Gun Movie Posters Jackpot: Sicario, Black Mass, Captive, September 18, 2015

This week's new movie releases hit a jackpot with three posters featuring guns: Sicario, directed by Denis Villeneuve, featuring heavy weights Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin.  I hear that this is a gritty movie, dealing with the drug wars, task forces to disable drug cartels in Mexico.  My husband was stoked to watch this movie: it's a genre film that appeals to certain male types. The guns in the poster makes sense in the context of violent drug gangs.

Update: I saw a screener copy of Sicario. It is an excellent movie. Violent, but not gratuitous. Gun in movie made sense.

And then we have Black Mass, with another heavy weight, Johnny Depp, playing the real life Boston Irish gangster Whitey Bulger who was finally arrested in California.  Being the murderous thug that he is, I guess the poster featuring Whitey with a gun makes sense. Depp is a good actor and I hope he broke out of his Captain Jack mode from Pirates of the Caribbeans to play this role. Movie could be good just for his acting.

Finally, the movie Captive.  I like the fact that this is an uplifting and inspirational movie, again based on a real life story of a woman (played by Rooney Mara) who was held captive by a black man.  She was able to talk him out of violence by reading the good book "A Purpose Driven Life" by famed pastor Rick Warren. Okay, why don't I like this movie poster? It's a bit offensive showing the pious looking white woman converting a criminal black man with a gun in his hand as if only she can change the evil tendencies of the black man.  Also, the movie smacks of major promotion of Rick Warren's Christian flavored book by the religious right.  Since I don't like being preached to, I'll pass on this one.

Transporter Refueled: Lone Man With Gun: September 4, 2015

Sadly, even when refueled, this franchise seems to be running out of gas.  The original movie poster was understated, featuring Frank Martin played by new comer Ed Skrein in a lone gunman pose but without any weapons.  So, I bet when the movie didn't do well, the producers decided to add some guns to the DVD cover to spice up some expectation. I liked the first "Transporter", but by the second one, I was already burned out with this story. Then made a third, and now the 4th. Pass.

How ridiculous can this DVD cover be?

Original movie poster without guns. The product placement car is an Audi.

Hitman: Agent 47, American Ultra: Lone Man With A Gun. Week of August 21, 2015

One movie about contract killers and another that touts the uniqueness of the "American" culture.  I suppose American Ultra is about wild and crazy things that only American youth stoners can get involved in. No youths in any other country comes close, hence the "American" in the title.

 Zachary Quinto of Star Trek fame is in this one. I like him, but I'm not sure I'd bring myself to see it though.

Fantasy of Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg as those wild and crazy self entitled American kids with can do spirit. I'll pass.

No Escape: Lone Man With A Gun, Week of August 16, 2015

Rounding off the month of August 2015 is "No Escape," following an American family living in Southeast Asia who get caught in the middle of a violent revolution. They must flee to safety while being hunted by a murderous rebel leader."  Sounds like one of those white people in exotic country using their superior wits and "can do" spirit to escape bodily harm threatened by the murderous locals. Somehow, against the local army with a full array of weapons, our white heroes happen to acquire guns which give them a level playing field to escape. Tired of this shit. Will pass. Besides, I can't take Owen Wilson seriously as a action hero, and I still think of Pierce Brosnan as 007.

Lone Man With a Gun: The Man From U.N.C.L.E: August 14, 2015

Super stylized poster harken back to the 60's where those Brits make spies oh so slick and cool with only a hint of gun violence that is done so ummm stylishly.

What I am afraid of is that it's all style and no content. Guess I will pass.

Lone Man With Gun: Cop Car, August 8, 2015

I'm guessing: Two innocent kids running into a bad cop, and viiolence and tragedy ensues. Everyone learns a lesson.  I respect Kevin Bacon, and he sure looks badass, but I'm not sure I want to watch the movie.

Lone Man With Gun: July 31, 2015: Six Ways to Die

I wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole.  First, I don't like Tom Sizemore, and featuring a man holding a gun and a fast car does nothing for me besides signaling that this is a mediocre action movie. The tag line "Six Way to Day and One Death Isn't Enough" What does it even mean! Will pass.

Lone Man With Gun: July 24, 2015: American Heist: Won't See It.

This posters is a double whammy for me.  First, it's got guns up the wazoo featured in the most ridiculous, cartoonish and buffoonish way. Second, I kind of hate movie titles with the adjective "American" in it as if somehow it makes the subject matter more unique, but in fact makes it seem more self important and provincial in an ignorant way. "American Heist", as if the heist is more unique because it's perpetrated by an American. "American Sniper", as if the sniper is bigger than life because he is American. "American Beauty" as if there is a special brand of beautiful due to the subject matter's Americaness. "The American President", as if he is more human than most other presidents. "American Psycho" as if the psycho is somehow more deranged because of his Americaness. "American Hustle" as if the scam artists are better and more wiley because they are Americans. "American History X", "American Gangster"  . . . and the list goes on.

Just because this movie embodies two of my pet peeves, I don't think I can bring myself to even recommend it.  Too bad it seems to star some of the more respectable actors like Academy Award Adrien Brody (what happened to you, Adrien?), Hayden Christensen, Jordana Brewster.

Lone Man With Gun: July 17, 2015: Korean Movie: A Hard Day

Foreign Movies are also in on the gun action. This Korean movie about a detective down on his luck finding that someone has been following him all along. The premise is intriguing, and the fact that it won a award at the Cannes Film Festival and glowingly mentioned by Hollywood Reporter suggests that it is pretty good. I'm not sure I will make a special effort to go see it. But you should check it out.

Lone Man With a Gun: Weekend of June 5, 2015. Spy, Starring Melissa McCarthy

 

The movie is most likely a parody of the traditional international spy movies a la James Bond, starring a non-traditional Melissa McCarthy.  The heavy dosage of guns in this poster signals exactly that: traditional poses with guns from traditional spy movies to make fun of them via the action pose by the heavy set funny McCarthy, as well as the stupid traditional gun poses by Jude Law, Jason Stathem and Rose Byrne.  This is a clever use of guns on a movie's poster for comedic effect, and not just a lame attempt to boost ratings with nonsense macho gun images. Spy just might be silly fun.

Lone Girl With a Gun: Barely Lethal: Barely of Interest: Weekend of May 29

My theory is, when a movie is about to tank, producers throw in a few guns to make the posters project the idea that the movie might have some potential excitement. Most likely, none exists. In Barely Lethal, directed by Kyle Newman, Samuel L. Jackson is appearing in one too many movies, most of them questionable. As for Jessica Alba, what is a pretty face carrying a gun trying to project? Nothing worth writing home about, I'm sure.

Weekend of May 22, 2015: Good Kill. Worth Checking Out

With a title like "Good Kill", and focusing on a lone man wearing sun glasses in military attire, you'd assume that a gun will be randomly inserted in the poster to show that this is a movie about killing, shooting, etc. But this poster is definitely counter advertising: not a single gun is present to spice up the poster. The poster, an image of a fighter plane, and Ethan Hawke stand alone, as if trying to say this is not your typical shoot them up movie.  There is something else going on inside the man: a struggle, a dilemma, a memory, who knows. I respect Ethan Hawke as an actor who chooses movies carefully, therefore I think "Good Kill" is worth checking out. The same goes for Bruce Greenwood, and January Jones. Directed by Andrew Niccol.

Guns of Anarchy: Weekend of May 15, 2015: Mad Max: Fury Road

Official Poaster, 2015

Poster for International Release

I don't find the Mad Max reboot 2015 posters any appealing. The domestic posters puts the emphasis on the more well known Charlize Theron. For international distribution, apparently the emphasis on the lone man with a gun is still a surer bet. The post apocalyptic butch looking Charlize Theron character is somewhat interesting, but really unappealing. I don't know who Tom Hardy is.

However, for sentimental reasons, I might go to watch Mad Max: Fury Road just because decades ago, I really liked Mel Gison as the original Mad Max when it first came out. Maybe the reboot is still fun to watch, although I kind of doubt it. Different time, different age, different me.

Lone Man With Gun: Weekend of May 8, 2018: Guns Bonanza

Two movie posters of note with guns in them. Both of which I'll skip:

 I like Reese Witherspoon, and I've no opinion on Sophia Vergara since I never got into the Modern Family TV show. Both seem to play against type in a humorous romp about cops and suspect. At least the girl carrying a gun to be funny theme poster is kind of interesting and not too overdone. It might be funny, but I think I will be kicking myself for wasting my time if I went to see it.

Skin Trade, on the other hand, seem to be just another exploitative movie treading the same ole cops and underworld revenge story. Tries too hard to find a vehicle to revive the careers of Dolph Lundgren and Michael Jai White while introducing the new International martial arts phenom Tony Jaa of the Ong Bak movies fame. Unfortunately, I'm not sure this movie is the right one for him to crossover to an American audience.

Weekend of May 1, 2015: Avengers: No Guns Needed. A Clenched Fist is Enough

I saw several versions of the new Avengers, Age of Ultron movie poster and kudos to the production team: you'd be hardpressed to find any of the super heroes carrying a gun. I guess most of them have weapons that are already mightier, especially when facing a foe as formidable as the Ultron, right? Hence, Captain America just wields his shield. The Hulk bulks up to become a super bashing green thing, Thor swings his hammer, Hawkeye's weapon of choice is his bow and arrow. Iron Man has other weapons up his armor plud his metal armored fingers are probably too thick to pull a gun triggeranyway. The only people carrying guns are the Avengers who have no particular superpower: Black Widow who nominally can heal fast and is an acrobat (How can you even call that superpower with a straight face????), and Nick Fury who is just a blind-in-one-eye secret agent. In this poster, even the Black Widow only has a gun strapped to her shapely thigh and she's not even using it. For the super team, a clenched fist by all seems adequate to fight the greatest threat to earth.

Yet, only a few years ago, for the first Avengers debut, guns were still more prominent. Not on the true superheroes. Only the non superpower possessing Black Widow and Nick Fury needed to use them.

By the way, while the posters seem really exciting, I didn't like the first Avenger movie, so most likely I won't see the Age of Ultron. I have started to boycott Scarjo movies. But truthfully, I am more of an X-Men fan. True angst and tormented souls as opposed to the Avenger silliness. . . but that's just me. Enjoy an X-Men weekend!

Showing This Weekend: April 24, 2015: Kung Fu Killer with Donnie Yen.

 

If you love Donnie Yen as much as I do, you'll want to watch Kung Fu Killer. I've enjoyed watching Donnie Yen in all his Ip Man movies about the legendary Kung Fu  master of the same name during the Japanese invasion of China. After he moved to Hong Kong, Ip Man reportedly taught a young Bruce Lee back in the day. 

Now, this poster just trades on Donnie Yen's fame and the Kung Fu genre, nothing else. Hence the name "Kung Fu" is prominently displayed in the title, along with Donnie Yen.  As for the director Teddy Chen, I've no idea who he is, although he's probably quite well known in Hong Kong.  Kung Fu Killer was originally released in Hong Kong as "Hong Kong Jungle". 

I think I'll go watch this movie. If not, I will wait for it to stream on Netflix.

Lone Man With Gun: Weekend of April 24, 2014: Laugh Killer Laugh.

The movie is described in some reviews as a killer who enrolls in a creative writing class and starts spewing stories about his exploits and past. Premise sounds interesting and possibly humorous to me, but I think a more creative poster emphasizing the main character's writing attempts rather than his killing job might make me want to see it more. I would dismiss this movie based on this poster. The tagline: Wiseguy or Wiseass doesn't help either. However, reading online about the movie does. LA Times gave it a brief but good review. This leads me to think: If a movie has to rely on people digging deeper to bring themselves to want to see it, then the poster it probably spent millions of dollars on is not doing its job.

Laugh Killer Laugh, starring William Forsythe, Tom Sizemore and Bianca Hunter. Directed by Kamal Ahmed.

Throw Back Movie Poster: Charlie Chan In the Secret Service

They say that the Charlie Chan movies are racist. Asian Americans particularly object to the way the Chinese detective is portrayed as a stereotypical pidjin English speaking Chinaman. However, I recently began to read Charlie Chan by Yunte Huang and have a new found appreciation for this character based on a real life detective in the Honolulu Police Department in the early part of the the 20th century. Hollywood's portrayal of the detective in the noir genre gave birth to a truly American pop culture icon.

I found Charlie Chan in the Secret Service on Netflix. Racist as it may be, the anachronistic portrayal of the horrible Confucius wisdom spouting detective by Sydney Toler had me giggling all the way to the end. It's hard not to imitate the way he speaks afterwards. Detective Chan earned much respect from this humble viewer.

Infernal Affairs: One of the Coolest Hong Kong Movies

Infernal Affairs: The Hong Kong cult classic that inspired Oscar Award winning movie The Departed, directed by Martin Scorcese. The original is so much more raw. The poster is typical of the Hong Kong ganster/police bad-ass gun wielding style, and style is what this movie is about. Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak and starring two of Asia's biggest stars Andy Lau and Tony Leung.

