Category: action

It’s hell. “13 Days, 13 Nights” (“13 Jours, 13 Nuits”, 2025)

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directed by Martin Bourboulon
© 2025 Pathé. All Rights Reserved.

Since I’m an empath, watching this film was very painful. Generally, when I read news about the countries where people are being tortured or held in captive, I can’t believe it. How come I wake up in a safe house, go to work, have a full fridge and in case of emergency there are several hospitals in the city, and at the same time, on the same planet, somewhere there people wish to survive another day. Reality is the worst kind of sci-fi… This film is set in Afghanistan, where the Taliban take over the capital, Kabul. The US army withdraw, which means everyone there is in huge danger. Commandant Mohamed Bida (Roschdy Zem) is terrified with what’s happening on the streets and asks the French ambassador to let civilians entry the embassy grounds. Otherwise, the Taliban will murder them without hesitation. In order to help as many people as it’s possible, Bida cooperates with Eva (Lyna Khoudri), a humanitarian worker of French-Afghan origin. She becomes his personal translator between him and Taliban members, which is also very risky since she’s a woman. Despite best intentions, Bida will have to face the reality and make difficult decisions – either he saves a small group of people and let hundreds die at the closed gate, or he will break rules and perhaps, in case of some miracle, protect lots of civilians. This isn’t just a film showing how dangerous and uncontrolled religious cults are. We know that some people should really go to therapy instead of church or any place of such kind. But this story is more about helplessness of an individual person. No matter how dedicated one can be, the system always wins. And it’s heart-breaking that humans are segregated like trash. If you’re X, you have the right to live. If you’re Y, you have the right to be thankful for whatever happens. Political and religious wars take place in numerous countries, but there’s one common thing – unnecessary suffering of innocent people. Just some of them have a chance to escape, and others don’t. And all that based on their passport.

My rating: 7/10
S.

If you spot an anomaly, turn back immediately. “Exit 8″ (“8-ban deguchi”, 2025)

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directed by Genki Kawamura
© 2025 Toho. All Rights Reserved.

I’m not really a gamer type, but when I’ve heard of this film, I got curious. If you like mysteries and solving riddles, this might be something for you. We follow the Lost Man, who’s not yet lost, but is soon to be. The guy is taking a subway and while trying to exit the station, he… yes, you’re right! He gets lost. At first you might think it’s one of the London metro stations, because finding the way there is an adventure itself. But something seems off, because no matter what, the Lost Man keeps walking the same corridor. Or at least that’s what it looks like. At some point he realises, that sometimes there are some differences, called in the film anomalies, and it’s important to notice them. If the corridor is in its original form, you can keep going and the exit numbers will be changing from 0 do 8. However, each time, going from one exit to another, you need to pass the corridor. If you don’t spot the anomaly, you will again enter the corridor with exit 0 written on the wall. So, what to do? Simple, you need to focus and observe all the details, and if there’s a difference, you go back. Those anomalies can be of various kinds and at some point in the film (or in the game) you may start questioning your own mind. And what if you suddently meet a child in the corridor – do you help them or do you consider it an anomaly and go back leaving them behind? Yeah, we get to such moral choices as well. I don’t feel like playing the game, but the film was quite entertaining. Perhaps the ending could have been more exciting, but I also liked how they summed the story up (but no spoilers!). Besides, watching this film is a bit like watching a live stream of a gamer playing Exit 8. I encourage you to search for anomalies and see whether you would find the way out faster than the Lost Man.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Human or AI, we make mistakes, and we learn. “Mercy” (2026)

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directed by Timur Bekmambetov
© 2026 Sony Pictures Releasing International. All Rights Reserved.

