“Gangster Squad” may have its share of issues but it has enough hard-hitting action to make it a relatively fun ride brought to us by director Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”). I’m surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reception this film has received from fellow film critics.

In “Gangster Squad”, a team of tough police officers led by Sergeant John O’Mara (Josh Brolin “Men In Black III”, “The Goonies”) are assembled to go without badges and without rules to stop the vicious crime boss Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn “Mystic River”, “Milk”) from taking over the city of Los Angeles. It isn’t going to be easy and it isn’t going to be pretty.

Josh Brolin does a decent job as Sergeant O’Mara. Ryan Gosling (“Driven”) is truly awful in this film as Sergeant Jerry Wooters. I liked Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2: Judgement Day”) in it but sadly I thought his role was far too small. Sean Penn’s character was just terribly written and I thought the make-up made him seem like he was part of that “Dick Tracy” movie. Emma Stone (“Easy A”) is okay in the film but she’s nothing special. I liked how they made these characters seem like they were in an old gangster movie.

“Gangster Squad” is a violent movie but it is more stylized than graphic, which I really liked. If you feel your life needs some more Tommy gun action then you’ll probably want to check out this movie for the shootout scenes alone but others will want to see it for its great look. If you enjoyed “The Untouchables” (like me) then this is pretty much the same thing. Like I said I’m very surprised at the fact this movie hasn’t gone down well with the critics because for what it is it is enjoyable. Not an intellectual picture by any means but good old-fashioned fun.

Martin Scorsese (“Raging Bull”, “Taxi Driver”) is in the director’s chair for “Gangs Of New York” so I had really high expectations. However, the movie feels unfocused with the narrative being rather unclear and so much attention seems to have been paid to the costumes and the sets that it looks as though this movie was destined to be a musical.

Set in 1863, “Gangs Of New York” follows Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio “Inception”, “Catch Me If You Can”), who returns to the Five Points, New York. He hopes he can exact revenge against Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis “Lincoln”), who murdered his Vallon’s father (Liam Neeson “Michael Collins”). The film could have been a simplistic revenge tale but it gets side-tracked with politics and a love story.

DiCaprio can be great but here he is forgettable as Amsterdam Vallon. I did not understand this character as he is proud of his Irish-American roots but spends much of the film seeming happy to engage with the gangsters that oppress his people. Also, one scene shows him throwing away his copy of “The Bible” and in the next, he is hunting down his cherished necklace, which depicts a Catholic Saint. Daniel Day-Lewis is excellent as Bill the Butcher. Cameron Diaz (“Charlie’s Angels”) is forgettable and unnecessary as Jenny. Liam Neeson and Brendan Gleeson (“The Guard”) are good but do not get enough screen time. I was left confused as to who the real bad guys were, the Irish gangsters, the American gangsters, the politicians and even the Union itself all seem like candidates.

“Gangs Of New York” seems to all be about the costumes and sets and they do look great and the performance from Daniel Day-Lewis is magnificent but it is not enough to win me over. I also found serious problems with the video and sound editing on the fight scenes. I’m unsure if “Gangs Of New York” is the personal story of the Amsterdam character, a film about old-fashioned New York gangs, a piece about Irish immigration or a movie about the politics of the Civil War.

“Gamera vs. Zigra” is the seventh and final entry in the original run of “Gamera” movies (excluding “Gamera: Super Monster”, which relied heavily on the use of stock footage from the earlier films). Like other kaiju (Japanese giant monster) films, “Gamera vs. Zigra” is incredibly cheesy and it does have its fun moments. However, it’s not as good as some of the other “Gamera” films.

An alien spaceship arrives on Earth with the aliens from planet Zigra aiming to conquer the world so that they can enjoy our oceans and feed on humans. While the world’s militaries are ineffective against the invaders, Gamera has set his sights on defeat them. If he is to be victorious, he will have to do battle with the giant goblin shark-like creature Zigra.

Like all the other kaiju films, the characters are all pretty forgettable. As is to be expected with this type of movie, we get treated to dialog from military men and scientists trying to figure out just how to beat the monster. I still cannot get enough of the rocket-powered turtle Gamera and I wish he was in more of the movie. Zigra is okay but he’s not one of the better designed monsters. As Zigra spends a lot of time in the water, we unfortunately have to seem some mediocre underwater fights between the monsters. I did find it funny when the Zigra spacewoman tries to blend into society by stealing some clothes because she ends up wearing a tight bikini for a while.

“Gamera vs. Zigra” is definitely not going to challenge you with any profound ideas but it will deliver some relatively satisfying monster carnage for people that really like giant monster flicks. I have preferred some of the other “Gamera” films so if you have not seen any of them, there are definitely better ones to watch before this one. One of the movie’s highlights is seeing Gamera play Zigra like a xylophone.

“Gamera vs. Guiron” (also known as “Attack of the Monsters”) is the fifth instalment in the original run of “Gamera” movies. Like many of the “Godzilla” movies, there is a real charm to it. However, if you are not into cheesy sci-fi and giant monsters, you will most likely not care for it.

