.

Denise

Well it seems that Vlad's gone batty and the Turks are gonna pay! Dracula Untold is the tale of how Vlad Tepes became a vampire. The story begins with a chronicle of Vlad's history where as a young boy he was given over to the Turks by his father, the king, to form an alliance to protect his kingdom. He was subjected to brutal treatment and torture, which honed him into one of the greatest warriors and he was given the name Vlad the Impaler. 

Years have passed and Vlad is now a benevolent king who loves his people and cherishes his wife and son beyond all reason. The Turks are back seeking tribute and once again calling for an offering of young boys. All seems hopeless when Vlad makes a deal with the big bad to gain the strength to defeat his enemies and save those he loves, all while trying to keep from turning into the big bad himself. 

If you are looking for cinematic genius here, you are not going to find it, but it is certainly an entertaining spin on the usual tale. What you will get is some fun CGI that does not have that new echo seen on so many of the action flicks today that are also produced for 3D and tend to make the film visually annoying. I will admit to one jump from a gotcha and a few moments of laughing out loud with one giant snort, which of course occurred just as the music climaxed then went silent with my snort echoing throughout the theater and likely causing a gotcha moment of my own to my fellow moviegoers.

The costuming was not that great and the hair and makeup, well let's just say that the producers might have been better served contacting that show on the Syfy channel about the eliminated contestants from that show; however, there are some great moments that for me made up for this. The scripting was a little too American English, which tended in my opinion to detract a bit from the authenticity of the era, but I watched with one eye and ear for writing this review and at least I could understand all that was being said. Even with the epic battle scenes there is not a lot of blood and gore, thus achieving the PG13 rating, but there is plenty that is implied. There were some moments of good acting and some cheese that as previously mentioned made me giggle; however, Luke Evans is pretty great and well he is Luke Evans . . . let me just say bathtub scene nuff said.

Bottom line, if you are looking for the next great classic cinematic film you are not going to find it here. However, if you are a fan of the genre, Dracula Untold is an entertaining tale with some great moments that make it worth seeing on the big screen. I enjoyed the film and left the theater with a smile on my face and will definitely be putting the DVD on my wishlist to watch it again when that comes out. 

I am going to rate this one a 3.5 to 4 sheep because I had fun.

Sharon

I have to completely agree with Denise's analysis of the film. But she didn't give enough information about HOW. F***ING. SEXY. LUKE EVANS. IS. as Dracula. Thor and Optimus Prime gotta make room for one more. 

Like Denise said, the script, costumes, CGI were all ho-hum. I never really felt emotionally connected to any of the characters, unless lust for Dracula counts. It was more like a bunch of great scenes strung together without much between them. There is one scene that pulled at my heartstrings; when Dracula is trying to save his wife.

The no blood thing was silly. Dracula wiped out an entire army (not sure if it was 1K or 10K) but at the end of it there was not one drop of blood on him...thinking one of his vampire powers was Teflon exterior. 

See all those dead people? He did that...

They stuck to the lore pretty well with changes that made Dracula more of a victim of circumstances rather than a monster. There were a lot of places the editor in me went "wait a minute..." or "WTF?". It seemed people would get to destinations very quickly considering the terrain they had to cross. Basically I could pick this movie apart bit by bit, but I won't because over all I enjoyed it. The trailer pretty much sums it up and if you are into that kind of movie then it is worth a matinee price for the chance to watch 91 minutes of Luke Evans. I will add I really liked the ending. It wasn't the one I was expecting and sets things up for a sequel in modern times.

3 3/4 "Bat Whispering" Sheep

Katie 

I'm sorry but Sharon and Denise are not giving this movie it's full due. This film was SOOOO much fun! I loved it. Sure, things here and there were a little ho-hum (like the wigs) but overall this was a fantastic fresh take on a classic tale. There is a lot here to sink your teeth into! 

