The CineFiles

Saturday, July 5, 2025

BAD ASS (2012)

Directed By: Craig Moss

Written By: Craig Moss and Elliot Tishman

Cinematography: John Barry

Editor: Jim Flynn

Cast: Danny Trejo, Harrison Page, Patrick Fabian, Ron Perlman, Charles S. Dutton, Joyful Drake, Chris Spencer, Craig Sheffer, Richard Riehle, Winter Ave Zoli

A Vietnam veteran who becomes a local hero after saving a man from attackers on a city bus decides to take action when his best friend is murdered and the police show little interest in solving the crime.

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will be the first to admit this film and it’s sequels for the most part are guilty pleasures there bee movies, but they have a lot of heart and truly seem to want to give the audience entertainment as they respect them.

this film is a fun takeoff of the viral video of an elderly senior citizen, who gets tired of a bunch of young punks, harassing others and ends up in self-defense beating them up

How this film begins truly showing the origins of the lead character and shows us his strength and attitude as well as getting a community behind him

So that when the main storyline starts, we already know what he is capable of as he tries to figure out an avenge the murder of his best friend in the investigation taps into a conspiracy

This film rely heavily on comedy but definitely has plenty of action in a while not the greatest of Scripps or believability or direction. This film does have its charms and it seems to have a lot of heart, especially in the right place and wants to please fans not only the genre, but the type of film that it is.

As this is the type that would definitely go straight to home video back in the day now it would be straight to streaming and plays off like a bee movie with big names to get funding and have an audience and least this film earnest and provides the chance to play a leading role Which passes amicably

Again the film has a recognizable supporting cast who seemed to be here more in cameos, but by the end, you just can’t help, but like the film, despite its weaknesses as it’s just a fun movie, even when it takes itself serious, it manages to be entertaining and fun.

As long as you go in knowing it’s a no-brainer and just seeking entertainment and fun I think you’ll enjoy this film that surprises you a bit with it’s resourcefulness and lives up to its title kind of vigilante revenge film. While also filling in the boxes of an action film, even having a light romance by the end.

Essentially gaining all the things that he always wanted, but was never granted.

Grade: C+

Friday, July 4, 2025

BAD ASS 2: BAD ASSES (2014)

Written & Directed By: Craig Moss

Cinematography: Paul Marschall

Editor: Clark Burnett

Cast: Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, Patrick Fabian, Andrew Divoff, Ignacio Serricchio, Jaqueline Obradors, Jonathan Lipnicki, Sarah Dumont, Loni Love, Charlie Carver, Dante Basco

Frank Vega teams up with grumpy old agoraphobic Bernie Pope to kick ass and clean up the streets of L.A.

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Like most sequels this is pretty much more of the same only bigger and unfortunately batter in terms of quality as even though it seems to have taken its time this film feels rushed, and if the original was a revenge tale vigilante this one is the same now it’s also a comedy as bad ass has a partner who is slowly dying who seems to join him only for that reason.

Similarly, these films when they have sequels also get a bit dumber so this one is a little more flashier than the first film as expected definitely has more guns.

This one is definitely more comedic and has a slightly bigger budget as the villain poses more of a threat, and uses kind of the same excuse to get away with his crimes as in lethal weapon to the infamous diplomatic immunity clause

As in the first film, he fought against a corrupt government in street gang now bad ass find himself going up against pretty much a whole cartel and it’s leader who is a international politician again police or any authorities hands are tied so it’s up to him and his partner this time played by Danny Glover

Who is a ladies man which leads to some hilarious scenes as again this film seems more camping played for laughs than the first time. It’s still a fun ride, but it definitely starts to stretch the plausibility faster like most seems to partially throw away the events of part one to a certain extent , so that it fits more into a different narrative that allows for again him losing someone close who was like a son and setting up a side romance story for him

The villains are still over the top and ridiculous though a little higher echelon as far as the budget is concerned with Andrew Divoff playing the villain who seems like a more polished version of the same villain he played in A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME.

One of the aspects of these films that I think has audiences keep coming back is seeing more of an adult action hero, who isn’t necessarily invincible, but for the films purpose seems near invincible and using their smart and experience to win and figure things out as well as being budgeted so there’s no Too much over the top action sequences that make no sense and the film firmly planted tongue in cheek

As well as the lead characters really have nothing to lose, which is why they seem to be going out and willing to risk it. All it is a bee movie franchise is that is worth watching and checking in with each gets more ridiculous because there is another sequel to this film.

It’s nice to see characters who are used to playing supporting roles kind of get their day in the sun to play more leads and carrying over from the first film. It seems like this film also has an unnecessary. at least one unnecessary.

That house these films is that the actors seem to at least be having fun which is infectious for the audience because they intern feel like the film is fun

If you are a fan of the first film. You should enjoy the sequel.

Grade: C

Thursday, July 3, 2025

THE HITMAN (1991)

Directed By: Aaron Norris

Written By: Robert Geoffrion & Don Carmody

Cinematography: Joao Fernandes

Editor: Jaqueline Carmody

Cast: Chuck Norris, Michael Parks, Al Waxman, Alberta Watson, Salim Grant, Ken Pogue, Marcel

Sabourin, Bruno Gerussi, Frank Ferucci, James Purcell

After surviving an attempt on his life by his former partner, officer Cliff Garrett exacts revenge on those who wronged him by going undercover as a hit man. He works to gain the reputation and trust needed in order to be accepted by the burgeoning Seattle-area criminal underworld, but it is all done in order to take it down from within.

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This is one of the first Chuck Norris movies I’ve ever watched from beginning to end, where he was a star and not a supporting player or making a guest appearance.

I will admit, I saw bits and pieces of it on television before I decided to screen it and watch it in full and part of the reason is Chuck Norris is look in this film with this long slicked back pretty much a mullet with a Scar and him looking more like a bad ass in a leather trenchcoat.

This film was directed by his brother, Aaron Norris, and I wonder if Chuck over the years kind of brought him in as somebody he can trust and also might do more of what he says instead of it, being such an open collaboration, where other directors might have visions of Granduer, whereas with Aaron Norris, who has directed many of his brothers films it’s more simpatico it’s family is all for a common vision in good

Considering the image Chuck Norris has of all americana and western. This one is more of an urban tail though with plenty of stereotypes, especially of mobsters of the early 90s.

No, obviously the film gonna play fast and loose with any kind of facts or logic, especially when his introduction as his undercover character is him blowing somebody away with a shotgun what you don’t even really see many undercover cops do in other movies and television shows so it is a bit of a shock

While he does have some hand to hand combat scenes, it’s mostly gunplay, which again is kind of new at least for me when it comes to a Chuck Norris movie nor did I expect it to be quite as violent and a bit gory.

Then, throughout all this, he still tries to help his neighbor who is getting picked on, stand up for them self and be a surrogate father figure which leads to an unbelievable ending of the film

No, truthfully this phone is already unbelievable from beginning to end and it’s just typical straight to at the time video kind of shock even though I know this plate in movie theaters and it’s not a very good looking film it’s very dated watching it as to be expected, but as bad as it is, it’s very entertaining it’s got character actors, Gloor and clearly paycheck rolls, but playing it for all it’s might.

It moves along even though at times you’re rolling your eyes it’s still wouldn’t make me a Chuck Norris fan necessarily but if you are in it will not disappoint you. It’s a bad movie that’s so bad that it’s actually good as far as entertainment, but it still leaves me as to why the cult of Chuck Norris I don’t give me wrong. I like WALKER, TEXAS RANGER for all probably the same points that people if they like this movie would like this movie but Walker was free to watch. Whereas people had to pay to see this movie.

This film is really straight up trash or maybe even junk. Though As even as an action film, the action isn’t that memorable and he seems to be involved in very little of it half the time until the end really

Grade: C-