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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?

“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)” – A Violence Conductor Perspective

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Hey, it’s Benjamin Nathaniel Redic II, the Violence Conductor, here to give you my take on the new “Birds of Prey” movie. I’ve been hearing a lot about why it didn’t do well at the box office, so let’s dive in.

Plot and Theme:

  • This movie is loaded with girl power, and that’s cool, but the way it was marketed was a turn-off to some, particularly to dudes. The film’s narrative pretty much paints every male character as garbage, while all the female characters, even those who are morally ambiguous like Harley Quinn, are portrayed as heroes or at least in a very positive light. 
  • The plot focuses more on Harley Quinn rather than the team dynamic of the Birds of Prey, which was a bit misleading if you were expecting a team-up movie from the get-go.

Marketing and Audience Reception:

  • The marketing, coupled with some interviews, like Ewan McGregor’s, where he was using his Obi-Wan voice to promote the film, didn’t do it any favors. It almost made me decide not to watch it. 
  • Here’s the thing: if you’re going to make a film that’s all about empowering women, then women need to show up to support it. Just like how “Black Panther” saw black audiences come out in droves to support. If the female demographic doesn’t show up for female-led movies, you can’t blame the other half of the population for a lackluster box office.
  • Hollywood, it’s not the customer’s job to watch your movie; it’s your job to make a film that people want to see. If it fails, look at your marketing, your product, not the audience.

Action and Choreography:

  • As for the action, it was entertaining but not groundbreaking. It had its moments, especially with Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary. She had some cool Taekwondo moves, which I appreciated as someone who’s been training in martial arts. 
  • Huntress wasn’t as dark or serious as I expected from the comics, which was a bit of a letdown. The action was over-the-top, fitting for a Harley Quinn movie where physics takes a back seat to fun.

Camera Work and Technical Aspects:

  • There wasn’t anything about the camera work that blew me away. It was serviceable but didn’t stand out.

Rating:

  • On a scale of 1-5, I’d give “Birds of Prey” a 3, It’s not worth full price admission, but for a matinee or a rental, it’s fun enough. I wouldn’t be buying the DVD, though.

Final Thoughts:

  • The movie was cool in its own way, but it didn’t meet expectations for a team-up. It’s more of a Harley Quinn solo adventure with guest appearances. 
  • I’ve been slacking on reviews due to travel, but I’ll be back with more content soon, including gaming videos and movie reviews. And for the record, I’ve been doing the Black Panther thing before it was cool, so maybe someone in Hollywood’s keeping an eye on me.

Benjamin Nathaniel Redic II, the Violence Conductor, out. Catch you later.