The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

 

 

Movie Name/Year: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Genre: Drama, Action, Comedy, War

Length: 2h

Rating: R

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Guy Ritchie, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Arash Amel, Damien Lewis

Based On: Book "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill's Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops" by Damien Lewis

Actors: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza González, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Rory Kinnear, Til Schweiger, Freddie Fox, James Wilby, Henrique Zaga, Danny Sapani, Matthew Hawksley, Simon Paisley Day, Mark Oosterveen, Victor Oshin, Alessandro Babalola, Orshuff Emmanuel Mele, Tim Seyfi, George Asprey, Luca Marrocco, Paul Antony-Barber, Bikiya Graham Douglas, Nikolas Salmon

 

IMDb Blurb: The British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

When I tell you I was excited to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare leading up to its April 2024 release, it's, in fact, a gross understatement. This movie was one of the small handful in recent years I was practically bouncing off the walls with the anticipation. There was never even a question of where it would land on my personal Top 20 list that month. This production about these marvelous military mad men was absolutely my #1 pick.

 

It didn't surprise me that Selina had The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare pegged as her own #1 entry. What did give me a moment of pause, and made me giggle, was that her blurb that month fairly echoed my own thoughts on the film almost verbatim.

 

We were absolutely here for a movie where we got to see Superman kill Nazis with gleeful abandon. Yes, yes, it's clear that Henry Cavill (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Enola Holmes, The Witcher) was not actually in the red & blue super suit while gunning down Nazis, but ever since Man of Steel (2013) he has etched himself into my heart and personal cinematic landscape as the caped embodiment of the symbol of hope – and one that the late Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) would be proud of. (Of course, except when sporting long white hair, but that's an entirely different scenario. I digress...)

 

 

Watching interviews of Cavill pretty much, if low-key, geeking out over the actual history behind this band of men that thwarted the 3^rd Reich's Atlantic U-boat campaign throught Operation Postmaster was one of the most wholesomely joyous things ever. The man who was presumptively in line for playing 007, himself, ended up in the role of the man that inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond in the first place. In one interview, Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike, Endless Love, Back Roads) explained that Cavill also pretty much “saved his life” while shooting this film. Pettyfer had a near misstep and loss of balance while transitioning between boats while filming and attributes Cavill for hauling him back to safety in the nick of time.

 

Okay, okay... enough rambling about that. You get the point. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare simply gave me so many reasons to fangirl and do a lot of geeking out of my own.

 

 

Cavill and Pettyfer weren't the only names among the cast I was excited to see. Alan Ritchson (Titans, Fast X, Reacher) playing Anders Lassen was another source of joy from this production. It was glorious to watch him rack up possibly the largest kill-count in close-combat with Nazis in the movie, with his character's rage-fueled glee. Then, of course, Cary Elwes’ (Saw, The Princess Bride, BlackBerry) was magnificent with his wry delivery, and Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful, Skyfall, Black Mirror) was an excellent choice as Churchill. Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After, The Silencing, The Woman King), Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen, Last Christmas) , and Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds, Atomic Blonde, Charlie Countryman) were also on point. Eiza González (Baby Driver, I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong) was an excellent choice for this WWII badass lady of mystery and espionage. Babs Olusanmokun (Dune: Part One, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Book of Clarence) phenomenally delivered his character's measured and seemingly calm demeanor – while being no more peaceful than a body of water with a deceptively still, glassy surface but powerful and deadly currents underneath.

 

 

When Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Wrath of Man, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) is involved with a project, I just expect a really good viewing experience – and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was no exception. The banter was on point, and the comedy was expertly woven in as Ritchie is known for. It was all seamless and felt right in the moment. There were never any forced laughs or any that didn't fit the scenes. This is a good example of why people just say “Yes” when Ritchie calls them, before they even know what he's pitching.

