Amazon.com

Rolling Thunder's ex-Vietnam War POW Major Charles Rane (William Devane) returns to a hero's welcome in San Antonio in the early '70s. He's bestowed with a red Cadillac convertible, $2,500 in silver dollars, and accolades from all sides. Soon, however, he discovers that all is not as it seems; his wife strayed with a close friend during his years of confinement. He also finds that he has his own personal POW groupie, Linda; her fascination with him is met with the same shoulder-shrugging blandness that he shows toward everything else in what's left of his life. One day Rane comes home to find a houseful of assorted Texas white trash demanding his small fortune in silver dollars. Their efforts to beat him into revealing the location of the money are for naught, so they jam his right hand down a garbage disposal instead. When his wife and kid come home, the two gladly give up the money but the robbers cold-bloodedly gun them down anyway. Flash-forward: Rane has himself fitted with a hook prosthesis (which he sharpens on a grinder), cuts down a couple of shotguns, and points the scarlet Caddy land yacht south towards Nuevo Laredo, bent on revenge. With Linda in tow, he tracks the bad guys as far as Acuña and Juárez, where he hooks up with war buddy Johnny (Tommy Lee Jones) for a final showdown. What would otherwise play as a routine revenge story is given a measure of dimension and depth by Devane's performance and Paul Schrader's script. The comparison to Schrader scripts such as the previous year's Taxi Driver are inevitable and obvious. Like Taxi Driver's Travis Bickle, Rane wears opaque state-trooper sunglasses that allow no window into his dead soul. However, Bickle's internal monologues are missing; all the audience can see of Rane's character is what's on the surface, only what Rane wants others to see. He's simply a vengeful automaton, riddled with a cold, poisonous, implacable rage. Strong stuff indeed. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (5)

DEVANE'S SCREEN PRESENCE
This is a flawed but very interesting movie. What strikes me is that it starred Bill DeVane with Tommie Lee Jones in a supporting role. At the time, DeVane was headed, seemingly, for stardom. He had been brilliant as JFK in "The Missiles of October" and even better as a turncoat spy in "Marathon Man". Yet it was Jones, not DeVane, who went on to screen greatness.

DeVane is a Vietnam flyboy, shot down, captured by the Communists, held and tortured for seven years. He returns to his family, but is estranged from them. They are killed in a robbery. This is where the film veers somewhat, because it is in the realism of his character that DeVane leaves us wanting. The realism is that DeVane has learned, been programmed, to be dehumanized. It was the only way to survive his Vietnam ordeal. As he reacts to "the world," or rather does not react to it, to his family, his wife who plans to leave him, he has no emotion left. It has all been drained from him. He speaks about "when we were alive," which was the prisoner's code for before capture. He is like a zombie. It is good method acting, but the viewer thirsts for more.

The script tries to take us there by showing DeVane with a blonde "groupie" who tags along while he sojourns into Mexico and El Paso looking for his family's killers. Eventually he teams with Jones and they exact their revenge, which is as much their personal release of violent expression against their captor as it is the killing of the robbers who murdered DeVane's family.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
...

"GOT YOUR TIME BOY."
WILLIAM DEVANE HAS MADE A CAREER OUT OF STARRING IN T.V. MOVIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE OF THE HUM DRUM VARIETY. THIS BIG SCREEN FILM STANDS OUT ALONGSIDE MOVIES LIKE 'PAYBACK' AS SHOWING WHAT A FINE ACTOR DEVANE REALLY IS.
THIS WAS LONG BEFORE TOMMY LEE JONES WAS A HOUSEHOLD NAME ALSO AND YET IT DISPALYS THE TALENT THAT HAS MADE HIM A MULTI MILLIONARE.
THE TWO VIETNAM VETS RETURN HOME AFTER BEING HELD IN A P.O.W. CAMP AND ROUTINELY TORTURED. NEITHER MAN SHOWS UP WITH THE HUMANITY THEY PROBABLY LEFT WITH.
DEVANES WIFE WANTS A DIVORCE WHICH SUITS HIM FINE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT HE GENUINELY WANTS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON.
DEVANES FAMILY IS SET UPON BY PETTY CROOKS WHO INVADE THE HOME IN AN EFFORT TO STEAL SILVER DOLLARS AWARDED TO DEVANE UPON HIS RETURN. THEY KILL ALL, OR SO THEY THINK. DEVANES CHARACTER SURVIVES WITH A PROSTETIC HOOK FOR ONE HAND. HE THEN SETS OUT TO AVENGE HIS SONS MURDER. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN AIRHEADED GROUPIE WHO THINKS HE IS COOL.
WE THEN RIDE ALONG FROM SOUTH TEXAS TO VARIOUS MEXICAN BORDER TOWNS IN SEARCH OF THE LOW RENT KILLERS HEADED BY ACTOR JAMES BEST WHO PORTRAYS A GOON FAR REMOVED FROM THE ROSCOE P. COLTRAIN CHARACTER HE MADE FAMOUS IN 'THE DUKES OF HAZZARD.'

DEVANE ALONG WITH ASSISTANCE FROM WAR WRECKED TOMMY LEE JONES CORNERS THE BAD GUYS IN A WHOREHOUSE JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM EL PASO.
THE FINALLY IS CLIMACTIC, AND JUSTIFIABLY SO. THE COOLEST SCENE IN THE PICTURE IS WHEN DEVANE CONFRONTS BEST WHO LAYS IN BED WITH A PROSTITUTE. DEVANE WAKES THE MAN, SAYING "GOT YOUR TIME BOY." YOU CAN GUESS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT GIVEN THE FACT THAT DEVANE IS BEARING DOWN ON THE MAN WITH A DOUBLE BARRLED SAWD OFF SHOTGUN.

THIS IS KIND OF A 'DEATH WISH' TEXAS STYLE FILM BUT IT WORKS. THE BAD GUYS ARE SO BRUTALLY DISGUSTING THAT YOU CANT WAIT FOR THEM TO "GET THEIR TIME."

ITS A GOOD EFFORT AND WORTH A LOOK.

