Movie Review - Crime 101

Director: Bart Layton
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Tate Donovan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Monica Barbaro
 
Description: An elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth), eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) trails them hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.
 
Review: “Crime 101” is a breath of fresh air for fans of the classic noir genre. Based on the novella by Don Winslow, the film offers an intelligent and atmospheric cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of classics like Michael Mann’s “Heat”, yet retains its own distinct identity.

Chris Hemsworth plays a thief. Moving away from his typical high-action superhero persona, Hemsworth portrays a character defined by meticulousness and social complexity. He is a very disciplined jewel thief, who swears by a strict code of honor. Opposite him is detective Lou Lubesnick, played by Mark Ruffalo, whose obsession with the case is palpable. Halle Berry, as Sharon, somehow comes on the path of both. Barry Keoghan, as the unpredictable and violent rival, brings a much-needed dose of danger and tension to the story. The chemistry between the cast is one of the film’s greatest assets.

Director Bart Layon transforms Los Angeles into a characters in its own right. The cinematography captures the city as a place of dark magic and sprawling highways, which amplifies the sultry atmosphere.

The film excels in atmosphere, rather than over-the-top CGI spectacle. It focuses on the characters, their development, over unrealistic action. It’s not even an action movie, the main character doesn’t use any violence. It’s a crime drama, with thriller elements.

“Crime 101” is tightly directed, beautifully acted and with a focus on character development over cheap action. Despite the pacing be rather slow (which I actually liked), the film might be one of the most satisfying films of the year.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Extraction 2

Director: Sam Hargrave
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko, Idris Elba
 
Description: After barely surviving his grievous wounds from his mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Ryler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is back, and his team is ready to take on their next mission.

Review: In this second installment on the “Extraction” series, Chris Hemsworth returns as mercenary Tyler Rake, who barely survived his last mission. Now recovered, Tyler and his team are ready for a new mission. “Extraction” was a good film film, but nothing extremely groundbreaking or memorable. “Extraction 2” still doesn’t feel like that, but it surely is a step up from this first film.

Tyler has to safe his ex-wife’s sister from her criminal husband, who has been living in a prison with their two children. What seems like a simple mission, ends up in a blood bath.

“Extraction 2” is full of genre clichés, but it by no means disappoints in the cinematographic department. The fight scenes are all very well-choreographed and especially that outbreak scene in the prison is shot masterfully. They edited in a way it looks like one continues shot and I always love it when that’s done well.

“Extraction 2” is nowhere innovative, Chris Hemsworth does his job very well and so does director Sam Hargrave. And the film keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times. With its raw character, this second installment offers a rebuttal to the streamlined action of recent blockbusters. Despite a contrived plot, it’s a shame that this movie can’t been seen on the big screen. Because the action scenes look amazing.

Better then the first, great visuals, but very predictable.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Thor: Love & Thunder

Director: Taika Waititi
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, Jaimie Alexander, Russell Crowe, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff
 
Description: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to fight Gorr (Christian Bale) the God Butcher, who intends to make the gods extinct.

Review: A viking from space who uses his magic hammer to cross the universe on a rainbow road. An absurd fact that director Taika Waititi fortunately knows how to deal with. He continues the direction he took with “Thor: Ragnarok” and proves that Thor is justifiably the first Marvel original Avengers character to add a fourth film to his resume. “Thor”Love & Thunder” is a comic film of cosmic proportions.

The last time we saw Thor was in “Avengers: Endgame”, in which his body suffered a lot from eating too much. He is back in shape and ready for a new adventure. He is fights together with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but Thor feels he is lacking a piece of meaning. We follow the story of his journey to self-development, in which, in addition to thunder, love is central.

Which brings us to Jane, whom we last saw in “Thor: The Dark World”. And she herself gets to experience what it’s like to be a superhero. I was skeptic about this part at first, but I thought they handled this well and the reasoning behind her being worthy enough to pick up Mjolnir.

The way Chris Hemsworth gives color to his character certainly deserves praise. And with Taika Waititi’s great direction and the humorous and action-packed story make for an entertaining movie.

I do still think “Thor: Ragnarok” was better, but nonetheless Waititi did a great job with the fourth Thor movie, which I will definitely be rewatching.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Spiderhead

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2022

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller, Jurnee Smollett

Description: In the near future, convicts are offered the chance to volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their sentence. One such subject for a new drug capable of generating feelings of love begins questioning the reality of his emotions.

