Enemy at the Gates (2001)

This was really well done and packed with plenty of action. Jude Law, Joseph Finnes, and Ed Harris are all very capable actors, and fill their roles with conviction. The battle scenes, as well as the tense stand-off between the snipers, are directed very well. Compelling and entertaining.

Rating: B

Doomsday (2008)

A really cool set-up, followed by some great action, at which point things take a turn for the bizarre. I can see the writer and his buddy smoking weed and playing Grand Theft Auto, when one turns to the other and says, "Hey, wouldn't it be killer if someone in a Bentley suddenly pulled up alongside Mel on his way to the Thunderdome?" Well, in this movie, you'll get to see that.

Mad Max and 28 Days Later are just two of the many movies they borrow from. Additionally, you will discover the answers to questions like "What if a hot chick played the role of Russell Crowe in Gladiator? What if Kurt Russell was escaping from Scotland instead of L.A. and New York? What if the fellows from LOTR took the shortcut through the mountain and found a $250,000 set of wheels instead of nothing but heartache?

If you'd like to find out the answers to these questions and more, this movie is for you. If all this sounds like a bunch of nonsense, move on. At best you'll get some good laughs from this amalgam of movies past.

Rating: C

Unleashed (Danny The Dog) (2005)

This is one of a handful of action movies that not only earned its A+ rating, but held onto it after repeat viewings. 

Great writing by Luc Besson and direction by Louis Leterrier. Unleashed is the rare action movie that provides a deep, character driven story to go along with all the kick-ass violence. Morgan Freeman was a huge get for the casting director. Without him, the movie would not have reached the heights that it did. Bob Hoskins was another masterstroke in casting. I've rarely seen such complex villainy portrayed so well on screen.

Jet pulls out an Academy level acting performance out of nowhere, one that I've never seen him match since. He sells this movie with his facial expressions alone.

Oh, and the fight scenes are unreal. It's Gladiator and Bloodsport all rolled into one. It effortlessly shifts gears between mesmerizing fight sequences to compelling drama. And then you have Massive Attack doing the soundtrack. Brilliant concept. Excellent direction. First-rate fight scenes. Amazing performances. Great editing. Perfect from start to finish. I love this film.

Rating: A+

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Starts out a little kooky, but evens out once Snow White comes of age. Many creative characters and elements. The dwarves were particularly cool. Pretty good as far as fairytale adaptations go.

Rating: C+