Rolling Thunder: Diamond in the Sand
I first saw this video in 1985. The movie caught my attention and held it throughout. Sure, there are other movies that attempt to deal with the plight of the vet, robberies and vengeance, love of family and vendetta. But there is not a movie out there that combines all of these with the same rhythm and intensity as "Rolling Thunder." At a time when movies are relying more on computer generated graphics than on a plot with substance, Rolling Thunder should be being aired on TNT, TBS, Lifetime, TNN and any other cable channel that wants to break away from the monotonous hum-drum of the fare being shown in the name of "entertainment." Devane does more than one good hand and a hook than most of today's action heroes do with both hands and both feet. Rah also for my main man, Tommy Lee Jones, who takes a back seat to Devane, but stands by his buddy to the end as they seek out the baddies that done Devane's family wrong. A must see!

Doesn't get much more powerful. . .
I am a huge movie buff and if you are looking for a raw, powerful, gritty movie experience, definitely check out this movie, which remains one of my all-time top three. I personally like this film better than "Taxi Driver", but if you liked "Taxi Driver" then you will definitely like this film, because it was written by the same guy and the themes are similar. I was blown away not only by the performances (particularly Tommy Lee Jones in a startlingly forceful role), but by the amazing amount of action. There is definitely more violence and action than there is in "Driver" and that's why I like it. Some people criticize the violence, but with the powerful storyline, disturbing violence is almost necessary. Definitely see this film. Along with "Driver" this film will awaken you to the horrors of the Vietnam War.

If you are a fan of "Taxi Driver", you will love this one
Basic storyline is this. Major Charles Rane returns home, Texas, from seven years of torture in POW during Vietnam War. As a big welcome gift, he receives a Cadillac and a couple of thousands dollars from city. Charles soon finds out his wife fell in love with other man and his emotion starts to build up. Then people came after Charles' reward money kill his son and wife and Charles loses his hand. Charlie and his friend from the war, Johnny played by Tommy Lee Jones, get together for a revenge. I found out about this movie from the "King Pulp: The Wild World of Quentin Tarantino". The movie "Rolling Thunder" is written by Paul Schrader, writer from "Taxi Driver". Like "Taxi Driver", this movie is charged with gripping scripts and emotionally rich and powerful characters. Without showing any real battle scenes, the movie builds up very strong Vietnam war drama. Also, the sequence where Major Charles Rane (William Devane) drives to find killers of his son and wife with a girl reminds the stoyline of "Natural Born Killers". Performance by Tommy Lee Jones as a supporting actor is also interesting to look at. This movie is as powerful and brutal as "Taxi Driver". ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Acting? Hell, No. Action? Hell, Yeah!
First of all, this movie is not getting five stars for its acting, its plot, its writing or its cinematography. Those basically don't exist. This film is about action, not acting, though some of the cast occasionally slips up and really does act, especially people like William Forsythe and Jerry Orbach, who apparently can't entirely help themselves. "Out For Justice" is a Steven Seagal vanity piece, plain and simple, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. In that sense, it succeeds in its purpose admirably well.

Seagal portrays yet another hero sporting a ponytail to hide his emerging bald spot. His traditional squinty-eyed grimace is used at all appropriate times, namely whenever he's trying to convey emotion, whether it be outrage, anger, sorrow, affection or desire. It's great how the viewer is left constantly guessing as to how poor Steven feels; it's highly doubtful that even he knows, so how can he be expected to show it to others? Acting is not this guy's forte, and it really shows when he's in a scene with real talent like Orbach or Forsythe. Those poor actors just don't know how to roll over and play dead so Steven can really shine. Not to worry, though, because it's in the fight scenes where Seagal gets to flex his muscles---on his body, not his face---and there's nobody who can kick tail quite the way he does.

There's no sense describing the plot, which is as flimsy as wet toilet tissue, but there's plenty of mayhem for those who like their action movies hot, bloody and raw. The film bogs down whenever Steven's character tries to make nice, such as in the scenes where he's chatting with a puppy. Fortunately, such interludes are few and far between, and do little to distract from the main point of this movie, which is to show off Seagal's creative use of expletives, martial arts and found objects like pool cues and meat cleavers. No, this is definitely not a chick flick or an intellectual exercise designed to make the viewer think; what it is, is action, designed for the testosterone crowd. Go into it with very low expectations of it being anything other than an adrenaline rush and you'll be fine. A good movie to watch with beer and chips---just don't look for it to be anything remotely like "Under Siege" and there'll be little disappointment.

a power house. pure adrenaline.
FIRST HE WAS ABOVE THE LAW. THEN HE WAS HARD TO KILL. THEN HE WAS MARKED FOR DEATH. NOW STEVEN SEAGAL IS OUT FOR JUSTICE. HE IS A COP. IT'S A DIRTY JOB. BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE. AND STEVE DOES. HE HAS TO TRY TO STOP A MADMAN WILLIAM FORSYTHE BEFORE IT IS TO LATE. VERY GOOD ACTION SCENES AND SEAGALS MOST GRAPHIC MOVIE. RATED R FOR STRONG VIOLENCE,STRONG LANGUAGE,AND BRIEF NUDITY.

ANOTHER ONE OF SEAGAL'S FILMS FROM THE GOOD OL DAYS
A BROOKLYN COP [SEAGAL] GOES AFTER THE MURDERER OF HIS PARTNER. HAS PLENTY OF GOOD ACTION TO SPARE AND IT HAS A VERY GOOD VILLAIN, WHO'S PLAYED BY WILLIAM FORSYTHE. THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW GOOD STEVEN SEAGAL'S MOVIES REALLY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF HIS CAREER. SEAGAL FANS SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY TO GO OUT AND BUY THIS ONE. THIS IS REALLY WORTH OWNING.

Gino on a mission!!
This movie is definately action packed with it's share of violence. Steven Seagal is wonderful as a "Brooklin born" cop willing to go the extra mile to catch a killer. This movie is well written because it shows the viewers that even policemen have difficult jobs going after bad criminals, even if it is a friend. I thought that this movie was one of Steven Seagal's best!I would encourage any fan of his to definately add it to your collection!

That's for Bobby!
I find it appropriate to review this, one of Seagal's best films and a classic in the genre. His career now a shell of its former self, Seagal proves with 'OFJ' that he used to deliver the goods.

