1. Gravity
Cast- Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
Director- Alfonso Cuarón
Plot- A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.
Our take- To be frank, I was not a fan of Sandra Bullock or George Clooney, I had decided not to watch this film, boy am I happy I changed my decision!!Big science fiction films are all the rage this year (Oblivion, Elysium, Pacific Rim…) and Gravity is finally one worth watching. From the trailers I had no idea what to expect. George Clooney and Sandra Bullock floating around in space for two hours eventually became my best guess. George gets very little screen time but Sandra shines throughout the whole film. Despite her being alone, I would say there is quite a lot of action in the film. She’s alone out there and you feel you are too. The film takes you in space and it feels claustrophobic to be there. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Throughout the film, you see Sandra’s character growing as well. Not only is she trying to get back home, but she’s finding the will to do so as well. The film is a visual masterpiece. Yes there is a lot of CGI of course (basically everything you see on screen is fake) but it never felt like it. For once, the 3D definitely adds something to the experience. You get the depth of field you need to truly experience the movie and feel as through you’re right there with Sandra. She gives an absolutely stunning performance, acting to absolutely nothing, yet always being right on the spot. “Gravity” is a rare breed. Simplistic but so refreshingly new. Visually, it will be studied for years to come, and thematically, will be revisited by the genre’s most ardent enthusiasts & is the best film of the year.
Cast- Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding JR, Robin Williams, Liev Schreiber, James Marsden.
Director- Lee Daniels
Plot- As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society.
Our take- From the opening scene of this film I was emotionally affected. This film is NOT meant to be a point-for-point reenactment of “the real” butler’s life, but a weaving together of vignettes and actual historic occurrences & succeeds flawlessly. Forrest Whitaker gives a magnificent performance in this film. Whitaker can dial it back (as he does in this film) or dial it UP as he did in “The Last King of Scotland” and play either with equal aplomb. I thought Oprah’s performance was very good, but I also enjoyed Cuba Gooding, Jr’s return to a substantive role. It is nice to see him doing something poignant and relevant again.You could say this is an African-American Forrest Gump: the story of an everyman whose fate collides repeatedly with historical figures and events, but The Butler is far more mature and subtle work which, beyond race, questions our roles as men and women in our daily lives. It questions and explores moral responsibility and how from generation to generation we can all search for what is the right moral conduct in the face of opposition, oppression and evil. This film is a must see for everyone out there!
2.2. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Cast- Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly & Benedict Cumberbatch
Director- Peter Jackson
Plot- The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.
Our take- I am a hug fan of Tolkein! I have seen the Lord of the Rings series nth number of times! I was thrilled & really satisfied with the 1st installment of this prequel series. This movie takes a big step up from the first movie. The movie is intense from the start to the end, in a very good way! The film gets a big lift by more characters to follow. Peter jackson does the sequel superb by telling the story with a lot of exiting action throughout the movie. Martin freeman plays the role as Bilbo Baggins extremely well yet again. The voice acting done by Benedict Cumberbatch was more than perfect, the dragon was frightening and very realistic. His interactions with Bilbo were very interesting to watch, and I think that the most memorable scene in the movie is either the barrel scene (in which Legolas shines, by the way) or the great finale in which Smaug rises from the molten gold, flies towards Laketown and you hear him say: “I am fire… I am… Death!”. That simple sentence was the best ending I could possibly imagine. Ian McKellen is given a back seat this time with a lesser screen time than the rest. & like the previous one its Richard Armitage as the powerful & charming Thorin who leads the show! Orlando Bloom & Evagine Lily are welcoming addition to the show, even though the love triangle could be really avoided! I can’t wait to for the final chapter in the hobbit masterpiece by Peter Jackson who blows you in to middle earth yet again! The hobbit and the lord of the rings will be the greatest master piece of all time! In a 100 years these films will be the Mona Lisa of films! I would recommend you go see this movie over and over again!
