The A-Team (2010) Movie Review, Trailer and Poster

USA 2010
Director: Joe Carnahan
Cast: Liam Neeson, Sharlto Copley, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson
Rating:
Release Date: June 11 2010
Running Time: 1 hour 57 minutes

The Movie Review

Oooweee.... I'm so happy! The A-Team finally on big screen! Talking about the long waiting. Surely I bought the ticket this morning with a very high expectation and I was ready to chop to pieces this action movie if the filmmakers and the crew dared to mess things up. I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes the original TV-series. As a matter of fact, 'like' is even too weak of a word... Love! That's right, I love that series. You see, The A-Team is based on TV series of the 80s with the same name, The A-Team, which ran from 1983 to 1987.

This is year 2010, so it's only about 23 years before its movie eventually produced. But it's positive that everyone who's watched the original series must have still remembered the name of B.A. Oh my, he's some cool black dude with a super cool


THE A-TEAM
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attitude only topped by his hilarious and straight-to-the-point lines. And you know what? It's not just that, the main strongest value of The A-Team is the characters. Really really colourful and amusing. The leader, Hannibal is a laid-back middle aged guy but a good strategist, Face is the playboy of the team whose main job mainly to seduce women, Murdock is a loony but is awesome at flying choppers, Murdock's character is kinda like Jim Carrey. Furthermore, almost each episode was fun! So, watching The A-Team as well as other 80s TV Series was certainly my main goal after finishing my bloody homework.

What about the movie then? Let's just find out...

The A-Team explains everything you need to know about the A-Team or Alpha Team from the start. The movie begins with Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith (Liam Neeson) escaping from killer dogs somewhere in Mexico and how he gets to know Sergeant B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus (Quinton Jackson), the muscle of the team, an ex airborne ranger who loves her van more than anything. And so off they go to the rescue of the smooth-talking Lieutenant Templeteon "Faceman" Peck (Bradley Cooper) who's about to be savagely killed by the local crime lord, General Tuco. On the run from Tuco, Hannibal recruits Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock (Sharlto Copley) to his team, much to B.A. and Face's growing fear since Murdock is an insane patient of the Army hospital.

In Iraq, exactly 8 Years after they formed a team, The A-Team is assigned secretly by agent Lynch (Patrick Wilson) of CIA to retrieve the money plate of the USA that falls to the hands of ex-Saddam Hussein men. The situation got very mixed-up when at the same time, Captain Charissa Sosa (Jessica Biel), the ex-lover of Face, warns the A-Team not to accept the mission. There is something fishy about the whole operation, with Hannibal and the gang not knowing who's really to blame. And they are trying to rehabilitate their good names back no matter whatever it takes...

Since this is such an entertaining action film then let's talk about the flaws first which are only of minor things actually. Such as the CGI that is not so perfect, but arguably general moviegoers wouldn't even notice it. And of course the personification of the characters that are rather different with the original. But seriously, I think we should cut them some slack, because they are great in this action film. Liam Neeson is great as usual; Bradley Cooper is the closest one to the real character; Quinton Jackson is good but the real Mr. T has this great fear expression in his face every time the team about to fly; Sharlto Copley (from the awesome District 9) gives the most interesting character combined with interesting acts in the movie. Although he's got different charm than the original Murdock (played by Dwight Schultz), but he's still amusing. But overall, all the original members of The A-Team are more laid-back than the ones in this big screen version. Anyhow I said these are minor flaws because most moviegoers who haven't seen the original might still get highly entertained by the overall concoction of action and comedy in The A-Team.

Overall, I'm happy to say that I was satisfied with the result. I came in with very high expectation, but man did the movie rock or what?! A balanced and perfect mixture of action and comedy, just like the original TV-series. We could laugh and feel the tense at the same time. The comedy is drop dead hilarious. The laugh out loud moments back at the cinema were countless, I didn't even expect to laugh so hard and so often. The great thing is, when the action kicks in, the audience sit in intense silence especially in the chopper pursuit scene, the high skyscraper scene and... much more. The movie runs for almost 2 hours, but it didn't feel that long at all, and don't leave the cinema before the end credits completely roll, since there is a surprise scene at the very end of the movie.

So... What are you waiting for? This is Friday and the weekend is up ahead, go watch The A-Team with your date, your parents, your kids or anyone of any age! Since I'm very sure The A-Team would amuse practically everyone. Highly Recommended.

> Have fun in The A-Team original TV-Series: The one in Africa, Diamonds 'n Dust (1983), and the Very First Episode, Mexican Slayride (1983).

> More of the big screen versions of TV Series: The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) and Knight Rider (2008).

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com
posted: June 18th 2010 09:34 pm