How much don’t I understand film critics? Thiiiiiiiis much! I mean, I understand, we all have our preferences, but modern sci-fi is definitely one of the most underrated genres. In case you’ve seen today’s film and its ratings – here’s a sign for you to watch it no matter what! Especially if you’re a fan of sci-fi stories. I mean, this production is such a gem that I’m surprised I even have to defend it… Anyway, let’s go! We move forward to 2029 where AI is now used as judges in court. Fun, huh? Since AI is deprived of basic human empathy and emotions, its decision-making process is based purely on facts. This way it’s considered 100% objective, especially since AI has the access to literally everything – from city cameras to people’s phones. The film begins with Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) waking up tied to a chair and taking part in his own trial. His wife has been murdered and Chris is the main suspect with the guilt probability of 97,5% (calculated by AI). In the next 90 minutes, he must prove to the artificial judge that he’s innocent. Otherwise, he will be executed in this chair. Chris claims that he didn’t kill his wife, but all the provided evidence says the opposite. So, is he lying or is someone trying to get rid of him? Say whatever you want, but the idea itself is magnificent. Some critics are complaining that Christ Pratt is basically just sitting throughout the film, but… what did they expect? It’s a story about a man in a trial. Would they complain that a film about a sailor is shot entirely on a ship? Give me a break. Besides, such roles are even more demanding, because you have limited ways of expression. In my opinion, he nailed it. Just like Rebecca Ferguson who plays the role of the AI judge. She also cannot express too much since she’s not a human character, yet you may feel a whole range of emotions watching those two. Besides, the protagonist is actually facing the consequences of his own actions, and I’m not talking about the potential murder. He was a supporter of AI trials, but now he’s the defendant, who experiences how it is to prove yourself not guilty. No matter how clever one is, it’s a battle against AI – which has unlimited resources and cannot save you out of pity. Also, if AI has a proof, it doesn’t reflect on the case further, even if the proof might be misleading. I spent so much reflecting on this topic after watching “Mercy” and I’m shocked that critics haven’t appreciated it enough. I really hope you will give it a try and improve its ratings.

My rating: 8/10
S.

It’s easier to pull the trigger than play guitar. “Desperado” (1995)

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directed by Robert Rodriguez
© 1995 Sony Pictures Releasing. All Rights Reserved.

You know how we say that something cost us an arm and a leg? Well, this film and its director are a good example. To be exact, Robert Rodriguez firstly made a very low-budget film titled “El Mariachi”, which got noticed by producers and that led to making “Desperado”, with not such a low budget anymore. However, in order to make that first film of his, Rodriguez was earning money by being a human guinea pig in a laboratory. Scientists were making tests on him and paying for that. I’m so glad he didn’t get hurt during the process, because we wouldn’t have got “Spy Kids”, which was definitely one of my favourite action films when I was a child. Anyway, risking his life was apparently worth it, because after making the first film, he began his quite impressive career and gave us “Desperado”, the second part of his Mexican trilogy. In fact, this part is surely the most popular and perhaps even the best of them all, but feel free to watch them and have your own opinion. The story of this part focuses on Manito (Antonio Banderas), known as El Mariachi, whose lover was killed by a drug lord. The man is going for a revenge and he does that with a very attractive companion named Carolina (Salma Hayek). We have a mysterious guitar player, we have a beautiful lady, we have a bad guy, we have cringy zoom ins, catchy music and a truly Mexican romance. Boom, a success. I’m not a fan of westerns and such action films, but I have to say that “Desperado” is a classic. It was yet the time when Antonio Banderas didn’t speak good English, so he was learning his lines phonetically. Imagine the motivation! And the patience of the film crew. But as least they had a laugh together for sure. I’m sure that in the 90s this story and its style must have been a big deal, but nowadays it’s a bit uncomfortable to watch it. Still, we should know classics, so here’s one for you.

My rating: 6/10
S.

That dog’s a real hero, you know that? “Top Dog” (1995)

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directed by Aaron Norris
© 1995 Live Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Chuck Norris didn’t die. He killed the life! An absolute icon of action films, known for being undestroyable. I’ve never been a big fan of action films, but I do believe Chuck Norris deserves to be appreciated for his work and that is why I’d like to dedicate this post to him. However, the film I’m recommending today is not that popular and also not of the best quality, but I thought I could show you Chuck in a different shade. I mean, maybe not entirely different, because he also plays a cop, Jake Wilder, but this time he has an unusual companion – Reno, a brave dog. At first, Jake isn’t thrilled about working with such a hairy guy on four paws, but Reno will soon prove his competences. So there’s a cop and a dog against neo-nazis. And I guess you know who wins this battle since it’s an action/comedy from the 90s. It’s not surprising or spectacular from the technical point of view, but I actually like Chuck Norris here. He seems… a bit more delicate than in his other roles. Maybe it’s because of the dog right beside him, but I kind of felt like watching a family film with several non-PG-13 scenes where men need to shoot each other. Except that – you may watch it with a hot cocoa and marshmallows. Of course, I have to praise the most outstanding performance by Reno, who was actually played by two dogs. Digby and Betty both created the character of a brave policedog and I hope they got a lot of high-quality snacks for that. Also, there’s a challenge for you – try to distinguish which scene is played by Digby, and which by Betty. If you succeed, please contact me – I’ll personally congratulate you. This film doesn’t have good ratings, but it is a cute element in Chuck’s cinema experience, so I’d like to share it with you. And I bet that heaven is now very well protected.

My rating: 5/10
S.