Cast- Daniel Brühl, Chris Hemsworth, Olivia Wilde
Director- Ron Howard
Plot- A re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
Our take- Rush is not a movie about motor racing for speed fans any more than Titanic was about sailing for merchant seamen. Rush is a superbly shot, directed, edited and performed film that transcends the sport of motor racing, just as the principal protagonists themselves did almost forty years ago. The joint leads are on impeccable form. Hemsworth portrays Hunt as the playboy we wish we could be (or bed) and his charisma doesn’t ooze, it gushes. He is arrogant, cocksure, charming and handsome. He makes it obvious why men wanted Hunt’s life and so many women welcomed him into theirs. It is a confident, full performance from Hemsworth that marks him out yet again as an actor with a certain chameleon-like quality and undeniable star power. Just as Hunt on screen evolves, so, too, does Lauda and by the film’s end our allegiance has wavered. It is a sensitive performance from Brühl and his understanding of the man he portrays and clear admiration for him infects us thoroughly. With the lead actors clearly committed to giving their best performances yet and a tastefully handled script, Ron Howard delivers a visually impressive account of events that turn this film into one of the best films of the year & one of his most respected directorial efforts yet.
Cast- Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello & Terrence Howard
Director- Denis Villeneuve
Plot- When Keller Dover’s daughter and her friend go missing, he takes matters into his own hands as the police pursue multiple leads and the pressure mounts. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?
Our take- This was one intense movie-going experience. Throughout the entire running time of the movie, the suspense never lets up.The director masterfully weaves the haunting atmosphere, and I was at the edge of my seat. The plot is a wonderful puzzle, unraveling slowly to reveal hidden layers of depth and complexity. The acting was wonderful, emotional and nuanced, with some unforgettable moments. Hugh Jackman is a much more than just Wolverine he has already proved that, but with this film, he deserves an Oscar Nomination.Gyllenhaal also stands firm and tall in one of the year’s finest performances. Highly recommended for those who wanted to watch a serious drama thriller with powerful, engaging acting performances from its talented casts.
Cast- Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Russel Crowe, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane & Lawrence Fishburn.
Director- Zack Snyder
Plot- In this reboot of Superman, A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extra stellar origin when Earth is invaded by members of his own race.
Our take- Superman has been our favorite boy scout superhero for many years. This reboot is darker than anything show of this character before (Of course Christopher Nolan is producing). First of all Henry Cavill is an excellent Clark Kent/Superman.He really gives the character that “not wanted” or “don’t feel like you belong” feeling.The cast in the movie is excellent including Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon. Russell Crowe really expands on Jor-el’s character and makes him more than just a voice helping Clark.Michael Shannon as Zod is terrific.He was even better than Superman 2’s Zod. Kevin Cosner and Diana Lane are great in this showing a more realistic depiction or should i say NOT the Silver Age Superman’s your destined for great things Pa and Ma Kent like we had but the more Golden Age Version when they were very over protective of Clark has a child.The fight scenes in the movie are astonishing.It makes up for all the lack of conflict Superman Returns had. In summary this is a super hero movie that even Marvel fans will appreciate as is giving a whole new level to a classic story, turning the most beloved hero in an actual hero and mixing a great graphic novel specialist with great digital artists to give you a full action packed movie that make
a good foundations for sequels.
Cast- Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston,Edris Alba & Antony Hopkins
Director- Alan Taylor
Plot- Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Our take- This is by far the most intricate and thoughtful of the Marvel films to date clearly the best follow up to The Avengers, with a great story and some superb performances, particularly Hiddleston’s as Loki. The characters from previous Asgard related outings are there, but thanks to some good writing, are more 3 dimensional and therefore, interesting. This is one of the few films that would have benefited from an extra 15 minutes or so to explore further the motivations of the key protagonists. The best part is the Game of Thrones feel added to spice it up. The Action is marvellous too giving us fantastic battles, chases and epic fights, with London being an brilliant setting for the film. Interesting character development, a terrific score (even if I did miss Patrick Doyle’s first theme) and the special effects are some of the best in the business. As well as being far more action packed and epic than the first. However the ending will either get some grinning with joy or just darn frustrated. In conclusion, anyone who is a marvel fan I believe will enjoy Thor: The Dark World as will anyone who liked the first with plenty of throwbacks to the original and enough set-up and cameos for the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2.