Two young step inside a spaceship and are taken to the mysterious planet of Terra. The planet is under siege from the relentless attacks of Space Gyaos. The Terrans use their own monster, Guiron, to battle Space Gyaos. It’s not long before Gamera arrives to rescue the boys and he must do battle with Guiron as well.

Like the characters in the “Godzilla” and “Mothra” movies, do not expect the characters to be particularly interesting but I think the kids are mildly entertaining. The Terrans reminded me a lot of the aliens from “Invasion Of Astro-Monster”. The highlights of the movie are of course the scenes with the monsters. There’s nothing quite like watching a rocket-powered turtle do battle against another giant monster. I really love the design of Guiron. It’s also pretty funny to note that Gyaos was a monster in an earlier “Gamera” movie and rather than make a new costume, the filmmakers merely decided to paint it silver and thus Space Gyaos was created.

You might be able to criticise the thin plot and the forgettable characters but there is a likeability to many of these giant monster movies from Japan. The set design of Terra looks fantastic and it’s so fun to watch all the hilarious action unfold. I especially enjoyed the scene where Gamera swings round on a bar like a gymnast. The “Gamera” movies always seem to be in the shadow of the “Godzilla” movies but “Gamera vs. Guiron” is real evidence that Gamera can compete with the ‘King of the Monsters’.

“Gamera: Guardian of the Universe” marked the revival of the “Gamera” franchise. It’s not quite as absurd as some of the earlier movies but it is a competently made and entertaining giant monster flick. It takes a more serious tone (well as serious as you can get considering it’s about a rocket-powered turtle) but still delivers the over-the-top action.

A hibernating species of monstrous pterodactyl-like creatures known as ‘Gyaos’ begin attacking Japan. The massive turtle that is Gamera soon shows up and the Japanese government cannot decide which threat to prioritise. It will soon become clear that one is a dangerous foe and the other is our protector.

The scientists will remind you of the scientists in countless other giant monster movies including the “Godzilla” movies, “Mothra” and “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms”. The cast does include Ayako Fujitani, who is the daughter of Steven Seagal (“Under Siege”). Of course, you are not here to see some scientists or Seagal’s offspring, you are here for the giant monsters. Here you get to see a significant update to the designs of both Gamera and Gyaos. The costumes are noticeably less silly yet you still cannot help but smile when you see Gamera blast off with his thrusters.

“Gamera: Guardian of the Universe” is unlikely to wow those that cannot abide the cheesy dialog and special effects associated with Japanese monster movies. If you are able to just get sucked into the action, you should have a good time. While the older films relied a lot on comedic value, this one looks a lot more impressive and has a superior plot. As ridiculous as it still is, there is actually quite a bit to admire. Look at this way, it’s a better monster movie then the American “Godzilla” that came out just a few years later.

The giant rocket-powered turtle Gamera returns for the third and final entry in the 90s “Gamera” trilogy. Like the previous instalment in the trilogy, “Gamera 3: Revenge Of Iris” is a disappointment. I complained that the last film overused computer effects and this one uses even more computer effects.

In this film, a bitter schoolgirl whose family was accidentally killed by Gamera during his battle with the Gyaos discovers a mysterious monster that she names ‘Iris’. She blames Gamera for what happened to her family and hopes Iris can destroy Gamera. The monster grows and represents a substantial threat to the world and only Gamera can stop it. While this happening, the government and the military are unsure whether to treat Gamera as a friend or a foe.

The characters in the “Gamera” films have never exactly been gripping. The schoolgirl character raises some interesting points about collateral damage but they feel somewhat out-of-place in a giant monster flick such as this. We do not get to see nearly enough of Gamera in this movie. Iris looks somewhat interesting but a lot of the shots of Iris utilise C.G.I. and I really do not care for the computer effects. When practical effects are used for the monsters, it looks great. The computer effects are just so lifeless.

I miss the older, more cheerful “Gamera” films. This one just takes itself way too seriously at times. I think the plot is actually quite good and the monster scenes that use practical effects look terrific. Unfortunately, the dark tone and C.G.I. just ruin it for me. The first 90s “Gamera” movie was enjoyable but the sequels just did not entertain me. The earlier “Gamera” stuff from the 60s and 70s is much more enjoyable than “Revenge Of Iris”. If you are a big fan of “Gamera” and you liked the other 90s films then check this one out.

The giant turtle monster Gamera is back in “Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion”, the second instalment in his 90s trilogy. “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe” managed to balance the carnage with the human stuff fairly well but this one just did not do it for me. There’s way too much standing around and talking and I disliked the use of computer effects.

In “Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion”, a meteor shows brings hostile alien life to Japan. As the small crab-like monsters cause havoc in the nation, Gamera shows up to help save mankind and the Earth. However, a giant monster foe appears and now Gamera will have to battle it and the swarm of little creatures.

We have to spend a little too much time with the humans in this movie. So many of the conversations are so similar to the ones had in the previous movie that it feels like it’s on repeat. Gamera does not appear enough in this movie. I do really like the design of the Legion monsters. The giant one looks amazing and the little ones also look very impressive. The monsters are obviously the best part of the movie and it’s a shame that we do not get to see more of them.

“Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion” might impress those that absolutely love the Japanese kaiju movies but for most people, a lot of this movie is going to bore them. The practical effects are terrific but the computer effects look really synthetic and ugly. It would be nice to see a more unique monster movie where it does not go through the same motions as we see the politicians, scientists and military personnel endlessly debating about what should be done. Unless you are a big fan of “Gamera”, I’d skip this one.

“G.I. Jane” is a more than competent picture about a woman going through gruelling special forces training. At times, it is cheesy and the last act feels a little rushed but overall, I quite enjoyed this film. Director Ridley Scott (“The Duellists”, “Blade Runner”) would go on to perfect the military movie with “Black Hawk Down” but “G.I. Jane” should not be ignored.

A Texan politician (Anne Bancroft “Silent Movie”) succeeds in enrolling a woman, Jordan O’Neill (Demi Moore “Striptease”, “Disclosure”), into an elite military training programme. Jordan will face everything from the uncompromising Master Chief (Viggo Mortensen “Eastern Promises”) to powerful forces wanting to play political football with her career.

Demi Moore is great as Jordan O’Neill. The role demands a lot of the actress as she has to be tough as nails but still feminine and endearing. Viggo Mortensen is okay as Urgayle. Jason Beghe (“The Next Three Days”) is good as Jordan’s husband. Anne Bancroft overdoes it as Senator DeHaven. Scott Wilson (“In The Heat of the Night”) is terrific as Commanding Officer Salem and I really wish we got some more scenes with him because he is wonderful. The actors playing the other soldiers are fine.

“G.I. Jane” is often an overlooked film in Scott’s library and I think that is because “Black Hawk Down” is brilliant and massively overshadows this. The training sequences in “G.I. Jane” are brutal and look excellent. The last part of the film that sees the men and O’Neill get involved in a real mission feels a little sloppy but the rest of the movie is very entertaining. Also, I would really like to stress that Demi Moore works very well here. It’s not the masterpiece that “Black Hawk Down” is but “G.I. Jane” is a darn fine piece from a highly talented director.

The sequel to “Westworld” turns out to be nothing more than another pointless sequel that tries to capture an audience by making a connection to a popular film. “Futureworld” isn’t anyway near as intriguing or as scary as the original.

In “Futureworld”, reporters Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda “3:10 To Yuma”) and Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner “Meet The Parents”, “The Lucky One”) go to a re-opened Delos facility where you can visit a medieval world, a roman world, a Western world and now a futuristic environment. For a movie called “Futureworld” only a small amount of time is spent in the futuristic segment of the facility. Most of the film has our two reporters scurrying around in tunnels, unearthing ridiculous schemes.

The characters are as dull as they come and the performances are terrible too. The worst combination of character and performance has to be the Chuck Browning character as I didn’t care for the character in the slightest at any point. Yul Brynner from the original “Westworld” has a cameo appearance in a dream sequence but I’m 100% convinced that was only put in there so they could have another way to make this a sequel. The film’s characters ruin the film.

There are a few bits near the beginning that showed the film had potential to showcase intriguing concepts of the future but as it goes on becomes sillier and it looks like they were running out of money because I’m sure the first few scenes had a lot more effects than those nearer the end. “Futureworld” seems like there was a script that was worthless it has to have a few tweaks done so it can be attached to a previous film just to see the light of day. “Westworld” didn’t need a sequel (perhaps a remake though) and this one didn’t surprise me.

“Furry Vengeance” is another children’s comedy film where the animals attack humans invading their habitat. I will admit that parts of it are genuinely very funny but it becomes really predictable and tedious.

Real-estate property developer Dan Sanders (Brendan Fraser “The Mummy”, “Dudley Do-Right”) is tasked with overseeing construction in Rocky Springs and he lives in a property on the site with his less than enthusiastic family. However, his life gets turned upside-down when the animals go on the offensive to save their woodland home. He’ll have to battle raccoons, birds, skunks and even bears as he tries desperately to keep his boss (Ken Jeong “The Hangover”) happy.

Brendan Fraser does a surprisingly good job with a poor script. Brooke Shields (“The Blue Lagoon”) is also entertaining as Dan’s wife. The special effects on the animals are just atrocious. We also have to listen to them sing during the end credits and it’s painful. The animals dish out a lot as Brendan Fraser takes quite a beating. However, the dynamic wears thin and you realise this is just a live-action version of a cartoon stretched to feature-length. The boss character is sometimes funny but he gets pretty irritating by the end of this movie.

“Furry Vengeance” is definitely not as bad as some have made it out to be. I would rather sit through a bad slapstick comedy such as this then another slasher film or a vulgar teen flick. The whole preachy environmental message also annoyed me because I’m sure the making of this film only added to the pollution of the planet. “Furry Vengeance” will probably entertain young children but do you know what would entertain them a lot more? Any of the “Looney Tunes” shorts where Bugs Bunny messes with Elmer Fudd are significantly better than this.