2016 - STAR TREK BEYOND, overblown version of a TV episode of the series

This overblown Star Trek film, the third in the restarted series is just another junky action flick.  Too bad, because the cast was just starting to come together as an ensemble.  Simon Pegg the actor who plays Scottie is a co-writer on the film so there is some attempt to inject some humor into the series this time.  Unfortunately there isn't enough humor in the galaxy to smooth over this contrived plot.

It seems that the USS Enterprise on a mission to rescue another crew trapped on an alien planet is lured in to a trap by some alien megalomaniac who wants some super weapon stored on the Enterprise etc.

Star Trek Beyond is yet another summer popcorn film which just doesn't know when to quit.  The film is overloaded with action scene after action scene.  There is a prolonged fight towards the end of the film on some improbable space station that just goes on an on and adds nothing to the story other than to make the film longer than it needs to be.

I would rate this Star Trek film about as good as a mediocre episode of the old series.  At least the old series could have knocked this plot out in about 45 minutes without all the over stuffed action scenes.  A real missed opportunity.

122 minutes, written by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung.

2013 - FAST AND FURIOUS 6, another film in the series

If you saw Fast Five...

130 minutes.

2011 - FAST FIVE, a film for manly men

The acting challenged cast of Fast Five consists of Vin Diesel the leader of a team of street racers hiding out in Rio.  Along with Diesel is Paul Walker as his partner and Walker's skanky girlfriend played by Jordana Brewster who is also supposed to be Diesel's sister.  In hot pursuit is Dwayne Johnson or "The Rock" or whatever he is calling himself these days as a very sweaty federal agent.

There's lots of car chasing action, much of it very good, but the film is way too long. They could have easily lost about 30 minutes of it's running time had the plot been tightened up.  There is a lot of boring, planning the big heist stuff between the action scenes.  Also the promised "Wall of Gunfire" never happens.

 

Probably the most hilarious aspects of the film are the character moments that are stuck throughout the film.  One has to listen to Diesel mumble about his relationship with his father.  A jive spouting black guy is supposed to be the comedy relief and the women are essentially Barbie dolls who know their place for the most part.

The men sit around partying,  drinking beer and have a big barbecue before they pull off their caper.  This is male fantasy time, fast cars and loose women.



The film has the now required and way overused coda scene that runs after the credits.  At the end of Fast Five,  federal agent Eva Mendes in very high heels and a low cut blouse,  the required dress code,  hands a file to sweaty Duane Johnson signaling that there will be another film in The Fast and Furious franchise.

130 minutes