 

When you pair that with the experience and production value that Producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Top Gun: Maverick) brings to the table, it becomes pure movie magic. For example, all of the boat shots used for this movie, for the most part, were shot on actual boats out on the water and not on a sound-stage. It brought an extra layer of realism with the practical effects, and helped the story become more immersive.

 

Action lovers have plenty to enjoy here from hand-to-hand, lots of gun-fighting, plenty of explosions, and even a fair bit of archery.

 

 

While quite a lot of the movies based in the history of WWII tend to be super serious, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare manages to bring an edge of levity and an extra helping of excitement to its task of bringing this slice of the actual events from the last World War to the big screen without being disrespectful. The story was taken straight from Churchill's declassified documents and brought to the public eye and attention through a historian and former war-reporter's book – and now The Ministry of UngentlemanlyWarfare adapted that for the screen. Of course, there's likely to be some wiggle-room in the historical accuracy of some of the events for the sake of cinematic license, but that doesn't change the core of the story based in fact.

 

If you are a fan of any of the cast, production team, or genres I've mentioned here at length, my recommendation is to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare as soon as you can get your hands on it – and you likely won't be disappointed.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 93%

Metascore – 55%

Metacritic User Score – 6.6/10

IMDB Score – 6.8/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

 

P.S. - While there isn't a mid or post-credits scene for this movie, there is a segment where the real people involved with Operation Postmaster as shown in this movie have an homage with their photo and a small epilogue blurb for each citing what happened for them afterwards. 

 

A Little Lagniappe ("something extra") - You can visit the official website for the movie here. You can also watch the Extra interview where Cavill and crew discuss making the movie and includes Pettyfer's description of how Cavill saved him.

Movie Trailer:

Interceptor (2022)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: Interceptor (2022)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Length: 1h 36min
Rating: TV-MA
Production/Distribution: Ambience Entertainment, Foryor Entertainment, Netflix
Director: Matthew Reilly
Writers: Stuart Beattie, Matthew Reilly
Actors: Elsa Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane, Mayen Mehta, Paul Caesar, Belinda Jombwe, Marcus Johnson
 
IMDb Blurb: One Army captain must use her years of tactical training and military expertise when a simultaneous coordinated attack threatens the remote missile interceptor station she is in command of.

Selina’s Point of View:
Interceptor had a lot of potential, but it kept getting in its own way.
 
With the feel of a campy 80s action and a semi-fresh plot, Interceptor could have been outstanding. Unfortunately, there were several issues that kept it from meeting expectations.
 
For one, the acting was questionable. There were a few scenes here or there that worked, but mostly the actors felt wrong. There was one scene where Mayen Mehta (Sweet Tooth, Fresh Eggs, Power Rangers Dino Fury) finally felt like a good fit, and a couple of scenes where Elsa Pataky (Snakes on a Plane, Fast Five, Tidelands) worked. For the most part the performances either went too far – into ridiculousness – or not far enough.

 
I thought I was going to love Luke Bracey’s (The November Man, The Best of Me, Point Break) take on the villain, but he never quite took it far enough. He never fully embodied Alexander Kessel. Every moment was just a smidge off. With a bit of a tweak to his performance, he could have been on the level of Hans Gruber, but he just never took that last step.
 
In fact, the best performance was from a cameo. I’d say it’s the strangest, and least expected, cameo I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen Eminem come out in The Interview (2014). I don’t want to ruin it, so that’s all I’ll say.
 
The writing was also not quite where it needed to be. For Matthew Reilly, this was his first full-length feature debut as a writer. So, I’m willing to give a lot of leeway where the script is concerned… and it did show promise. The problem is, I don’t know if that was his talent shining through or help from his more established co-writer, Stuart Beattie (I Frankenstein, 30 Days of Night, Collateral).
 
Interceptor could have been great, but it wound up feel unfinished. It needed better acting and a better edited script. Might be worth watching for the cameo, though…

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I had relatively high hopes for Interceptor. The trailer left me with the feeling that it would be a decent popcorn action movie to kick off the summer movie season. I hesitate to use the word ‘blockbuster’ here, even though it hit the #1 spot on Netflix very shortly after release. That was a little surprising, in the wake of watching it; however, I did have Interceptor listed as #8 on my personal Top 20 List for this June.

