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Action Addicts “Better Man” Review – Worth a Watch or Skip the monkey show?

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I checked out “Better Man,” a Robbie Williams biopic featuring a CG monkey – quite unexpected for me. It’s not my typical action-packed movie, but it was actually pretty good!

Content and Themes: This film isn’t for kids; it deals with heavy stuff like drug abuse, abortion, and the complexities of young love, mixed with a lot of adult language. It really focuses on the influence a father can have and dives deep into Robbie’s personal struggles, including imposter syndrome and the loneliness of fame. A great watch if you want to get your kids into the entertainment industry though.

Technical Aspects: The movie’s editing and cutting were top-notch, playing with time and perspective in a way that keeps you guessing. The match cuts were epic. The dance sequences were standout, and there was this bizarre, symbolic battle scene that felt like something out of “Sucker Punch.”

Performance and Production: The acting, singing, and overall production were on point. It was well-directed and had moments that really hit you in the feels, especially with how they portrayed Robbie’s relationship with his father. This movie really presses hard on why kids need their dad and the damage it can do to the young psyche when he’s not around.

Recommendation: I give “Better Man” 4 out of 5 blades. Definitely worth a watch in theaters, even for someone like me who usually goes for action. It made me see Robbie Williams in a new light.

Audience and Engagement: If you’ve seen it, let us know what you think. Find the video above and comment on it. And don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to help this channel grow. The more we grow, the more movies we can review for y’all.

Violence Conductor out!

Action Addicts Top Christmas movies special!

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Hey there, action movie enthusiasts! Kisha CG, Danyelle Weatherford, Benjamin Nathaniel Redic II, aka The Violence Conductor, Ericka Redic and Edwin Quinones are herefor a special Christmas episode where we’re sharing our top picks for action Christmas movies.

Kisha’s Picks:

  • #3 Home Alone: I’ve always loved this movie for its blend of action and comedy. It’s not just about the holiday spirit; it’s also about a kid setting up booby traps. It’s a classic!
  • #2 Enemy of the State: I know it’s a stretch, but hear me out – there’s a Christmas shopping scene, and the whole movie has this intense action vibe with Will Smith on the run. That counts for me.
  • #1 Four Christmases: This one is my top pick because, while it’s mainly a comedy, the holiday setting drives the plot, and there’s plenty of action in the form of family drama. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon navigate four chaotic family Christmases brilliantly.

Edwin’s Picks:

  • #3 Prancer: Okay, so it’s not action-packed, but it’s got this heartwarming story that I just can’t ignore. It’s about a girl helping a reindeer get back to Santa, and it’s my guilty pleasure for the season.
  • #2 Home Alone: Again, I love this one. It’s action in the context of a kid defending his home from burglars during Christmas. It’s iconic.
  • #1 Die Hard: I stand by my choice here. It’s set during Christmas, with Christmas music, and it’s about a man fighting to save his wife at a Christmas party. If that’s not a Christmas movie, I don’t know what is. It’s influenced so much of action cinema, and I’ll defend it to the end.

Danyelle’s Picks:

  • #3 The Santa Clause Chronicles: Kurt Russell as Santa brings this mix of action and comedy, with his adventures being quite the spectacle for Christmas.
  • #2 Just Friends: I chose this because it’s not just a rom-com; it’s set during Christmas with some action through the comedic mishaps Ryan Reynolds gets into.
  • #1 Are We There Yet?: This movie might surprise you, but it’s about a Christmas road trip. Ice Cube’s character faces all sorts of action-packed challenges with those kids. It’s hilarious.

Benjamin’s Picks:

  • Honorable Mention: Terrifier 3: I got dragged to this one, but it’s got a Christmas theme with a lot of gore. If you’re into horror with your holiday, this is your film.
  • #3 Gremlins: This movie combines action, horror, and Christmas in a way that’s both fun and terrifying.
  • #2 Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: I love how they mix Christmas with space action, and that song, “Christmas Time Is Here,” sung by an alien? Pure gold.
  • #1 Red One: I didn’t expect this to be my favorite, but Chris Evans and The Rock in an action-packed Christmas adventure? It’s just what the holiday season needed.

