Big Game (2014)
Directed by Jalmari Helander
Starring:
Samuel L. Jackson
Onni Tommila
Felicity Huffman
Victor Garber
Ted Levine
Jim Broadbent
Ray Stevenson
Running time: 90 minutes
Plot Synopsis: (via IMDB)
A young teenager camping in the woods helps rescue the President of the United States when Air Force One is shot down near his campsite.
My Opinion:
I watched this last week but then I watched Mad Max: Fury Road which is a billion trillion times better than Big Game so I of course had to review that first (review HERE). Then I watched Pitch Perfect 2 yesterday which is also better than Big Game but, well, I had this review partly ready to go so let’s get this silly Samuel L Jackson movie out of the way.
I saw a trailer for this a while ago & thought it looked silly but fun. The trailer kind of made it look like Escape From New York but set in the wilderness in Finland with Samuel L Jackson playing the Donald Pleasence role & a little kid playing Kurt Russell. Ha! Well, that would have been kind of cool but Big Game isn’t quite as much fun as I was hoping. Silly, yes! Not very good. Kind of fun, I suppose. It’s not like it ruined my day or anything but it’s certainly not one you need to go to the cinema to see. Watch it at home if you’re a Jackson fan.
What I liked is that this movie said “screw it!” and just did all kinds of stupid & clichΓ© things (oh! it’s the Secret Service guy’s final assignment before retiring? no way!) but the director & actors are clearly just enjoying making an almost “family friendly” film that’s almost done 80’s-action-movie-style. Almost. The silly side of 80’s action movies, at least. Things like Commando. Will I be in trouble for calling Commando silly? That’s the one with Alyssa Milano, right? I remember when I wanted to be cool like Alyssa Milano back in the Who’s The Boss days! Anyway – I have nothing against movies like that. Those were great! Not GREAT like in a Predator or Terminator way but, you know – more fun than most shit that gets made today. Hmm. Maybe Commando was actually awesome. I don’t remember. I should watch it again sometime. But I’m pretty sure it didn’t have the American President and a 13-year-old boy from Finland flying around all over the place in a freezer. Spoiler warning? Oops. Doesn’t matter. The flying freezer pisses all over the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull fridge nuking! But it’s meant to be ridiculous. I think? I wouldn’t quite say this is a “so bad it’s good” movie because it’s really not that bad. If you just go into it with an open mind & in the right kind of mood, you might get a few good laughs out of it.
Summary:
I kind of had fun with Big Game. It’s ridiculous but it’s not like you’re meant to take it seriously. Remember the good old days (yeah, the Eighties) when we weren’t so judgmental & snobby about movies and just had fun with silly action movies that were violent but actually really tame and didn’t have blood & guts flying all over the place and we watched them even though we weren’t really meant to because we were a little too young? Big Game is like that. But who the hell cares now that MAD MAX: FURY ROAD is out?!?! THAT’S a great action movie just like the old days! Go to that! Don’t go to Big Game. Don’t go to Pitch Perfect 2 (did that seriously do better at the box office than Fury Road? seriously???). Go to Fury Road!
My Rating: 6/10
For those who don’t know it, there’s something called the Eurovision Song Contest every year where a bunch of countries perform an original song & try to win the contest and the songs are CRAP and everyone makes fun of the whole thing. Anyway, my favorite moment from it was the year that Finland’s entry by the band Lordi won. So I kept thinking of Lordi while watching Big Game since that’s pretty much the only thing I know about Finland. Because I’m American & Finland is outside of America. π Here’s Lordi’s winning song Hard Rock Hallelujah! Lol
OMG, that group won??? Haven’t paid attention to Eurovision in years. I think the whole big 5 thing is crap. whats the point of a competition if u automatically make it to the finals (like in karate Kid III)
oh, and nice review π
What do you mean? Lordi were the best thing on Eurovision EVER! Totally deserved to win. π And… Hehe… Thanks! This movie is totally MEH. π
Commando is complete crap.
But in other news Eurovision is like my favourite thing ever and I cannot wait for Saturday night!