Elsa Pataky (Furious 7, 12 Strong, Tidelands) and Luke Bracey (The November Man, Hacksaw Ridge, American Dream) were solid draws to this title for me. I enjoyed their characters’ back and forth in the trailer and it appeared as if Interceptor would have banter that would stir pleasant nostalgia for classic action films of yesteryear. 

I’m not exactly sure that Interceptor hit the mark. There was just something missing and a few points that I just wasn’t able to buy-in to what was happening on the screen. It was decent and I didn’t feel I’d wasted my time. I’m just likely not going to remember much about this movie with the passage of time.
 
There was a cameo that popped up sprinkled throughout Interceptor that had me giggling and, honestly, made the whole thing worth it and fun in spite of its flaws.

 
This was the feature debut for writer, director Matthew Reilly. The Australian author has plenty of experience with story craft, with well over a dozen novels under his belt. His work has also landed on the bestseller lists on numerous occasions, apparently. I’m unfamiliar with his body of work, personally, but from what I can gather, Interceptor is the sort of story that he tends to lean towards.
 
In a Variety interview, he explained that his novels have been optioned by Hollywood before, but the budgets required to realize them on-screen have tended to be prohibitive. His desire with Interceptor was to take something in his style and strip it down a bit to something more feasible. It is clear, however, that he has already been working with Netflix on developing a sequel. Considering the streaming performance that surprised even Reilly, it’s likely he’ll have a little more leeway on the 2^nd outing to go bigger. I hope so, at least.  (Just a note, the linked article contains spoilers – so read at your own risk if you haven’t watched the movie yet.)
 
Hopefully, Reilly will have a chance to iron out any kinks that cropped up with Interceptor as he further gets into his directorial stride.
 
Interceptor wasn’t a bad concept and it was entertaining. I understand why reviews are so mixed about the production, however. If you have some time to kill and this sort of story is your jam, I’d say  Interceptor is worth a shot.

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 43%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –19%
Metascore – 51%
Metacritic User Score – 3.2/10
IMDB Score – 4.4/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

P.S. - There is a brief mid-credits scene. 
 
Movie Trailer:

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Movie Name/Year: Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Genre: Action, Drama
Length: 2h 11min
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Central Partnership, Constantin-Film, Eagle Pictures, Paramount Pictures Germany, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Pictures UK, Paramount Pictures, Towa Pictures, United International Pictures, Universal Pictures International, Paramount+
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Writers: Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie, Peter Craig, Justin Marks, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.
Actors: Bashir Salahuddin, Charles Parnell, Chelsea Harris, Danny Ramirez, Ed Harris, Glen Powell, Greg Tarzan Davis, Ian Gary, India Everett, Jack Schumacher, Jake Picking, Jay Ellis, Jean Louisa Kelly, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, John Wilcox, Kara Wang, Lewis Pullman, Lyliana Wray, Manny Jacinto, Mark Anthony Cox,Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, Peter Mark Kendall, Raymond Lee, Roberta Sparta, Thomasin McKenzie, Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer
 
IMDb Blurb: After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy's top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.

 
Cat’s Point of View:
I think I almost cried when my husband surprised our daughter and I with tickets to a matinee showing for the opening day of Top Gun: Maverick yesterday. It was hard to contain my level of excitement and anticipation for this movie. Fans of the original Top Gun (1986) have been waiting and hoping for this sequel for so many years, subsisting on breadcrumbs of information and fervent prayer. I have been among those shaking a fist at the sky due to the delays. The wait was finally over.
 
Top Gun: Maverick dominated the top spot on my Top 20 Movies to Look Out For in May 2022 article. The question now that I’ve seen it would be: did this Top Gun sequel satisfy my need for speed?
 