Review: “You’re stich with four life sentences, with no chance of parole”. A sentence no prisoner wants to hear. Yet the prisoner to whom this is told responds with an almost manic fit of laughter, creating an uneasy feeling and an upsetting atmosphere. Unfortunately, this strong beginning does not continue, and while there are plenty of ideas, the execution of them is underwhelming.

“Spiderhead” is set in the near future. There is a prison complex where occupants are given the chance to reduce the length of their sentence. All they have to do to do so is participate in an experimental study of medication the controls people’s emotions. And that’s not all; the prisoners are allowed to walk around freely and there is an open kitchen. A deal you can’t turn down, but of course there’s a big, fat catch.

This interesting premise can cause the necessary moral dilemmas. It is therefore unfortunate that the beginning is somewhat banal. Lead researched Steve Abnesti can administer various medicatiosn automitically, including the so-called Luvactin. Its effect is euphoria and everything si beautiful. Like the other medications at Steve’s disposal, this one can be cranked up to eleven.

The tests for Luvactin begin fairly innocently but interestingly. Inmate Jeff looks at a view that actually consists of a garbage dump and thinks it’s beautiful. The same test is done on two inmates sitting together, which obviously ends in an intense lovemaking session. Which becomes a bit silly eventually.

And from there, the various tests yield more and more when it comes to the moral compass, and other emotions also pass muster. When the medication is administered, the recipients first have to acknowledge this and approve that they can. This gives the illusion of free will, but this is deviously reversed as Steve, in a friendly yet blackmailing manner, makes people do whatever he wants them to do. Chris Hemsworth, who plays this Steve, is solid in his role and he tries to make the best of what this movie is.  

“Spiderhead” has a very interesting premise, but has a very hard time getting it going. Alsmot two-thirds of the film is over before the first real conflict arises. Which makes it difficult to stay focused and the keep you interested. It could have been better if they used the premise to its full potential and made a more thriller-based film. Such a let-down, very disappointed in this movie.

Rating: 2/ 5

10s Movie Review - Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

Director: Kevin Smith
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Fred Armisen, Harley Quinn Smith, Shannon Elizabeth, Rosario Dawson, Chris Hemsworth, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Joey Lauren Adams, Justin Long

 Description: Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) inadvertently sign away their names and rights to the new Bluntman and Chronic movie. Now they head to Hollywood to stop the film from being made. Along the way Jay discovers that he is a father.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 18: A FILM STARRING YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH
 
Review: Kevin Smith was once considered an up-and-coming talent. The American made such gems as “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy” with which he proved that coarse humor and obscene language could be combined perfectly with the pain of an unattainable love or hopeless job. These films were layered narratives about real-life problems. Smith grew increasingly famous and began to shift his field of work to include writing comic books and canning genre films.  

“Jay and Silent Bob  are character , played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, that kill time by smoking weed and hanging around. They first appeared in “Clerks” and later in “Mallrats”, “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma”, as side characters. In “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” they got their own movie. In “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot” they hear that the comic book based on their lives, “Bluntman and Chronic”, will be turned into a movie. They decided to go to Hollywood to stop it.

I always love a film that mocks itself and is very self-aware, making meta-jokes and be self-referral. Kevin Smith takes it a bit too far and fills his movie with these types of jokes. This makes the film annoying at times and not really all that funny. I just didn’t enjoy it all that much. Sad, because I really like Jay and Silent Bob. And Kevin Smith.

Rating: 2 / 5

10s Movie Review - The Avengers

Director: Joss Whedon
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 141 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Coby Smulders, Tom Hiddleston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stellen Skarsgård, Paul Bettany, Clark Gregg

Description: Earth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

Review: In “The Avengers” a group of superheroes take on demigod Loki. Lead by S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye try to overcome their differences and work together to save mankind.
It’s hard, without a doubt, to balance a movie with so many iconic characters. Director and scriptwriter Joss Whedon succeeded. All characters get enough background. Result: a movie that will be loved by insiders ánd outsiders. People who know the material will love, but newcomers will also enjoy this movie.
The cast has already proven to be capable of portraying their characters. Robert Downey Jr. as smooth talker Tony Stark aka Iron Man. Chris Hemsworth as Thor, with a somewhat dry sense of humor. Chris Evans as Steve Rogers aka Captain America, perfect choice for the role and a good leader. Scarlett Johansson is wonderful as Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow. New are Mark Ruffalo, as Bruce Banner/ The Hulk, and Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/ Hawkeye. Both great additions to the movie.
Although “The Avengers” is over 140 minutes long, time flies. The movie is visually stunning, has lots of action and a good dose of humor. “The Avengers” is worth your time, every minute of it.

