The A-Team (2010)

On this day in Television History !!!

Sadly, the last original episode of the TV show The A-Team aired on this date in 1987.

Wikipedia.org Article for the A-Team TV Series (1983-1987):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_A-Team

Luckily, reruns and this well-crafted flick, keep the spirit of the fugitives alive!

The A-Team (2010)

Run Time:  117 mins
Genre:  Action
Format:  Widescreen Format, Color
Director:  Joe Carnahan
Starring:  Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Sharlto Copley

IMDB.com Entry for the Film:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429493/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Wikipedia.org Article for the Film:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_A-Team_(film)

Wikipedia.org Article for Liam Neeson:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Neeson

Find the link to Bradley Cooper's Wikipedia.org Article from our Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Post:
http://film366.blogspot.com/2016/01/guardians-of-galaxy-2014.html

Wikipedia.org Article for Jessica Biel:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Biel

Wikipedia.org Article for Director Joe Carnahan:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Carnahan

Trailer for the Film on YouTube:

A Note from Chris:

Before I get into the nuts and bolts, let me kick out the message first:  I’m a fan of the original show and I loved the movie. It’s a fun, summer action flick with the right dose of humor. See it.

Now that I’ve covered the basic message, let me address the A-Team film naysayers. I read a handful of reviews from critic-elite Ebert down to measly wanna-bes like me. Although it got a mixture of reviews, I seemed to stumble only on the “disliking” ones. They have some shared complaints and a few unique callouts, but they all missed the mark. Like the A-Team of old, let me defend this underdog. 

Here are some of the complaints others have voiced:

“I have problems with the casting.” Like most other lunatic A-team fans, I probably cast this film two dozen times in my head over the past twenty years. So, once the film was a reality and was cast…the fans are bound to ask “why did they pick _____________ to play my favorite A-team guy?” And while I’ll slightly agree that Bradley Cooper chews up a lot of scenery in the flick, he’s by no means a detriment to the picture. He provided a more-than-adequate modern version of Dirk Benedict’s Faceman, and brought a lot to the plate. Liam? Yes, it was a surprise and even worrisome to me PRIOR to seeing the flick. I was concerned about what Qui-Gon Jinn would do to my beloved A-Team. But he held his ground, like Hannibal Smith should, and pulled off an appropriate betrayal of our hero leader. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Sharlto Copley were spot on.  I mean, SPOT ON – the best casting I’ve seen in a LONG time in Hollywood remakes. Jessica Beil did not screw up the film (my wife’s fear). In short, the players did a fine job.

“The chemistry isn’t the same as it was between the original TV characters”. More than one review said the chemistry between B.A. and Murdock wasn’t up to snuff as the original TV show. I pity the fools that say that. The movie (without giving away any spoilers) created depth to the “common knowledge” that Murdock annoys (and scares) B.A. and B.A. would love to rip Murdock’s lungs out if he didn’t care so much for him as a team member. I loved how they explored the relationship and added some nice new touches to the whole “B.A. hates flying” thing.

“The film is not as funny as the TV show.”  WRONG. In fact, I haven’t laughed so much in the movie theater since Napoleon Dynamite. The first 20 minutes = hysterical, mainly due to Murdock. Rightfully so, the best moments of comedy throughout the film stem from B.A. and Murdock’s bantering.

“Physics would never allow that to happen.”  Hard to believe, but Ebert (and others) critiqued the action as “excessive” with “way too many explosions” and that most of the stunts and plans were impossible to be pulled off. Um, watch the show.  For example, in one episode of the show, Murdock created a hot air balloon contraption using hair dryers and trash bags to escape a military asylum. Unlike MacGyver, where the concoctions were “real” ideas provided from research staff members and viewers, A-Team inventions – usually crafted by B.A. – were just fantasy.  In the show, they combated thugs carrying automatic weapons. With fire hoses, fireworks, and so on. In the A-team universe, you must be willing to suspend disbelief…at least for the good guys.

(MINOR SPOILER) 

“Hannibal doesn’t come up with every plan in the movie.”  News flash:  Hannibal doesn’t come up with every plan in the TV show, either. There is a TV episode where B.A. comes up with the plan. Face (in the TV show) often has to assume control and modify Hannibal’s plans. There are at least two episodes where Murdock comes up with the plan. Lame critique. Its A-Team lore that ANYONE can contribute to the plan, it’s just that Hannibal is exceptionally good at turning seemingly random events into something he’s “planned.”

In conclusion, great stunts, great action, great special effects, and AWESOME air battles/flying (and, yes, the tank scene is silly and extremely entertaining). Special thanks to Joe Carnahan, Brian Bloom, and Skip Woods for writing an action-packed and emotionally-compelling screenplay based on Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo’s television show. Alan Silvestri did provide a fantastic soundtrack with just the right mix of the original theme (complete with its cheese) and modern interpretations of the show’s music. If you’re a fan, go see it…a sequel is not too far off. If you’ve never seen the show, check your brain at the door and enjoy the ride. This is worth seeing on the big screen.  

Grade: “A” for A-Team. 

For A-Team fans and those that care:

IDW Publishing has issued 4 A-Team comics that center on each individual member of the A-Team.  I’ve only read the Murdock one, which was entertaining as a “prequel” to the film. Decent art and story. Visit your local comic book store today. ~Chris

A-Team (2010) Interview on YouTube:




I never really saw the original A-Team. That came out during my high school years and I never had time for it, and what I did see really didn’t catch my attention. From what I have read and heard from others, this film was loyal to the original show. I went with Chris, who was a big fan of the original A-Team show and he filled in some of the gaps for me like B.A’s fear of flying. They dish out great stunts and special effects, as well as the ridiculous ones. The script was constructed well, because it gave you the feeling that you had just watched about seven episodes. They broke it up into nice compacted sections and gave you that block-buster boost to these mini-sodes that flowed quite well. 

It is what it is. A cheesy TV show that is fair to say, a television icon, that has been remade with 2010 techniques that delivers exactly what it is supposed to. I do want to find out what happened between Mr. T and the Producers of this film, because there is not a cameo at all in the film and that stings even more once you watch the scene at the end of the end credits. Why was he so detached from this film? That’s all I’m sayin’. I have heard and read that some people had problems with the actor’s portrayals of the characters. Well, maybe it is a good thing that I don’t know the A-Team, because I thought they were fine.  

What I really want to say is, “I pity da fool who don’t watch this movie at least once”. 
- Phil

Click the link below at GoWatchIt.com to see where you can stream or watch A-Team (2010) online or on TV right now.
http://gowatchit.com/movies/the-a-team-51069

Or check out TVGuide.com to see if this film is playing on TV/Cable in your area:
http://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-a-team/303584/

CHECK IN TOMORROW ...............
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