This image released by Relativity Media shows Kevin Costner in a scene from "3 Days to Kill."

“Pompeii” (Period/Drama: 1 hour, 52 minutes)

Starring: Kit Harington, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jared Harris and Kiefer Sutherland

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

Rated: PG-13 (Strong violence, disaster-related action and brief sexual content)

 

Movie Review: Like hot flowing lava, “Pompeii” burns. It is the “modern-day” “Titanic” (Director James Cameron, 1997) — romance during a time of peril.

Harington (“Game of Thrones”) plays Milo, a Celtic slave turned gladiator in 79 A.D. In Pompeii, he finds his true love, Cassia (Browning), the daughter of wealthy merchant Severus (Harris) and his wife, Aurelia (Carrie-Anne Moss). Although Milo and Emily find each irresistible, Emily is betrothed to vain Senator Corvus (Sutherland). Interesting enough, Corvus is the ruthless Roman senator who led the violent conflict that led to the death of Milo’s parents. As the fight for freedom and love rages, Mount Vesuvius, a volcano on the edge of erupting, stands in the background.

“Pompeii” is a visual treat. The city is a vacation paradise. The buildings appear as a resort for entertainment and relaxation. This is opposite thinking as the city sits in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, a destructive force in the waiting.

The beautiful city and deadly volcano contrast is duplicated in the city of Pompeii. The population is a duality of rich versus poor. In this class system, an enslaved Milo desires the elite Cassia. While they love each other despite their lifestyles, Senator Corvus maintains a system where elites rule. This film seeks to indicate how corrupt Rome was. The problem is this aspect of period photoplays is often the presentation to facilitate a story. This aspect is over-played. Every human system has forms of corruption. Thus, the nature of those in charge versus those ruled.

Like Cameron’s “Titanic,” a rich woman fuels a fight between a poor man and an aristocrat. The woman loves the poor man but is forcibly betrothed to the other. This plays out far too often in films, recently exhibited in this year’s “The Legend of Hercules.”

“Pompeii” also has lovers trying to save each other during moments of peril like “Titanic.” Two people, who have just met, take time to stand and kiss rather than avoid danger. For rational people, risk of bodily harm overrides romance. Even in the face of danger, other characters fight when death is certain for them all.

Where is the logic of fighting over something when one is about to die? This may be all too human, but it is far from sensible.

“Pompeii” takes an historical event and provides clichéd romance to make it more interesting. Modern cinemas should resist the urge to make every historical event a love story. This makes the event a filler to facilitate a useless love story not needed.

Moreover, this film also duplicates a story similar to television’s “Spartacus: War of the Damned.” A Caucasian gladiator befriends the champion warrior of African descent. Together, they fight the powers that be — the Roman Empire. All is too familiar.   

Think of this as agreeable repetitiveness. Moments of peril like this are always engagingly entertaining. The visual effects are dazzlingly. The fight piques interest, but they seem commonplace. These positives do not override the unconvincing acting and a stereotypical plot.   

When Mount Vesuvius becomes the star of this attraction, this film improves. Vesuvius diverts audiences’ attention from an over-played romance theme and derivative arena battles. If only Mount Vesuvius had burned this script before it burned Pompeii.

Grade: C- (City of the fiery damned.)

“3 Days to Kill” (Action/Comedy: 1 hour, 58 minutes)

Starring: Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld, Connie Nielsen and Amber Heard

Director: McG

Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)

 

Movie Review: Luc Besson’s screenplays are entertaining but rarely genuine. They are typically unbelievable action films. The plots are silly in that the characters exist in laughable predicaments. Maybe, the words make more sense on paper.  

Costner plays one of those characters. He is Ethan Renner, a United States operative diagnosed with cancer. He has three months to live. Just as he tries to reinsert himself into the lives of his estranged wife, Christine (Nielsen), and teenage daughter Zoey (Steinfeld) during his last days, he is offered an experimental drug to save his life. Enter Vivi Delay (Heard), a CIA agent. She offers Renner the drug if he completes one last mission. Just when Renner thought he was out, they pull him right back in. While trying to complete his mission, Renner must tend to the needs of his daughter, Zoey. He quickly finds executing evil-doers is much easier than fathering a teenager.

Several moments of this film appear a solid comedy. Those moments make the less serious. All becomes a light version of “Taken” (2008), except the setting is Paris and bad people kidnap no one. In fact, the protagonist abducts the antagonists.

This screenplay is a scattered one by Besson and co-writer Adi Hasak. It needs focus. More important, it needs tangible players. The acting is rather comical for a movie advertising itself as an action movie.

If one does not take matters seriously, the film entertains, but it is not the best. It is far from good with respects to quality. McG (“We Are Marshall,” 2006), also known as Joseph McGinty Nichol, adds another film to his repertoire. “3 Days to Kill” is nowhere near the top for his movies.

Grade: C- (After 3 days, it is not hit.)