Rating: 5/ 5

Current Celebrity Crushes

A girl can dream and everyone has them: celebrity crushes. Mine change from time to time, but some always stick around. I decided to create a list of my current celebrity crushes.
 

Chris Hemsworth
He is, and probably always will be, my number one. I have never seen a more perfect man than Chris Hemsworth. He simply is perfection.
 

Henry Cavill
I’m not a fan of “The Witcher”, but when I saw him as Sherlock Holmes in “Enola Holmes” last year, I was totally swept of my feet. He looked so gorgeous. So I went through a Henry Cavill phase for a short while. I love him in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E” and he is a really good Clark Kent/ Superman.
 

Pedro Pascal
He already played one of my favorites on “Game of Thrones”, and he’s only in 7 episodes. And the way he died there, gruesome! That’s one of my all-time favorite shows. He is also in my most favorite series of the moment: “The Mandalorian”, where he plays the title character. We hardly see his face, but just hearing his voice is enough for me. And I’m currently watching “Narcos”, where he is smoking hot. Usually someone who looks like Pedro Pascal would never catch my eye, but he is just irresistible for some reason. Love him.
 

Emma Stone
Like Chris Hemsworth, she will always be one of my main crushes. Stone is already my most favorite actress of the moment. Everything she does is just amazing and I love her so much. Her voice, her big eyes, her humor, her emotion. And with that, she is also one of the kindest celebs out there.
 

Keanu Reeves
I already had a crush on him when I was a teen. I think it never went away. But since he returned strongly with the “John Wick” movies, I fell in love with him al over again. Reeves is probably one of the nicest people in Hollywood too, since there is a lot of proof from fans that he is really kind and considerate.
 

  

Ranking the Franchise - Thor

I just rewatched all the “Thor” movies. And although it’s not one of the most consistent Marvel franchises, it is spectacular and memorable. This franchise is not finished yet, so I will probably ‘rerank’ this series when “Thor: Love and Thunder” is released. But for now, here is my ranking of the three “Thor” movies we already have.

3. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
There is enough to enjoy in this sequel, but in general it’s a bit bland. And the villain, Malekith, isn’t very interesting and we don’t really get to know much about him. Chris Hemsworth does feel more comfortable in his role and the final confrontation is pretty cool.

2. Thor (2011)
A film like this makes or breaks with its leading man. And with Chris Hemsworth they got the perfect guy. Not only is her one of the most beautiful people Hollywood has to offer, but he’s also charismatic and can easily carry a film this big. “Thor” is a great first film in a series.

1. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
When a sequel disappoints, it’s a very bold step to add another sequel and totally spin it around. That’s what director Taika Waititi did for “Thor: Ragnarok”. And I think all the Gods for bringing him in, because he dared to takes risks, add humor and self-mockery and make it a more colorful world. “Thor: Ragnarok” isn’t only the best movie centering its hero, but it’s also one of the best MCU movies to date. And are we lucky to have Waititi back for “Thor: Love and Thunder”.

Movie Review - Extraction

Director: Sam Hargrave
Genre: Action
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, David Harbour, Golshifteh Farahani

Description: Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.

Review: Director Sam Hargrave’s directorial debut serves up lots of bullets, exploding cars and bloody fights. “Extraction” is an action film in its purest form, delivering brute force without a deeply layered story.
Chris Hemsworth plays mercenary Tyler Rake, who is send out to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to extract the kidnapped son of an imprisoned crime lord. The film has a simple set-up, the action starts right away. Blood, explosions, gunfire, fights, it’s all there in large amounts.
Sam Hargrave directs his first feature film, where he worked as a stunt coordinator before on several Marvel films. Tyler is depicted as a stereotypical bad good guy, tortured by personal tragedy and redeemed by the mission. And Chris Hemsworth does this well.
This action flick has a lot of scenes with hand-held cameras, which make it realistic, but can sometimes be distractive. Hargrave choose for some long one-take shots, which look pretty cool. Sometimes you feel like you’re in a “Call of Duty” game.
“Extraction” is a pretty solid action film. It is action packed, but besides Tyler’s character, all the characters are pretty one-dimensional. It’s an above average film, but it would be pretty forgettable if it weren’t for Hemsworth.