I used to think there wasn't much to making a good Seagal film. How hard can it be? But his recent efforts, which have gone straight to DVD, prove that some talent is required to make a satisfying rogue-cop-on-a-mission flick.

Seagal plays Brooklyn cop Gino Felino (I'm not kidding) whose partner is blown away on the streets (18th Avenue, we're told over and over) by the crack-smoking lunatic Richie, played with aplomb by William Forsythe. Using his acute knowledge of 'the neighborhood', Gino sets off on revenge, killing several dozen people before the suitably ultraviolent finale.

The film has many things going for it. Firstly, Seagal attempts a Brooklyn accent and an overall Brookln persona which is priceless to watch. Second, the violence is top notch. It starts off strong with a pimp being put through a windshield after insulting Gino's Italian-American heritage. The violence then escalates as Gino uses tried-and-true methods of interrogation such as the old cue-ball in the bar towel, shots to the family jewels, the snapping of wrists, and good old fashioned Smith and Wesson. Thirdly, William Forsythe is amazing as Richie, proving that he will throw himself into a role totally and completely. His fat man waddle, crazy crooked mustache, and berserker behavior make him a great villain. Think about it--Seagal versus a fat character actor doesn't sound like much, right? But Forsythe is game and makes the film fun to watch.

What else? The film is totally foul-mouthed, full of off color humor and a message that is morally dubious at best.

OFJ also has a crop of familiar faces. Jerry Orbach, plays ::gasp:: a cop. Gina Gershon appears as Richie's sister. John Leguizamo appears in a two second bit during a cheesy montage sequence. Julianna Margulies plays one of Richie's hook-ups. B-movie babe Shannon Whirry appears in a revealing outfit.

Highly recommended to the action fan. Required viewing if you hail from Brooklyn. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

The Best Movie Ever? Wait Another Five Years, Boys!
If everyone on this page has given this movie five stars, then you're obviously no older than fourteen. Wait a couple of years and you'll see that your palette for films will dramatically change, and this movie will begin to collect dust among your choice favorites. I have to admit, I was once addicted to this film very badly, but now I know that Ed Furlong cannot even be called an actor. He is bland and lifeless in every role he's ever played with the exception of John Conner in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. What I did enjoy was the amusing characterization of the antagonist, Mr. Brainscan himself. Whoever played him was a great character actor, but this movie can definetely be classified as mere popcorn. A late-nighter for when there's nothing else to watch and you're desperate for entertainment. Or drunk...

Take me back!
Brainscan is one of those movies that not only entertains but has a specific "feel" to it. Sometimes refered to as a mood movie. Thanks to George S. Clinton, the soundtrack adds to this lonely, creepy mood. Is it scary? It has momments. Is it gory? Again, it has momments. Brainscan brings you into a world that you can immerse yourself in through familiarity. At a time when video games were becomming more complex and lifelike, it took the idea of "what if" and ran with it. Now, nearly ten years later this movie doesn't feel too dated. Not the most original story ever developed but the mood and performances of all characters involved makes this a fun hour and 1/2. Additionally I reccommend you check out the soundtrack which is a good mix of rock and underground grunge and of course a sample of the George Clinton instrumental that drives the movie. ...

Doesn't have to be great!
Let me make that very clear. Not everything we put in front of our eyes has to lace up and wear an neck tie to work. Sometimes it's ok to be lowbrow. I mean, JACKASS has a legion of followers, and the show does nothing more than devalue our sensibilities.

With Brainscan, we have a minor production about a boy whose reality is eschewed by a video game. It's over the top, and silly, but it's so much damned fun. I think it's a great movie for what it is. It's not Braveheart or Mystic River, but that fact shouldn't lessen the entertainment value of this cheesy horror film.

If you've purchased this flick on a whim, fear not, you will have a good time. This is the type of movie where you can sit back with a snack, a loved one under you arm, and your feet on the coffee table. A good movie that doesn't have to be great.

Enjoy.

braindead in the head,but the technolgy is cool 1 1/2 stars
brainscan is an interesting film of sorts. it offers a virtual reality setting, and some great special effects. but thats it. the plot revolves around an horror obsessed teen(edward furlong) long before he became widely known as the future resistance leader in james cameron;s t2, who loves horror,is president of the horror club in school, he has a best friend kyle, and he amires the girl(amy hargreaves) next door to him. hes all alone, in a nice big house. his father is on a business trip,and things are just getting interesting for furlong, as he gets plunged into a videogame, that he found while browsing a video magazine. its called of all things,brainscan, and offers the player limitless possibiltiesles of what the player will pursue, will you be an investigator,doctor, dentist or something more purely evil?.
what brainscan developed for its time in 1994 was a chance to offer a wide broad of possibilties and to show off his great technolgy of effects, before computer animation was even achievied. and for that is interesting. while it sure lacks a few things in the horror area a bit, it does offer the viewers a chance to become whatever they want in life,although actually not becoming it. as in this case ,furlong is chosen to be a murderer. what will he do, how will he do it, and will he survive?
brainscan offers alot of possiabilties, but in the end, is a fun movie,but,atlas, not a great film. the plot is ok,but thers not enough punched to actually tell something more. is more of a visual effts film, with that being said,enjoy it for what it is. it was cutting edge when i first saw it back, in 1994,but the basis of plot is not to be taken serious. its a horror film,but a fun horror movie at that. although I can said I would recommend this film, right out. it does have its moments to it. a nice scenery, a beautiful next door neighbor, but my rating then on what i give it still stands,on what i gave it.its not a really bad film, but more as a misguided one.and for that, i leave to the viewer to chose.

and i hate horror movies
when michael finds himself interested in a cd rom game called brainscan out of fangoria he gets more than he asks for. his life is soon over taken by trickster, a punker styled out monster who uses michaels subconscious to kill random people through a video game. when body parts start showing up around the house michael realises that hes got to stop trickster and the game before everyone he cares about ends up dead. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Classic 70s thriller, one of the decade's best
This movie is yet another of the untold examples for why I'd like to pound the heads of the movie production execs. When is this going to be released on widescreen DVD? Okay enough ranting, I'll get to the specifics.

