Killer Elite (2011)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Since Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson are no longer "in shape", for many years, action film lovers have to live with guys like Vin Diesel and Jason Statham (Stallone & Schwarzenegger are something different). Personally, I don't like neither Diesel nor Statham, the first one is too awkward in everything he does, the second is not convincing. If I have to choose between them, I choose Statham, he's more sympathetic. Not really tough as he wants to look, in all his movies he is the same, he's not at all what you call a versatile actor (much more tough is Charlize Theron in "Atomic Blonde", plus, she's a real good Actress). De Niro is no longer what he was once, anyhow he still has his unique charm of old-fashioned fox. I loved the scene when he recovers his watch ("I got to get my watch back...") Yvonne Strahovski is cute and nothing more. The other actors are almost all functional, they play their roles well, except for Rodney Afif, who is not at all convincing as the sheikh. I've seen the movie twice, with great care, as usual, I know what I'm saying. It has some good action, tracking, beatings, explosions, not bad. From some time, De Niro likes a lot to shoot with the machine gun, his character, Hunter, is like Sam's twin brother (or clone) from "Ronin"(much better film - both films with some action in Paris). And Monsieur De Niro speaks French correctly. The best of the whole movie is Clive Owen as Spike.

Americans and Brits are as bad as the Mad Muslims they fight in the ME. Hollyweird types love moral equivalence, and this movie is full of it.It's pretty good for 3/4 of the way, but then it devolves into all sides are the same. In the real world, Mad Muslims purposely maximize the deaths of innocents.The moral idealism this movie delivers is as convoluted and paint by numbers as the last 1/4 of the movie.The formula for a movie like this is get a few well known stars, go through the motions, deliver a liberal message, make some money. The problem is, it's not very entertaining.

'This is the best special forces unit in the world, they make the Navy Seals look like a bunch of cupcakes'Possibly the best line of the film or any film for some time. Based on a controversial novel by Sir Ranulph Fiennes called 'The Feather Men' this is a ripping story based on assassins and major undercover ops within the British Empire surrounding our Special Air Service unit.What makes this so intriguing is the fact its supposed to based on or around fact and the author, Fiennes, was actually one SAS serviceman almost killed. Whether this is all accurate or exaggerated is questionable but makes for a great film. Of course the Ministry of Defence denies all actions undertaken within the book, naturally, but the events all surrounding the control of oil in the Oman area is highly possible and the British Empire are highly skilled at cover ups and keeping things hush hush. What is surprising is the use of SAS servicemen for the fall seeing as they are the best of the best are most definitely not disposable.As for this film I can't quite understand why it has received such negative reviews, it has excellent action, stealth, espionage of sorts and has the 80's recreated very well. The title doesn't help of course, to read it you'd think its some kind of blistering non- stop explosion filled gun fest much like 'The Expendables'. With the casting of Statham I can also understand the confusion with this notion as he's not exactly a subtle actor for a sensible film. The fact is there is really a very very good espionage thriller here...underneath the dreadful fact Statham has been miscast. Obviously this is to give the film a much bigger impact and attract more of an audience with the action man vibe. Unfortunately this gives the film a completely upside down outlook and messes up a possibly intelligent film.Everyone else in the film is cast well and makes for a sensible exciting thrilling ride. Alas Statham brings his typical kind of dumb invincible super soldier theme into the mix which takes most of the believability away sadly. Think 'The Bourne Identity' but with Statham as the lead but also add in a hint of 'Ronin' (a better film I might add).Its still a fun film with great set pieces, hard to believe its all fact I must admit. I haven't read the novel so I can't compare but its hard to think a few mercs could take down experienced SAS servicemen. I wonder if Fiennes likes this Statham vehicle adaptation, decent enough but a missed chance for a real classic.7/10

Stirring as well as non-stop action movie , being allegedly based on facts , though the SAS even went on the record to disown both writer Fiennes and his book . After a brilliantly exciting opening in a thrilling terrorist action executed by Danny (Jason Statham) his mentor named Hunter (Robert De Niro , he is the only American born actor in this film) is taken captive by a disgraced Arab sheik, then the killer-for-hire is forced into action . His assignment : kill three members of Britain's elite Special Air Service responsible for the death of his sons . As it concentrates on the painful vendetta proceeded by an Arab oil magnate , as he kidnaps Hunter and coerces to Danny his search for revenge . Covering the globe from Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, Danny helped by Davies (Dominic Purcell), and Meier (Aden Young) pull off his relentless mission to free their colleague who is being held captive . This moving picture contains thrills , unstoppable action , betrayal , fighting , car pursuits and lots of deaths , as it has a great body count : 21 . There are echoes here of many other action movies and behind the deceits , plot twists and manipulation is essentially a simple yarn . This is a thrilling picture in which our main starring , Jason Statham , is plunged into a highly dangerous game of vendetta and deception - where things are not always what they appear to be . The film is built around the internal secret services and SAS which sidelines in dirty work that ever the CIA won't touch . The flick contemplates the old themes of trust , friendship , vengeance , treason , cold violence and humiliation . The set pieces such as car chases , impressive as well as violent fights and a roof chases including bounds and leaps are all magnificent , as are so many secondary scenes . Interesting screenplay by Matt Sherring plenty of twists and turns , being inspired by the book "The Feather Men" written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, this was an English adventurer, polar explorer and former SAS man is the author of The Feather Men, the novel from which this film is adapted . Although he has often claimed the novel was a true story, the families of the real dead SAS men named in the novel who died on SAS exercises and the SAS themselves publicly attacked it as sick exploitation and complete fiction . As mentioned above, all the families and the British special forces denied they had been consulted or involved in any way with the book . The main cast is pretty good such as Jason Statham , Clive Owen , Yvonne Strahovski and Robert De Niro . Though the main starring results to be Jason Statham who from Transporter (2002) he already had a background in martial arts which enabled him to perform his own fight sequences , he followed in several similar roles as a two-fisted hunk in Charles Bronson ink such as War , Crank , The mechanic , Safe , Parker , Blitz , Hummingbird , Homefront , Wild card among others . Support cast is frankly well such as Dominic Purcell, Ben Mendelsohn, Anden Young , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Nick Tate , Bille Brown, Stewart Morritt, and Grant Bowler . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek . Colorful and adequate cinematography by Simon Duggan . The motion picture was professionally directed by Gary McKendry , though has ups and downs . Rating : 6 . Acceptable and passable . Not very good , but enough to be going on with .