Rating: 3 / 5

Movie Review - Men in Black: International

Director: F. Gary Gray
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Rebecca Ferguson, Rafe Spall, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson

Description: The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.

Review: As a child Molly managed to escape the “neutralizer”, the device that the Men in Black use to erases your memory about the existence of aliens. Twenty years she searches for the agency that protects the earth from the scum from outer space. Molly wants to become one of them! One day, she manages to infiltrate the agency in New York. Agent O is impressed enough to recruit her. Molly, now Agent M, starts her probation in London.
The movies doesn’t start out that bad. But the first signs of this film lacking substance is when Molly’s training starts, which is nothing more than deciding which suit to wear and which weapon to choose. There is no need to further expand the introduction of the universe, because that’s what the previous films did.
“Men in Black: International” is for the most part a repetition of the other films. Visually it’s not very different and the formula is almost identical. The are hunting for an object to secure the future of the universe, there is some friction. There are some new elements, which make it a nit more interesting. Like the main duo is now a man and a woman. I liked the dynamic between Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Not an old wise man and a flashy rookie, but an arrogant top-agent who has to acknowledge his hero status is crashing and he is surpassed by an enthusiastic newcomer. And it’s not because of them that this film isn’t good, because they are good together and their dynamic is the best part of the film. It’s just sad that they have to work with such terrible writing.
It's an uninspired spin-off, which the good cast couldn’t even safe.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Reviews - Avengers: Endgame

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 181 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Bradley Cooper, Josh Brolin, Tessa Thompson, Evangeline Lilly, Pom Klementieff, Tom Holland, Jon Favreau, Elizabeth Olsen, Dave Bautista, Sebastian Stan, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Langford, Tilda Swinton, Letitia Wright, Kerry Condon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chadwick Boseman, Winston Duke, Frank Grillo, Ty Simpkins, Sean Gunn, Emma Fuhrmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong

Description: After the devastating events, the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe.

Review: “Avengers: Endgame” isn’t only the finale to last year’s “Avengers: Infinity War”, it’s also the end of the journey that film studio Marvel started eleven years ago together with its many fans. “Avengers: Endgame” is supposed to be a tribute to all the experiences and memories we have from the past years in this universe.
Thanos left a dystopian world behind with the snap of his fingers. The titan completed his mission, perfectly balanced out life and the Avengers have been defeated for the first time. And it paid its toll, because the superheroes have obviously suffered from it. They are broken, damaged. Nonetheless the team is determined to defeat their nemesis once and for all, after a new sign of hope.
The Marvel universe grew over the years, but “Avengers: Endgame” focuses on the six original Avengers. They don’t need any introduction and are the praised characters it all started with. The playing field is known and the returning directing Russo brothers don’t pay a lot of attention on background stories. This film is simply for the fans.
“Avengers: Endgame” is a true Marvel film. Humor, sharp dialogues, extravaganza, spectacle. And it has sky high ambitions. Somehow some elements feel uninspired. No introduction to Captain Marvel and Tony and Nebula’s return feel unsatisfying. And some developments don’t live up to our expectations or rules of logic.
I didn’t like what they did to Bruce Banner/ Hulk. It felt weird and I really don’t understand the choice for this. I did like the sacrifice one character made. Thinking it was going to be the other one, it was a cool twist that it eventually turned around. And Scott Lang’s role in the story was pretty cool.
During the end fight, they go all out. It’s a fantastic moment and the definite highlight of the film. The moment where Captain America says ‘Avengers assemble’, that just gave me goosebumps. An epic fight, a great finale.
In “Avengers: Infinity War” the focus was on Thanos, but here the attention had to be divided over several characters. Some protentional plot points have been sacrificed because of that. The end of the film is really strong and it feels like a perfect ending. And it is one final tribute to the Marvel universe. But from the last minutes of the film, you can also conclude that Marvel is not done with new stories yet. So it’s not really the end, but a new beginning.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Cabin in the Woods

Director: Drew Goddard
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Jesse Williams, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison, Brian White, Amy Acker, Jodelle Ferland, Chelah Horsdal, Tom Lenk, Monique Ganderton, Richard Cetrone, Dan Payne

Description: Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.