A small time hood Macklin (Robert Duvall) is released from prison just in time to find out a couple of killers shot his brother. The bank they robbed was run by the syndicate. Its the classic crime deal gone wrong scenario. When a killer comes after him also, he ruthlessly sets out for revenge with the aid of his friend Cody (Joe Don Baker.)

This thriller moves with contiguous action. There isn't any unnecessary scenes. I credit the fast paced direction of John Flynn (who also co-wrote the excellent script.) This was only his third movie as a director, and believe me, this doesn't contain any of the corny stuff found in "Out To Justice."

Duvall makes a convincing ruthless thug. Its a scary portrayal. There are solid performances all around from an excellent supporting cast, consisting not only of the aformentioned Joe Don Baker, but three of Hollywood's late great legendary icons of the classic film noir days: Elisha Cook, Jr (Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, The Gangster, et al); Jane Greer (Out of the Past, The Big Steal); and in his last film appearance, Robert Ryan (The Set Up, The Racket, et al).

Now if the production companies would stop putting out retarded remakes 60s/70s shows (hello!!!) and give us restored classics like this one our saturday nite's would always be fly. Criterion, save us!

Great Movie!!
Robert Duvall plays a small time criminal just released from prison with a big thirst for revenge.This is a great movie.Check it out!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With vanity projects like 1989's schlocky Lock Up to his credit, it's a wonder Sylvester Stallone survived to make some better movies in the '90s.This is a brutal dose of macho action that Stallone squeezed in between Rambo III and Rocky V, and his fans didn't seem to mind, so who's to judge? It's not as bad as Sly's other 1989 disaster (Tango & Cash), but you'd have to be demented, drunk, or have really low standards to call this a good movie. But if you're in a primal mood you'll get a kick out of this grimy flick, which would qualify as Z-grade exploitation if it weren't for Stallone's beefy presence as Frank Leone, a cooperative prisoner who's six months shy of parole when he's relocated to a hellhole called Gateway Prison. The wretched high-security facility is commandeered by Warden Drumgoole (Donald Sutherland), who is determined to settle an old score with Stallone ... and you can pretty much guess the rest. Director John Flynn didn't exactly distinguish himself with this one (he'd go on to direct forgettable fare like Out for Justice and Brainscan), but there's more visual style here than you might expect, and Sly manages to take it all so seriously that you can easily enjoy this gut buster as an unintentional comedy. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Make sure you have a spare key handy!
"Lock Up" features a strong cast with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, John Amos, Tom Sizemore and Sonny Landham. Stallone portrays Frank Leone, who must serve the remaining six months of his sentence at a minimum security correctional facility. Leone's cell is ransacked in the middle of the night and is taken into custody against his will by security guards from a maximum security prison, where Leone is escorted and is promptly given the guided tour of hell. The viewer, as well as Leone, is then given an explanation of Leone's transfer, courtesy of one evil Warden Drumgoole, played by Sutherland. The tone of the movie is set upon Drumgoole's intense greeting: "Welcome to Gateway, Leone". It's payback time, according to the warden, whose administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, whom Warden Drumgoole makes sure never has another pleasureable moment during Leone's sentence. Leone's stay isn't entirely unbearable, for there are a few bright spots here, as our beloved convict-hero makes some fast friends in the prison autobody shop, with the likes of Eclipse (Frank McRae), Dallas (Tom Sizemore) and First Base (Larry Romano). It is here where these individuals share a common bond of friendship, including their love of cars, which is one of "Lock Up's" few tender moments. Ah, but there can't be friends without enemies, can there? Frank finds his enemy at a prison football game, where he is brutally roughhoused by one Chink Weber (Sonny Landham). Things don't get any easier for Leone, as he is constantly belittled and brutally assaulted by Drumgoole's staff. Overall, this is a strong film, with some believable characters, although the plot in certain spots is somewhat weak and unbelievable. For instance, I find it hard to believe that a prison autobody shop, such as this, displays little or no security, as well as a large maximum security prison, like this one, being overseen by just one warden, who, out of hundreds and hundreds of inmates, is so obsessed with just one of them. I'm sure the warden has other responsibilities to be concerned about, which I'm sure are many. But, the one good thing about watching a film of this caliber is that the warden's obsession with one man builds an intense climax that leaves the viewer on the edge of his/her seat the entire length of the movie, thus craving more substantial thrills and dialog. "Lock Up" contains all of the above, and is one film you're sure to come back to time and again. Plus, no other actor can bring more to an action-thriller quite like Sly Stallone, although "Lock Up" probably isn't his best role. That honor would have to go to his Rambo and Rocky roles. When viewing "Lock Up", make sure you have a spare key (and some refreshments) handy at all times, because you never know how long your stay of execution will last!

It's STALLONE for crying out loud!!!
Ok, so the guy who did the Amazon.com Editorial review calls the people who enjoy this movie demented, drunk, or having really low standards. Who says you have to take the movie seriously...just enjoy it; I think we all realize that what happens in this movie would never happen in real life, and that's what makes it so cool. I say Lock Up is one of Stallone's more memorable movies for me although it is one of his lesser known roles. This movie probably wouldn't be good if it were played by anyone other than Stallone, but it isn't so it's great. Stallone plays Frank Leone, a man serving a short and normal prison sentence, when he is suddenly and inexplicably sent to Gateway, a hell-hole of a prison, with the evil Warden Drumgoole in charge, played very well by Donald Sutherland. Drumgoole employs a bully named Chink, (played by Sonny Landham) to make sure Leone's time at Gateway is as unpleasant as possible. The most memorable moment in the film for me is when Leone goes after Chink when he crosses the line. On the front of the DVD one critic states, "A surprisingly human film." I must agree. You really start to feel for Frank Leone after he is given such a hard time, and you want to see him exact his revenge like only Stallone can.

Stallone just has a certain aura about him, ya know? Like he's almost not human, with larger-than-life characters like Rocky and Rambo in his name, but something more...maybe I am just, demented...but I think a lot of Stallone fans know exactly what I mean.

I like this movie
I was told that this was a bad movie and that it would be a waste of time to watch it, but I had to see for my self and form my own opinion.
I think this is very good movie, not like anything sly had done before (maybe that's why I like it).
I strongly recommend this movie to anyone with an open mind to judge it for what it really is and not for what it should be.

