(Photo Credit: Elevation Pictures)
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(“Shelter” trailer courtesy of Elevation Pictures)
Pop star Bruno Mars recently got into a social media spat with someone over his new song, “I Just Might.”
The social media user said that Mars has released the same type of song for years.
Action movie star Jason Statham has done the same thing on the big screen.
However, the same ole thing is not necessarily a bad thing when the results are still solid, and the fans still want the status quo.
Statham plays the same mysterious killer in many of his movies.
He attempts to come off as a regular civilian and blend into society or, as in the case with “Shelter,” attempts to live off the grid.
But despite his efforts to ride off into the sunset, his skills as an indestructible assassin cannot stay hidden for long.
In “Shelter,” Statham’s character lives the life of a recluse.
He has found shelter in an old and previously unused lighthouse on an island.
The only things that he has to keep him company is his dog and his games of chess without a traditional opponent.
In “Shelter,” the only people that visit Statham are a little girl and her uncle.
The little girl brings him supplies.
But as children get older, many become inquisitive.
The little girl wants to know why Statham’s character does not socialize with her and her uncle.
She wants to know his name.
The little girl wants to know the dog’s name.
She wants to know how he knows her uncle.
And she wants to know his back story.
But Statham’s character lets her know that it is better if he does not get too attached to people.
Unfortunately, that does not satisfy the nosiness of the little girl.
In “Shelter,” Statham’s character lives a peaceful life.
How could a person not find peace living on the water?
The only problem with living on the Scottish Isles is that strong weather could become dangerous if a person finds themselves at sea when Mother Nature starts tripping.
After a brutal storm, the little girl is forced to seek shelter in the lighthouse with Statham’s character.
And although Statham’s character attempts to keep up a tough exterior, he becomes vulnerable when he becomes close with the little girl, forming a father-daughter relationship for better or worse.
The storm that forces the little girl onto the dedicated recluse, leaves her hurt, battered and infected.
He tries his best to tend to her wounds as best as he can with the supplies that he has at the lighthouse.
But when he is unable to manage the infection with his home remedies, he is forced out of the lighthouse and his little private island onto the mainland to shop at a drug store.
The benefits of being a recluse is that he never leaves a digital footprint.
No one knows where is.
In fact, no one knows he even exists, which is good for him because the government has an intense surveillance program that monitors the comings and goings of everyone in the country and maybe even beyond.
In “Shelter,” the trip to the drug store blows his cover.
And before he knows it, some soldier looking dudes are invading his private and humble abode, putting his life and the little girl’s life in danger.
Not only must he preserve his own life.
He now is responsible for the life of a young person that he has grown fond of.
And having love for a person other than oneself can put all at risk because now your adversaries know your weak spots and will attack those weak spots if they cannot get to you.
“Shelter” is slightly different than other Statham films because his character gets to some show some emotions and vulnerability.
Furthermore, Statham’s character gets to show some personality and talent as well.
Readers might wonder why Statham’s character name is not used in this movie review.
Well, people not knowing his name, especially the little girl, will make it easier for them to evade their enemies, who might want them dead on site.
“Shelter” is interesting because the movie goes from basically solitude and no dialogue to less solitude and a little more dialogue and concludes with lots of dialogue, action and absolutely no solitude for the two main characters.
While Statham plays his usual assassin, “Shelter” shows that even military-trained killers are not one dimensional, even though they only have one deadly job.
Many killers are not just heartless thugs.
Many have been trained by the military to kill.
Many have lived in environments that forced them towards violence.
However, in different circumstances, different sides of their personalities will show.
In “Shelter,” Statham’s character is a man of many hidden talents.
That is until his new house guest uncovers those gifts.
Before she comes into his life, it was all about him.
He did not communicate with anyone, except for his dog.
He did not interact with the outside world.
But when she is forced upon him, his selfishness becomes selflessness.
As a result, he realizes that the only way he can save her is to eliminate the enemy his been hiding from once and for all.
Despite “Shelter” being an action movie, it does include a timely message.
Trained military killers are often fearlessly loyal to their leaders, their government and their country.
However, sometimes people should choose humanity over blind obedience.
In the current political climate, certain leaders pledge loyalty to themselves at the expense of their fellow man.
They even get into social media spats with anyone who disagrees with their behavior.
And unfortunately, they will keep doing the same things repeatedly until the public demands different and demands better.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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