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You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.

You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.

Welcome to the Jungle

the one line review:

wwf action adventure

the overview

The Rock, better known for his WWF antics, stars again, in a similar role as in Walking Tall. Smooth cinematography and good acting, blends the serious with the surreal.

the plot:

The Rock is a debt collection/hardman whose job is to go on the hunt ti the Brazilian amazon looking his boss's son, who is out there searching for some mystic treasure. When he finds the kid, his attempts to get him back to LA are made all the more difficult by the mine-owning local boss (Christopher Walken) who doesn't want to let them leave without the treasure. When a group of rebels also get in the way, it's all about finding the treasure before they can all leave.

the verdict:

I thought Walking Tall was good, on account of The Rock. It's funny really, because you might instinctively think he's going to be a rubbish actor. But no. He's actually very dynamic, and OK, he's only so far played the "big hard man hurts a lot of people" roles, but he a big hard man, and he does hurt a lot of people, and he does it well, so so what?

The film works by mixing the serious, actiony side of the proceedings with the more sublime, comedy/slapstick side of things, as characterised by Seann William Scott's better known roles (American Pie etc.). The action scenes are well choreographed (the opening scenes see The Rock beat the shit out of quite a lot of NFL stars), and the comedy scenes are rib-tickling - between the fast talking wacky Stiffler-esque commentaries, to the "shouldn't have eaten that dodgy bit of fruit, I can't talk properly, oh shit I'm being humped by a monkey, again" stuff.

Christopher Walken is Christopher Walken - he's done better, and in this he's average. Similar to his role in Man on Fire with Denzel Washington.

Yep, by all accounts, this is a film worth seeing. It's not spoiled by any "The Rock gets the girl" rubbish as you might expect, but it does all end happily ever after. The day is saved, and the various bad guys get there come-uppance. Also watch out for a quasi-cameo appearance from Arnie.