“Forbidden Siren” (also known as “Siren”) is a Japanese horror film that feels very much like a cross between “Silent Hill” and “Ju-On: The Grudge”. “Forbidden Siren” is apparently based on a videogame (like “Silent Hill”) but I’d never even heard of the “Forbidden Siren” games before seeing this movie.

A man moves to a remote island with his daughter (Yui Ichikawa “Ju-On: The Grudge”) and young son. Some of the islanders appear rather hostile towards outsiders and the family is warned that one is not to leave their house at night and certainly not when the island’s siren wails. The mysteries of the island all appear to be linked to the siren.

The characters in this film are okay but none of them are especially engaging. None of them are particularly intelligent. Unfortunately, it just seems that’s an issue with horror films in general regardless of whether they are made in America, Japan or anywhere else. Some of the revelations about some of the characters were quite effective but they come near the end of the picture. I was just pleased to finally see a Japanese horror flick where there is not a pale woman in white offing people. Some of the make-up and effects on the entities on the island are rather impressive.

“Forbidden Siren” creates a somewhat unsettling atmosphere and has a few genuinely entertaining moments such as a scene where we see a strange insect creature. The special effects are quite good considering this movie clearly did not have a huge budget. Sadly, the film is not as entertaining as “Ju-On: The Grudge” and even the first “Silent Hill” movie was a little more captivating. As I’ve stated, I’m not even remotely familiar with the games so I have no idea whether or not fans of the games would enjoy this or not.

Keanu Reeves (“Speed”, “The Matrix Reloaded”) stars in the surprisingly entertaining “Johnny Mnemonic”, which manages to contain some interesting ideas as well as enough action, special effects and humour to keep you entertained.

In the 2020s, an information courier, Johnny (Reeves), finds himself carrying double the amount of data inside his head that he is supposed to (even after an upgrade). If he can’t get out soon then he will die. Everybody seems to want the data as we see countless bad guys pursue Johnny but what is it that makes the data just so darn important? Well Johnny is about to find out that the fate of the world will rest inside his head.

Keanu Reeves is really good as Johnny (we never do get a last name) as he has the arrogance of an action hero, which the film pokes fun at and the scene where he has a meltdown is hilarious. I really didn’t care that much for the girl in it. Dolph Lundgren (“Rocky IV”, “Universal Soldier”) helps add to the chaos as the Street Preacher. Takeshi Kitano (“Battle Royale”) also has a small role. The other bad guys aren’t as memorable and I really hate the creepy female bodyguards.

There are subplots including one about a computer ghost that don’t really feel fully explored but for the most part, “Johnny Mnemonic” is clever and fun. It contains an intriguing idea about how information might be stored and there are other cool gizmos such as a laser whip because everybody can find that enjoyable. “Johnny Mnemonic” is a brainless film at times, especially as we meet the hacker who turns out to be a dolphin wired into computers but I think its concepts are really good. Although it’s stupid and it certainly isn’t for everybody, I’m sure those who enjoy their sci-fi romps will go for “Johnny Mnemonic”. In the film Johnny has to use the codename ‘Mr. Smith’ when he meets a client, any fans of “The Matrix” will see it as a foreshadowing.

I never expected the first “Johnny English” to have a sequel and especially not one after all the time it took for a sequel to come out. What we get with this second serving is a film that is about the same quality as the first. “Johnny English Reborn” is another comedy that has its moments but overall falls short.

In this movie, star of the great “Mr. Bean” tv series (and it’s less-impressive film counterparts), Rowan Atkinson, is the worst spy in the history of British spies. He was therefore fired for his incompetence. However, his agency need him back because there is a plot to kill the Chinese premier. As English tries to hunt down the assassins we witness a decent amount of buffoonery.

Atkinson is unbelievably great as Mr. Bean in the two tv series (live-action and animated) but the more speech he adds to these morons, the less funny he becomes. With “Blackadder” Atkinson understood this by making his character more sly and cunning. Atkinson has had real trouble with his jump to the big screen. There are some other characters of course but they aren’t all the funny because they even pale compared to this weaker version of Atkinson’s screen persona.

I like the two scenes where English keeps mistaking people for being a Chinese assassin and therefore tackles them and bashes their head in with a tray, one of them is his boss’ mother; can you guess what the next one is? I also liked the scene with his martial arts training but those two are by far the funniest scenes and after that, the rest of the film seems a little disappointing. As I’ve said before, I don’t really see this as better or worse than the first but the big difference between the two is that the first seemed smaller budgeted and therefore more grounded in reality but on the other hand the more expensive look of this one makes it more like a “James Bond” picture.

In the same spirit as the “Death Wish” franchise, comes “John Wick”. This is a pretty exciting action movie starring Keanu Reeves (“The Matrix”, “Johnny Mnemonic”). This is also one of the best edited action movies of the modern era.

After his wife dies, retired assassin John Wick is left with a beagle puppy to console himself but when Russian gangsters steal his car and kill the puppy, Wick is forced to return to the criminal underworld as he seeks his vengeance. He will truly stop at nothing to ensure that his vendetta is completed and it really doesn’t matter how many goons the bad guys throw at him.

Keanu Reeves works effectively as John Wick. You feel pretty sad for the guy as he returns to a life of constantly dodging bullets and knives. Reeves is able to throw a little humour in there as well. The dog is absolutely adorable and you really want to see Wick get his revenge. Willem Dafoe (“Spider-Man”, “Platoon”) plays a fellow assassin and he’s okay but he gets very little screen time. Adrianne Palicki (“Legion”) plays Ms. Perkins and she’s alright but nothing special. The villains in the film are pretty generic and that’s a bit of a shame.

“John Wick” has some impressive action sequences and we get to see everything that happens really clearly and that helps set “John Wick” apart from many modern action movies where everything is shown from a dozen different camera angles and the camera shakes as if an earthquake was occurring. My biggest complaint is that the action sequence at the end of the film are not as good as the nightclub one in the middle. If you want to see a slick modern version of a similar set-up to old-school action movies such as “Death Wish” and “Commando” then “John Wick” is a pretty good choice.

I had mixed feelings going into a third “John Wick” film. I was excited to see what else would happen but I also feared that the formula may have grown stale. I’m pleased to report that “John Wick: Chapter 3” is just as good as the other films. It has almost non-stop action and you feel bruised and battered just watching it.

With a price on his head, assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves “The Matrix”, “Something’s Gotta Give”) faces danger at every turn with countless people out to kill him. Along the way, his loyalties and his desires will become increasingly blurred.

Keanu Reeves does a really good job once again as John Wick. What’s particularly good is that Reeves looks like a plausible action star in these movies, unlike Liam Neeson in the “Taken” series. In this entry, Wick kills people with guns, knives, axes, horses and even a book. Halle Berry (“X-Men”) plays Sofia, she and Wick team-up in Morocco. She does a reasonable job but does not get a lot of screen time. Laurence Fishburne (“Mystic River”, “Contagion”) appears again but does not get much to do. Angelica Houston (“The Addams Family”) also has a small role.

The action sequences here are pretty amazing with lots of creative choreography. It’s really good to see that they came up with some new stuff and did not just try to repeat what happened in the previous instalments. I was just very impressed with the action scenes throughout the movie. My only real complaint about the film is the plot. In the few brief moments when there is no shootout or fistfight going on, you get greeted with some really uninspired story elements. A scene set in the desert is especially underwhelming. If you like action movies then I recommend starting with the first “John Wick” film and I imagine that you will find yourself watching all three because it’s a very consistent franchise.

The first “John Wick” movie was an entertaining revenge film and this sequel aims to establish it as a franchise. It’s almost as good the first one but the problem is that the story feels really forced in this one.

John Wick (Keanu Reeves “The Devil’s Advocate”, “Speed”) is the skilled hitman that is once again dragged into the deadly world of assassins when he is forced to repay a debt. He is sent to Rome to complete his assignment before he is double-crossed. A price is put on his head and he will need all his skills if he is to survive.

Keanu Reeves did a really good job as John Wick in the first movie and he is fun to watch in this one too. I didn’t really find any of the villains very interesting, which was a problem I had with the first film. Laurence Fishburne (“Mystic River”) has a small role in the movie, which may excite some “Matrix” fans as they get to see Reeves and Fishburne share the same screen again. By far my favourite character was the one played by Peter Serafinowicz (“Shaun of the Dead”), who provides John Wick with his guns when in Rome.

“John Wick: Chapter 2” contains some very creative action sequences as we see John Wick kill people with everything from cars to pencils. In the first movie, Wick’s motivation was that he was getting revenge for the murder of his dog but in this one, it feels like the writers couldn’t think of much that would make him return. The ending sets things in motion for a third entry and I’m interested but at the same time, I fear the formula may have grown stale by that point. If you liked the first “John Wick” then this is more of the same thing.

“Joe Versus The Volcano” is a funny and touching romantic comedy with a hint of fantasy. It has a fascinating dreamlike quality to it. It opens with what feels like a satire of “Brazil” and then takes you on a wonderful trip.

Joe (Tom Hanks “The ‘Burbs”, “Forrest Gump”) lives a depressing life working for a major corporation. His life changes when he discovers that he has a terminal illness. He soon receives an offer that means he gets to live in luxury for a few weeks if he agrees to throw himself into a volcano as part of a deal over mineral rights on a remote Pacific island.

Tom Hanks does a great job as Joe. Joe encounters many interesting characters including three different women played by Meg Ryan (“Sleepless In Seattle”, “When Harry Met Sally”). It’s really fun to see her play three very different roles. Lloyd Bridges (“Airplane!”) is great as the eccentric businessman that recruits Joe. Ossie Davis (“Bubba Ho-Tep”) is good as a limousine driver. Dan Hedaya (“The Usual Suspects”) is terrific as Joe’s domineering boss. There’s also a group of hilarious Pacific islanders that sing their own rendition of “Hava Nagila”. It’s really a very colourful set of characters that are on offer in this film.