Who’s fighting? I’m racing. “F1” (2025)

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directed by Joseph Kosinski
© 2025 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

It took me a lot of time to sit down and watch this film. I couldn’t force myself to see it in the cinema… I mean, it’s a film about car racing… No offence, but I see absolutely nothing tempting about this activity. However, since so many people recommend it and it’s nominated to Oscars, I just had to make myself a big mug of coffee and watch it. And unfortunately, I still see no point in driving around the circle, but I do think this film looks entertaining and from the technical point of view – it is spectacular. So I’m taking you for a ride in F1! Put on the helmet, fasten the seatbelt and check your insurance. At the beginning we get to know Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who used to be a very successful F1 driver in the 90s, but a horrible accident forced him to finish his career. One day, he’s offered to become a mentor for another driver and help him in winning the upcoming races. I mean, the story is as simple as tying sandals, so if you already have an idea how things will go – you’re probably right. And everything here is correct – the screenplay, the plot twists, the acting etc. So it is a complete production. Is it outstanding as a story? Not at all. But the work put into creating this film is enormous. The thing that fascinates me the most is how they managed to shoot the action from the inside of the car, where, as you know, there’s very little space. I guess it’s good that Apple produced “F1” because they were using iPhones in such scenes. Perhaps promoting the usage of their phones as professional video cameras was even the main point of making the film – who knows, just my hypothesis. So, to sum up – it’s a fun action/drama to watch if you appreciate great visual effects and you like cars. Then, you’ll have the time of your life. And even though I still don’t feel the enthusiasm about Formula 1, I try to be objective and point out the good sides. For sure I understand the nomination for the best editing, sound and visual effects, but the best picture… well, that’s questionable. Still, I cannot say it’s a bad production and I believe it truly deserves a recommendation. But risking your life for driving in a circle is something I’ll never support and this story hasn’t changed my mind.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Permission to hug? “Zootopia 2” (2025)

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directed by Jared Bush & Byron Howard
© 2025 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

As I promised, here’s my recommendation of “Zootopia 2”. If you haven’t seen the first film, you may check out my previous post and perhaps watch both parts together. Although, if you decide to see only the second film, you’ll still understand everything there, because the characters are introduced to us again and the story is not really connected to the previous one. But if you haven’t seen the first part, you may find my post a little spoiler, so just so you know. In this film, Judy and Nick (Ginnifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman) are work partners at the police department, but even though they managed to succeed last time, they are still very different from each other, which causes lots of problems. During one mission, Judy spots a shedded snake skin, which seems unreal, because there haven’t been any snakes in the city of Zootopia for years. However, the more they investigate the case, the more probable it becomes that there is, in fact, a snake somewhere here. Since they are considered a threat to the community, Judy and Nick must find it before anything bad happens. And soon, those two might realise that nothing is that obvious and simple… Intrigued? I hope so. What I definitely loved about this part is that it doesn’t stand out from the first one. If you watch them together, I bet you can’t really say they were made 10 years apart. The jokes are still there and I actually liked the main plot twist, because, again, the filmmakers take stereotypes and crush them into tiny pieces. I have to say I’m not a big fan of modern children’s animations, because they seem too complicated and, in fact, tiring to me. I get it, now, younger generations expect everything, everywhere, happening all at once. But it would be nice to see more animations like “Zootopia”, because there are still adults who like watching such films and we feel discriminated. On behalf of millenials, please, keep making such animations! Thank you in advance. Besides, in what other film you may watch a gazelle singing with the voice of Shakira? That’s a very unique experience.

My rating: 7/10
S.

What Do You Call A Three-Humped Camel? “Zootopia” (2016)

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directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore
© 2016 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I’ve seen “Zootopia 2” and, while writing a post about, I realised that I haven’t recommended the first part on my blog. So today we’re moving back to 2016… wow. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! It’s about time to create a post about it then. Some of you probably already know this animation, but for those who don’t, sit comfortably and enjoy the plot: Imagine a world without people. Awesome, right? Instead of them, we have animals, who can talk and do everything humans do. There, we meet Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a very ambitious little rabbit who wishes to move to the city of Zootopia and become the first ever bunny policeman. Or… police-bunny. I’m trying to be politically correct, ok? So, Judy is assigned to do rather basic boring stuff at work, but then things get complicated and she is given an urgent case to solve – but she must do it quickly. In order to succeed, she has to cooperate with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a smart but rebellious fox. As we know, bunnies and foxes don’t really go together, but, surprisingly, those to make a great team. Will they manage to solve the case? It’s for you to see. Even though I was already an adult watching “Zootopia”, I enjoyed it very much. If you miss good old animations for children, then this one shouldn’t disappoint you. The characters are well-written, the plot is fun to follow and you may spot numerous jokes that are actually hilarious. Besides, I’m sure that you’ll love their sloth – because if you’ve ever been to any office, you’ll definitely have flashbacks. Fun fact, at first the filmmakers wanted to make Nick the main character, but then decided to switch roles with Judy, and I actually believe it was a great choice. Not only they created another inspiring female character (even if she’s not human), but also made Nick in the supporting role a more insteresting element of the whole story. Generally, the film is fast, entertaining and educational, so to me, it makes a very good animation. If you still haven’t seen “Zootopia”, it’s about time! Especially since I’ll be writing about the second part soon, so stay tuned.

