Tag: Dwayne Johnson

Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw

2019   Universal Pictures

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  17min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Thriller

Directed by:  David Leitch

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Eiza González, Cliff Curtis, and Helen Mirren.

Nothing is stronger than family.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw centers on two reluctant allies, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who are forced to team up amidst a high-stakes pursuit of a powerful super virus that could potentially wipe out the entire human race. The story begins in London, where MI6 agent Hattie Shaw ( Vanessa Kirby), Deckard’s younger sister, acquires a programmable super virus called “Snowflake” from a cyberterrorist group named Eteon. After a violent attack by Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), an enhanced ex-MI6 agent with cybernetic abilities who kills her team, Hattie injects herself with the virus to keep it from falling into enemy hands and is then framed as a criminal on the run.

Hobbs, an ex-DSS agent estranged from his Samoan family, and Shaw, an ex-MI6 agent with a complicated past, are independently tasked to track down the missing virus by CIA Agent Victor Locke (Played by Ryan Reynolds in an uncredited Cameo Role). They initially clash due to their rivalry but eventually must collaborate to find and rescue Hattie. Their mission leads them through intense action sequences, including a daring car chase and battles against Eteon’s forces, as the trio uncovers the deadly potential of the virus and the high stakes of Brixton’s plan for global dominance.

They try to trick their way into the Eteon Lab where there is a virus extraction machine that can recover the virus capsules from inside Hattie. But the machine is damaged as they escape the lab with it. With everyone looking for them after Eteon plastered their pictures all over every news media in the world, Hobbs decides there is only one place they can go. The one place he never wanted to go back to, home to Samoa. Knowing that they would be safe on the remote island with his estranged family long enough to fix the machine and extract the virus, they head to Samoa.

Hobbs has a complicated but deep relationship with his brother Jonah, who initially feels hurt and neglected because Hobbs had been absent from his family’s life for a long time. When Hobbs returns to Samoa, there’s tension between them, but they eventually begin to reconnect and rebuild their bond. This reconciliation is important because it not only strengthens their family ties but also becomes vital in the fight ahead, and Hobbs knows that Jonah has the expertise and the technology to fix the Virus Capsule extraction machine.

The Samoan community, led by Hobbs and supported by his brother and other family members, comes together to prepare for an epic battle against Brixton, who threatens global destruction with a deadly virus. The brothers draw on their Samoan heritage and warrior spirit, merging traditional strength and modern tactics to stand against the coming enemy. This powerful alliance of family and community showcases themes of unity, loyalty, and courage as they put everything on the line to protect humanity from a catastrophic threat. Their fight is not just personal—it is a struggle for the survival of innocent lives everywhere.

I have seen this movie a few times and I was anxious to watch it again after I found out it was going to be on Netflix with most of The Fast And The Furious Franchise. It does not disappoint, with such Star Power, how could it? I am a huge Jason Statham fan and a big fan of Dwayne Johnson, and the two together are perfect in my opinion. More, please! I had forgotten how much of a Bad-Ass Vanessa Kirby is in this movie, from the very beginning she holds her own with Statham and Johnson, giving The Rock a run for his money in one scene. Awesome job by Vanessa! I just watched her in Night Always Comes and really enjoyed her in that one as well. I thought she was really good as Josephine De Beauharnais in Napoleon, which is a really good movie also.

I feel like I could go on for days about this movie I like it so much….Idris Alba is excellent as the evil cyborg trying to rid the planet of the weak side of humanity. That motorcycle of his is something else! Wicked special effects on that one! And the last part of the movie where Hobbs goes home to Samoa is great. Watching his Mom break bad with a flip-flop that EVERYONE on the island respects was hilarious and heart-warming. You see the love and sense of family they all have for each other. Getting a glimpse of the Samoan culture and their fierce Warrior Spirit was awe-Inspiring. Kevin Hart also has an uncredited Cameo as a US Air Marshall. And on and on and on….. Seriously….do yourself a favor..

Grab A Beverage,

Make Some Popcorn

And Stream This Movie!

And when the credits start to roll don’t look away,

there are two more small scenes in the midst of the credits,

Don’t Miss Them!

Napoleon

Night Always Comes

Red One

2024   MGM Amazon Studios

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  2 hr  4min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Christmas ~ Comedy

Directed by:  Jake Kasdan

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J. K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Nick Kroll and  Kristofer Hivju.

“Last night, Red One, also known as Saint Nicholas of Myra, was abducted from the North Pole Complex. And you’re gonna help us find him.”

J. K. Simmons stars as Saint Nicholas of Myra, code-named Red One by his security detail who follow his every step in and out of the North Pole. It is Christmas Eve and Nick, as everyone around the North Pole Complex calls him, is getting ready for his yearly marathon of delivering Christmas Cheer and presents to everyone around the world. He’s doing some last minute working out, lifting weights and bulking up on carbs or should we call that Christmas cookies. The entire complex is a beehive of activity as they prepare for the yearly run, it’s crunch time.

Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) is the head of Nick’s Security team and has taken a moment for himself outside before the action starts. He is standing in front of Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus’ (Bonnie Hunt) original small cabin, the area roped off as a major landmark in the complex, when he notices lights going off in the new high rise building that houses Nick and Mrs. Claus (Code-named MC) and all operations. Callum checks with part of the security detail in the building and starts asking for Red One’s location. Frantic as no one can find Nick, Callum makes his way to Red One’s living quarters and finds the window open. He rushes to it and sees a Snow vehicle racing away and orders his team to lock the dome and complex down.