“Joe Versus The Volcano” is a surreal movie that actually reminded me a lot of Hank’s “The ‘Burbs”. It also made me think of “Groundhog Day”, “Arthur” and “L.A. Story”. Parts of it feel a little rushed because the movie takes you on a pretty amazing journey very quickly. It would have loved to have spent a few more minutes with each of the characters that Joe encounters. If you want a delightful romantic comedy with an exaggerated aesthetic then look no further than “Joe Versus The Volcano”. It’s a real shame that this film has not received more praise.

“Fist Of Fury” is the second kung-fu flick starring Bruce Lee (“The Big Boss”, “Enter The Dragon”) and his first legitimately good one. While “The Big Boss” had great fights, a lot of the movie was really boring. Thankfully, “Fist Of Fury” is a bit more balanced with a reasonable plot to serve the action well.

When martial artist Chen Zhen (Lee) returns to Shanghai to find that his master has died, he refuses to believe that foul play was not involved. He soon discovers that he was poisoned by individuals connected with the Japanese. Now, to save his kung-fu school and avenge his master, he must battle the elite Japanese fighters that control the city.

Bruce Lee shows off some very impressive moves throughout this film. I do not know if any other action star has done kicks with such speed. The highlight of the movie is watching Lee battle an entire dojo full of Japanese martial arts students. The villains are not amazing by any means yet they are dastardly enough that you want to see Lee beat them. If you are really into your kung-fu movies then make sure you keep an eye out for a very young Jackie Chan (“Who Am I?”).

“Fist Of Fury” is one of the most iconic martial arts films and it inspired several sequels including Jackie Chan’s “New Fist Of Fury” as well as a tv series starring Donnie Yen and a remake, “Fist Of Legend”, starring Jet Li. I think “Fist Of Legend” is a better movie and definitely worth checking out but if you have seen it and enjoyed it then it can be fun to watch “Fist Of Fury” too. This is also one of Lee’s better movies. This and “Enter The Dragon” are really the only ones worth bothering with.

John Sturges (“The Great Escape”) directs Clint Eastwood (“Dirty Harry”, “Blood Work”) in this exciting, clever, funny and well-acted Western that works well on virtually every level.

Eastwood plays the titular character here as the movie opens with him jail. After several events, he teams up with a wealthy landowner (Robert Duvall “The Godfather”, “Days Of Thunder”) to kill a Mexican revolutionary (John Saxon “A Nightmare On Elm Street”). After a while the tables are turned and we get one great finale involving something with a train that I’ve never seen before in a Western. As you’ll discover, the plot serves the characters and the action brilliantly.

Eastwood plays yet another character like ‘Man With No Name’ or William Munny (or even Harry Callahan), who has his own sense of justice that doesn’t particularly comply with the law or the criminals and just like them he’s full of attitude. “Next time I’ll knock your damn head off” he promises one man and that perfectly sums up his nature. Robert Duvall is great as the landowner and the final scene that he and Eastwood share is something magical. John Saxon is pretty decent considering how little screen time he actually gets.

“Joe Kidd” is everything I love about Eastwood’s Westerns; it manages to utilise the art of film to create something spectacular yet has a grittier tone than most films in the genre that makes it seem much more plausible and much higher in detail, every bit of dirt in his films helps the look. Joe Kidd himself is pretty interesting as he follows in the footsteps of many of the actor’s other roles but without seeming remotely tired. It’s a darn fine film and really worth your attention if you like Eastwood’s films or the genre. Now as Joe Kidd says “Get out of here”.

“Joe Dirt” is essentially a poor man’s version of “Forrest Gump”. It is comedy vehicle for former “Saturday Night Live” star David Spade (“Tommy Boy”) and if other “S.N.L.” cast members such as Adam Sandler (“Happy Gilmore”) have proven anything it is that they make bad comedies as gone are the glory days of the likes of Bill Murray (“Groundhog Day”). The movie is offensive, grotesque and worst of all: not remotely funny.

“Joe Dirt” tells the tale of Joe Dirt (Spade), who is a mentally-challenged guy that lost his parents during a visit to the Grand Canyon when he was 8. Joe embarks on a quest to find as his parents as he goes through his life being picked on because of being white, being dumb and his hair, he’s also numerously accused of being homosexual.

Joe Dirt is simply there for people to pick on as you can’t possibly like a guy that spends his time tying forms of fireworks to cows’ tails and eating off a meteorite that turns out to be faeces. The reasons he’s picked on are just vile and there is no reason for it as it isn’t just a few nasty characters that do this but many throughout the film. Even Joe Don Baker (“Congo”) and Christopher Walken (“Pulp Fiction”) can’t come anywhere close to saving this picture.

“Joe Dirt” is told in a similar manner to “Forrest Gump” and it does share the same subject matter but the film lacks the humanity of that classic, it is a machine and a malfunctioning one. You’ll get to a point where you actually laugh at this movie because it is so pathetic in its attempts to make you laugh as we see a man covered in faeces and a dog that gets its testicles stuck to a porch. David Spade can take a lot of the blame considering he also wrote this appalling picture.