"Hey honey, so don't freak out BUT I just defeated that whole army of like 1000 dudes." LOL Vlad you so funny. "Negations didn't work." Yeah, I gathered that from the new human bone floor we have in our bedchanmer. No worries, marrow is good for your hair right? 

Dragon Armor for the win! 

I felt for my boy Drac, his sweet family and those traitors village of back stabbers. They could have stood by the dark prince, but that's on them and ultimately you get what you desires. 

A super long tongue moment had me cringing in the overpriced movie theater chair. But all the stellar action scenes were just AB- blood on top of this bat wing fun. He can control the creatures of the night folks! AMAZING. 

I loved it. The dragon lore was an added bonus and the ending scene certainly gives you a segue to the next install. Which I hope we get! Haters gonna hate and some reviewers will be harsh but like what you like. If you love vampires and adore Vlad as much as I do, then go see this one! 

4 and 1/2 "Luke Evans come bite me!" Sheep

Sheep Movie Review: The Raven directed by James McTeigue

The Raven, directed by James McTeigue, stars John Cusack, Luke Evans, Brendan Gleeson and Alice Eve. While I left the movie entertained and enjoyed parts of the film, the major plot holes and tedious accents left me disillusioned overall.

Plot:

The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life - and death - in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe's darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer's mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe's brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe's love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.

From the beginning this film establishes itself as a work of fiction, with whimsical balls and over-the-top killings taking place in 19th century Boston. While the dark cinematography and impressive attire help build a believable baseline, there's definitely something essential missing: story! The killings are interesting and gruesome, but the dialog leading up to and directly after the slayings are unbearable to sit through at times. Poe as a character needed a little more development and a lot less manic ramblings in pubs. I adore John Cusack and I know he acted to the best of his ability on this one and possibly there's not much you can do with a script that goes nowhere.

Putting all the issues I had with plot and goofy dialog aside, let me say that I was thoroughly impressed with a few things in this film. First and foremost was Luke Evans, who just looked amazing on screen. The man's got some talent and proves that if given the chance there will be no issues with his ability to take on a leading role. Acting aside he's just gorgeous to look at, I could stare all day at the prime cut of beef! Second was actress Alice Eve, who some readers may know from the funny flick She's Out of My League. Alice doesn't play the typical airhead damsel in distress, no no this gal's got some chops on her and the beauty to back it up. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in coming films as well.

Getting to the climatic ending I don't want to spoil anything but I will say that I was able to guess who the real killer was, which I always hate! Keep me guessing, people! The Raven reminded me a lot of movies like V for Vendetta and Sherlock Holmes but it is definitely nowhere near the same level of quality. Middle of the road movie for me, trust me folks I WANTED to get behind this one so much more then I did. Fans of the previously stated films might find this enjoyable, but even then that's a pretty big maybe.

Getting 2 and 1/2 'professor Plum in the kitchen with the meat cleaver' Sheep

KD

Sheep Movie Review: Immortals directed by Tarsem Singh

Immortals, directed by Tarsem Singh, stars Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Luke Evans, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto and Kellan Lutz. If you've seen 300 you'll know what to expect with Immortals: a bloody, action-packed, high octane popcorn flick.

Plot:

The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his murderous Heraklion army are rampaging across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. With ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his legions destroy everything in their wake, and it seems nothing will stop the evil king's mission. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) vows to avenge the death of his mother in one of Hyperion's raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), her disturbing visions of the young man's future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final desperate battle for the future of humanity.

I'm going to start with the negatives in my review. I personally felt that so much CGI was used in this film it was more like watching a long video game instead of a movie. At the same time the effects left quite a bit to be desired; most of the movie takes place in barren landscapes containing no vegetation. It's a wonder these folks had any food to eat at all, unless they survive on dirt and rocks. The plot itself just lacked the ability to get the audience emotionally invested. The script gives the film an overall hollow feeling when audiences are supposed to feel invested in the main characters struggles and triumphs. There were also a couple of things that strained my belief. Frida's character is supposed to be a virgin oracle (please tell me why they always have to be virgins?) and while the men are running around filthy she's always runway gorgeous with perfect clothing. It's just totally unrealistic for the type of journey out in the sticks upon which these folks are supposedly going. Either way director Singh is a talented visual artist but where his career will end up taking him is yet to be seen.