Cast- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour & Donald Sutherland
Director- Francis Lawrence
Plot- Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
Our take- I felt the 1st part of the series was good but overly hyped & too successful, but the sequel, Oh my! The film does start off slowly & focuses on developing the upcoming. From the first film we already knew that the movie had a strong and talented cast, but in this more dark and serious sequel, the characters are given even more room to shine. I never understood why some producers take a popular story with a big fan base and decide to do things differently from the book. It is a recipe for disaster. In Catching fire thankfully, that is not the case as everything was as it should have been. The graphics and the costumes were much improved from the first movie . I did not get bored at any point, despite the length of the film and that for me is quite important. Jennifer Lawrence was very touching and real embodying Katniss amazingly. For those claiming that they wanted more action in the arena, they should know that their is more coming in the next films, this is just a great build up. In my opinion, it is one of the best adaptations i have ever seen & has forced me to start reading the material its been derived from!
Cast- Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz & Matthew Fox
Director- Marc Foster
Plot- United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.
Our take- The unprecedented production troubles & the over budget fiasco had made sure the movie was being released in a negative light!Whew, the bets paid off! The film definitely contains most of the elements fans have always desired in a zombie movie; it actually mixes horror, suspense, and action all in one movie. With the running time that the movie possesses, such a rich and complex story is compacted to fit its duration, which means right off the bat, we’re met with the apocalypse and the zombie outbreak. We only receive a few minutes, if that, of the main family’s daily lives until they’re cast into the conflict almost instantly. As a result, conversations feel extremely and oddly brief and segments that could’ve been expanded on feel like they’re set on “fast forward” in order to get to the “point.” But in the end of the day its Mr. Pitt who delivers a performance that is quite pleasing as the film rest completely on his shoulders. In the end, “World War Z” is a fun and exhilarating ride that is more of a disaster film instead of the typical zombie film, and may even interest movie goers like myself who are not interested in the genre (especially gore fest).
Cast- Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston & Lili Taylor
Director- James Wan
Plot- Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse.
Our take- James Wan is currently the best at horror no doubts on that!The Conjuring completes a modern supernatural horror film trifecta started with Wan’s own Insidious in 2010 and bridged by last year’s unsettling Sinister. Most horror films these days climax somewhere in the middle; and in turn everything that follows doesn’t really have the same affect. In The Conjuring there is comic relief brilliantly placed throughout to bring you down from your own climax so they get another chance to build your fear up and startle you again. Wan understands the psychology behind tension and builds suspense through mere scene construction.The scares, pacing, sound design and camera work can only be described as precise.Ultimately the overall production value allows The Conjuring to stand out in an otherwise rotting genre. The acting is impressive, the practical effects are perfect and the classic 70s feel Wan was going for make for a great time at the movies. Not being much of a horror fan, I loved this film! Brilliantly scary!!
Cast- Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau & Ben Kingsley
Director- Shane Black
Plot- When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Our take- Taking place right after the events of the explosive The Avengers (2012), the most popular avenger is back again! After a memorable 1st & a disastrous, Shane Black gives us the Iron Man/ Stark movie we deserve! Well yea, this movie has more Tony Stark than Iron Man but who cares! As they both are played by the ever charming Robert Downey Jr, who after reading some of the comics (they are usually bad) & watching the animated show (terrible) is the actor born for this role! This sequel has many things going for it, except the epic fail of Mandarin reveal, which was a huge disappointment, a sad turn for Sir Ben! But unlike many I actually like Guy Pearce’s Aldrich Killian as the main antagonist, It was rarely different from what we usually see. Don Cheadle/ War Machine is reduced to a small role again. But the real surprise is Gwyneth Paltrow who actually kicks ass in some scenes! The action is great as in any Marvel movie! If you are enjoying the ongoing Marvel Cinematic Universe, this film is a good addition to the series.
Cast- Vin Diesel, Paul Walker (late), Dwayne Johnson, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Ludacris, Luke Evans & Gina Carano.
Director- Justin Lin
Plot- Hobbs has Dom and Brian reassemble their crew in order to take down a mastermind who commands an organization of mercenary drivers across 12 countries. Payment? Full pardons for them all.
Our take- This is one rare franchise which keeps getting bigger & better with every installment! It has an interesting plot, our very own engaging characters & ofcourse tons of mindless action. The key to the franchise’s upward turn in quality is due to director Justin Lin (who is sadly not directing 7).Now, “Furious 6” is neither about car racing nor bank heists, but rather a terrorist threat with obvious inspirations from “The Dark Knight.” Like “Fast Five,” the results are immensely satisfying and undeniably entertaining. Another ingredient to the film’s success is the chemistry between the cast members. We have grown to love these characters over the course of the series that one cannot help but cheer on for them. Certainly, the film’s use of a diverse ensemble cast should be commended. Vin Diesel & the late Paul Walker have been the life line of this series, it will be sad to see him cut out!!.Overall “Furious 6” is terrific entertainment, and judging by yet another dazzling cliffhanger and the audience’s reaction, “Fast & Furious 7” will be an amazing finale for the series.
Cast- Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey
Director- James Wan
Plot- The haunted Lambert family seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
Our take- I am not fan of horror movies, but according to me James Wan is currently the best there is! Insidious (2010) scared the life out of me with its shock & prevail & the sequel continues with that. Insidious brought us the usual haunting story, with a couple new elements sprinkled in. Chapter 2 does a great job of furthering itself from the usual fare, by expanding on the elements that made it different. Patrick Wilson seems to be getting a hold on this genre & is doing a good job. Rose is awesome as always! If you are fan of the 1st installment & love James Wan’s work this one is for you!
Cast- Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day & Ron Perlman
Director- Guillermo del Toro
Plot- As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.
Our take- Guillermo Del Toro is an extremely talented director, producer and above all an extraordinary artist. Pan’s Labyrinth gave justice to his talents and “The Strain trilogy” along with the Hell Boy series exemplifies his talents as a creator and innovator of interesting mind-grabbing stories/plots. Pacific Rim takes inspiration from the elements of any material that involves giant creatures and robots. It shows a simple concept about piloted robots, Jaegers, fighting against sea aliens, Kaijus. This idea alone would already make a fantastic summer blockbuster. The relatively unknown cast do their parts well & help in the proceedings. This movie is just harmless fun to bring out the 9 year old in you, in simple words “wicked entertainment”.
Cast- Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman & Rosamund Pike.
Director- Edgar Wright
Plot- Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind’s only hope for survival.
Our take- Another disaster survival buddy movie which is one hell of a joy ride. It is definitely a worthy close to the “trilogy” though (Shaun of the dead & Hot Fuzz), and it stands up well against the other two.With a plot as ludicrous as this one the film relies on the strength of it’s leads to succeed, and they pull it off admirably. The performances are very funny with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost actually switching roles. Pegg is more of the bumbling idiot whereas Frost is the straight man. The other performance are also good with Martin Freeman,Paddy Considine, Rosamund Pike and Eddie Marsan. I also loved the ending which has probably the best ending out of any of the Cornetto trilogy movies. Overall the movie is incredibly funny despite having a slow start. It’s a perfect mix of comedy and science fiction. I hope there’s more to come from these very funny and talented guys.
Cast- Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland & Reese Witherspoon
Director- Jeff Nichols
Plot- Two young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and to reunite him with his true love.
Our take- This is a kind of film everyone may not love due to its setting & slow pace. Mud is a charming, entrancing & a coming of age film that has almost lyrical quality as it unfolds along the rural backwoods of Mississippi River. The writing and directing is brilliant. It is the perfect blend of pacing, dialog, and action. The acting all around is top notch. Matthew McConaughey delivers an Oscar caliber performance. He has almost shun away from big budget movies & sticking to some brilliant indie films all the way. Reese Witherspoon plays a dark character other than her usually rom coms. She looks arousing & acts amazingly. The young actors were just great & would love to see them again. Watch this film if you are looking for something other than your usual escapist cinema.
Cast- Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill,Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride & Emma Watson.
Director- Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen
Plot- While attending a party at James Franco’s house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse.
Our take- This film is a laugh riot! Starring some of the best in the business making a spoof of themselves along with a long list of cameos. The plot is wafer thin but who cares!! The VFX here is surprisingly brilliant. The film has graphic sex talk and graphic violence. The dialog could hardly be any nastier. And of course, hardly more sacrilegious. However, despite all of that, the film is surprisingly good-natured.