Special Mention:

  • I’ve got a little surprise for you all; I played a vengeful Blitzen in “Up on the Housetop.” It’s a horror-comedy twist on Christmas that I think you’ll enjoy.

Discussion Points:

  • We’ve had a laugh about whether “Die Hard” counts as a Christmas movie, and I think Edwin made a strong case for it. 
  • We all brought different flavors to the table, from family-friendly comedies to horror with a Christmas twist.
  • It’s fun to see how these movies have shaped our holiday viewing habits, mixing action with yuletide joy.

Conclusion:

This episode was all about celebrating action movies that also capture the magic of Christmas. From all of us at Action Addicts, have a great holiday season filled with laughter, scares, and, of course, plenty of action!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our picks and maybe found some new films to add to your Christmas watchlist. Please, share your favorites in the comments; we’d love to hear from you.

A quick shout-out to our sponsor, Meridian Hive, because who doesn’t want to enjoy the holidays with a classy drink?

Kraven..Sony’s best? Or worse than Madame and Morbius?

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Alright, so I went to watch “Kraven the Hunter,” and I gotta say, this movie tries to bring one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains to life but ends up falling flat on its face. It’s set in this weird, Spider-Man-less universe, which already feels like a big miss because Kraven’s whole deal is hunting Spider-Man. The movie promises action and drama but gives us a disjointed mess with some uninspired acting.

Plot and Characters:

  • The plot is supposed to be about Kraven’s origin, but without Spider-Man, his motivation and character development just don’t land. They’ve tried to make him some kind of animal rights activist, which is like, dude, this ain’t Kraven; he’s supposed to be a hunter, not a PETA member.
  • Characters like Calypso and Rhino are there, but they’re about as flat as a pancake. The chemistry between Kraven and Calypso? Non-existent. It’s like watching two strangers who’ve been told to pretend they’re in love for the camera.

Action and Visuals:

  • Now, the action, that’s where the movie kinda shines. There are some cool fight scenes where Kraven goes all beast mode, but the CGI? It’s like they forgot they had a budget. The animal sequences look like they’re from a video game from 2005.
  • Visually, they were aiming for something grand, but the execution feels off. The tone is all over the place, and there are moments where the special effects make you cringe rather than immerse you in the story.

Acting and Dialogue:

  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson does what he can, but the script doesn’t help him out. The dialogue feels like it’s explaining everything to an audience they think is too dumb to follow along. And don’t get me started on the voiceovers; it’s like they couldn’t decide what to do, so they just slapped some dubbing over scenes.
  • The villains are more Saturday morning cartoon than menacing, and trying to make Kraven an anti-hero was a swing and a miss, taking away what makes him compelling in the comics.

Criticism:

  • My biggest gripe is how they handled the source material. Without Spider-Man, Kraven’s story just doesn’t hold up. It’s like trying to make a Batman movie without Gotham; it’s just not the same.
  • They threw a lot of money at this, but where did it go? Not into making the CGI believable or the plot coherent, that’s for sure.

Rating:

  • On my 5-blade scale, I’m giving “Kraven the Hunter” just 1.5 blades. The action was the only saving grace, but the rest? From the story to the character depth, it’s a disappointment.

Conclusion:

“Kraven the Hunter” was a chance to dive deep into one of Marvel’s more fascinating villains, but they dropped the ball. It’s watchable if you’re just there for the action, but don’t expect much else. Save your money for a matinee or wait until it’s on a streaming service.

Gladiator 2 – Perfect sequel or Severely missing the mark?