My answer is a resounding yes. Top Gun: Maverick took me on a surprisingly meaningful journey at Mach speed and my heart was pulling serious Gs from the action, thrills, and emotional rollercoaster.

 
All of the aerial shots were absolutely worth every penny of the $11,000+ per hour or so the production had to pay the Navy for access to the F-18s for shooting. All of the plane shots (for the most part) were done with real aircraft. The cast had to go through the same conditioning actual fighter pilots use to be able to endure the physical strain of flight and maneuvers at such high speeds. The only 2 aircraft that had to rely on movie magic (to my knowledge) were the hypersonic test plane in the beginning (as well as teased in the trailer) and the F-14 Tomcat towards the end. (The F-14 has been decommissioned and none are in working service currently.)
 
The production value of those decisions was monumental. When you rely too heavily on CGI in situations like this, you run the risk of having a situation like when you show actors driving cars in movies – but what’s outside the window was clearly composited in. It could look fine and realistic but there’s just this tiny voice in the back of your head that tells you ‘that’s not real’ and keeps you from completely suspending your disbelief. Top Gun was the real deal, and it was breathtaking.

 

Let’s talk cast. It wouldn’t be a true Top Gun sequel if there weren’t at least some callbacks to the original film. Tom Cruise’s (Knight and Day, Edge of Tomorrow, Mission Impossible - Fallout) Maverick was a must, and goes without saying since he was the titular character from this story. There would have been no Top Gun: Maverick without Cruise spearheading this passion project.
 
Bringing the story of the other Top Gun graduates forward from 30 years ago was also necessary to connect the two films. I was profoundly moved by the way they included Iceman in this tale. It was done respectfully and gave some much needed grounding for the span of time between then and now. I could just feel the history between the characters nearly palpable on the screen and there were echoes of the old Iceman in Val Kilmer’s (The Snowman, The Super, A Soldier's Revenge) performance. Further, I adored the way they honored Goose and also Meg Ryan’s (Serious Moonlight, Web Therapy, Ithaca) character. Miles Teller (Footloose, Whiplash, Thank You for Your Service) was absolutely brilliant portraying Rooster, Goose’s son. The dynamic between his character and Maverick was off the charts and had me in tears.

 
I was actually surprised when I realized that Charles Parnell’s (Transformers: Age of Extinction, A Million Little Pieces, The Last Ship) Warlock wasn’t in the original movie. His performance and offering to the story had me 100% on board that he and Maverick went ‘way back’ together to those times. He fit right in. I could ramble on about the cast forever. There were so many talented and phenomenal performers here.
 
Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, Only the Brave) took this story into the stratosphere, in my book. I have enjoyed all of his films (and even his shorts) so far and am looking forward to his future work, too. Kosinski has a movie with Teller and other members of this Top Gun cast as well hitting Netflix next month, and I’m excited – but not nearly as excited as I was to see Top Gun: Maverick on the big screen.

 
My heart even did a little flippity-flop of joy when some of the iconic Kenny Loggins score from the original was incorporated here.
 
There were moments that echoed some of the iconic scenes in the first movie, such as motorcycles racing jets and beach-side ball games; but Top Gun: Maverick was definitely its own stand-alone story every bit as powerful and successfully realized as the original. This sequel met the challenge set by the original and then raised the bar.

 
If you're able, I would encourage you to ‘fly’ to your nearest theater to catch Top Gun: Maverick on the big screen. This is also the first movie of its kind to shoot with IMAX film, so if you can see it on one of those screens, even better. Small screens would still be fun when Top Gun: Maverick eventually hits streaming availability (in at least 45 days), but it was ultimately intended as a big-screen experience and excels as such. Absolutely worth the price of admission and then some.
 
When Top Gun: Maverick eventually hits a streaming service, keep your eyes peeled on Paramount+.

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 97%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 99%
Metascore – 79%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 8.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

P.S. CBS released an article here, which includes a video with some behind-the-scenes on how the actors trained for the flight sequences in the F-18 Super Hornets.
 
