It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.




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For the first time in some time there are two new action flicks hitting theatres this weekend. What better way to stave off the encroaching winter cold just a bit longer than by seeing some heat up on the big screen.


Today, watch Tom Cruise do his thing in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and yes, the vampires are still at war in Underworld: Blood Wars.


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Mike Laidman


Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.


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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016, Edward Zwick)
Jack Reacher must uncover the truth and clear his name.


While 2012’s Jack Reacher was an above-average crime thriller featuring Tom Cruise doing what he does best, the 2016 follow-up, Never Go Back, just doesn’t hit its stride like the original did.


Based on the book by author Lee Child, we follow Reacher as he fights to clear his name and uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy. On the run as a fugitive from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.


Sounds pretty formulaic, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because it most definitely is. Everything here has been seen before, hundreds of times even. The movie tries to break out of some of the crime thriller stereotypes, but mostly fails to, barely meeting expectations, whereas its predecessor at least surpassed a few.


Nevertheless, fans of the genre, the previous film, and of Cruise in full-on action mode will undoubtedly find something to enjoy here.


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Underworld: Blood Wars (2016, Anna Foerster)
Selene fights to end the war between the Lycans and Vampires.


Blood Wars is the next installment in the Underworld franchise, and follows Vampire killer Selene as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her. Alongside her only allies, she must stop the eternal war between the two, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.


As the fifth film in the series, there aren’t going to be many new converts, but if you’ve been watching since the original Underworld in 2003, chances are you’ll want to stick with the characters and see the story through to its next part. The movie is brutal, fast action, with dialogue serving a fairly heavy expository role as it moves from action scene to action scene, leaving a trail of undead bodies in its wake.


While neither of this week’s films are award-winners, they do offer some semi-solid entertainment that will let your mind wander for a good couple of hours.