The positives, shirtless men! Whips and chains may excite me but flaming whips? Not so much. Yes, indeed you get a nice range of hottie totties walking around without shirts but frankly a few more could have been added to the movie. Never enough eye candy. Henry does some amazing stunt work which is undeniably incredible, and there's plenty of hard hitting action with Luke and Mickey bringing up the rear. I wasn't too impressed with Luke in the recent Three Musketeers remake but his acting as the Greek God Zeus brought him back into high standings in my book. Bloody battles are waged between men and gods which help to keep the audiences entertained where the script left holes. Mickey Rourke brings the BAD as our main evil overlord adding some well earned "ewww's" you wont want to miss. Really, you can't help but hate the creepy guy which earns him a big 'shirts off salute' for superb delivery of the character.

Henry and Mickey get the stand out awards for their roles in Immortals. It's a puffed up movie but sure to entertain those looking for a mindless fun popcorn flick.

Getting 3 "butting kicking Athena" Sheep

KD

Sheep Movie Review: The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, stars Logan Lerman, Matthew MacFadyen, Milla Jovovich, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz. Be prepared for sword fighting and campy lines galore! This movie isn't better as a "remake" but it's entertaining if you're not looking for much depth or overall substance.

Plot:

The hot-headed young D'Artagnan along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Let's start with what I liked and work our way down. I liked the sets, and Summit Entertainment dished out a big wad of dough on this one. They are visually stunning and hands down you do have some "wow" moments aesthetically. Costumes were absolutely gorgeous with the men and women both in some stunning outfits that look great to flaunt around. While a few costumes took over the top to a new level, if you like gaudy ball attire you'll enjoy what the film delivers. Swords fights are abundant, but what Musketeer movie would be complete without them?! Some of you reading this review may remember that we at Sheep attended WonderCon earlier this year in San Francisco. While there we sat through many-a-panel, and this film was one which we attended. Luke Evans and Logan (god I love that name) Lerman were amongst the group promoting this film. During that short 30 min Q&A we learned just how much sword training all the actors had to put in for this film and it definitely shows in the finished product. En garde! If you love some campyness in your movies then you'll be pleased with the amount tossed around in this one. It's certainly over the top but that seems to be the main goal here.

What happened to the accents? It seemed Jersey was in the house for this one because I couldn't tell these guys were supposed to be French. A few of the English actors did a little better in that department but young Logan (dude I still love your name) didn't even try to make much of an attempt in the linguistics department. The show stealers here have to go to MacFadyen and Bloom both for different reason but equally awarded. It's nice to see Bloom have fun in a role and you could tell he took this one to the eccentric bank.

Now the negatives. I couldn't get behind many of the characters due to a disconnect in the script writing. While it's a fun fantasy tale, you get so much fantasy it occasionally looses focus on the dialog between these guys. Milla plays a double agent who's supposed to be devious and deceitful but I felt she just couldn't pull the character off and made her motivations unbelievable. The movie just fails to engage with its audience. It does have some similarities with the Pirates franchise so if you liked those and enjoy the 'Black Pearl' prepare to walk the plank once again. Arr! Sure you get some laugh out loud moments, but they're too few and simply cannot carry the film by themselves. In the end the plot just doesn't make sense and the movie certainly won't make nearly half what this studio dished out for the big sets and costumes. BUT I have to admit it's fun in its moronic way. Just don't expect much and you'll be less disappointed.

I will "recommend" that you either A. catch the cheap showing or B. rent it for a $1 at Redbox early next year.

Getting 2 "I knew I should have worn Blue" Sheep

KD