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Maggie Q

The Protege: Hand on the Trigger, Eye on the Soul

August 19, 2021 by Steve Norton

Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale),?The Prot?g??follows Anna (Maggie Q), the world?s most skilled assassin. Rescued as a child by Moody (Samuel L. Jackson), Anna was both raised and trained by her beloved mentor who taught her everything she knows. However, when Moody is viciously murdered, Anna swears to avenge his death and sets out on a mission to bring his killer to justice.

As the man charged with rebooting the Bond franchise?twice, Martin Campbell certainly understands his way around grittier action films. While he admittedly has some blemishes on his stellar record (*cough*?Green Lantern), his career contains far more hits than misses. With?Prot?g?, the director is in full form, creating action sequences that are a treat for the eyes. Featuring some truly wonderful set pieces, Campbell creates a world of danger and destruction that keep the viewer glued to the screen. Similar to other recent revenge features like?John Wick, Nobody?and?Atomic Blonde, the energy behind?The Prot?g??may be its wanton recklessness but the film also gives space to his cast in their performances.?

Of course, any action film requires a solid cast and Campbell has some enjoyable talent to work with here. While we?ve seen Jackson in this sort of role many times before, seeing Keaton as the villainous Rembrandt is a treat. With an aura of charming creepiness, Keaton is clearly enjoying himself as a bad guy and he?s a joy to watch onscreen.

Having said this though, the brightest star in the film remains Q herself. Like Daniel Craig before her, Maggie Q provides Campbell with an absolutely charismatic yet lethal lead and she absolutely makes the most of the opportunity. While she is no stranger to the action genre,?Prot?g??gives her a time to shine. As Anna, Q has a charisma about her that makes her endearing yet she also imbues her character with darkness. We trust her but we also know that she means business. Focused and fierce, Q is simply a delight to and her chemistry with Keaton is surprisingly palpable.

Personally, I will always respect an action film that tries to be more than a simple revenge thriller. With its recognition of the importance of the soul, Prot?g? falls into that category. Whereas most films of this nature treat its characters as empty targets, Prot?g? at least takes pause to remember that the victims still matter. Despite the nature of his profession, Moody understands that each of the people that he?s killed have a soul worth remembering. In addition, as Anna must return home to Vietnam for the first time since her childhood, the film explores the effects of generational trauma and its burden on the soul. While the film?s primary focus remains on Anna?s vengeance, moments like these acknowledge the complexities of the murder biz and the fact that violence has very real consequences in the larger scheme of things.

Stylish and energetic, The Prot?g? is another fun ride into the elite world of assassins and vengeance. Led by Martin Campbell?s ability to create visually interesting action sequences and combined with the magnetism of its leads, the film entertains with enthusiasm. However, what truly makes the film unique is that, even with its hand on the trigger, Prot?g? keeps its eye on the soul.

The Prot?g? is available in theatres Friday, August 20th, 2021.

August 19, 2021 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Featured, Film, Reviews Tagged With: James Bond, Maggie Q, Martin Campbell, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, The Protege

6.21 Living the Dream on FANTASY ISLAND

February 21, 2020 by Steve Norton

In Blumhouse?s Fantasy Island, the mysterious Mr. Rourke (Michael Pena) generously welcomes five contest winners to his secluded hotel for a weekend where all their dreams can come true! However, when those dreams become nightmares, his guests must fight their way through their own desires in order to survive. This week, we welcome returnee Allen Chabot and newcomer Adam Howard to talk about whether or not fantasies are dangerous, what it means to forgive yourself and the nature of a hero.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue the conversation at home? ?Click the link below to download ?Fishing for More? ? some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.21 Fantasy IslandDownload

February 21, 2020 by Steve Norton Filed Under: Featured, Film, Podcast, Reviews Tagged With: Fantasy Island, Lucy Hale, Maggie Q, Michael Pena

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