Movie Review: Rampage

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from "Rampage", after seeing the trailer for the first time I thought of it as simply another "monsters wrecking havoc in the city" kind of movie. Although I did like the "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" by The Smashing Pumpkins insert in the trailer. 

Then the husband told me about the movie's interesting history, okay, so turns out "Rampage" is actually based on a 1980's video game. In fact, we saw an actual Rampage arcade in one of the scenes in the movie. You might want to keep a look out for that cameo. 

So there I was, going in the cinema expecting the action, the explosions and the "monsters wrecking havoc in the city" as I mentioned earlier, nothing new really but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they tried to make the movie different from the other "monster movies" out there by injecting a bit of heart and humor into the story.  

The heart - the beautiful connection between Dwayne Johnson's Davis Okoye, a primatologist at the San Diego wildlife reserve and George, an albino gorilla. The CG is amazing, you can see the emotions in George's face and what endears you to him, is his child-like demeanor, well at least that's how it was for me. The gorilla got me with his big baby blues and his wicked sense of humor. 

Humor - George is pretty much it. :)  

Trouble brews when a rogue experiment releases dangerous pathogens which infects George and in no time, increases in size and strength at a very alarming rate. The "other" government agency swoops in, led by a swaggering Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who I just loved seeing on the big screen, been a big fan since his Denny days on Grey's Anatomy) who plays agent Harvey Russell. 

George is boarded onto a plane, much to Davis' objections, at this point, they have already been joined by Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomi Harris), a genetic engineer, who may be able to find a cure for George. 

Plane falls from the sky, a crazed George escapes and a giant wolf is running around wrecking havoc on his own as well. Interesting fact, Wreck-It-Ralph is named after the wolf, as they both you know wreck buildings and stuff. 

George and Ralph, seem to be heading toward the city of Chicago, where thousands of people are in danger, meanwhile, a creature in the water seems to be aggressively making its way towards the city as well.    

If you blink, you might miss it but there is a bit of a social commentary in the film as it reveals that Davis, who was also part of an anti-poaching unit saved George as a baby from poachers, who were killing his mother as baby George hid under a truck. Its just one scene but it says so much about how human nature can be so dark and driven by greed. Not exactly a shining moment for humanity and probably explains why Davis is not a fan of other people as well. Animals on the other hand, just go about their days, living each day, trying to survive and here we are playing god with genetic engineering (genetic editing) for financial gain, killing and poaching animals, again for financial gain and I can go on and on with how being part of the human race just makes you want to hide under a rock (pun intended).   

While the not-so nice nature of human beings is being represented in the film through the cold and cruel Claire Wyden (Maline Akerman, in a non romantic comedy role, for a change) as the CEO of Energyne, who is responsible for creating the pathogen which has caused these creatures to become the giant monsters that they have become. There is still some hope for human kind through of course Davis, Kate and some surprise alliances along the way. 

Director Brad Peyton knows his audience and knows what he wants to deliver-and deliver he does! "Rampage" is an action packed battle with the biggest and baddest experiments gone wrong you can imagine, making the city as their playground and leaving the buildings like a block of toys, scattered amidst the devastating destruction in a good old pop-corn, cinema entertainment experience, the only kind that monsters in the city can bring.  

I was a bit dissapointed and confused of the movie's rating of PG and having that much violence, until now I'm not sure at what age I would let my son Luke watch the film. He's still at 8 months now, so I still have time to think about it. 

I also thought that Akerman's Wyden had a rather distasteful end. I mean, yeah she was mean and probably deserved but it just didn't sit well with me.  

6 out of 10, at the end of the day, "Rampage" is the action, CG intense film that it promises to be and it delivers, with a few surprises here and there and while we expect Dwayne Johnson  to bring the entire movie on top of his ridiculously well sculpted biceps, its George who is the star, he not only steals the show but your heart as well.  

   

Movies: Dwayne Johnson Goes Head To Head With Giant Predators In “Rampage”

Global icon Dwayne Johnson headlines the action adventure “Rampage,” directed by Brad Peyton.

Johnson stars as primatologist Davis Okoye, a man who keeps people at a distance but shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, incredibly rare albino silverback gorilla who has been in his care since he rescued the young orphan from poachers. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size.

To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals.  As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with discredited geneticist Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.

Movies: “The Walking Dead's” Jeffrey Dean Morgan Has A Blast In “Rampage”

Jeffrey Dean Morgan freed up some time from his busy schedule on TV's The Walking Dead, so he can star opposite Dwayne Johnson in New Line Cinema's epic adventure Rampage (in Philippine cinemas Thursday, April 12).

And he obviously enjoyed himself doing the actioner. He shares, “For one scene, I’m firing four clips of machine gun fire into a giant monster, and the director yells cut and walks up to me and says, ‘Can you stop smiling?’ – because I’m having such a good time with Rampage!”

In the film, primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.

Movies: Alpha Predators Go On A “Rampage” In New Trailer

Get ramped up – this is as big as it gets! Watch the new official trailer of New Line Cinemas' “Rampage” starring global megastar Dwayne Johnson.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/vl.1008348149303704/1971396202889911/?type=1

YouTube : https://youtu.be/wLp0UKxsFL4

Movies: Big Meets Bigger In First Trailer Of Dwarne Johson's “Rampage”

Global megastar Dwayne Johnson headlines the action adventure “Rampage,” directed by Brad Peyton.

Check out the film’s newly launched teaser trailer below and watch “Rampage” in Philippine cinemas in 2018.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/1873000609396138/

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth.  But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size.  To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals.  As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend. 

 “Rampage” also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”), Malin Akerman (TV’s “Billions”), Jake Lacy (TV’s “Girls”), Joe Manganiello (TV’s “True Blood”) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s “The Walking Dead”); as well as P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Marley Shelton (“Solace”), Breanne Hill (“San Andreas”), Jack Quaid (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), and Matt Gerald (TV’s “Daredevil”).

Peyton directs from a screenplay by Ryan Engle and Carlton Cuse & Ryan J. Condal and Adam Sztykiel, story by Ryan Engle, based on the video game Rampage.

The “Rampage” creatures are brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause (“San Andreas,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”).

A New Line Cinema presentation, “Rampage” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies:Dwayne Johnson Stars In “Rampage,”

New Action Adventure From New Line Cinema, Now In Production

BURBANK, CA – May 2, 2017 – Global megastar Dwayne Johnson headlines New Line Cinema’s action adventure “Rampage,” for director/producer Brad Peyton. Beau Flynn, John Rickard and Hiram Garcia are also producing the film, currently on location in Atlanta, for an April 20, 2018 release. “Rampage” marks the third collaboration between Johnson, Peyton and Flynn, following the blockbuster “San Andreas.”

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Johnson), a man who keeps people at a distance, shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry transforms this gentle ape into a raging monster. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered alpha predators. As these newly created monsters tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.

“Rampage” also stars Oscar nominee Naomie Harris (“Moonlight”), Malin Akerman (TV’s “Billions”), Jake Lacy (TV’s “Girls”), Joe Manganiello (TV’s “True Blood”) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s “The Walking Dead”); as well as P.J. Byrne (“The Wolf of Wall Street”), Marley Shelton (“Solace”), Breanne Hill (“San Andreas”), Jack Quaid (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), and Matt Gerald (TV’s “Daredevil”).

Serving as executive producers are Marcus Viscidi, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, and Jeff Fierson, with Wendy Jacobson co-producing. The screenplay is by Ryan Engle and Adam Sztykiel, story by Ryan Engle, based on the video game Rampage.

The creative team includes production designer Barry Chusid (“San Andreas”), director of photography Jaron Presant (2nd unit, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”), editor Jim May (“Goosebumps”) and costume designer Melissa Bruning (“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”). Music will be composed by Andrew Lockington, who created the scores for “San Andreas” and “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.”

The creatures of “Rampage” will be brought to life by acclaimed VFX supervisor Colin Strause (“San Andreas,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”), with five-time Academy Award-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”).

“Rampage” is a New Line Cinema presentation, a Wrigley Pictures/Flynn Picture Company/7 Bucks Entertainment production, in association with ASAP Entertainment. It will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company