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!