Review: I’m always sceptic when the makers of a movie tell us it’s an unique or innovative film, because they are more often a lie than the truth. I also had that feeling when the makers of “Cabin in the Woods’, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon, told us that. The slogan ‘you think you know the story, you think you know the place, think again’ sounds like any other horror movie. But “Cabin in the Woods” is different, because it is not like any other horror movie. It’s probably one of the better ones of the past years.
At first sight, nothing special happens in “Cabin in the Woods”. Five friends go to a cabin to relax and party. It’s nothing that has never been done before. And then there are the characters. Curt ad Jules are the louder characters, Holden and Dana are more serious and the fifth one, Marty, is stoned all the time. Marty has his own view on the world, which makes him the odd one out and a great addition to the otherwise stereotypical characters in horror flicks.
But something more is going on, because as soon as the group arrives at the cabin they are like rats in a trap. When they enter the basement, they bring some evil spirits back to life without even knowing it. From that moment on the movie takes a different turn. When we think the five friends are going into a long and predictable survival for life, it’s something completely unexpected. And it gets very bloody. Although gallons of blood flows, it’s never disgusting. It’s sometimes funny instead of gory.
If you’re a fan of horror movies, and you want something different for a change, “Cabin in the Woods” is definitely that movie for you. Surprisingly good, with humor and twists. I enjoy it every time.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Bad Times at the El Royale

Director: Drew Goddard
Genre: Thriller
Runtime: 142 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Nick Offerman

Description: Circa 1969, several strangers, most with a secret to bury, meet by chance at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one night, everyone will show their true colors - before everything goes to hell.

Review: Many times I thought about Quentin Tarantino, while watching “Bad Times at the El Royale”. And that’s a compliment to director Drew Goddard, who is still looking for his own voice but is very talented. Goddard decided to use the non-chronological narration and it works!
The El Royale hotel stand on both Californian and Nevada ground. The border runs right through the middle of the hotel. And the hotel is some strange clientele. The mysterious Father Flynn, soul singer Darlene Sweet, slick salesman Laramie Sullivan and hippie girl Emily Summerspring. All of them have secrets, including the hotel itself.
Goddard has an eye for atmospheric detail, manages to create unusual camera angles and builds up the tension. It looks fantastic. Especially one scene, with Darlene singing “You Can’t Hurry Love” shows what a great filmmaker Goddard actually is.
All characters have their own reasons to be in the El Royale and the less you know from the start, the better. Jeff Bridges is strong as always. But it’s Chris Hemsworth who steals the show as Billy Lee. It takes a while for him to enter the story, but when he does, he really does.
“Bad Times at the El Royale” is a really good film, that looks great and has amazing potential. I enjoyed it from start to finish!

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Reviews - 12 Strong

Director: Nicolai Fuglsig
Genre: Drama/ Action
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Rob Riggle, William Fichtner, Elsa Pataky

Description: We follow the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11; under the leadership of a new captain (Chris Hemsworth), the team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban.

Review: Twelve soldiers, riding horses and carrying machine guns. They take on tanks and rocket launchers. It looks like fiction, but it’s based on a true story. Based on the book “Horse Soldiers”, it tells the story of a special mission: a small American team of soldiers infiltrates Afghanistan to start an attack on the Taliban, right after 9/11.
Chris Hemsworth convinces as the ambitious and optimistic soldier Mitch Nelson. While America is mourning the tragic attack on the WTC, Nelson is stuck behind a desk and feels he needs to do something. What follows is an unbelievable story of a team of twelve soldiers fighting against the Taliban. Nelson has to work with general Dostum in Afghanistan. He is realistic, cynical and a completely different soldier. The bond between Nelson and Dostum is very interesting to watch. But the focus is on the spectacle. Which is a bit of a shame.
Most of the film is action. Good looking action and sometimes very spectacular. But nothing looks very artistic and it all looks like a compilations of dusty sand clouds and explosions.
Besides Hemsworth, there is the always strong and solid Michael Shannon. Who wasn’t given a lot to do, but he stands his ground. It’s an amazing true story, but director Nicolai Fuglsig played it safe and sometimes it feels predictable.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Reviews - Avengers: Infinity War

