Crank: High Voltage (2009)

[Movie 210 / Day 222]


The original Crank was a brilliantly fun action movie. It was ridiculous, it was over the top, it was low budget, but it was novel. All of those things added up and it worked.

High Voltage tries to repeat the trick and, for the most part, succeeds. Obviously it's not such a novel concept this time around, so the film-makers have opted to add all sorts of bizarre interludes (from a flashback to Chev's youth to an odd Godzilla-style fight scene). I found it detracted from the movie. If they'd just stuck to more of the same, it would have been better.

As it is, it's pretty good, but nowhere near as much fun as the original. They did leave it open for a third though - if they make one, let's hope they go back to the original style.

My rating: 6.3 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.8 / 10
Running time: 96 mins
IMDB link

The Italian Job (2003)

[Movie 124 / Day 104]


As a remake of the classic 60s Michael Caine movie, it's rubbish.

As a generic Hollywood actioner that happens to feature stealing bullion using 3 Mini Coopers (albeit new ones) and controlling traffic lights, it's very enjoyable.

The car chase is a bit rubbish though, considering that's what the original is famous for!

My rating: 6.7 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.9 / 10
Running time: 111 mins
IMDB link

Transporter 3 (2008)

[Movie 109 / Day 76]


The Transporter was pretty good, mindless fun.

Transporter 2 was OK, some really shoddy bits of CGI though.

Transporter 3 is dire.

My rating: 4.3 / 10
IMDB rating: 5.9 / 10
Running time: 104 mins
IMDB link

Death Race (2008)

[Movie 64 / Day 38]


In this reboot of the low budget 1975 original, Jason Statham plays Jenson Ames, an ex-race car driver who is framed for the murder of his wife and sent to a maximum security, privately-run prison.

This prison is run by a nasty old bag, aptly played by Joan Allen (who appears to have a face full of Botox - either that or she was attempting to do the entire film whilst remaining completely devoid of expression). In order to raise funds to keep the prison running, they hold a Death Race, in which prisoners race heavily armed (and armoured) cars, attempting to kill each other and win the race. If a prisoner wins 5 races, he is freed. And of course, it's broadcast as PPV TV.

Each car has a navigator, who in the case of Statham, is a buxom wench from a prison that seems to like to dress its inmates in short cut tops and sexy boots.

Statham, quite obviously, is going to try to escape and enlists the help of various other inmates.

It's definitely a popcorn movie - the plot is paper thin - but it has plenty of explosions and big growling V8 engines. It's quite fun, in a no-brainer kind of way. And it appears that Jason Statham is cementing his position of Hollywood's action hero, in the same way that Sly and Arnie did in the 80s. He's quite good at these growling-voiced anti-heroes, as evidenced in Crank and The Transporter.

My rating: 6.8 / 10
IMDB rating: 6.7 / 10
Running time: 111 mins
IMDB link

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007)

[Movie 31 / Day 17]


There are so many recognisable names in this movie: Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Ray Liotta and Burt Reynolds... And yet, it's still terrible. Stilted dialogue, shoddy effects, plot holes... It's just bad.

The best thing about it is Claire Forlani's cleavage, although I don't recommend you sit through this to catch a glimpse.

My rating: 3.4 / 10
IMDB rating: 3.8 / 10
Running time: 127 mins
IMDB link