Flagitious Prison!
The icon known as Sylvester Stallone is an ideal prisoner who is unexpectedly transferred to the depraved warden Donald Sutherland's prison. I was scandalized when the police officers handcuffed Stallone during the middle of the night and drove him to the evil Sutherland's prison! Irate! Sutherland and Stallone had a troubled past and Sutherland was getting revenge. Oh, you know what happens when you mess with a legend. No mercy upon him! Stallone plays football with inmates, has a car destroyed, and he doesn't know who to trust. Stallone gets reprisal when his friend is murdered by Sonny Landham (crazy guy from "Predator"). Stallone tries to break out of prison and got his hands on the sadistic Sutherland. Electrifying! Stallone gives his most thoughtful performance since the Rambo trilogy. Almost golden.

Uh........no
No, no, no. Would I EVER watch this ridiculous movie again? No. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This formula mystery-thriller is enlivened by the give-and-take chemistry between the tough, phlegmatic Brian Dennehy and the acid-tongued, fast-talking James Woods. Dennehy is an ex-cop turned crime novelist with a string of bestsellers to his credit. He is approached by Woods, who wants him to collaborate on a book about Woods's career as hit man for a prominent businessman, who has always maintained a scrubbed façade of uprightness. Though the plot becomes predictable, this Laurel-and-Hardy pairing yields unexpected treats, as a criminal teaches a former cop a thing or two about police work, not to mention literature. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Unusual plot!
The movie has a very unusual plot, although this plot is maybe not always believable. But the main attraction here is James Woods playing a villain. Brian Dennehy, his partner, is also up to the task, but he is here the same as he was in many other movies - tough guy. James Woods performance really makes you to forget some weaknesses in the plot and not to pay much attention to bad acting by other actors. Overal, great treat for James Woods fans and good enough thriller.

James Woods gives heart to his portrayal of a killer
If you're not a James Woods fan, you wouldn't understand, but bear with me:

This movie is really a story about the redemption of the assassin Cleve, played by Woods. The characters in the movie are given little depth by the writers, but the stars give heart to this film. I was most intrigued by the performance of Woods. Most actors play assassins as raving psychotics, (and typically Woods is no exception) but Woods takes the character of Cleve a step further. Seen in the beginning of the film as a savior to the best selling author and cop named Dennis played by Denneghy, Cleve at first shows a cool exterior and one wonders if this will be yet another Woods' film where he simply gets to shoot a lot of people. But when the character of Cleve comes to life, Woods shows his depth as an actor. Cleve's cool exterior and successful career as an assassin masks a tangible vulnerability as Cleve tries to come to terms with his life, wanting himself to be seen by the public as "sympathetic" in Dennis' "best seller." (You see this at the very end of the film where Cleve has to make a decision: get final revenge on his boss Matlock or save Dennis's teenage daughter). The ending is worth every minute of the background 80's synth music.

Cleve doesn't feel guilt in the murders he's committed for the cupidity of the company; as Cleve says matter-of-factly, "It's the profession I was in, Dennis." This streak of sociopathic deeds combined with an obession for verbal politeness was an interesting mix that I found intriguing. (One tongue-in-check example is after Cleve saves Dennis' life, he places a card on Dennis' windshield with the simple message: "Say thank you!")There were many great scenes like that throughout the film, making you wonder if you should hate Cleve for what he's done, or pity him, even like him, for who he wants to become. Watching the complexities of Woods' character slowly unfold was well worth the money. This film is excellent, especially if you are a James Woods fan.

A TRUE SLEEPER
I FIRST CAME ACROSS THIS GEM WAY BACK IN THE 80'S ON THE ADVICE OF THE VIDEO STORE OWNER. AS I WATCHED IT I KNEW IT WOULD BE ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES. JIM WOODS PORTRAYS A SMOOTH, VICOUS UTTERLY AMORAL KILLER WHO MANAGES TO SLIT THROATS AND BREAK NECKS WITH OUT WRINKLING HIS ARMANTE SUITS. BRIAN DENNEHY PLAYS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN AS THE HONEST HARDNOSED COP RAISING HIS DAUGHTER ALONE AFTER THE PASSING AWAY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE. JIM WOODS AS EX-HITMAN CLEVE CONTACTS DENNIS MEECHAM, PLAYED BY DENNEHY, OUT OF THE BLUE AFTER SAVING HIS LIFE IN A SHOOTOUT AND THEN DISAPEARING. CLEVE THEN USES DENNIS TO WREAK REVENGE ON HIS EX-EMPLOYER DAVID MATLOCK BY WRITING A FACTUAL ACCOUNT OF HOW MATLOCKS COMPANY "CAPPA INTERNATIONAL" WAS STARTED BY THE THEFT OF MONEYS FROM A POLICE DEPOSITORY. THE SUBSIQUENT ODDESY AS CLEVE TAKES SGT. MEECHAM THROUGH A MAZE OF INTRIGUE AND MURDERS SLOWLY CONVINCES A SKEPTICAL COP THERE JUST MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO THIS AFTER ALL. AS THE FLICK PROGRESSES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COP AND THE CROOK TURNS TO A KIND OF UNEASY FRIENDSHIP WHICH SGT. MEECHAM WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, BUT CLEVE KNOWS ANYWAYS. A MEMORABLE SCENE IN THIS MOVIE IS WHEN CLEVE APPEARS, UNEXPECTANTLY IN SGT. MEECHAMS PUBLISHERS HOUSE AS SHE ARRIVES HOME FROM A BUSINESS DATE. IF YOU DON'T THINK JAMES WOODS CAN BE CONVINCINGLY SCARY CHECK THIS SCENE OUT. CLEVE IS IN SEARCH OF A COPY OF THE MANUSCRIPT THAT MEECHAM IS WRITNG AND VERY CONVINCINGLY MAKES A BELIEVER OF THE LADY THAT SHE HAD BETTER GIVE HIM THE COPY IF SHE HAS IT, FORTUNATELY SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE COPY AND CLEVE BELIEVES HER, HE THEN ASSURES HER IF SHE TELLS MEECHAM ABOUT THEIR LITTLE MEETING HE WILL COME BACK AND "HURT YOU LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN HURT BEFORE". THE MOVIE PROGRESSES TO A SHOWDOWN AND RESCUE OF MEECHAMS DAUGHTER BY CLEVE. I LIKED THIS MOVIE SO WELL BECAUSE IT WAS BELEIVABLE. CLEVE AND MEECHAM EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO GO BACK TO WHERE CLEVE GREW UP AND MEET HIS VERY NORMAL SALT OF THE EARTH PARENTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A GOOD POPCORN AND POP MOVIE CHECK THIS ONE OUT IT DELIVERS A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK AND RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH SOME OF THE BEST. ENJOY.

