Red (2010)

RED (2010) starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich--also co-starring Julian McMahon and Brian Cox (and Richard Dreyfuss!) stands for "Retired, Extremely Deadly" and is a pretty funny movie.

John Malkovich's paranoid character reminds me SO MUCH of Walter Bishop of "Fringe" (on Fox, Friday nights--if you haven't started watching, GET THEE TO HULU or FOX.COM and WATCH IT!!).

Oh yeah, Mary-Louise Parker is also in it. Although I was slightly disappointed by her performance. She is so much Nancy Botwin from "Weeds"--which works for the show, but kinda annoying for the movie.

She's what we would call the "Kate" character of the movie--she gets the "Kate" (Austen, of "Lost") treatment--pretty, but useless in the sense of sympathy, empathy and point. (I personally liked Kate, but many other viewers of "Lost" found her annoying and pointless) <<>

RED is entertaining, action-packed, but long. There are moments where it is slightly slow.

With that said, the plot twists were believable, and the most important part was that every scene mattered. (i.e. when introducing a new plot element, or a particular scene, it is relevant, and you WILL remember it when they bring back reference to it)

This brings me to "Amadeus," which I had to watch for a Music Appreciation class, and I never actually completed the movie (I've started it a few times and seen middle sections). I'll review that later.

If you like old people kicking ass, and the youth who disrespect the elderly getting theirs, RED is for you.

The lines are pretty witty, and the characters all have their moments (except for Nancy Botwin--I mean, Sarah).

The premise of the story can be gotten from the trailer, found here.

The general gist of the story is that Bruce Willis, who plays Frank (Francis) Moses, a retired CIA Senior Analyst (as the story goes), who is suddenly under fire--someone wants to kill him. He goes to some old friends, does some digging, is courting/kidnaps Mary-Louise Parker (all this happens within the first 10-15 min., I promise!!), and the movie ensues.

Karl Urban is great as the upstanding, well-meaning, straight-laced, by-the-book young CIA man. (I forgot to mention he was in the film)

From the top of my head, I can grab that he is Eomer in "Lord of the Rings," the doctor in "Star Trek," and the main villain along w/Thandie Newton in "Chronicles of Riddick."

Overall, I'd give this movie a B. I know it seems I give middling grades--that's somewhat where all movies stand.

Oh yeah--it did what it was supposed to do. (o;

Enjoy!