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 149 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Josh Brolin, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elisabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Idris Elba, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Peter Dinklage, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Gwyneth Paltrow

Description: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Review: “Avengers: Infinity War” is a milestone in movie history. Eighteen Marvel movies come together, they have connections and ready for the big finale. And it’s literally the fate of the universe that’s at stake. But it’s nothing completely new, because it’s a big, colorful blockbuster film filled with amazing characters, sharp dialogues and a huge spectacle. And there is nothing wrong with that formula.
At the end of “The Avengers”, Thanos showed his face for the first tim. And he is finally here to execute his evil plans. In order to balance out the universe, he is looking for six so-called Infinity Stones. They’ve been a part of several Marvel films already. Some of the stones are on earth, so it doesn’t take long for an attack on planet earth and the Avengers have to start fighting. And although the Avengers split up, there are a lot more superheroes that they can rely on. Almost every hero we met in all those movies, is in “Avengers: Infinity War”.
Does it work, so many characters in one movie? You wouldn’t think so, but somehow it does and they found a good balance: the characters are scattered and devided up in four groups, who will meet each other. In some cases, the heroes know each other. But there are also new collaborations. Like Tony Stark and Peter Quill. And their interaction is worth the wait. But Thor and Rocket are an even more entertaining duo. And if all the info from the other Marvel movies isn’t that fresh anymore, they characters just simply explain to each other so that you can catch up.
Thanos as the main villain was all I hoped for. Josh Brolin nailed it!
Directing brother Joe and Anthony Russo take on the role of directors and they have proven before they understand the Marvel Universe well with two of the three Captain America movies.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is an excellent first half of an epic battle. And I’m really excited and curious for the next film.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - In the Heart of the Sea

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Drama
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, Tom Holland, Ben Wishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Michelle Fairley

Description: A recounting of a New England whaling ship's sinking by a giant whale in 1820, an experience that later inspired the great novel Moby-Dick.

Review: “In the Heart of the Sea” tells the true story of the Essex, a ship under attack of a giant sperm whale. The story inspired the literary classic “Moby Dick”. In this film, author Herman Melville is still looking for inspiration for his novel. He finds one of the survivors in a small village and asks for his story.
The film convinces at the start, with a very realistic setting and the 19th century pioneers who want to sail to the end of the world to collect whale oil. The adventure at sea looks amazing.
The story starts with George Pollard and Owen Chase. The two have to form a team while at sea. Chase is the most capable man to be captain, but Pollard gets it due to his family name. When they set sails, it is clear that Pollard isn’t a good leader.
The scenes with the whale are the best, but sadly there aren’t a lot of those. The whale isn’t present that much anyway. In the end, “In the Heart of the Sea” is more of a survival movie.
The film has a really strong start, but eventually misses depth and didn’t give me what I expected.

Rating: 3 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 116: Thor: Ragnarok

Director: Taika Waititi
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Adventure
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tessa Thomspon, Karl Urban, Ray Stevenson, Clancy Brown

Description: Imprisoned, the almighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.

Review: Innovation and variation is becoming harder within the superhero genre. In the past 10 years, Marvel has brought us 17 movies. Because the characters keep meeting each other in each other’s movies, there is a chance the films lose their identity and become disposable. But Marvel has realized this and are heading into a different direction.
“Thor”Ragnarok” is a bit of a gamble. It’s a complete different route for the God of thunder, because it’s an unprecedented humoristic trip through the cosmos. And it’s a very welcome surprise, because continuing on the same way as “Thor: The Dark World” is simply not an option. Because that would mean that naïve Thor would fall for Loki’s shams all over again, when at the end of the first Avengers film, this relationship has been settled more the less.
All elements that are a threat to the levity of the film, have been removes and are just side issues. For instance, love interest Jane Foster isn’t in it and I’m not missing her.
“Thor: Ragnarok” left all seriousness aside, which makes it a good comedy with action in it. And that's all thanks to New Zealander Taika Waititi, who also directed “Hunt For the Winlderpeople”. And I love this director’s humor. He also voices one of the funnier characters in the movie.
Most memorable is the scene where Thor sees Hulk in the arena and adding the green hero to this film is a great addition. It’s fun to see a different side from him.
The biggest plus is that the world of Thor has become more colorful, in every way of the word. “Thor: Ragnarok” is the best in the trilogy and one of the best in the Marvel Cinemativ Universe. What an awesome movie!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Actors That Are Sexier with a Beard

I love beards, or I love men with beards. A good beard. And there are so many men that look much hotter with a beard. I listed five of those men, actors to be specific, that look way better with a beard.

