The ATeam

Posted In: The Other Guys

Brian Orton says...

The A-Team is what movies used to be and should be now: fun. We used to herald the mindless summer blockbuster back when the explosions were fire and not CG, when Bruce Willis was all you needed to make a movie great, and an excellent plot was something you only expected to find in dramas filled with stuffy British accents. Yes, the majority of film has always sucked but we didn't care because we weren't paying $12.50 to see what's being shuffled down our throats today. As indie film has taken over the mutliplexs, the only escape we have to someplace fun is through stuff with Shia Lebouf in it. Disgrace, I tell you! But not all is lost. We have people like Joe Carnahan who still know how to make a night at the movies a blast.



Now, the critics panned this movie because it's short on plot and way too loud. Dude, it's based on The A-Team. The A-Team was a show about fast and violent missions with Mr. T preferring not to fly and Hannibal loving when a plan comes together. You didn't watch The A-Team for MASH, you watched it because it was cool. And that's exactly what this movie is. Cool. It's a thrill ride from the very beginning to the very end and not a lot of movies can deliver on that promise. Some twists are predictable and you're satisfied when you see it coming. Some are not and you're satisfied because you're surprised. I don't want to spoil anything about the story but the basic plot is all you really need. This movie is a video game in that you first get the reason to want to shoot things and then all you want to know next is where to get the ammo. It's loud and shaky, as is the trend with today's action movies, but not obnoxious like that other "we were framed and now we're super mad about it. As a team because camaraderie is important" movie, The Losers. Plus Sharlto Copley and Liam Neeson are fine, fine actors and you can't go wrong with 'em.

Posted on October 3, 2010

Derrick Paavola says...

Given that Hollywood has taken to raping my fondest childhood memories, my favorite TV shows and movies, I was definitely hesitant when I heard of an A-Team remake.After finally deciding to give it a chance, I felt like a fool in search of pity for being so ignorant.Simply put, it's AWESOME.



Liam Neeson is an impeccable replacement for George Peppard (slight edge to Peppard) as Hannibal Smith, with the same charismatic leadership ability and unwaivering confidence that a plan will come together.Bradley Cooper is an improvement over Dirk Benedict, creating a Face that is not just good with the ladies, but also capable of carrying an action movie.The reincarnation of B.A. Baracus is undoubtedly better, as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson provides more size, strength, and, dare I say it, acting ability than Mr. T.Obviously, Jackson loses the gold chain contest.Last but not least is Murdock, played by Sharlto Copley.There is no doubt whatsoever that he dominates time on screen, and Dwight Schulz, who has all but become an afterthought.The amazing part about all this is not only are the actors/characters adequate replacements of the originals, but their storylines also get expanded upon and further explained.The one major flaw to this film is Jessica Biel's character.As a Captain who gets demoted to Lieutenant, no matter what agency or military she's in, her character is given far too much leeway and power; it's a flaw that a former member of the military can't possibly overlook without it lessening the movie's plot somewhat.



After the foursome is introduced, flash-forward eight years to when they become engaged in a convoluted scheme battling the CIA, a Blackwater facsimile, and mysterious foreigners over some $100 U.S. currency engraving plates, the theft for which the A-Team has been framed.From there it is nothing but explosions, guns, chases, airplanes, tanks, fights, and everything you expect in an action movie.The camera work is overall above average, but there is a bit of shaky-cam during some of the action scenes.



Highly recommended for a great, reminiscent time.



Jason Elin

Posted on October 3, 2010

Mauro Todorovich says...

In all sincerity, well done fellas - this is terrific.



In the last decade, my opinion of american film makers verged to purely ridiculous lows. I had agreed to bring my younger son to the movies that particular Saturday, and while this was the obvious choice for him (I-want-to-grow-up-and-fight-the-Daleks), and I don't imagine where he got that from, I truly didn't know what I was expecting. There have been so many wolves in sheep's clothing in the last few years, from unprocessed propaganda of the worst sort (Hurt Locker) to the weird and wonderful - far too many to mention - I kind of imagined this movie that we were about to see as being the equivalent of an hour or more of Newt Gingrich bawling and howling at the viewer through a megaphone to the tune of "home of the free".



Or something.



No, I was quite incorrect. This movie is EXCELLENT, in literally every way - a very clever and well crafted tale. Pure popcorn wonderment, the sort of thing that will provoke dads everywhere to whisper to their kids "I remember DOING THIS stuff when you were, you know, too young to bring along". The screen play works well, meaning by that the ideas weld well together visually, and you can really feel your way through it.



Not to mean that it is exactly easy on the eye. I mean, some of the action is fairly extreme and it hurts to imagine it happening; but this is also a tribute to the excellent camerawork, more than that I can't say because I have never done outdoor stuff on what is obviously a huge scale, and they do it so well here.



Special effects? I should say so. I really hold to the idea that the real special effects occur when you sense the gross injustice and the sheer boiling rage that lies just below the skin of these characters, but again, it works well, and the accompanying huge-things-flying-about bits are about on par; but you would have a good film without any of it.