not just a thriller
If you like James Woods, this will definitely float your boat. Woods plays an ex-hitman, Cleave, for a large business situated in Los Angeles, which means you get to see him show his capacities to be smooth, calculating, and also emotionally explosive. While this movie is put in the action category, as it should be, its plot unfolds itself by slowly revealing the machinations of a corrupt and powerful business, that Woods' character is trying to take down for having gyped him at some point in his service. Throughout this development, the movie plays the characters of Woods -the cunning and dangerous hitman- and Dennehy -a just but temperamental cop- off one another. As you can guess, Dennis, the cop, continually suspects Cleave of having some dark secret or another cold trick up his sleeve. This movie's ability to display how Dennis communicates and cooperates with a criminal, who he despises, is what takes this movie beyond bare action and into a fascinating portrayal of personalities caught in the larger struggle of enforcing justice on mega-corporations.

One of the Best From Woods and Dennehy
James Woods and Brian Dennehy both shine in this thriller about a cop/author who teams with a psychotic killer in order to bring down an organized crime figure.

It is fascinating to watch the interaction betwwen the two leads. Dennehy knows that Woods is a cold-blooded killer yet he uses a combination of physical presence and intestinal fortitude to keep the the smaller Woods in line. Woods' character actually tries to befriend Dennehy but one is never sure that he won't snap and kill Dennehy at any moment.

This is an excellent film and a showcase for the talents of these two fine actors. I hope a DVD version will be released but until then it's VHS only. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

{Great}
One of the best movie I've seen this year//The plot is great and the movie keeps your interest the whole time watching//Surprise ending A+++++++++++

first impressions can be deceiving
For about 3/4's of it's running time, this drama remains interesting because of the acting of Christopher Walken and Lorraine Bracco. Walken can be a supreme mannerist but here he is simple and direct, whilst this performance made me re-evaluate my previous dismissive attitude towards Bracco. In spite of a tendency to use a Melanie Griffith slow vocal style, and photographed unflatteringly, she displays considerable technique, and now I'm keen to explore her back catalogue. There is a natural exhaustion factor in stories about the con game, since it builds on one-upmanship, and a succession of betrayals and plot twists eventually overturn the good feeling created by screenwriter Craig Smith, adapting his own novel Ladystinger. Apart from his control of the actors, director John Flynn doesn't go for any stylistic choices, though a decapitation seems appropriate for the Jamaican locale. Even with a subplot about crossing the mob, the film's tone doesn't qualify it as a thriller, since the leads never feel genuinely at risk, and it's not violent enough to be called an action pic either. And as with the spiralling stings, it has about 2 endings too many, which ultimately is unsatisfying. Martin Donovan is feaured in a supporting role as a computer geek though has little material to work with. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

NYC was one SCARY place back in the day!
It's a shame that this movie is so relatively unknown and barely seen on TV anymore. Anyone who is a fan of gritty, urban flicks set in NYC in the '70s and early '80s ("Death Wish," "Taxi Driver," "Gloria," "Fort Apache, the Bronx," etc.) should definitely check out 1979's "Defiance," starring Jan Michael Vincent as Tom Gamble, a merchant seaman who is forced to reside in Manhattan's Lower East Side until he can find employment on another ship. As it turns out, the Lower East Side (or "L.E.S." as it has come to be known over the years by its actual residents) is run by a vicious street gang known as the Savage Souls, and it isn't long before Gamble and the Souls are at odds with each other, culminating in a brutal (and very realistically-staged) fight between Gamble and the gang's leader in the hallways and stairways of a housing project .
As a Puerto Rican who has lived in Manhattan all of his life, I'll be the first to admit that there are hints of prejudice throughtout the movie: Like other vigilante films of the same era ("Death Wish," "Fighting Back," "Vigilante,"), the protagonist is a white man who is going to "clean up the streets" by taking on out-of-control minorities who have become too much of a problem for the the police to handle (in this case, it is the Souls, a mostly Puerto Rican gang led by the not-so-Puerto Rican actor Rudy Ramos). Some Puerto Ricans may be offended by the fact that some of the Souls even have the Puerto Rican flag displayed on the backs of their jackets, as well as a scene where a Jewish grocery store clerk (played by Art Carney) tells Tom how the neighborhood used to be great before "everything changed" (an indirect way of blaming the neighborhood's social problems on the influx of Puerto Ricans who have moved in).
Nevertheless, I cannot help but get swept up in nostalgia when I see "Defiance:" as dilapidated and crime-ridden as New York City's Latino neighborhoods may have been back in 1979 (and mind you, "Defiance" presents an exaggerated view of this), their imagery will always be a part of my childhood, and therefore I will always have a soft spot in my heart for a movie like this, despite the racial overtones. At the same time, I have always liked urban vigilante movies, and the sight of seeing pissed-off white men battling black and/or Latino thugs is something that, for better or for worse, goes with the territory.