Movie Trailer:

Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse (2021)

Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video
Movie Name/Year: Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Length: 109 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: New Republic Pictures, Midnight Radio, Outlier Society, Weed Road Pictures, Amazon Studios, Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, Amazon Prime Video

Director: Stefano Sollima

Writer:  Taylor Sheridan, Will Staples, Tom Clancy

Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jamie Bell, Guy Pearce, Lauren London, Jacob Scipio, Todd Lasance, Jack Kesy, Lucy Russell, Cam Gigandet, Luke Mitchell, Artjom Gilz, Brett Gelman, Merab Ninidze
 
Blurb from IMDb: John Clark, a Navy SEAL, goes on a path to avenge his wife's murder only to find himself inside of a larger conspiracy.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
Seeing a movie like Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse right after something like our Monday film, Fried Barry, has an interesting effect.
 
Fried Barry was an experimental horror that followed its own rules. Tropes and recipes were not a factor in any way, shape, or form. Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse is mainstream. It displays a ton of tropes and a very traditional story telling method. It seems completely, inexcusably, basic by comparison.
 
Trust the Dice doesn’t compare the movies we see from day to day, that’s not our thing. However, we’re human. Sometimes our brains are just going to do what our brains do. In this case, I think Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse really suffered from following our Monday film.
 
That said, it IS basic.
 
The twist at the end was the single most obvious for the plot. Once you see the mid-movie reveal, there’s no more mystery. The film acts like there’s more, but there’s not. There’s simply no question as to where the story is going.
 

I’m a little mad. I’m a big fan of Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle, Creed, Just Mercy), and Jodie Turner-Smith (The Last Ship, Nightflyers, Queen & Slim) was bad-ass. The action aspect was also damn good. Some of the action scenes featured stuff I’ve never seen before. It should have been amazing.
 
It wasn’t.
 
I’m left feeling underwhelmed, to say the least. The mid-credit scene sets up the next flick, and I should care.
 
Will I watch it? Sure. Would I seek it out on my own if I didn’t have the blog? Not after this film.
 
In the end, Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse is really only the kind of movie you put on in the background and look up from whatever else you’re doing for the action sequences. It’s not necessary to concentrate on the rest.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
The name Tom Clancy (The Sum of All Fears, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) has become synonymous with political intrigue fiction. The late Mr. Clancy was the creator of famous characters such as Jack Ryan. He was also the author of novels that many classic movies from the late 80s and forward have been adapted from (not to mention a zillion video games). When his name is attached to something, there’s an automatic reaction and expectation involved – at least, that’s the case for me.
 
While this particular fiction genre isn’t my go-to by any means, I have enjoyed the movies that these stories have spawned. Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse is no exception.
 
I was actually surprised to learn that this film has been in development hell since shortly after the book was published in the early 90s. Savoy Pictures purchased the rights in 1993 and went into production. Unfortunately, it suffered from studio shut-downs, director and cast changes, and the like. I’d like to think that those events happened for the best, however. This version of the movie released on Amazon Prime far exceeds what any earlier version would have accomplished.
 
First, this cast was amazing. Michael B. Jordan has proved time and time again how much of a bad-ass he is. I believed every moment of his delivery and was right there vibing with him when he felt things start to go sideways in the story. You could have seriously fooled me into believing that Jordan had passed actual Navy SEAL training for how comfortable he appeared to be in the water scenes.
 

I geek out a little every time I recognize Jamie Bell (The Eagle, TURN: Washington's Spies, Rocketman) in a movie role. It’s not that I’m surprised to see him, it’s because each experience shows a different side of his range – and this man is phenomenally versatile. I loved every minute that Jordan and Bell shared on screen together.
 
Definitely not to be overlooked, Jodie Turner-Smith commands your attention as the SEAL team leader. There’s even a small Easter egg involving her character if you’re familiar with other on-screen Tom Clancy projects. I’m not telling – you need to find it for yourself!
 
