People faced extraordinary challenges from nature, technology and a dangerous amusement park in this week’s new releases.
1. Adrift (STX Entertainment, 3,015 Theaters, 120 Minutes, Rated PG-13 for injury images, peril, language, brief drug use, partial nudity and thematic elements, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 67% Fresh [65 Reviews]): For the adventurous, there is nothing quite as thrilling and romantic as sailing the open seas with the person you love. Working together, going where the currents take you, it gives you the feeling of freedom.
That seems idyllic, but if you come across a hurricane out in the open seas, like Tami (Shailene Woodley) and Richard (Sam Claflin) did, it becomes a horror story and a fight for survival.
This film is based on a true story. And it looks like Woodley gives a bravura performance. Might be worth a look.
2. Action Point (Paramount, 2,032 Theaters, 85 Minutes, Rated R for crude sexual content, language, drug use, teen drinking, and brief graphic nudity, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: N/A [One negative review at press time]): Hey, kids, let Grandpa Bill tell you about Action Park. If you grew up in the 1980s and lived in an area that got WWOR or WPIX in your cable package, you saw ads for Action Park. It was a park that appeared to be completely made up of all the rides you would be too scared to ride in other parks, but all in one location.
The park lived up to this reputation. It operated in an age where safety regulations weren’t enforced and it took full advantage of it. You literally took your life in your own hands whenever you went there (so I heard, I was too chicken to go). It’s legend is that it was the most dangerous park in America.
There could be a good film to be made about this park. This isn’t it. This seems to be Johnny Knoxville using the park as an inspiration to do more Jackass-type stunts. The fact that there is only one review posted on Rotten Tomatoes as of Friday afternoon is a warning sign. Stay away.
3. Upgrade (BH Tilt, 1,457 Theaters, 95 Minutes, Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language, Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer at press time: 85% Fresh [54 Reviews]): Some times, all it takes to become inventive is to mash two different genres together to create something new. Like this film, which marries The Six-Million Dollar Man with Death Wish to create the most exciting offering of the week.
In the near future, Grey (Logan Marshall-Green) is left paralyzed after a mugging that also killed his wife. A scientist comes to his aide with an experimental computerized chip that give Grey the use of his limbs back. But the chip also gives him something else–the ability to get revenge on the men who killed his wife.
The film seems to be the gritty sci-fi film that resonates with audiences. Well, at least this one. After seeing the trailer, I really want to see this film.
Next week, the Ocean family is back planning capers, and they have brought a whole mess of Oscar winners with them See you then.