It's sad to now think that I never saw the original A-team TV series at all, but I reckon after this I will do so.



By the way, what is this about the A-team appearing WITHIN the A-team? Watch and you will know what I mean. By the way, that particular little scene got a massive cheer from the rather excitable audience I went to see this with; that audience gradually morphed from a conventional mixture of Dads and kids to something like a crowd of drunken football fan rabble as the movie progressed, so you can imagine what the whole thing was like and how great it was to be there.



What was it then? Manic, unpredictable, and very, very enjoyable at the very least.



Very highly recommended.



More please!

Posted on October 4, 2010

Johnie Poczobut says...

To many, "The A-Team" is just another in a long line of movies-made-from-TV-shows. But to me - and to those that grew up with the original like I did - this is a movie that you would hope to kick butt just as much as the TV show did. There were plenty of movies based on hit TV shows that failed miserably: Miami Vice (Unrated Director's Edition) [Blu-ray], S.W.A.T. [Blu-ray], Bewitched (Special Edition), The Dukes of Hazzard (Unrated Widescreen Edition), Lost in Space [Blu-ray], The Mod Squad, and The Avengers. Needless to say, I was nervous when I heard of 20th Century Fox's plans to remake the 1983 NBC hit show. Then, fortunately, I saw the movie trailer and all of my worries subsided as I saw the stellar cast of Liam Neeson (who is awesome in pretty much anything he does), Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson, and Jessica Biel. I was worried about Quinton "Rampage" Jacksonwho didn't have any real acting experience before this film and is mostly known for his title as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light-Heavyweight Champion. However, upon Jackson's first 15 minutes on screen, my fears all disappeared. I was also a little worried about Copley's casting as "Mad" Murdock (that character being my favorite from the show), but he -- like Jackson -- took on the role and made it his own. He correctly captured all the genius, maddening humor that Dwight Schultz brought to the original.



The first thing you should accept upon going into this film is that this is a fun, slam-bang action film. It's not to be taken too seriously but it's also not merely some silly popcorn flick that the studio put together merely for money and marketing. There's plenty of action and laughs but the story, acting and pacing are all up to par as well. I remember watching the television show when it originally aired and loved the setup of these rogue heroes helping a client in need every week (a popular formula that is most currently showcased in USA network's "Burn Notice"). Unlike most action shows of its day - and action shows on TV today - "The A-Team," with all of its bullets and explosions, had an extremely low death toll (only five people died during the entire run of the series and none of the deaths were caused by the A-Team themselves). The show's brilliant plot twists, action sequences, and customized weapons (take that, "MacGyver"!) kept all of us diehard fans coming back for five seasons. And those same elements, which are plentiful in this update, charge our enthusiasm to see the film.



As I previously stated, Liam Neeson rocks in pretty much anything - any genre, any movie! He does not disappoint in this. His cigar-chomping, "love-it-when-a-plan-comes-together" leader Hannibal Smith does complete justice to original portrayer George Peppard. And there's no better actor I could think of today to portray Face than Bradley Cooper. Most know him as a comedic actor with prominent roles in "Wedding Crashers" and "The Hangover." But most don't know that he first appeared as a serious co-starring role in the J.J. Abrams/Jennifer Garner hit ABC series "Alias." So the man is multi-faceted; even though he's hilarious and I enjoy and look forward to seeing him in more comedic roles, I also hope to see him in more serious roles in the near future.



If you haven't seen, or are not familiar with, the original TV show, you should know that it follows closely to the original series albeit with a few modernized plot points for making the film as contemporary as possible. Yes, this film is directed more toward guys but, ladies, if your boyfriend/husband/male friend talks you into viewing this film, don't roll your eyes just yet. Like I said, the story is enjoyable and Jessica Biel's presence is more female action star rather than just a sex symbol for show. Patrick Wilson's Agent Lynch is fun and deadly, which Jason Patric tried to capture as Max in The Losers [Blu-ray] -- a graphic novel-turned-movie that follows closely to The A-Team's premise -- but did not succeed. Director Joe Carnahan, who directed one of my favorite action flicks of all time, Smokin' Aces [Blu-ray], does an excellent job with both the direction and screenplay. The film runs at about two hours and yet I left the movie satisfied. I felt like I could've watched at least another hour. And the way the film ends (with a super cameo from Mad Men's Jon Hamm), I yearn for a sequel. Although, even if there isn't one, I won't be too disappointed as the film stands strongly by itself. Even though it's still early, I'll say that, so far, "The A-Team" is the best action film of the summer!

Posted on October 6, 2010

Marisol Burdock says...

With all of the re-makes that have been made of older TV series, this is about as close as they have come to the real series. Great cast with a mixture of drama, comedy and adventure. If this was to become a TV series usingthis cast of main characters, I would enjoy it as much as I did the original.