The action was well done and believable, and the story certainly resonates just as much today as it would have when the book was written. It hits the ground running and doesn’t give you a breather. I am excited that this was the first installment of a 2-part movie series; there is definitely a sequel intended by director Stefano Sollima (Suburra, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, ZeroZeroZero).
 
I would absolutely recommend this Amazon Prime original to fans of the action or military genres. It’s definitely worth every moment.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 45%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 44%
Metascore – 41/100
Metacritic User Score – 3.8/10
IMDB Score – 5.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
P.S. Mid-credit scene.
 
Movie Trailer:

Monster Hunter (2020)

Streaming Services: N/A
Movie Name/Year: Monster Hunter (2020)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Length: 99 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Constantin Film, Impact Pictures, Capcom Company, Tencent Pictures, Toho Company, China Film Group Corporation, Constantin Film Verleih, Constantin-Film, Praesens-Film, Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina, Sony Pictures Releasing, Toho Company, Towa Pictures, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson, Kaname Fujioka
Actors: Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, T.I., Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, Josh Helman, Jin Au-Yeung, Ron Perlman, Jannik Schümann, Hirona Yamazaki, Nic Rasenti, Nanda Costa, Aaron Beelner, Schelaine Bennett, Adrián Muñoz
 
Blurb from IMDb: When Lt. Artemis and her loyal soldiers are transported to a new world, they engage in a desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers. Feature film based on the video game by Capcom.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I have blue balls.
 
I don’t have testicles… but yes. That’s what this is. Blue balls.
 
There was no ending to Monster Hunter. It cut off during the climax. Nothing got resolved at all. It looks like something is going to happen, and then it doesn’t. Credits roll and we get a cute, but unnecessary, mid-credits scene.
 
It doesn’t even feel like the movie was leaving things open for a sequel, it feels like a part 1 – at best. Even if it was, that wouldn’t have been the place to cut it.
 
I started at the end with this one, because it’s the part that sticks out the most. It’s the feeling I’m left with. I’m unfulfilled and a little annoyed.
 
It wasn’t all bad, though.
 

The film was gorgeous. In fact, it works better as an hour-and-a-half commercial for the CGI team than an actual story.
 
The monsters felt super real. They were terrifying and designed incredibly well.
 
There were also some really great fight scenes… not enough of them to excuse the fact that I didn’t care about whether or not any of the characters survived.
 
That brings me to the next point: it had no heart. It didn’t go into the relationships enough, and most of what it did go into involved ridiculous trope-y script work. There were plot holes galore and just no reason to care.
 
Then, it winds up taking away the ending. If they had given us some kind of beautifully crafted, action-packed ending, it might have raised my opinion of it some. Instead, it left me feeling nothing. Like I wasted my money.
 
Monster Hunter is the epitome of style over substance. I will be surprised if it is not the biggest disappointment of the year where movies are concerned.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 49%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 70%
Metascore – 44/100
Metacritic User Score – 4.0/10
IMDB Score – 5.3/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 2/5
 
P.S.: Short mid-credit’s scene.
 
Movie Trailer:

Greyhound (2020)

Streaming Services: Apple TV+

Movie Name/Year: Greyhound (2020)

Genre: Action, Drama, History

Length: 91 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Production/Distribution: Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Stage 6 Films, Bron Creative, Zhengfu Pictures, Sycamore Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment, Playtone, Apple TV+, China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI)

Director: Aaron Schneider

Writer: Tom Hanks, C.S. Forester

Actors: Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham, Matt Helm, Craig Tate, Rob Morgan, Travis Quentin, Jeff Burkes, Matthew Zuk, Joseph Poliquin, Casey Bond, Josh Wiggins, Josh Wiggins, Michael Benz, Grayson Russell, Ian James Corlett, Maximilian Osinski, Dominic Keating, Dave Davis, Tom Brittney, Chet Hanks

Blurb from IMDb: Early in World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy captain must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by Nazi U-boat wolfpacks.

