The Maze Runner 3: Death Cure (2018) --- "The Cure For Death Is Life, Or Rather A Zombie Life."

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Plot Summary

Thomas leads some escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions that the Gladers have been asking since they arrived in the maze. (1) 

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      The Death Cure (2018) is the final film in The Maze Runner trilogy about an apocalyptic world after an illness, called the Flare, turns people into zombie-like creatures, called Cranks. This film finishes the story by following Thomas and his friends as they head to the last standing city to save their friend, Minho, and take down the Government Association known as WCKD. To be honest, after the disappointment that was The Scorch Trials, mostly due to its predictability and cliché zombie style, I was not expecting this film to be one of the strongest yet and the cast delivers wonderful performances. This franchise fell behind the herd that was young adult books-to-films hype due to Dylan O'Brien's injuries during filming but that doesn’t make it the weakest. In fact, I believe that The Death Cure beat out other series in the pack as one of the most solid films: Twilight was not well received, the Divergent series fell so flat that its final film is to be a TV movie, and The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) strayed so far from the book that it couldn’t even get past the first film.

     The Maze Runner (2014) had a decent amount of intensity and darkness, kind of like a PG version of Lord of the Flies (1990), but as the film franchise progresses each new installment gets darker and more intense. The Maze Runner offered mystery, The Scorch Trials drops some of the mystery in favor of horror but The Death Cure offered a bit of both as well as some much-needed action. The story picks up right after the events in The Scorch Trials (2015) and it is much deeper and more complex than the previous two films. The action takes off within the first few minutes; it is fast moving and heart racing. The film alternates between the action and the standstill scenes in a way that makes it effectively exciting and entertaining. The makeup used for the Cranks, is outstanding and the evolution from human to Crank is like Warm Bodies (2013) meets World War Z (2013). The tone of this film is more emotional and somber; it’s matured with the characters.

     The characters are reestablished very early on in the film and the actors deliver their performances very well. Dylan O'Brien (American Assassin) as Thomas is a great actor and did a really good job in a physically demanding role. Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angle) as Brenda was a bit forgettable in The Scorch Trials but she did a lot better in this film. I can’t wait to see her in Alita: Battle Angle later this year. Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Nanny McPhee) as Newt and Dexter Darden (Joyful Noise) as Frypan are great roles of comic relief. Of the two, my favorite is Newt who affects a good portion of Thomas’ decisions in this film. Ki Hong Lee (Wish Upon) as Minho, is great but I think he could have been used better in the film. From what I read his role in this film is different than how its portrayed in the book. Once his character starts gaining some more action scenes then his performance is more elevated. Kaya Scodelario (POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales) as Teresa is good but I didn’t find her character to be super impressive, although her sincerity over what she did to her friends, especially Thomas, is believable. Patricia Clarkson (Green Mile) as Doctor Ava Paige is surprisingly great. At first, her methods in finding the cure appear to be wicked but here we get to see her compassion and guilt for what she’s done all in the name of good intentions. She plays less of a villainous role here which gives Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones) as Janson, the chance to elevate the film by being the bad guy.

     Overall, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) is an entertaining and more in-depth final installment in the trilogy. The action is fast-paced and begins immediately, the characters are quickly reintroduced, and the Cranks makeup is great. This was a satisfying end to a surprisingly great trilogy that surpassed a number of popular YA book-to-films series – like Twilight, Divergent, Mortal Instruments, etc – in its solidness and well-rounded ending. I am curious if director Wes Ball (Maze Runner) plans to do film adaptations of the two prequels books, Kill Order and Fever Code.

P.S. I recommended this film to anyone 11 and older.  

"How many kids do they have to round up, torture, kill? When the hell does it stop?"

- Thomas [to Teresa]

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  8.4 of 10 stars

Worth Buying:  8.4 of 10 stars

I hope you liked this post, subscribe to my blog via email HERE, send in your comments, and watch The Maze Runner 3: Death Cure (2018)

Movies Similar 

28 Days Later (2003)

After Earth (2013)

Divergent (2014)

The Divergent Series 3: Allegiant (2016)

The Divergent Series 4: Ascendant (TBD)

The Divergent Series 2: Insurgent (2015)

Eagle Eye (2008)

Ender's Game (2013)

The Giver (2014)

I Am Number Four (2011)

The Maze Runner (2014)

The Maze Runner 2: Scorch Trials (2015)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Underworld 1 (2003)

Underworld 2: Evolution (2006)

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Underworld 4: Awakening (2012)

Underworld 5: Blood Wars (2016)

Warm Bodies (2013)

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) --- "Be Sure To Wear Protective Gear When Testing The Sun's Heat."

Plot Summary

Transported to a remote fortified outpost, Thomas and his fellow teenage Gladers find themselves in trouble after uncovering a diabolical plot from the mysterious and powerful organization WCKD. With help from a new ally, the Gladers stage a daring escape into the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with dangerous obstacles and crawling with the virus-infected Cranks. The Gladers only hope may be to find the Right Hand, a group of resistance fighters who can help them battle WCKD. (1) 

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     To begin with, I have not read any of the books in this series so this review based solely on my opinion of the film. And if you were expecting the film to be just like the book (by James Dashner, of the same name) then think again, after reading some reviews concerning the film's similarities to the book many fans complained that this film is not exactly like the book. Big shocker! Movie-goers should know by now that book-to-film adaptations are never done 100% the same. I am a huge book reader and I have read books that were later adapted to film but neither were exactly the same. Making changes from book to film does not always mean that the film is a total flop unless you're talking about the Percy Jackson films but that is another story in itself.

     The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) stays true the original film, which is how I believe sequels are supposed to be made. This film is a full-on action sequel of Maze Runner with a good plot and plenty of twists despite being a little predictable concerning one character at the end.  Unlike the first film, there is a lot more violence and death in this film, the Scorch is harsh and brutal while the Cranks are new versions of zombies. The excitement builds while the characters are in the Scorch but once the Cranks start to overstay their welcome things tend to slow down. The horror scenes are effectively creepy but often times become repetitive and the hallucinatory party scene is a bit confusing regardiitst’s purpose. The final act starts building the suspense and intensity right before we come to the film’s ending climactic cliff-hanger, minus the last minute info-dump. The action scenes are exciting and well choreographed with a feel of realism. It is clear that the actors gave their all especially Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, Monster Trucks) as Vince who filmed his action scenes with a broken ankle. 

     The visuals are probably the best part about the film, besides the thrilling action and good acting. The cinematographer took plenty of risks and there were also some interesting shots in terms of composition. Director Wes Ball and cinematographer Gyula Pados (Duchess, Predators) beautifully balanced the visuals with the emotional arcs of the characters that make the audience feel like they are taking part in this journey alongside the characters. The special effects are also well executed; they could have easily ruined the realness of the Cranks and the environment. The acting was great for both old and new characters. The only problem is that this amazing cast was not exactly given a worthy script, in fact that were very much limited in some scenes that almost went nowhere. However, there some of the clichéd lines have been removed and the characters have more of a backbone, partly because they came to the realization that the only people they can truly trust is each other. But by the end it seems like even that concept is not always for certain.

     Overall, in comparison to the first film The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) was more satisfying and proved that despite the film’s focus on the Maze it can still go beyond what the title implies. The characters are more developed and their emotional arcs blend well with the visual effects. Director Wes Ball does his best to make this labyrinthine dystopian world that James Dashner hatched in his novels easy to understand. While still creating an exciting and entertaining film with complex plot, some well-executed action scenes, and more developed characters. The films’ ending leaves a pretty shocking, yet predictable, cliffhanger that implies that you can’t trust anybody, not even those you thought were on your side. I am super excited to see the next installment soon. 

"I know what I'm supposed to do now. It's not just about Minho. It's about all of us. It's about everyone WICKED's ever taken, everyone they will take. They'll never stop. They'll never stop, so, I'm gonna stop them. I'm gonna kill Ava Paige."

- Thomas 

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.9 of 10 stars

Worth Buying:  7.9 of 10 stars

I hope you liked this post, subscribe to my blog via email HERE, send in your comments, and watch Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials (2015)

Movies Similar 

 28 Days Later (2003)

After Earth (2013)

Divergent (2014)

The Divergent Series 3: Allegiant (2016)

The Divergent Series 4: Ascendant (TBD)

The Divergent Series 2: Insurgent (2015)

Eagle Eye (2008)

Ender's Game (2013)

The Giver (2014)

I Am Number Four (2011)

The Maze Runner (2014)

The Maze Runner 3: Death Cure (2018)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Underworld 1 (2003)

Underworld 2: Evolution (2006)

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Underworld 4: Awakening (2012)

Underworld 5: Blood Wars (2016)

Warm Bodies (2013)

The Maze Runner (2014) --- "Late To The Party But Makes A Maze Game Seem Interesting."

Plot Summary

Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), a teenager, arrives in a glade at the center of a giant labyrinth. Like the other youths dumped there before him, he has no memory of his previous life. Thomas quickly becomes part of the group and soon after demonstrates a unique perspective that scores him a promotion to Runner status -- those who patrol the always-changing maze to find an escape route. Together with Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), the only female, Thomas tries to convince his cohorts that he knows a way out. (1) 

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    The Maze Runner (2014) is a post-apocalyptic film adapted from the five-part YA novels, of the same name, by James Dashner. I’ve never read the books so this review is based solely on the film and considering the general trends of YA films The Maze Runner has some big shoes to fill. The story is nothing new but there are some unknown elements and suspense that keeps audiences hooked to the end and beyond. As the film progresses along a good pace you will try to uncover the end goal amidst all the twists and turns, and despite knowing the basics of the story the end is still surprising.

     It's rare for a studio to trust the future of a potential blockbuster franchise to a new director such as Wes Ball; you'd think there’d be too much at stake. But when you get right down to it, Wes Ball does the job quite well and with more talent to spare. The Maze Runner is a confident and thrilling blend of action scenes and character performances that it’s hard to believe that this is Ball’s first big film. Although the narrative gets a little away from Ball at the end, I believe that this has more to do with the source material than it does with Ball’s skills as a director. The Maze encircling the Glade – where in which the characters primarily reside – is a massive enclosure of stone grey, and the Grievers are odd combinations of flesh and machine. Ball’s direction for the film is clear, a vastly PG version of Lord of the Flies that creates beauty in its simplicity. There is no informative scene regarding the futuristic world, futuristic dialect, an unfair class system or government changes.  The story is just simple and yet expansive and full of twists.

     The story’s theme is fascinating. The Maze Runner is about running for your right to survive, that life is sometimes like a giant maze but it also raises questions about one’s identity and integrity. Sometimes safety and security are worse than knowing the truth and having a choice. By adding a horror element it made the film follow a more traditional monster-film route which allowed for the Grievers to be pretty terrifying and made the film that much more interesting. At first, the multitude of unanswered questions keeps the audience wondering what’s in store next and while these elements are integrated quite well with character developing moments, this also allows for moments of drawn-out vagueness that make everything confusing. It would be nice to get some questions answered at certain points in the film rather than keep piling on the questions. The action is fun and entertaining, the maze scenes are intense and haunting while the glade scenes are reminiscent of Lord of the Flies. Despite some savagery and gruesomeness, the struggle to survive helps justify the action without any need for unnecessary flare.

     The Maze Runner uses young up-and-coming actors rather than the mature and obvious choices; their chemistry as a group is great. Dylan O'Brien (Teen Wolf)is great as the newbie Glader Thomas; he passionate without being overacted and melodramatic. Ki Hong Lee (Wish Upon) as Maze Runner Minho also delivered a nice supporting character by bringing the wing-man role to life and grounding Thomas’, sometimes, flamboyant attitude. Will Poulter (We’re The Millers) was solid as Gally but some of the writing gave him forced dialogue that ultimately led to him doing some really stupid stuff. Kaya Scodelario (POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales) as Theresa is good but she’s not my favorite character, often times she came off as a bit annoying. The rest of the characters were pretty good and filled their roles adequately for the film.