Posters with Guns: Weekend of April 17, 2015. Monsters: Dark Continent

This is apparently an American GI fighting aliens kind of story. Default weapon for brave men to save the world? Guns! Oh, just read the description. It's an "absolute must see", directed by Brent Bonacorso and Jesse Atlas. 

Supposed to be an epic sequel to Gareth Edwards' cult sci-fi hit, Monsters. I haven't seen that one, and most likely won't see this one either.

Starring

Posters with Guns: Weekend of April 10, 2015. Kill Me Three Times, Broken Horses

Biiiiig gun and small.

Looks like this is an Australian film, starring another one of the Hemsworth bros and a few others.
Directed by Kriv Stenders. Can't seem to get too excited by this movie.

Sub-tle! Gun is not carried by anyone but is the biggest thing looming as a shadow. Artsy!

 Now, I just saw this one, billed as "A Tail of Brothers, A Trail of Blood". Given the fact that both James Cameron and Alfonso Cuaron gave it their endorsements and that it's directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and maybe an Indian director's interpretation of the American Western story, intrigue me.  I might rent it on DVD one of these days.

Posters with Guns: Weekend of April 3, 2015. Cut Bank

 

 

 

 

He's the sheriff, so must carry gun.

 

 

 

 

 

Billed as an "All American Thriller", starring Liam Hemsworth the Australian, John Malkovich, Bruce Dern, Billy Bob Thornton and Theresa Palmer (who?). Directed by Matt Shakman.

Here is another of my pet peeves. Have you noticed that too many movies are billed as "American this" or "American that"? I guess America (meaning the United States, we're not talking about Canada, or any of the countries in South America, I don't think.) with all its' supposedly unique indiosyncracies, sells to the world, and to itself.

Posters with Guns: Weekend of March 27, 2015. Man From Reno

Several movies are coming out this weekend, and to my surprise, none of them seem to have a poster featuring guns toting folks. But wait. Here's one. Man From Reno, apparently an indy film, features a gun on its poster, albeit not too prominently. A quick search, I find that this film started with a Kickstarter funding, an indy indeed.

As I look at the poster, I notice that is is an Indy movie by David Boyle, the guy who directed White On Rice, a really funny movie featuring an Asian cast, including one of my favorite leading ladies, Lynn Chen, The poster is actually quite intriguing, prominently featuring a mysterious Asian woman with a damsel in distress look. It stars Ayako Fujitani and Pepe Serna, neither of whom I know, so at least that's different from the movies that always try to cast the same-ole same-ole. I think I might check out this film at some point. In fact, I really want to check it out now.

Posters with Guns: Weekend of March 20, 2015: Insurgent, Gunman

Of course, gotta carry that big gun to show you're the gunman.

Movie Posters with Guns: Weekend of March 13, 2015: Run All Night

Okay, this looks the same as all the posters depicting Liam Neeson playing reluctant badass. Getting stupid. I used to like Liam Neeson but beginning to lose respect for his movie choices.

Movie Posters of Characters with Guns: March 6, 2015: Bad Asses On The Bayou

Bad Ass 3. This means there is a Bad Ass 2 and a Bad Ass 1! Poster depicts unattractive people that nobody wants to see. These characters are not in a  war zone. They are just regular bubba's in military fatique and wearing a fanny pack on the bayou doing something unappealing to me. Must be doing well for them to make these sequels, but I will skip it. Looks like a waste of time. I'd feel like I'm an ass if I watched this!

Directed by Craig Moss.

Lone Man (and Woman) With Gun: February 27, 2015: '71 and Everly

Judging from this poster, I think this is a war movie, and I don't usually like to watch this genre. However, given the fact that the poster is prominently displaying all the awards this film has won in various film festivals, the movie seems to be a serious take on a serious subject and not just a gratuitous display of gun machismo. So, it might be worth it for you to check it out. I probably never will.

And then there is Salma Hayek in Everly. The poster hits on all the key themes of what seems to be "in": The tattoos, the machine gun, and nudity. It has a catchy description to boot: "Get Out of Die Trying".  I like Latino actress Salma Hayek in general, but even with her naked and all these buzzy symbols of the in culture, I don't think this movie can be saved. It looks plain stupid and improbable. Okay, I just read the description in IMDB. It is indeed stupid: Lone woman facing hit man and mob boss in her apartment, naked.