Posted on October 7, 2010

Micaela Arrigo says...

The movie begins in Mexico, where Hannibal Smith (Liam Neeson taking the part of George Peppard) is about to get a bullet in the head for bribing (obviously) the wrong cop.B.A. Baracus (Quinton Jackson taking the part of Mr. T., complete with "PITY" and "FOOL" on his knuckles) is down the road a piece, fighting a bunch of dirtbags over his van.Face (Bradley Cooper, taking the place of Dirk Benedict) is still the ladies' man.As a matter of fact, he is wedged into several truck tires while some woman's husband is beating him in the face for boinking his wife.Hannibal and BA arrive just in time to save Face from becoming toast.Crazy-as-a-bed-bug Murdock is discovered in a hospital while they are getting BA stitched up.All 4 guys are former Rangers so they bond big time.



Murdock is still an unmatched pilot.BA still has to be medicated to fly.Hannibal still chomps a cigar.And Face is still Face.Right after they cross the border back into the USA, they get involved in trying to acquire some $100 counterfeit plates, being moved by Saddam loyalists from Bagdad, and, oh yeah, over $1 billion in cold phony bills.



Much of this 2010 movie is filmed in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.It's about 2 hours of action and comedy.Steven Cannell is involved in the production, as with the popular series from the "old" days.They kept the integrity of the oh-so-popular series with lots of action and lots of comedy.There are tons of neat stunts, although some may be pretty close to impossible.But what the heck--that's what makes a movie like this fun!We have chopper and airplane stunt flying, action on a container ship, and the strategizing of perfectly timed plans, among other adventures the boys have.



I absolutely loved the movie and will most definitely watch it again.FYI, I do NOT remember any "F" type language, which is rare today--just lots of action and blow-em-up stuff.



I LOVE IT when a movie comes together!



Immediately after the credits, you will see a short cameo appearance of the former Face, Dirk Benedict.(My son met him when he was about 3 years old and will always remember how nice Dirk was to him.)

Posted on October 8, 2010

Cayla Ruckel says...

I was skeptical.I liked the original actors & had a hard time seeing anyone trying to fill these roles.Part way thru the movie, I kinda forgot about that.



This is essentially an origin story & beyond.I found it neat how they were able to update the series with a new story that was essentially a prequil. It simultaneously pokes fun at & sorta stays true to the original series.Great action, fun story, good humor.I left the theatre happy as the movie totally exceeded my expectations.



If you are a fan of the series with sketicism, I say leave that behind I go have fun with it.I'm sure non-fans can enjoy it also but I believe being a fan of the old material enhances the experiece.

Posted on October 10, 2010

Misty Hudley says...

I have waited a long time for this movie, and it was well worth the wait, and highly lived up to my expectations. This movie is filled with action, suspense, explosions, and comedy! It is the perfect tribute to the original classic series. Everybody did an awesome job as each of the characters. (I especially loved Sharlto Copley's performance as Howling Mad Murdock, because he was always my favorite character!)



Eight years after Hannibal, B.A., Face, and Murdock all become an elite team and execute missions together, they are contacted by CIA Agent Lynch and tells them about the Iraqi insurgents that are in possession of counterfeit U.S. treasury plates used to manufacture currency. When Hannibal and the team steal the plates, they are set-up, and betrayed. They must come up with a plan, and prove their innocence before Colonel Lynch and Captain Sosa take them down. If you have a problem. If no one else can help, and if you can find them, I highly recommend that you hire THE A-TEAM!!!

Posted on October 10, 2010

Minnie Hobdy says...

I went into the movie with the mindset of what it is. DO NOT go in thinking you will see amazing acting or special effects. A-Team never won an emmy.BUT this A-team is amazing, Neeson is a better hanibal I believe than peppard. He NAILS it.And Rampage, who has the hardest job taking over for a man who became a American Icon on this character.. Rampage gets thumbs up, lots of pressure but he plays it well. As do the other characters.The Origin story is great as is the action, drama and fun.



THE Best "fun" movie of the year!

Posted on October 10, 2010

Tricia Davia says...

This movie cracked me up.I am definetly buying this movie when it comes out on DVD.I also plan to watch it a few times.



I liked the characters, the actors who protrayed the characters, the action, the jokes, the interaction between the characters.This is an action, kick-butt movie and it delivers.If you are looking for something intellectual and for it to be realistic, may I remind you that it is a movie.Entertainment.Something to laught at, say "ohhhhh" and just enjoy.



Critcs suck.I mean really SUCK.How can someone else critic a movie for a world with such diverse interests, likes and dislikes.YOU CAN'T.You can't read a book, watch a movie and determine whether it's a good or bad for the next person.That should not be a paying job.



Go watch the movie and if you like action movies with plenty of blow it up, shoot it up and just make somebody have a bad day movie.This movie is for you.



I also liked the last Rambo (that's the best one to me), From Paris With Love and The Chipmunks 1 & 2.

Posted on October 12, 2010