     Overall, The Maze Runner (2014) is a good film. There are nice special effects, good character development, and the story follows as a more traditional monster film; the film has more horror elements than the book, or at least that’s what I’ve heard. Although the story provided some vague solutions to the unknown by leaving us more questions than answers, the film is an accomplishment especially for new big-film director Wes Ball who leaves viewers excited for the sequel film, The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015).

"This place... it's not what we thought it was. It's not a prison, it's a test. It all started when we were kids. They'd give us these challenges. They were experimenting on us, and then people started disappearing, every month, one after the other, like clockwork."

- Thomas

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  7.8 of 10 stars

Worth Buying:  7.8 of 10 stars

I hope you liked this post, subscribe to my blog via email HERE, send in your comments, and watch The Maze Runner (2014).

Movies Similar 

28 Days Later (2003)

After Earth (2013)

Divergent (2014)

The Divergent Series 3: Allegiant (2016)

The Divergent Series 4: Ascendant (TBD)

The Divergent Series 2: Insurgent (2015)

Eagle Eye (2008)

Ender's Game (2013)

The Giver (2014)

I Am Number Four (2011)
The Maze Runner 2: Scorch Trials (2015)
The Maze Runner 3: Death Cure (2018)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Underworld 1 (2003)

Underworld 2: Evolution (2006)

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans (2009)

Underworld 4: Awakening (2012)

Underworld 5: Blood Wars (2016)

Warm Bodies (2013)

12 Strong (2018) --- "Soldiers Ride Horses Into Battle Instead Of The Preferred Armored Truck."

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Plot Summary

In the wake of Sept. 11, Capt. Mitch Nelson leads a U.S. Special Forces team into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. Once there, the soldiers develop an uneasy partnership with the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies. Outgunned and outnumbered, Nelson and his forces face overwhelming odds in a fight against a ruthless enemy that takes no prisoners. (1)

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     12 Strong (2018) – starring Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, and based on Doug Stanton's book, “Horse Soldiers” – is the true story of a U.S. Special Forces team who are the first troops sent into Afghanistan to retaliate after 9/11. There they form an alliance with a local general in order to fight the Taliban. One way in which the team must adapt to the terrain involves using Afghani horses to travel and fight. It becomes clear early on that they're outnumbered and outgunned by a ruthless enemy who's driven by ideology. 

     12 Strong is a heart-pounding and gripping film from beginning to end. Everything was explained slow enough so that audiences could better understand and appreciate the story. There are some hardcore battle scenes but it still managed to deliver a great and uplifting story about a group of soldiers who were some of the first that helped paved the way for soldiers today. Soldiers carrying weapons while riding horses makes this film unique but it also shows how daring it was for them: Riding a horse into battle with bullets flying everywhere is a very vulnerable position to be in because at any moment that horse could collapse right out from underneath you. As the film progresses the battles become more intense and the stakes get even higher. The ending battle is nothing short of a true Western style grand finale with our favorite characters charging in on horseback, guns blazing.

     One aspect that I enjoyed was the music by Lorne Balfe (Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows; Inception). The music is ominous as well as uplifting, all at the same time. You can never be sure what’s going to happen next. Some scenes are almost too good to be true, while with others are not as predictable as you might think. In short, the music was subtle yet perfect for every scene.

     Another aspect that I enjoyed most about this film is the timeline. We have all see war films about the still ongoing war in Afghanistan, and today’s perspective is a bit depressing. Of course, every war is but this film is different because it sets us back to when the Afghanistan war started – and I use that term loosely – shortly after 9/11. As a result, the characters are all charged up and ready to fight with guns blazing and ready to serve justice for those who could not. There is a nice balance between intense battle scenes and small moments of reprieve that continue to deliver great character development.

     The performances were great through and through. During the intense battle scenes we see the characters as heroes but during the few moments of peace, we see these heroes for who they really are, human. We see their passion for justice as well as their compassion for humanity. They can never fully turn off their emotions because you can see it in their eyes, how everything is affecting them, and that is what reminds us that their still human. Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok) does not overwhelm the screen, Michael Shannon (Man of Steel) plays a convincing soldier, and Navid Negahban (American Sniper) is transformative as the ally general, Dostum. Hemsworth and Negahban work very well together as their characters challenge each other to be better than they are.
     Overall, 12 Strong (2018) is a great film based on the, recently unclassified true story of a team of 12 soldiers who were some of the first on the ground after 9/11. The story is solid with an even balance between intense battle scenes and somewhat calm scenes, with an almost Western style ending to it. There is no doubt that your heart will be pounding throughout the entire film but I recommended seeing this film while it’s still in theaters, otherwise, the experience won’t be nearly the same. 

"Nineteen men attacked our country, the twelve of you will be the first ones to fight back... The most important thing a man can take into combat is a reason why."

- Colonel Mulholland

Final Vote

Worth Seeing:  9.5 of 10 stars

Worth Buying:  9.5 of 10 stars

I hope you liked this post, subscribe to my blog via email HERE, send in your comments, and watch Horse Soldier (2018).

Movies Similar 

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
American Sniper (2014)
Act of Valor (2012)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Dunkirk (2017)
Fury (2014)
Lone Survivor (2013)
Lions for Lambs (2007)
Only the Brave (2017)
The Patrol (2013)
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Red Tails (2012)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Unbroken (2014)
We Were Soldiers (2002)
World Trade Center (2006)
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Lone Survivor (2013) --- "American Soldiers Get In A Fire Fight And Tumble Down A Cliff Face. Who Will Survive?"

Plot Summary

In 2005 Afghanistan, Navy SEALs Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) and Matthew "Axe" Axelson (Ben Foster) deploy on a mission of surveillance and to take out Taliban leader Ahmad Shah. Though spotted by goatherds, Luttrell and his team decide not to kill them. But one of the Afghans alerts a group of Taliban fighters to the invaders, and a terrible battle ensues, in which the SEALs find themselves hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. (1)

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Rated R for strong bloody war violence and pervasive language

     Lone Survivor (2013) is an American biographical war thriller film based on the 2007 true-story book, of the same name, by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson. The film’s title alone proves to be just as haunting as the film itself, and despite audiences already knowing the ultimate ending you can’t help but hope for a change in the ending. This film explores a classic military scenario like the Battle of Thermopylae or the Battle of the Alamo. When some of the greatest warriors of our age are hopelessly outnumbered and face certain death? They simply become who they were trained to be.

The Post (2018) --- "Newspaper Uncovers Government Conspiracies That Span Decades. How They Handel It Is Interesting."

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Plot Summary

Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper -- The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spans three decades and four U.S. presidents. Together, they must overcome their differences as they risk their careers -- and very freedom -- to help bring long-buried truths to light. (1)

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     Oscar-winning director, Steven Spielberg (Bridge of Spies; Lincoln) reaches an all-new height to his career with his latest film, The Post (2018) starring Tom Hanks,  Meryl Streep, Bruce Greenwood, David Cross, and many more. The Post is about the real controversial publication of the Pentagon Papers1,2 - thousands of pages of top-secret reports that proved a mass-government cover-up spanning at least four presidents – by The Washington Post and The New York Times in 1970’s. The publication of these papers resulted in a U.S Supreme Court battle between the government and the journalists. One thing that Spielberg does very well with his films is that he knows how to let a specific tone gradually manifest throughout the film. Although The Post’s emotional stakes and dramatic tension are not as high as that of Spielberg’s 2015 film Bridge of Spies nor is this film made with that same consistency than that of his 2012 film Lincoln, Spielberg still commands this film with a sense of urgency that makes the story’s retelling brilliant and showcases the actors’ talents.

Spotlight (2015) --- "Blind By The Light? Investigative Journalists Give Details."

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Plot Summary

In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, an unfrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter "Robby" Robinson (Michael Keaton), reporters Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll and Sacha Pfeiffer interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents. The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. (1) 

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     At the moment following the credits for Spotlight (2015) roll, an overwhelming feeling of changing your career takes over and there are few films that have the ability to evoke such a feeling. Rocky (1976) made fathers and brothers go for morning runs and drink raw eggs. While Rudy (1993) made us want to go out and play football. Spotlight does something similar, as possibly the best journalistic drama since Alan J. Pakula’s 1976 film All the President's Men (APM) – the story of two young reporters who uncovered a national political scandal about the Nixon administration using campaign funding to finance dirty tricks of political enemies, nicknamed Watergate. Like APM, Spotlight involves a similar team of investigative reports who uncover a massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within one of the oldest and far-reaching institutions in the world: Catholic Church. Their discovery and means for justice not only shakes the entire Catholic Church system but almost makes the Watergate scandal seem tame in comparison.

The Commuter (2018) --- "Daily Commuter Is Thought To Be Crazy After He Must Make A Life Or Death Decision."

Plot Summary

In the midst of his daily commute, insurance salesman Michael Woolrich is contacted by a mysterious stranger who forces him to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. (1) 

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     The Commuter (2018) is the 4^th collaboration between Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows) and lead actor Liam Neeson - following Unknown (2011), Non Stop (2014), and Run All Night (2015) – and if you’ve seen either of the films then you have a pretty good idea as to what you’re in for. Like Source Code (2011), Non-Stop (2014), and Flightplan (2005) all the action takes place in one location; on a commuter train (or in other cases a plane) and after the first 15 minutes things start to happen quickly. Add a few obvious plot clues, a fast pace, great characters, and you have one adrenaline-filled movie that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Non-Stop (2014) --- "Air Marshal Goes Crazy After He's Framed For A Crime He Didn't Commit."

Plot Summary

Alcoholic and world-weary, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) lost his passion for his work long ago. Even though lives are potentially at stake during every flight, he sees the assignment as just a desk job. However, his "ordinary day at the office" becomes a high-stakes crisis during a flight to London. Marks receives a series of text messages demanding that he instruct the airline to transfer $150 million into an offshore account, or a passenger will die every 20 minutes. (1)

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      Non-Stop (2014) is an exciting and involved thrill-ride directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, 2011), who did a great job at building the tension beautifully, keeps a strong pace,  and each character introduced makes you suspect their true intentions, even Bill Marks (Liam Neeson – Unknown, Taken). The screenwriter team – John W. Richardson (Big Brother, as editor), Christopher Roach (Big Brother, as producer) and Ryan Engle (Rampage, 2018) – wrote an exhilarating story that centers around a plane hijacking with some unsuspecting twists that results in a great story and captures your attention from start to finish. You can tell that the writers did their research on air marshals, airplane mechanics, phone technology, etc. My favorite aspect of the story is that it takes an implausible plot and makes it plausible, especially with today’s technology.

Unknown (2011) --- "Guy Goes On A Journey To Discover Himself And The Truth After His Identity Is Stolen."

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Plot Summary

After a serious car accident in Berlin, Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) awakes to find his world in utter chaos. His wife (January Jones) does not recognize him; another man is using his identity, and mysterious assassins are hunting him. The authorities do not believe his claims, and he must go on the run alone. With an unlikely ally (Diane Kruger), Martin leaps into a perplexing situation that will force him to discover how far he is willing to go for the truth. (1)

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     Unknown (2011) is a great action thriller with a surprising plot point starring Liam Neeson, January Jones, and Diane Kruger. Despite there being a few flaws the story is intriguing, the main mystery is solved nicely, and the film ends well; there is an explanation for everything. Many viewers have compared this film to Neeson’s 2008 film Taken. Both films have a similar concept; the main character goes on a fast-paced journey to retrieve something special; in this case his memories. The difference between the two films is that Unknown has more suspense and mystery, whereas Taken is more hardcore action. Like Neeson’s character the audience is confused at first we believe its one thing that happened but with each new discovery, we learn that not everything is at it seems. Unlike most thrillers, it takes viewers at least halfway through the film to figure everything out. Personally, I found this to be the best part.