Fantastic
Of course, this movie is supposed to be an action. But the movie boasts more then just fighting. The story behind th action is what supportsthe entire movie. There are many parts where there is fighting, yet you keep your mind focused on the actual thought of the movie and what itis about. Personally, I thought the movie would have done better asa drama, rather than an action, and that is it's ONLY fault. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Roller coaster ride of bad acting mixed with so so fights
Seagal, to begin with, never could act his way out of a paper bag. This video is a prime example.(All aspiring actors take note..Make sure your accent (assigned or otherwise) has a semblence of authenticity for the part.) The action scenes were pretty good but, as with most of segals films, poorly filmed. It's my opinion that given Seagal's style of martial arts a different choice of camera angles might help. It's not a bad movie to rent if you've got a couple of cold ones to drink and a couple of hours to put your brain in neutral... ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Make sure you have a spare key handy!
"Lock Up" features a strong cast with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, John Amos, Tom Sizemore and Sonny Landham. Stallone portrays Frank Leone, who must serve the remaining six months of his sentence at a minimum security correctional facility. Leone's cell is ransacked in the middle of the night and is taken into custody against his will by security guards from a maximum security prison, where Leone is escorted and is promptly given the guided tour of hell. The viewer, as well as Leone, is then given an explanation of Leone's transfer, courtesy of one evil Warden Drumgoole, played by Sutherland. The tone of the movie is set upon Drumgoole's intense greeting: "Welcome to Gateway, Leone". It's payback time, according to the warden, whose administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, whom Warden Drumgoole makes sure never has another pleasureable moment during Leone's sentence. Leone's stay isn't entirely unbearable, for there are a few bright spots here, as our beloved convict-hero makes some fast friends in the prison autobody shop, with the likes of Eclipse (Frank McRae), Dallas (Tom Sizemore) and First Base (Larry Romano). It is here where these individuals share a common bond of friendship, including their love of cars, which is one of "Lock Up's" few tender moments. Ah, but there can't be friends without enemies, can there? Frank finds his enemy at a prison football game, where he is brutally roughhoused by one Chink Weber (Sonny Landham). Things don't get any easier for Leone, as he is constantly belittled and brutally assaulted by Drumgoole's staff. Overall, this is a strong film, with some believable characters, although the plot in certain spots is somewhat weak and unbelievable. For instance, I find it hard to believe that a prison autobody shop, such as this, displays little or no security, as well as a large maximum security prison, like this one, being overseen by just one warden, who, out of hundreds and hundreds of inmates, is so obsessed with just one of them. I'm sure the warden has other responsibilities to be concerned about, which I'm sure are many. But, the one good thing about watching a film of this caliber is that the warden's obsession with one man builds an intense climax that leaves the viewer on the edge of his/her seat the entire length of the movie, thus craving more substantial thrills and dialog. "Lock Up" contains all of the above, and is one film you're sure to come back to time and again. Plus, no other actor can bring more to an action-thriller quite like Sly Stallone, although "Lock Up" probably isn't his best role. That honor would have to go to his Rambo and Rocky roles. When viewing "Lock Up", make sure you have a spare key (and some refreshments) handy at all times, because you never know how long your stay of execution will last!

It's STALLONE for crying out loud!!!
Ok, so the guy who did the Amazon.com Editorial review calls the people who enjoy this movie demented, drunk, or having really low standards. Who says you have to take the movie seriously...just enjoy it; I think we all realize that what happens in this movie would never happen in real life, and that's what makes it so cool. I say Lock Up is one of Stallone's more memorable movies for me although it is one of his lesser known roles. This movie probably wouldn't be good if it were played by anyone other than Stallone, but it isn't so it's great. Stallone plays Frank Leone, a man serving a short and normal prison sentence, when he is suddenly and inexplicably sent to Gateway, a hell-hole of a prison, with the evil Warden Drumgoole in charge, played very well by Donald Sutherland. Drumgoole employs a bully named Chink, (played by Sonny Landham) to make sure Leone's time at Gateway is as unpleasant as possible. The most memorable moment in the film for me is when Leone goes after Chink when he crosses the line. On the front of the DVD one critic states, "A surprisingly human film." I must agree. You really start to feel for Frank Leone after he is given such a hard time, and you want to see him exact his revenge like only Stallone can.

Stallone just has a certain aura about him, ya know? Like he's almost not human, with larger-than-life characters like Rocky and Rambo in his name, but something more...maybe I am just, demented...but I think a lot of Stallone fans know exactly what I mean.

I like this movie
I was told that this was a bad movie and that it would be a waste of time to watch it, but I had to see for my self and form my own opinion.
I think this is very good movie, not like anything sly had done before (maybe that's why I like it).
I strongly recommend this movie to anyone with an open mind to judge it for what it really is and not for what it should be.

Flagitious Prison!
The icon known as Sylvester Stallone is an ideal prisoner who is unexpectedly transferred to the depraved warden Donald Sutherland's prison. I was scandalized when the police officers handcuffed Stallone during the middle of the night and drove him to the evil Sutherland's prison! Irate! Sutherland and Stallone had a troubled past and Sutherland was getting revenge. Oh, you know what happens when you mess with a legend. No mercy upon him! Stallone plays football with inmates, has a car destroyed, and he doesn't know who to trust. Stallone gets reprisal when his friend is murdered by Sonny Landham (crazy guy from "Predator"). Stallone tries to break out of prison and got his hands on the sadistic Sutherland. Electrifying! Stallone gives his most thoughtful performance since the Rambo trilogy. Almost golden.

Uh........no
No, no, no. Would I EVER watch this ridiculous movie again? No. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

TENSE AND INVOLVING
Stephen Baldwin redeems himself for his lackluster performance in MR. MURDER in this tense, and involving crime thriller. Baldwin plays a cop who has recently lost his son in a tragic accident; his wife (Shawn Huff) is having extreme difficulty in dealing with her guilt and loss. Baldwin plays it stoic, but he too is harboring the pain. When returning to his work, he and his partner (Rob Knepper) are called in on a case involving the hammering deaths of several people, all seemingly not connected. Baldwin, however, believes the culprit is a grown up who wants to revisit his childhood but going to all the places he or she lived. It's a tense, complex plot and well acted. Tyne Daly does her usual good turn as a psychiatrist, and the identity of the culprit is surprising.
Well done and very engrossing.

Hammers: Not just for nails
Absence of the Good is an above average movie in the serial killer genre that has a fairly clever script, good acting, and a strong lead (Stephen Baldwin).

The story centers around Detective Caleb Barnes (Stephen Baldwin) and his struggle to find a serial killer while trying to deal with the untimely death of his son. As the body count begins to climb Barnes finds himself trying to help his wife heal while remaining focused on the case. What follows is a well executed police drama with plenty of action and suspense throughout.

I wasn't sure if this movie was going to be any good when I rented it. I decided to take a chance and was pleasantly surprised. It kept me guessing and had a twist ending that a couch detective like myself had fun solving. I recommend this film.