Selina’s Point of View:

I’m going to start off by talking about the best part of the film. Tom Hanks (The Post, Saving Mr. Banks, Toy Story) is now, and will always be, a national treasure. He is the best of us and an amazing actor. Watching the Navy playfully rib the Army about Hanks moving to their team was one of the funniest things leading up to the release of Greyhound.

Unfortunately, that’s where I need to pause on the good things for a moment.

The entire thing is in naval jargon. You’re bound to see some of that in any military/war movie. It would pull you out of the story if people weren’t talking like their characters should be in the situations shown. The problem is that the film never diverts from the code so that laymen can have an easier time understanding what’s happening.

It’s hyper-realistic, to a fault.

Greyhound makes you a fly on the wall of a ship crossing the Atlantic during World War II. There’s that instant tension because you know the brutality of that war. There are moments where you hear German transmissions that really make you feel like there are killers stalking the convoy. In almost all ways, this film puts you on the ship. It is heart-pounding and breath-catching.

The thing is, if they had cast anyone but Tom Hanks as the Captain – the movie would have sucked.

Simply put, there were times that I had no fucking clue what was going on. If it wasn’t for Hanks being the level of actor he is, I would have been hopelessly lost. His expression, the tone in his voice, the subtle limping… that’s what portrayed to me the gravity of the situation. I didn’t understand half the script.

I also feel like the miniature love story wasn’t really needed. They could have gotten the same effect by just having the Captain look at a picture from his pocket or something – but even that would have been unnecessary. It felt shoe-horned in and pointless. You don’t need it to sympathize with the main character. His actions during the battle do that.

This is the kind of movie you have to concentrate on. You can’t be looking at your phone or cleaning the house while you’re watching. It’s not made to be background noise. All the nuance is in the way people react to the main character and how he emotes. If you miss something visual, you’re going to have a problem. Unless, of course, you’re military personnel.

I feel like military personnel are the people who are going to get the most out of this. They won’t get lost in the jargon and they’ll still have the benefit of Hank’s performance. If I were going to recommend it to anyone, I’d recommend it to them first.

Cat’s Point of View:

The first thing that comes to mind before I even get into reviewing the movie itself is a funny anecdote. Greyhound is another film on the growing list in the meme-verse as proof of why it’s not safe to travel with Tom Hanks – U-boats, plane crashes, and pirates… oh, my. (I couldn’t help it.)

Back to the movie.

While Hanks is beloved for his comedies, he excels at drama – Greyhound has that in spades. Once the film picks up steam it’s fairly relentless with both tension and action alike. I felt like I’d been awake and battle-harried just as long as the captain by the end of the movie.

While World War II battle movies make me a little maudlin and I force myself to watch them because of my grandfathers’ service. I’m generally not a huge fan of the genre. I tend to start tuning out when military jargon gets tossed around rapid-fire. This film was pretty thick with the nautical military verbiage. If Hanks wasn’t the captivating and charismatic actor that he is, I likely would have zoned right out fairly quickly after that started.

I appreciated the cinematography and effects employed to capture the feel of the battle at sea. The casting was also well done. I bought all of the crew’s performances. It was also a touching moment when I realized that Hanks got to share this movie with one of his sons, Chet Hanks (Project X, Shameless, Empire). I was surprised and excited to see Lee Norris (Zodiac, Gone Girl, A Christmas Wish) on the ‘big screen,’ as well. I haven’t seen him in much since One Tree Hill (2003-2012). I hope this marks the beginning of an uptick in projects for him.

I’m afraid that I don’t have much else to offer for this wartime movie. This genre simply isn’t my preference and it’s hard for me to really ‘enjoy.’ That being said, it’s a well-executed maritime story and a solid film offering. Those that appreciate the genre more will likely get a lot out of it.

If this sort of movie is your cup of tea, and you have an Apple TV+ subscription, I would recommend giving Greyhound a chance.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 80%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 79%

Metascore – 62/100

Metacritic User Score – 6.5/10

IMDB Score – 7.1/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

Movie Trailer: