Deadpool.

Originally seen on the big screen in the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009 the wisecracking mercenary Wade Winston Wilson now has his own movie, it again stars Ryan Reynolds reprising his role as the fictional hero Deadpool from the Marvel Comics.

 

Mr Pool.

This is one rare comic book hero that does not take himself seriously and I would suggest that director Tim Miller has targeted the movie at a more adult audience and not just fan boys/girls of a certain age. The humour and sexual action between Wade Wilson and his girlfriend Vanessa (played by Morena Baccarin who is no where near as annoying in this movie as she was as Jessica Brody in Homeland) is quite explicit. Saying that the humour raises this film above many others in this genre is a understatement, not only does Deadpool talk to himself he also talks directly to his audience which succeeds in some strange way in making you closer to the action!

 

Vanessa.

The movie, written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, gives us the background to how a former Special Forces operative who hires himself as a mercenary in modern New York City, hangs about in his best friend’s Weasels (T J Miller) bar and has a series of one night stands   became a ‘superhero’ in the first place - although he admits to being super he’s fond of telling us he's no hero. One of Wilsons one night stands, Vanessa, blossoms into a full-blown romance and he proposes marriage to her. Shortly after she accepts Wilson finds out he has terminal cancer and has a limited time to live. So when he meets an agent from a covert organisation who tells him that he can not only cure his cancer but can also turn him into a regenerative mutant Wade Wilson jumps at the chance – well wouldn’t you? What he does not tell him is that he will be taken to a remote laboratory where he will meet Ajax (London born Ed Skrien best known for his role as Ed in Ill Manors 2012) and Angel Dust (mixed martial arts specialist Gina Carono who you may have seen in 2011's Haywire) both artificially-muted members of the Weapon X program who have regenerative power’s and enhanced strength! Although Wilson does eventually becomes Deadpool it's not without great personnel cost.

 

Ajax.

Angel Dust.

This has got to be the most entertaining Marvel Universe movie since 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. Some very violent action scenes accompanied by some great one-liners that to some extent dilutes the blood and carnage on the screen. Ryan Reynolds really gets to grips with a role that's already spawned a sequel, Deadpool 2 due to start filming in early 2017 and I would doubt if that's the last time we will see Mr Reynolds version of this red spandex anti superhero. Highly recommended.

Great comic book cover art. 

Haywire

Gina Carano.

I’m quite partial to an all action-thriller, an evening of escapist entertainment never goes a miss but when the complete story escapes you, you know there something not quite right!! The latest release from director Steven Soderbergh Haywire (2012) only needs the addition of some flared trousers and the odd paisley shirts to make it a fully-fledged authentic 1970’s American B-Movie adventure drama, not a bad thing? Well the set pieces were great but the segment's in between lacked any logic or for that matter any real excitement. By the end of my evening I’d even got jet lag with the extensive travels worldwide!!

The film boasted some well-known actors including Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas, none of which came away with any credit. The only person to make a mark was the rather splendid looking Gina Carano, who is a retired mixed martial arts fighter, her character Mallory Kane was involved in some sensational chases, fights and shoot outs, allegedly doing all her own stunt work. The narrative is a muddled mix of government agents double-crossing one another? To be honest when watching this type of genre your not looking for a complex story just one that makes sense! Emotional involvement was impossible and any hint of a back stories for the characters was non-excitant. Ms. Carano is the only reason to watch this rather forgettable film!!