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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.