Action and adventure films

David Ayer's Harsh Times (2005) and End of Watch (2012) – and also his screenplay for Training Day (2001) – showed he was the smartest of operators, but this new picture is a tiring and muddled attempt at old-school macho action, with Arnold Schwarzenegger creaking along in the lead role. At 66, Arnie is surely the oldest member of any DEA armed undercover drug squad. The scene in which he has a full-on, with-tongues snog with Olivia Williams should really have earned this an 18 certificate for horror. He and his badass crew are taking down a Mexican druglord's palace, and impounding the huge pile of drug money in the basement. But it seems Arnie and his gang are a bit greedy, and figure on skimming a few mill for themselves, which gets them in trouble with both the regular cops and with the gang, which sets out to assassinate them, one by one. But did Arnie have some decent motive for taking the money? The undoubted stars of this film are Williams and Harold … [Read more...] about Sabotage review – an unholy mess

Melissa McCarthy is desk-bound CIA analyst who is sent into the field on dangerous missions. Feeling unequipped and having had her former partner (Jude Law) fall off the grid she goes undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer in order to prevent global pandemonium. Action comedy with Jason Statham and Rose Byrne. … [Read more...] about The 60 best movies on Netflix to watch now

Following the life of Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mum, expect cringes and giggles in equal measure. Due to his mother's teachings, plus the endless manuals and books he’s been exposed to, he uses his specialist knowledge to elevate his social status in school. … [Read more...] about The 55 best Netflix series to watch right now

To say much more would be to ruin the fun of discovery, but rest assured there are insane stunts, there is massive destruction, there is military-grade weaponry, and you will be required to jump out of planes. And helicopters. Combining the sheer scale of the environment with the excellent physics engine, these escapades throw everything at you, from rural bank-heists to jet-ski chases, to operating huge industrial machinery. The bigger heists require mini-preparatory missions (hiding getaway cars, picking novelty masks) which help build the tension, and subtly add to the feeling that what we're all doing here is acting in our own version of Michael Mann's film Heat. While certain ideas are repackaged and chucked straight back at you several times, you're carried along on a rush of euphoric action and shock – mostly because the world looks and behaves as though all this makes sense. … [Read more...] about GTA 5 review: a dazzling but monstrous parody of modern life