Cast- Michael Cain, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco & Isla Fisher
Director- Louis Leterrier
Plot- An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.
Our take- One hell of an intelligent heist thriller. It is mainly based on the suspense, magic, humor, twists & some high octane car chases. One of the most entertaining movies to come out this year. Cant talk much about this movie, as I may give out the premise.
Cast- Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman
Director- Paul Greengrass
Plot- The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.
Our take- From the under rated director of The Bourne Ultimatum & The Green Zone comes the most intense film you will ever see! An intricate and precisely executed thriller written by Billy Ray, everything about “Captain Phillips” works amazingly. It’s this year’s “Zero Dark Thirty” in tension and features not one, but two fierce performances from Tom Hanks and newcomer Barkhad Abdi. A loose dramatization and not a fact to fact retelling of a dark day for an American captain, the film takes us through the days Captain Richard Phillips’ cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009. The film unravels itself with a narrative intensity bringing our hero from the day of his departure to the end of his journey. Must Watch!!
Cast- Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Benjamin Bratt
Director- Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud
Plot- Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal.
Our take- The 1st one was a laugh riot & a surprise hit!..this is more epic on ever scale! The plot takes a new direction & keeps it interested till the very end. Steve Carell is brilliant again as the voice behind Gru but again its the adorable minions who steal the show! One a whole the characters are lovable, hate able, and hilarious, the film has evolved from the first one and its a heart warming family film. Looking forward to the minions movie next year!
Cast- Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Jessica Lucas
Director- Fede Alvarez
Plot- Five friends head to a remote cabin, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads them to unwittingly summon up demons living in the nearby woods. The evil presence possesses them until only one is left to fight for survival.
Our take- A remake of the beloved series from Sam Raimi & Bruce Campbell, this one is sure to scare the shit out of you! Way more gory & scary minus the humor from the original this films will end up giving nightmares for many days. This movie is a near perfect experience of shocking horror you can get.
Cast- Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman & Olga Kurylenko
Director- Joseph Kosinski
Plot- A veteran assigned to extract Earth’s remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself.
Our take- Based on an unpublished series of comic books, this film is close to a masterpiece! With Tom Cruise at the helm with a complex storyline, beautiful cinematography & a haunting background score this movie is just wonderful at all costs especially a twisted climax. Must Watch!!
Cast- Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Alice Eve & Benedict Cumberbatch
Director – J.J.Abrams
Plot- After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Our Take – After winning the hearts of non-fans & fans of this long running series with the 2009 reboot, the arrival of this sequel has been quite noisy. Even though the response was divided, we found the film good enough to make into our list. The sequel was not better or worse than its predecessor but almost on the same playing level. The enterprise crew were as charming as we found them the 1st time around, but it was Benedict as Khan who stole the show!!the major complain was that there was too less of him. I guess next time around they make take it into a better level.
Cast- Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts & Will Poulter.
Director- Rawson Marshall Thurber
Plot- A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.
Our Take – From the director of DodgeBall comes one of the most hilarious films ever made! Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses) proves his comic talent is hilarious. Jennifer Aniston finally gets it right after a long time& yea she looks Hot! One of the funniest films to come out this year! Must watch!!!
Cast – Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton & Isla Fisher.
Director – Baz Luhrmann
Plot – A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor.
Our Take – Baz Luhrmann makes colorful & big budget movies, some work out (Moulin Rouge) & some dont (Australia), his movies are meant to be eye candy. People were skeptical before the release, but man this was an awesome movie! Leo oozes all his charm & acting chops by carrying this whole film on his shoulders. Tobey Maguire comes out of his Peter Parker/Spider-man days & does very well. This movie is a treat to the eyes especially in 3D.
The Cast – Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman & Ashley Judd
Director – Antoine Fuqua
The Plot – Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, Banning works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.
Our Take – The Director of Training Day knew what he was doing! 1stly he has provided a jump start to the career of Gerald Butler, who is very likeable & believable in this role! The movie doesn’t waste time in developing subplots & straight away jumps to business. The action is contained unlike its over the top Doppelganger White House Down. An action flick with a serious tone which is a must watch for all people who were disappointed by the latest Die Hard..This movie is what Live Free or Die Hard should have been.