The Jason Statham thread

[lovemunkey187]

There was a little discussion started in the "Whatchya got?" thread, where Jon said something that I agree with and have said many a time. That Crank is a really bad film.

The premise for Crank is quite original and inventive(someone is now going to come up with where this has been done before). If you enjoy action fims the idea that a world class hitman has been drugged and had his heart removed and replaced with a battery powered one and has got to keep spiking his adrenaline levels to keep it from stopping opens up a whole spectrum of possibilities.

Which it fails to deliver. I'm fairly sure that a 12 year old was behind the script, as some of the ideas were things that I would've thought would make excellent cinema when I was 12.  Although I would've included Burt Reynolds.

Shoot 'em Up gives you over the top action and violence with some black humour and a modicum of plot. It also has Monica ( ) Bellucci  in it.

That's very true about his accent. It annoyed me when the character could so easily have been given a British SAS background rather than US.

Crank hitting the action immediately is its appeal for definite, but it also reduces it to a gimmick. I prefer that little detail called "narrative"! Transporter could do with taking a breather occasionally and director Leterrier ruined Incredible Hulk for being too interested in blowing stuff up all the damn time, but Crank... nah. Good for one off and then it's time to watch films for grown-ups again.

:p Pete, I just watched all three Transporter films... and I was kind of impressed but then...They aren't as good as Crank but... id recommend them I personally i think I like the second one most.

Now that is definitely subjective! I've seen Transporter 1 and 2 and really enjoyed them for what they are. Old fashioned action movies, can't go wrong. Crank? That's something quite different. It's ridiculous to an insane level and actually a very bad film that bludgeons you before you notice how bad it really is! I liked it, but not as a film. Transporter isn't great, but it's far more reliable.

...Jon, I like Crank in a way that its so absolutely ridiculous its awesome... I mean! the action starts instantly! whats not to like! its brainless you can just watch it and not have to think. Have you seen Transporter 3?....  I think my problem with the first Transporter is... Jason Stathem is putting on a funny accent .... and I like his British one!

That's very true about his accent. It annoyed me when the character could so easily have been given a British SAS background rather than US.

Crank hitting the action immediately is its appeal for definite, but it also reduces it to a gimmick. I prefer that little detail called "narrative"! Transporter could do with taking a breather occasionally and director Leterrier ruined Incredible Hulk for being too interested in blowing stuff up all the damn time, but Crank... nah. Good for one off and then it's time to watch films for grown-ups again.

I'm not 100% but, I don't think that it specifies with which nation he served in the special forces

Just to make Emma happy

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[goodguy]

Shoot 'em Up gives you over the top action and violence with some black humour and a modicum of plot. It also has Monica ( ) Bellucci  in it.[/color]

Shoot 'em Up is a great example on how to get over the top action and violence right. The plot is really nothing more then window dressing and that's a good thing. The casting is pitch perfect with Owen, Bellucci and Giamatti. I haven't seen Crank, but Transporter would be my example on how to try the same and get it all wrong. Narrative my ass.

[Jon]

 

Matthias, I should say at this point that I didn't mean to suggest Transporter was a good example of "narrative", just that it has one. I like it, but it's just watchable fun, so please don't think I want to imbue with anything more than that.

I haven't seen Shoot 'Em Up yet. Can't think what has been putting me off. 

I'm not 100% but, I don't think that it specifies with which nation he served in the special forces

I can't remember now, but I think it's simply a picture on his desk or a shelf in his house near the start. There was something that specified he was American.

[Emma]

 

...Wow, I like that pic. LOL

so...

I think you guys are looking at Crank wrong.

both Crank 1 and 2 and the Gamer (which Neveldine/Taylor also directed) to me are films that are not supposed to be the best films ever they are supposed to be in the same vein as 80's action movies like Demolition man and stuff like that... you know?... dont over analyse them they dont need it... 

And I honestly cant think of anything else to say because that picture really does have me that distracted. 

[Jon]

Good grief, what are you on?  Demolition Man is far better than Crank. I love those kind of "everything got all blowed up" movies anyway. Crank wishes it could as much fun. We're not analysing it at all, there's nothing there worth looking at too hard!

And hey, I did actually like Crank. I get what they were trying to do. It's just a shame someone with talent didn't have a crack at it. 

[Silence_of_Lambs]

The way I understood the "concept" of Crank it was to shoot an action film that is reduced to the absolute minimum.

The result was an extremely fast action movie without any unnecessary extras (f*** it, who needs a plot if it only distracts from the next carcrash).
You may like it or not, but saying that it lacks a "narrative element" is as funny as stating that Alien has a total absence of little fluffy animals. It's not there because it wasn't intended to be there.

The only really negative thing that can be said about "Crank" is, that they turned it into a sequel and therefore revived "Chev Chelios". But with the success of part I that was to be expected.

[goodguy]

I haven't seen Shoot 'Em Up yet. Can't think what has been putting me off. 

I know I mentioned it a few times. Maybe it was my frequent recommendation that made you suspicious.   

[lovemunkey187]

I haven't seen Shoot 'Em Up yet. Can't think what has been putting me off. 

I know I mentioned it a few times. Maybe it was my frequent recommendation that made you suspicious.   

How can I say this nicely? 

Ahh, that's it. Jon pull your thumb out yer butt and get it watched.

[Achim]

I am not sure why, but I liked Crank for what it was, except one scene which had me rolling my eyes so hard, it hurt (which is the scene where is having sex with his girlfirend on a trash can ); just rubbed me in a wrong way.

Funny enough, something similar happened with Shoot 'Em Up, although less strongly. I just felt irritated by Belucci's profession

Spoiler (hover to show)

a lactating prostitute

as it seemed they just wanted to make controversial for the sake of it.

[Jon]

I haven't seen Shoot 'Em Up yet. Can't think what has been putting me off. 

I know I mentioned it a few times. Maybe it was my frequent recommendation that made you suspicious.   

How can I say this nicely? 

Ahh, that's it. Jon pull your thumb out yer butt and get it watched.

  I just found the Blu on PlayTrade for less than a fiver, so it's worth a crack...

[lovemunkey187]

I am not sure why, but I liked Crank for what it was, except one scene which had me rolling my eyes so hard, it hurt (which is the scene where is having sex with his girlfirend on a trash can ); just rubbed me in a wrong way.

Funny enough, something similar happened with Shoot 'Em Up, although less strongly. I just felt irritated by Belucci's profession

Spoiler (hover to show)

a lactating prostitute

as it seemed they just wanted to make controversial for the sake of it.

I don't think that they did specifically do it to be controversial, instead just used a very fetishistic/specialised aspect of that profession. At least it wasn't for gratuitous purposes, it did serve to further the narrative (as Jon would say)

[Mark Harrison]

I really like Jason Statham.  But I don't care for his choice of movies.  I think Crank is one of the worst blind buys I've ever made.  Saw Transporter and hated it so much I never even bothered with the rest.  And I do like action movies.  I think Demolition Man is a fantastic cheesy action film and can't believe it would be compared to Crank.

I just wish Mr. Statham would start choosing better roles.  I loved him in the Guy Richie films (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch).  So I'd like to see him do something with a little more meat.