Lol. Oh! Is that this Saturday?? Yay! π I love/hate it. I always watch it. There’s never been another Lordi, though. π¦
I love how mental it is and just the sheer craziness of some of the entries. I haven’t liked who won in years though. I always want the most bizarre one to win.
Me too! The crazier, the better. Lordi were the best! I always vote for the most insane ones. (Well, I don’t actually vote for real… Vote in my head!). π
Look like a total GWAR rip off….
Ha! Kind of. But neither are as cool as Manowar! π
GWAR!!! I know them From Empire Records!!! Ha, how cool π
Ha! I always think of Empire Records as well when someone mentions GWAR. π
GWAR rules!!!!
I prefer Manowar π
Saddam a Go Go? Rules!
HAHAHAHA!!! The Road Behind!
#clownbritches
Never heard of this film before. Sounds alright and you write a good review but I think this is one I’ll let the sands of time snatch away from me.
Thanks! Lol. Good idea – you really aren’t missing much but your life won’t be ruined if you ever do happen to see it. π
Pitch Perfect 2 made more than Mad Max at the box office?? Seriously??
#travesty
PS – great review but I don’t think I’ll be watching this one. I need to see Mad Max!!
I know!!! Like, WHAT?! Pitch Perfect 2 over Mad Max?! People have no taste. π Thanks! Yeah – you can skip this one but you must must must see Mad Max ASAP! π
I know! I have to see it!!
So basically check this one out once it is out on DVD then?
Lol. Basically, yes. Or… Maybe don’t even bother with that! π I kind of enjoyed it but it’s certainly not “good”….
This looks dreadful. No intention of seeing it but love you skewered point of view.
lol! Thanks! I thought I was pretty nice to it – my rating is probably too high. π It’s bad but fun – not really dreadful… π
I’ll bet you’re review is more entertaining. Ha.
Kind of! Lol (not to sound cocky) π
I am sure this time. It just looks cookie cutter for young adults. Meh.
Coincidentally, Immortan Joe from Fury Road would fit in as part of Lordi!
Adam.
Ha! You’re totally right! I didn’t think of that. lol π
I feel like Samuel L. Jackson never really makes great movies, unless he is with Tarantino. Blah!
Hmm. You had me curious so I looked him up. Yeah… His Tarantino stuff is the best, really. And the Marvel stuff. Kingsman: The Secret Service was quite good, though. And, of course, don’t forget The Incredibles!!! I also kind of liked Snakes On A Plane… Lol! I think I need to do my top ten Samuel L Jackson movies! π
YOU SHOULD because really there is only about 10 good ones. I love Samuel though I just wish he would not just accept every job. Over here in the States he does a lot of commercials for Capital one its annoying! lol
Lol. I hate when celebs do that. Glad I don’t have to suffer with those. Although John Lydon advertised butter for a while & that was kind of funny… And Iggy Pop did insurance commercials! Lol
Hahaha I cannot imagine Iggy selling insurance!
Great review, but this doesn’t look like my kind of film.
Thanks, Vinnie! It’s cheesy fun but, yeah – not for everyone. π
I’ll take your word for it. Have you checked out the naughty post Eric and I did on his blog?
I love 80’s action films, but always thought Commando sucked. I really love your review as it makes even this foolish film sounds fun enough to watch… π On another note… was this really Finland’s Eurovision 2006 entry song? Goodness!!!
lol! That’s cool that I made this (and maybe Commando?) sound fun. I realized I really don’t remember that AT ALL. I’ve made myself want to watch it again! π Yes! That was Finland’s entry & it won by quite a lot! Lol. I loved it! π
That’s really funny… and weird… the Finish song, I mean π well, kudos for Finland! I don’t remember Commando all that well either, but I guess if it was any good, I would, haha!
I had a lot of fun with Big Game too. It’s very silly, but does strike on that kind of eighties / nineties action movie humour that makes it very endearing.
Glad to see that someone else had fun with this! π I know it’s not a “good” film but sometimes people just have to chill & have some fun. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. π
Pingback: My Top Ten Movie PresidentsΒ | Cinema Parrot Disco
Pingback: My Top Ten Samuel L. Jackson Movies | Cinema Parrot Disco