Weekend of February 20, 2015; No Guns! Best Bet: McFarland USA

So, none of the movies opening this weekend had posters showing people carrying guns. Good job, movie industry. Best bet this weekend might be McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner, Directed by Niki Caro.

Based on the poster, this movie might be about Latino kids, sportsmanship, athletic champions, and Kevin Costner as some kind of white man mentor. I do like Kevin Costner in general because of his pensive wise man persona. I do like uplifting and inspirational movies featuring people striving to succeed and learning good values. This movie seems to fit the bill.

Will watch it when I get the time.

Weekend of February 13, 2015: Guns Galore: Kingsman: The Secret Service

There are so many guns in this movie poster sending a clear message that this movie is about mayhem. I actually watched Kingsman in the theatre because my daughter wanted to see it. Her friends who saw it found it fun.  Verdict: Is there violence and mayhem? Yes. Is it a good movie? I have to say the cheekiness of the movie giving a nod to all the secret agent genre and the stylized violence does make it fun. Uplifting and inspirational? Not at all. This movie is good for the humor and effects.

Weekend of February 5, 2015: Jupiter Ascending

Jupiter Ascending: Even in a futuristic sci fi world, a gun is still the weapon of choice. A man posed with a gun wearing a tank top to show off his muscles still projects machismo and possibly heroic qualities. The movie title is about Jupiter, a woman. So where is she in this poster?

I have heard of mixed reviews of the movie, but judging just from this poster, I won't go and see it in a movie theatre. Too contrived. On TV maybe.

Directed by Wachowski Brothers, starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, and Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne.

Lone Man With Gun: Weekend of January 30, 2015: Alien Outpost

The barren landscape and the threat of Aliens exterminating humans is perfect for our lone man to make "mankind's last stand," with a gun.  The topic feels stale, and the poster of the macho male protagonist with bravado is more stale. May be made into a first person shooter game? Even that seems stale. This movie might be good for some mindless fun if the CG aliens look good or if you have nothing else to do. Directed by Jabbar Raisani, Starring Adrian Paul, Rick Ravanello.

Sometimes I don't know how these movies get green lit and made by the studios. Must be a post release date market out there.

Lone Man With Gun: Weekend of Jan 23, 2015: Mortdecai, a Johnny Depp Flop

Even though the official movie posters for Mortdecai don't seem to feature anyone holding a gun in his hand, search deeper . . . Aha. The marketing people for this movie couldn't resist going to this tried and tired motif of man with a gun even if it looks like a satirical movie. Looks slapstick and a waste of good talent, although I'm beginning to question Johnny Depp's talent and movie choices at this point. Too one note.

The other official posters:

This:

and this:

Weekend of January 16, 2014: Two Movies From Two Iconic Directors: American Sniper, Blackhat

Two movies from two iconic "macho man" movie directors: Blackhat by Michael Mann, and American Sniper by Clint Eastwood. Two testosterone filled movies that I am not interested in at all.

Norse god-like Chris Hemsworth playing man.

Review for Blackhat has been terrible, otherwise I might be interested in a cyber espionage movie. Poster shows actor Chris Hemsworth as a computer hacker, and cerebral MIT graduate. However, the men carrying guns at the bottom of the poster wants viewers to have no doubt that this is an action movie featuring guns and not just computers!

Every man Bradley Cooper playing god.

As for American Sniper. I don't like the glorification of a person who made it a career bragging and lying about his supposed feats of executing people summarily behind their backs with a sniper gun in the name of patriotic duty. I normally like Bradley Cooper okay, but will pass on this one.

Weekend of January 9, 2015: Four Movie Posters All Featuring Guns

 

Predestination with Ethan Hawke. How do you confront destiny with a gun? Hocus pocus.
Preservation: "Man is the only animal that kills for fun." I guess these three poster boys/girl are being hunted down for fun by someone and they need to survive. Even if the movie is good, the movie is just plain trite. Will pass.

Taken 3. Truthfully, Liam Neeson must be the most unlucky former special forces guy in the world. His wife and daughter somehow gets repeatedly abducted or killed. I half way enjoyed the first Taken movie but think the next two are unnecessary. Tag line says "It ends here." I hope so. Will pass.

The World Made Straightt: For Blood, For Money, For a Way Out" Starring my favorite former ER doctor Noah Wylie. Apparently this one is a coming of age story and may be okay. However, this lousy poster does not give any indication as to what the movie can possibly be about. Not interested.