Movie Reviews: "The Last Stand" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 01-18-2013, 07:14 PM

Movie Reviews: The Last Stand

He’s back. Not quite a Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger nevertheless once again is making the case for old-fashioned, mindless violence in the movies with The Last Stand.

Filling in for the ailing Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper suggests that the violence in the movie is about as believable as the name of Schwarzenegger’s character — Ray Owens.

(“Really? He was given that name at birth?” Roeper asks.)

Cleary, he writes, the movie is not for those who abhor onscreen gratuitous vioilence. “But if you’re a fan of stylish, relentlessly loud shootouts, questionable plot developments be damned, this is your ticket to weekend escapism.”

That’s also the conclusion of Mark Olsen in the Los Angeles Times, who writes:

“In an age when even comic book adaptations have a dour seriousness about them, this is a movie content with just being good, old-fashioned fun.”

Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal also gives the movie a passing grade, for the same reason.

“The movie isn’t about eloquence, it’s about giving Mr. Schwarzenegger a chance to take on new enemies that include advancing age.”

Stephanie Merry in the Washington Post isn’t buying any of that. The movie, she writes:

“persistently tries to drag the audience down to its mindless level.”

Peter Howell, in the Toronto Star notes that January is usually the time of year that such “under-nourished genre movies … are dumped upon a slumbering populace.”

However, in light of the recent school shootings, he concludes, “maybe this is one January where a film like The Last Stand shouldn’t have been released as though everything is just (violent) business as usual.”

-IMDB News

isiahthomas · 02-02-2013, 12:12 PM

I saw this and it's very good. I was surprised it came in last place opening weekend at the box office. It's not playing at the theatres anymore here. I know Arnold probably doesn't care this didn't make a lot of money because he got paid and his fans i'm sure liked it. Johnny Knoxville and Luis Guzman were funny. Forest Whitaker was also good. I wanna know who's the cute white woman that worked with Arnold. I've never seen her.

JamesG · 02-02-2013, 12:34 PM

Yeah, the film bombed.

It looks like the kind of movie that will be great for at-home viewing (via rental, cable) and not the kind of flick that people would go out to see.

isiahthomas · 02-02-2013, 12:47 PM

Well unfortunately action movies don't make a lot of money anymore. They made a lot of money in the 80's and 90's. That's why a lot of action movies go straight to video now. I'm always gonna support action movies that come to theatres because i love action movies. I could care less if action movies don't make a lot of money at theatres. I notice that when i go to the movies to see action movies, there's only a few people and it's mostly guys. I wouldn't expect a lot of women to see action movies anyway. I think Die Hard 5 is gonna make a lot of money because the previews look really good and Bruce Willis has a lot of fans that love the Die Hard sequels.

01-18-2013, 07:14 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,179	Movie Reviews: "The Last Stand" Movie Reviews: The Last Stand He’s back. Not quite a Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger nevertheless once again is making the case for old-fashioned, mindless violence in the movies with The Last Stand. Filling in for the ailing Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper suggests that the violence in the movie is about as believable as the name of Schwarzenegger’s character — Ray Owens. (“Really? He was given that name at birth?” Roeper asks.) Cleary, he writes, the movie is not for those who abhor onscreen gratuitous vioilence. “But if you’re a fan of stylish, relentlessly loud shootouts, questionable plot developments be damned, this is your ticket to weekend escapism.” That’s also the conclusion of Mark Olsen in the Los Angeles Times, who writes: “In an age when even comic book adaptations have a dour seriousness about them, this is a movie content with just being good, old-fashioned fun.” Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal also gives the movie a passing grade, for the same reason. “The movie isn’t about eloquence, it’s about giving Mr. Schwarzenegger a chance to take on new enemies that include advancing age.” Stephanie Merry in the Washington Post isn’t buying any of that. The movie, she writes: “persistently tries to drag the audience down to its mindless level.” Peter Howell, in the Toronto Star notes that January is usually the time of year that such “under-nourished genre movies … are dumped upon a slumbering populace.” However, in light of the recent school shootings, he concludes, “maybe this is one January where a film like The Last Stand shouldn’t have been released as though everything is just (violent) business as usual.” -IMDB News

02-02-2013, 12:12 PM	#2
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I saw this and it's very good. I was surprised it came in last place opening weekend at the box office. It's not playing at the theatres anymore here. I know Arnold probably doesn't care this didn't make a lot of money because he got paid and his fans i'm sure liked it. Johnny Knoxville and Luis Guzman were funny. Forest Whitaker was also good. I wanna know who's the cute white woman that worked with Arnold. I've never seen her.

02-02-2013, 12:34 PM	#3
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,179	Yeah, the film bombed. It looks like the kind of movie that will be great for at-home viewing (via rental, cable) and not the kind of flick that people would go out to see.

02-02-2013, 12:47 PM	#4
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	Well unfortunately action movies don't make a lot of money anymore. They made a lot of money in the 80's and 90's. That's why a lot of action movies go straight to video now. I'm always gonna support action movies that come to theatres because i love action movies. I could care less if action movies don't make a lot of money at theatres. I notice that when i go to the movies to see action movies, there's only a few people and it's mostly guys. I wouldn't expect a lot of women to see action movies anyway. I think Die Hard 5 is gonna make a lot of money because the previews look really good and Bruce Willis has a lot of fans that love the Die Hard sequels.