Action film fans will appreciate movie

By George Gust

There are rare movies that change the conversation around a particular genre, and years ago the breakout success of “John Wick” ushered in a new age of Hollywood action filmmaking.

Some filmmakers would take the wrong lessons from the success of Wick-opting to include a mysterious history and underground criminal/assassin society. However, with “Extraction”- Netflix’s budding action star vehicle franchise for Chris Hemsworthhas leaned further into the brutal stunt driven action and the sequel “Extraction II” has turned up the action again in the closest copy of the successful “John Wick” formula to date.

After barely surviving his grievous wounds from his mission in Khaka, Bangladesh. Tyler Rake (Hemsworth) is back, and his team is ready to take on their next mission: rescue a ruthless Georgian gangster’s family from the prison where they are being held.

“Extraction II” is a pure action movie, and it knows it. The filmmakers are not trying to produce anything other than a brutal and exciting action film. Video game aesthetic has been used as a pejorative for bad

CGI or unrealistic action. However, in ‘Extraction II” there is a long uncut sequence of action that is as immersive an experience that you may find in the best kinds of violent video games. With sweeping camera movements that track in and out of the action and clear views of the action “Extraction II” creates a propulsive story through beats of action instead of dialogue. And the brutal beauty of this movie is that there are several action moments that are so visceral and effective that you’ll remember them long after you’ve logged off Netflix for the night.

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In terms of performances, the physicality of the cast is all top notch, and their action hero delivery of the script fits the tone of this movie. With Hemsworth at the helm of most of the screentime, he has a certain action movie star charm that is able to impress during action scenes and pull off the hyper masculine “I’m the best and I know it” dialogue without coming off as cheesy or trying too hard.

Overall, “Extraction II” is another satisfying entry into the new “John Wick” style stunt-driven action film with a true action movie star in Hemsworth. With a focused approach to action over world building, “Extraction II” accomplished exactly what it set out to do- providing compelling action sequences shot with clarity and a story that feels cathartic in a way the best action films can.

“Extraction II” is rated R for strong/bloody violence throughout and language.

4 out of 5 stars

To reach George Gust for a comment on this review, please e-mail gust.george@gmail.com

Art exhibit opens at OKC museum

A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition opened last weekend, at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA). True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism features more than 50 sculptures by French artist Auguste Rodin, known to many as the father of modern sculpture. This exhibition, organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and presented by Inasmuch Foundation and George Records, also showcases the work of Rodin’s Impressionist contemporaries, including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and Paul Cézanne, among its 100 works of art.

OKCMOA is the first venue to present the exhibition in its entirety and will be the final stop for the exhibition in the United States before it travels internationally.

Tickets for True Nature are available online at okcmoa.com, in person, or by calling the Museum’s main number (405) 2363100. Timed ticketing will run throughout the length of the exhibition and allows visitors a 15-minute window for arrival time with slots available throughout regular Museum hours.

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