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Welcome to another episode of Action Addicts by the Austin Action Fest and Market. It’s a podcast, pretty much action, and you know, we get into the business, the craft of filmmaking sometimes, but it’s mostly about that action. Here today, obviously, Ben Redic aka Lord Violence aka the Violence Conductor, and we have special guests, old school podcast partner, Ballistic Blade, partner of mine. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re drinking out of the chalice of truth. We’re not here to tear down “Gladiator”; we’re not here to gladiate “Gladiator.”

Plot and Characters: All my opinions are coming from not having seen the first movie, so let’s start with that. The plot of “Gladiator 2”? Well, the reviews are all over the place, but the movie’s not doing as well as you’d expect for a Denzel Washington film. People aren’t watching it, which is surprising. The narrative is supposed to continue the legacy of the first film, but it feels more like a cash grab than a worthy sequel. The characters lack the charisma, the inspiration, the leadership of the original. Denzel’s character, while fine, isn’t the highlight he could have been due to subpar writing and a lackluster script.

Acting: Denzel Washington is, as always, a fine actor, but even he can’t save this film from mediocrity. The dialogue is expository, uninspiring, and the characters feel like they’re more talking at you than telling a story. The supporting cast doesn’t have the same impact as the original, and the new characters introduced don’t capture the audience’s heart or imagination.

Action: The action sequences are the movie’s saving grace. They’re expansive, brutal, and somewhat entertaining. There’s a lot of spectacle, but it’s like they put all their effort into the CGI fights and forgot about the rest. The choreography is there, but it doesn’t feel integrated into the story or character development. It’s action for action’s sake.

Criticism: The movie suffers from what I call the “Jurassic Park Effect.” Everything that made the first “Gladiator” memorable is already shown, so the sequel feels like a rehash without the awe. There’s too much explanation, too many rats (literally), and not enough substance. The plot is predictable, and the emotional beats don’t land because there’s no connection to the characters.

Rating: On a scale of 5 blades, I’m giving “Gladiator 2” a 2 out of 5. That means you made a movie, but it’s got a bunch of technical issues and isn’t something I’d want to watch again. It’s not worth the price of admission unless you’re looking for a laugh at how it compares to the original.

Conclusion: “Gladiator 2” had the potential to be something special, with a cast like Denzel and a director like Ridley Scott, but it falls flat. It’s not a terrible movie, but it’s certainly not good. If you’re going to make a sequel, you need to either match or surpass the original’s energy and storytelling, and this one doesn’t even come close. It’s a lesson in what not to do when you’ve got a legacy to uphold.

If you’re a filmmaker, learn from this. Don’t make movies just to ride on past glories; bring something new, something impactful to the table. And remember, we’re here to help you grow, not just to mock. We love movies, and we want them to be great.

That’s all we’ve got for “Gladiator 2.” Check out our socials, support indie filmmakers, and we’ll catch you on the next one. The Violence Conductor, signing off.

The Fall Guy: Finally a movie made for fans of action!

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The Fall Guy: Finally a movie made for action fans


We really enjoyed it. Ericka liked it and she Hates rom coms. Emily and Ryan did an excellent job, it was fun and the stunts were WILD. Hannah was hilarious. As was “Pietro Maximoff”.


The plot was fairly straight forward with a few somewhat predictable twists. As a stunt man myself I could completely empathize with the character. The action sequences are some of the best you’re going to see this year. Reminiscent of Mad Max. And that my friends was clearly the point. People putting their bodies on the line for your enjoyment. This is what I go to the movies to see. Action, Fun with a little heart sprinkled in. It was well worth the money.



If you like action and your heart is not COMPLETELY frozen over by the current dating scene you’ll prolly like it as well lol. Please watch this, rent it, buy it whatever. We gotta support the movies like this or we won’t get many more of them.
Plot -3/5
Action – 5/5
Camera – 4/5

Lord Benjamin N. Redic II aka

“The Violence Conductor”

Benjamin Nathaniel Redic II aka “The Violence Conductor” is a producer, writer, cinematographer and fight choreographer.  He has had a passion for media and entertainment ever since he was a child and often performed in school plays and competitions. 
 

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