My rating: 7/10
S.

Our lives are the sum of our choices. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (2025)

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directed by Christopher McQuarrie
© 2025 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Am I the only one who feels the same way at the end of this year as Tom Cruise in that picture? Like… you’re helpless, there’s not much you can do, but you’re still hanging to that plane that is flying like crazy and there’s a big chance you’ll fall and crash your body in a hurtful way? Yep, that’s exactly what the end of 2025 feels like. It was definitely one of the worst for me and if 2026 has plans to be worse, I’ll gladly unsubscribe and get back to VHS kind of life. Do you even remember VHS? Or should I go dye my grey hair already? Anyway, the end of 2025 is also the end of Mission Impossible! Or is it? Well, it kind of gives the vibes of the final part, but you never know. And the ending says nothing specific, so I guess we will see. Anyway, this one is definitely not my favourite part of Mission Impossible, yet I couldn’t dislike it just like that – it’s Mission Impossible in the end. I adore this fast running Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), the soundtrack, the special effects and Tom doing things I would never do unless you paid me as much as he earns. This film is the continuation of the story of “Dead Reckoning” and I guess it’s pointless to watch it without knowing the first part. I mean, the plot is already very complex, so at least watch the first one and have the idea who is whom. I have to say that I didn’t feel much engaged in the story itself and I believe “Dead Reckoning” was way better when it comes to the screenplay. However, it’s still thrilling, full of plot twists and action, so as a fan of Mission Impossible I wasn’t devastated – just slightly disappointed. I guess Tom focused too much on doing all the dangerous things to be remembered as the guy with huge cojones. Burning parachuting, diving, flying “off” the plane… I mean, yes, Tom, you are damn brave and I’m not even joking about it. Standing ovation for you there. But I wish they polished the screenplay a bit more so the film could be remembered also for the plot. But hey, isn’t it the best kind of film to end 2025 with? Full of plot twists, random dangerous actions and with a poor story to remember. Perfection if you ask me. Let’s hope 2026 will be more generous and we will finish it with a relaxing comedy. Or at least a documentary about koalas. Pretty please.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Is this what the end of the world feels like? “Sirāt” (2025)

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directed by Óliver Laxe
© 2025 BTeam Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

When I heard of this film, I was sure it’s a family drama that may turn into a crime story or thriller. Obviously, I hadn’t seen any trailer (as always), so I entered the world of “Sirāt” totally unaware. Would I watch it again? No. But am I glad I had a chance to experience it? Definitely yes. At the beginning, we get to know Luis (Sergi López), a father of two. His older daughter has disappeared and the man cannot contact her anyhow. That is why he decides to travel to Morocco with his younger child Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona) and search for the missing girl. They meet people raving and enjoying electronic music there, and at some point Luis is told about another big raving party in a dessert, where he might actually find his daughter. Even though the journey to that dessert is difficult, the man and the boy are determined to give it a try. They join a group of ravers and hope for a happy ending. Will it be happy? It’s for you to see. I have to say I was reflecting on this film for a long time. The story itself isn’t anyhow complicated, but the hidden messages are quite hard to understand. At least while watching. I needed to think about it all for a day or two to create my own interpretation. There won’t be any spoilers here, at least not any significant ones: I’m mostly focused on the differences between Luis and the ravers. The man is terrified and hopeful to find his missing child, and he doesn’t agree to accept she might not want to be found or she might not be with us anymore. He wants to achieve his goal and nothing can stop him. The ravers, however, adapt to life in their own way – they might not be achieving their goals, but they focus on themselves and the present. Seems like a great way to live, right? Well, while watching the film I felt the director shows us those two opposite approaches to life in order to make us come to a conclusion that perhaps it’s good to compromise. Maybe something in the middle of the scale is the right choice. If I could say what this film is about in one word, to me it’s about balance. We need balance in our lives not to lose ourselves and cross the line, even unconsciously. But I was reading some reviews of this story and I feel like each person has a different reflection, which is amazing. It means this film is of good quality and different people might find something for themselves there. I encourage you to check it out as well.

My rating: 7/10
S.