5. George Eads
He had many looks on “CSI”, but the season(s) where he had a beard I loved Eads the most. Eads is one of those men that gets more attractive by the years. And that beard on him is just sexy. Especially with a few grey hairs in it…

4. Ryan Gosling
He has a more trimmed beard, not very heavy on the facial hair. And Gosling is extremely attractive without it, just look at him in “Drive”. But that beard makes him more of a man and more handsome too.

3. Ryan Reynolds
Without a beard, Reynolds simply has a baby face. He is super hot with that beard, just look at the Amity film he was in.

2. Chris Evans
The beard doesn’t make Evans a tough guy, it just makes him more serious and appealing. As Captain America it doesn’t fit him, but for other roles it does. Throw that razor out Chris!

1. Chris Hemsworth
Okay, this man. I sometimes think he isn’t real, that’s how perfect he is. And with that beard he is the definition of a perfect man.

They Almost Made the Top 5: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hardy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Bradley Cooper, James Franco, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Kit Harrington

Top 5 Thursday: Hottest Male Characters in Horror Movies

Since it is October and it’s the month of Halloween, I decided to share with you a top 5 featuring horror movies. Well, I do it my way. I focused on the hottest male movie characters in horror movies. Here they are.

5. Seth Gecko (George Clooney in “From Dusk Till Dawn”)
Seth Gecko manages to charm you and you almost forget that he is a criminal. And although I’m not much a tattoo kind of girl, his is pretty awesome. And sexy.

4. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale in “American Psycho”)
Patrick Bateman is exactly the kind of man I would never date: a yuppie, narcissistic and vain man. But he is attractive.

3. Curt (Chris Hemsworth in “Cabin in the Woods”)
Curt is kind of a douche, the jock of the group. But come on, it’s Chris Hemsworth who plays him. I just had to put him on the list.

2. George Lutz (Ryan Reynolds in “The Amityville Horror”)
I don’t know why George Lutz is in this film shirtless so often, but I’m not complaining. George eventually turns into a psychopath, but he still got the looks.

1. Jerry (Colin Farrell in “Fight Night”)
I’ve never liked the swoony vampires, that don’t want to kill people. I liked the bad boys. Having Jerry as your neighbor is not that bad, weren’t it for the fact that he is an evil vampire. A hot evil vampire.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Jerry (Colin Farrell in “Fright Night”), Nick Jones (Chad Michael Murray in “House of Wax”)

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 118: Vacation

Director: John Francis Daley
Genre: Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2015
Starring: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Chris Hemsworth, Leslie mann, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Charlie Day, Ron Livingston, Norman Reedus, Keegan-Michael Key, Regina Hall, Kaitlin Olson, Michael Peña

Description: Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) takes his own family on a road trip to "Walley World" in order to spice things up with his wife (Christina Applegate) and reconnect with his sons.

Review: We live in a time of reboots and remakes. Superhero franchises, foreign films get an American version and classics are remade. Within the comedy genre there are also some popular films that need a modern touch. “Vacation” is one of them. It’s technically not a remake, but “Vacation” is feeding of its original version from 1983.
Rusty sees that his wife is unhappy and he is worried about the continued bickering between his two sons. The solution: a family road trip to an amusement park.
In the original film the characters where family people, with whom you could identify and you would sympathize with. This doesn’t go for this film. The characters lack depth and it’s hard to feel for them. The humor is at times fun, but it’s mostly juvenile jokes. The movie does have humor, some situation are really funny. The Seal song “Kiss from a Rose” is a funny recurring joke for example. And the guide they meet on the way, that is played by Charlie Day was hilarious. And some thumbs up for the cameos, Chris Hemsworth and Chevy Chase. But they just take it too far sometimes, which makes it unbelievable.
Overall, this comedy does make you laugh but isn’t of a high level. The original 1983 film is far superior, but “Vacation” is fun for one night.

Rating: 2,5/ 5