Whoever kidnapped Saint Nick gets away and Callum notifies Director Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu) of M.O.R.A., The Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority, about the incident that now threatens to keep Christmas from happening around the world from. Zoe decides that they need to enlist the help of Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans), better known as “The Wolf”, a world renowned cyber hacker infamous for being able to find anyone and anything worldwide. They bring him in and find out that he is unwittingly responsible for identifying and selling the secret hidden location of Saint Nick and the North pole. Director Zoe decides that Jack is going to help them locate Nick and his kidnapper, accompanied by Callum.

And what follows is the globe-trotting chase to find Saint Nick and bring him back before Christmas. It is a journey through Norse legend and folklore. There is the legend of Grýla, the shape-shifting Winter Witch with thirteen shape-shifting sons who chase evil children. And the legend of Krampus, Saint Nick’s adopted Evil Brother who developed The Naughty List against Nick’s better judgement and along with his ex-wife Grýla sought to punish the children on the naughty list. There are also hell hounds, Ogres, Trolls, evil snowmen, elves, Polar Bear security forces, giant Reindeer and a high tech sleigh the likes you couldn’t even dream of.

It is a hilarious Christmas Adventure through Christmas lore filled with action and one-liners like “I love the kids, it’s the grown-ups that are killing me.” It is a different take on the whole Santa Claus and the North Pole theme, the Nordic folklore tends to give it a darker feel. The North Pole, it’s operations and look are definitely more high tech than we are used to. J.K. Simmons being the Buff muscle-strapped Santa working up to the big night, complete with infinite Santa wisdom was a good choice. Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Bonnie Hunt and Lucy Liu were all good in this. The best part of the movie is the end. At the very end they show Santa, Callum and the Christmas team travelling all over the world doing their thing. It is a unique look and take on the whole operation.

So that’s a yes for me, something a little different in the Santa Movie category.

Two Thumbs Up!

Red Notice

2021   Netflix

Rated:  PG-13

Length:  1 hr  58min

Action ~ Comedy ~ Thriller

Directed by:  Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Ritu Arya.

RED NOTICE: The highest level of arrest warrant issued by The International Police Organization (INTERPOL). Reserved for the world’s most wanted criminals.

Though many know the tragic love story of Antony and Cleopatra, the wayward Roman general who fell madly in love with the enchanting Egyptian queen, both of them taking their lives rather than face a world without each other, few know the secret story of the most sought-after prize and unsolved puzzle of their time. The mystery of Cleopatra’s third egg. On their wedding day, as a symbol of his undying devotion, Mark Antony presented Cleopatra with three bejeweled eggs, each one more exquisite than the last. For centuries, these eggs were thought to be nothing more than myth, a rumor. But then, in 1907, just outside of Cairo, a local farmer unearthed two of them.

Cleopatra’s first egg is on display for all to see at the world-famous Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. The second egg has been sold at auction numerous times and currently is held in a private collection. Some say the third egg was never found. Others claim it was discovered, but just as quickly lost, never to be seen again. Join us as we explore that very question. What happened to Cleopatra’s lost egg? Who may hold it in their possession? And most importantly, will we ever see the day in which all three eggs are reunited for the first time in over 2,000 years?

Ryan Reynolds stars as Nathan Booth, the world’s second most wanted art thief. As the movie starts he is making a copy of Cleopatra’s first egg which is on display at the National Art Museum in Rome. Thanks to an anonymous tip Interpol Agent Urvashi Das (Ritu Arya), accompanied by FBI Profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), swarms the museum with an entourage of Police and agents, convinced that Cleopatra’s egg is to be stolen today. John Hartley doubts the authenticity of the egg on display and pours coke over it and it promptly melts.

They immediately rush to seal the room but Nathan Booth, who has stolen the egg, escapes and is chased by John. Eventually, after a high action chase through the museum and construction scaffolding, Nathan loses John  and escapes to his house in Bali. As he opens up the suitcase to reveal his newest prize possession, The stolen Cleopatra egg, he is surprised by John Hartley and Interpol Agent Das who promptly arrest him and take possession of the egg. As John Hartley is putting the egg in it’s protective case in the back of the armored police vehicle and walks to the front to get in, it is stolen and replaced with a fake by……..

The Bishop (Gal Gadot), the world’s most wanted art thief, and Nathan Booth’s Arch Nemesis. What follows is a globe trotting adventure full of action and comedic one liners as Nathan Booth, The Bishop, Agent Das and John Hartley all pursue Cleopatra’s infamous three eggs and each other. Ryan Reynold’s is in top form with his wise cracks and comedic one-liners. Dwayne Johnson is The Rock we all know from his other movies, able to fight and throw out one-liners to equal Ryan’s at the same time. Gal Gadot is a beautiful, sexy, smart and talented art thief who holds her own against any man physically as she outwits Nathan and John.

It is a familiar story with a twist. Think The DaVinci Code, The Indiana Jones movies, Mission Impossible, The Man from Uncle….I swear some of the soundtrack sounded like Mission Impossible with a couple of different notes just to avoid copyright, or maybe to pay homage. I think a scene at the end mimics and pays homage to one of The Indiana Jones movies. There are ALOT of twists and turns you don’t see coming. It really keeps you guessing and it is very entertaining. Lots of thrilling chase scenes and fights along the way. I have seen this movie at least three times now and I still enjoyed every minute of it.

There are rumor’s of a Red Notice 2 & 3 to fill out a trilogy but no official word. Red Notice 2 is unofficially supposed to have started production right about now but that’s all I the info I can find on that. The ending lends itself to a sequel, I would love to see it.

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!