Spectacular
Absence of the Good is definitely a thriller. If you like movies that keep you on the edge of your seat. While keeping you in suspense then you will love this one! The plot was wonderfully done, and you will never guess who the killer is and will leave you saying WOW! ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Acting? Hell, No. Action? Hell, Yeah!
First of all, this movie is not getting five stars for its acting, its plot, its writing or its cinematography. Those basically don't exist. This film is about action, not acting, though some of the cast occasionally slips up and really does act, especially people like William Forsythe and Jerry Orbach, who apparently can't entirely help themselves. "Out For Justice" is a Steven Seagal vanity piece, plain and simple, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. In that sense, it succeeds in its purpose admirably well.

Seagal portrays yet another hero sporting a ponytail to hide his emerging bald spot. His traditional squinty-eyed grimace is used at all appropriate times, namely whenever he's trying to convey emotion, whether it be outrage, anger, sorrow, affection or desire. It's great how the viewer is left constantly guessing as to how poor Steven feels; it's highly doubtful that even he knows, so how can he be expected to show it to others? Acting is not this guy's forte, and it really shows when he's in a scene with real talent like Orbach or Forsythe. Those poor actors just don't know how to roll over and play dead so Steven can really shine. Not to worry, though, because it's in the fight scenes where Seagal gets to flex his muscles---on his body, not his face---and there's nobody who can kick tail quite the way he does.

There's no sense describing the plot, which is as flimsy as wet toilet tissue, but there's plenty of mayhem for those who like their action movies hot, bloody and raw. The film bogs down whenever Steven's character tries to make nice, such as in the scenes where he's chatting with a puppy. Fortunately, such interludes are few and far between, and do little to distract from the main point of this movie, which is to show off Seagal's creative use of expletives, martial arts and found objects like pool cues and meat cleavers. No, this is definitely not a chick flick or an intellectual exercise designed to make the viewer think; what it is, is action, designed for the testosterone crowd. Go into it with very low expectations of it being anything other than an adrenaline rush and you'll be fine. A good movie to watch with beer and chips---just don't look for it to be anything remotely like "Under Siege" and there'll be little disappointment.

a power house. pure adrenaline.
FIRST HE WAS ABOVE THE LAW. THEN HE WAS HARD TO KILL. THEN HE WAS MARKED FOR DEATH. NOW STEVEN SEAGAL IS OUT FOR JUSTICE. HE IS A COP. IT'S A DIRTY JOB. BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE. AND STEVE DOES. HE HAS TO TRY TO STOP A MADMAN WILLIAM FORSYTHE BEFORE IT IS TO LATE. VERY GOOD ACTION SCENES AND SEAGALS MOST GRAPHIC MOVIE. RATED R FOR STRONG VIOLENCE,STRONG LANGUAGE,AND BRIEF NUDITY.

ANOTHER ONE OF SEAGAL'S FILMS FROM THE GOOD OL DAYS
A BROOKLYN COP [SEAGAL] GOES AFTER THE MURDERER OF HIS PARTNER. HAS PLENTY OF GOOD ACTION TO SPARE AND IT HAS A VERY GOOD VILLAIN, WHO'S PLAYED BY WILLIAM FORSYTHE. THIS IS ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW GOOD STEVEN SEAGAL'S MOVIES REALLY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS OF HIS CAREER. SEAGAL FANS SHOULD DEFINITELY TRY TO GO OUT AND BUY THIS ONE. THIS IS REALLY WORTH OWNING.

Gino on a mission!!
This movie is definately action packed with it's share of violence. Steven Seagal is wonderful as a "Brooklin born" cop willing to go the extra mile to catch a killer. This movie is well written because it shows the viewers that even policemen have difficult jobs going after bad criminals, even if it is a friend. I thought that this movie was one of Steven Seagal's best!I would encourage any fan of his to definately add it to your collection!

That's for Bobby!
I find it appropriate to review this, one of Seagal's best films and a classic in the genre. His career now a shell of its former self, Seagal proves with 'OFJ' that he used to deliver the goods.

I used to think there wasn't much to making a good Seagal film. How hard can it be? But his recent efforts, which have gone straight to DVD, prove that some talent is required to make a satisfying rogue-cop-on-a-mission flick.

Seagal plays Brooklyn cop Gino Felino (I'm not kidding) whose partner is blown away on the streets (18th Avenue, we're told over and over) by the crack-smoking lunatic Richie, played with aplomb by William Forsythe. Using his acute knowledge of 'the neighborhood', Gino sets off on revenge, killing several dozen people before the suitably ultraviolent finale.

The film has many things going for it. Firstly, Seagal attempts a Brooklyn accent and an overall Brookln persona which is priceless to watch. Second, the violence is top notch. It starts off strong with a pimp being put through a windshield after insulting Gino's Italian-American heritage. The violence then escalates as Gino uses tried-and-true methods of interrogation such as the old cue-ball in the bar towel, shots to the family jewels, the snapping of wrists, and good old fashioned Smith and Wesson. Thirdly, William Forsythe is amazing as Richie, proving that he will throw himself into a role totally and completely. His fat man waddle, crazy crooked mustache, and berserker behavior make him a great villain. Think about it--Seagal versus a fat character actor doesn't sound like much, right? But Forsythe is game and makes the film fun to watch.

What else? The film is totally foul-mouthed, full of off color humor and a message that is morally dubious at best.

OFJ also has a crop of familiar faces. Jerry Orbach, plays ::gasp:: a cop. Gina Gershon appears as Richie's sister. John Leguizamo appears in a two second bit during a cheesy montage sequence. Julianna Margulies plays one of Richie's hook-ups. B-movie babe Shannon Whirry appears in a revealing outfit.

Highly recommended to the action fan. Required viewing if you hail from Brooklyn. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Roller coaster ride of bad acting mixed with so so fights
Seagal, to begin with, never could act his way out of a paper bag. This video is a prime example.(All aspiring actors take note..Make sure your accent (assigned or otherwise) has a semblence of authenticity for the part.) The action scenes were pretty good but, as with most of segals films, poorly filmed. It's my opinion that given Seagal's style of martial arts a different choice of camera angles might help. It's not a bad movie to rent if you've got a couple of cold ones to drink and a couple of hours to put your brain in neutral... ... Read more