Hercules (2014) – Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) does a decent job as Hercules in this movie, although the script is lacking somewhat, so the most magnificent moments aren’t quite as strong they should be. There’s a good amount of action, not much in terms of boring bits, and there are some very strong scenes, some of which weren’t quite as well coordinated or memorable as they were in The Legend Of Hercules from the same year starring Kellan Lutz, while others were a bit better, so I rate this movie about equal to that one – maybe one level below since this movie is a bit less emotive, with a bit less of an action hero vibe. This movie, instead, has a bit more of a “can’t we all just get along” comradery vibe, which works ok in its own way, it just doesn’t knock your socks off.

Much like in The Legend Of Hercules, there are a few decent supporting cast members here, and a few mediocre. If we could some how combine the best of both movies, we may then have ended up with a single very strong Hercules movie in 2014, but instead we got a couple of movies that feel like they’re hitting a mark short of where they should be considering the core plot potential and the lead actor potential of each.

Black Adam (2022) – Dwayne Johnson and Pierce Brosnan

Powerful music and sound effects, and a top class lead cast, make this movie emotive and enjoyable from start to finish, and easily rewatchable. There aren’t really any boring bits. Bit it’s let down somewhat by immature, low-IQ supporting superheroes (Cyclone and Atom Smasher) but the rest of the supporting cast range from decent to excellent.

Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) is made for this role as Teth Adam / Black Adam – he performs outstandingly in this movie. Pierce Brosnan was also a great fit for his role as Doctor Fate – he also gives a very strong performance. Aldis Hodge does a good job too, as Hawkman. America-born ethnic-Iranian actress Sarah Shahi (real name Aahoo Jahansouzshahi) does great in her role as Isis, the benevolent researcher who found the Crown of Sabbac and set free Teth Adam. Bodhi Sabongui does a decent job as Amon Tomaz, the son of Isis, who befriended Teth Adam. Mohammed Amer does a decent job as Karim – he’s a bit of a camp comedian playing a semi-serious role as Isis’s brother / Amon’s uncle. Marwan Kenzari does a good job as the research team member who was hiding his true intentions to become Sabbac – the demon tasked with delivering hell on earth.

Continued…

Hobbs & Shaw (2019) – Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham

Two for the price of one, with both Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Jason Statham in co-lead roles, as ‘Hobbs’ and ‘Shaw’, continuing their characters from the Fast & Furious movies.

Plenty of high budget fast action scenes including epic car chases, inline with the rest of the Fast & Furious movie series, of which this is a kind of spin-off since Vin Diesel and The Rock didn’t want to work with each other any more.

Idris Elba makes a convincing antagonist too.

Ryan Reynolds has a funny supporting role – this is where he belongs – not in the lead role of an action hero movie. Great supporting role by Kevin Hart too – top level banter there.

Terrible choice of sleazy bratty pop music throughout – kind of ruins the vibe and is a missed opportunity, reminiscent of Black Panther from the year before.

Deadly virus themed plot – no surprise since it’s released in 2019 – it’s even called ‘CV17’ aka ‘the snowflake’ which ‘targets the weakest of us’. Ring any bells?

Dirty theme aside, there’s odd bit of good light humour throughout. But the comedy only works because the mood is otherwise nonchalant – for all the expensive action scenes, it’s not got the cool & comforting mood of something like Bloodsport – the plot is a bit soul-less and the action is intermittently noisy and unemotive, between exciting patches – just as you’d expect from any recent Fast & Furious movie. This is a classic example of how more money and big action movie stars doesn’t necessarily equal action scenes that click – top talent is still needed to put things together behind the scenes. The genre seems to be having an identity crisis – the action here isn’t nearly as slick and clicking as in The Transporter, and it isn’t nearly so funny as The Rundown. It’s got all the meat & bones of a mega classic, but lacks the warm blood running through it, as is often the case when too many superstars come together in one movie – the crew tend to get complacent and the movie ends up stinking (à la Ocean’s Eleven). Ironic, considering The Rock’s speech near the end of this movie, about having heart, to overcome machines.

The mood lifts about two thirds of the way in though, when the team head to Samoa to seek refuge among The Rock’s extended warrior family members. But the cast members playing his relatives aren’t impressive – another missed opportunity.

The lead female is played by Vanessa Kirby but she’s more like one of the lads. Eye candy instead comes courtesy of Eiza González (of Bloodshot (2020) starring Vin Diesel), but she only gets a few minutes of screen time. Major mix up there, and another missed opportunity.

Flaws aside, the stars and budget still carry this movie through to being decent. It’s not a bad movie at all. It’s just way off what it could have been, considering the levels each star has reached alone in other action movies.

The Rundown (2003) – Dwayne Johnson and Seann William Scott

Also known as ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, this movie stars Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) and Seann William Scott (from Bulletproof Monk and American Pie) and deserves a very high rating as it’s thoroughly entertaining from start to finish mainly thanks to great performances by the two lead characters who are well known for producing thoroughly entertaining action movies. The rundown also benefits from a mildly adventure-packed plot, and decent performances by the supporting cast – some of whom are just as famous as the lead actors. Christopher Walken is the bad guy; while the lead female role is played by Rosario Dawson who is perhaps best known for playing Claire (the nurse) in Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Defenders. The Rundown is a real adventure and highly recommended for fans of Dwayne Johnson and fans of Seann William Scott who both produce some of their best work in this movie. As you’d expect, with Dwayne’s background in wrestling and combat-oriented movies, and Seann’s role in another awesome martial arts focused movie in the same year, this movie features plenty of fighting – mainly empty-handed but also plenty of action with guns. This movie doesn’t seem under-funded although it does have a fairly simplistic (but kind of sufficient) plot – with a more advanced plot this movie could potentially be on a par with the best movies ever made due to its already outstanding action-comedy entertainment value.

Martial arts wise, there’s a fair amount of martial value but that’s not strictly the focus of this movie. Action wise, it’s an action packed adventure, with a few slower scenes. Plot wise, it is a weak plot, which allows for a casual atmosphere, but could massively benefit from a strong plot. As with many star studded movies, the stars are carrying this one through a poor script and it would be a pointless movie if it only had average actors. Cast wise, here we have two megastars in one movie! Plus a strong chief antagonist and a decent lead female. It could still benefit from one more star in the cast, but is already doing very well in this department.