00s Movie Review - Man on Fire

Director: Tony Scott  
Genre: Actie/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke

Description: In Mexico City, a former CIA operative  (Denzel Washington) swears vengeance on those who committed and unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.

Review: “Man on Fire” is an intense, stylish action film directed by Tony Scott. It’s one of my favorite films starring Denzel Washington. He plays a traumatized bodyguard who seeks revenge in Mexico City after the kidnapping the young Pita, daughter of the family he has to protect.

My favorite thing about the film is the emotional bond Washington’s John Creasy forms with Pita. When Pita is taken, that makes Creasy’s quest for revenge even more intense. The film has a grim and gritty atmosphere.

Denzel Washington, but also his young counterpart Dakota Fannings are both very strong. The visual style is typical for Tony Scott. It fits the film. The film has a very quiet, emotional build-up and  has a violent, action-packed second half. The film is a tad too long with its 2,5 hours, but “Man on Fire” is a great piece of cinema.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 138: The Crazies

Director: Breck Eisner

Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Drama/ Action

Runtime: 101 minutes

Year: 2010

Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson, Danielle Panabaker, Christie Lynn Smith, Brett Rickaby, Preston Bailey, John Aylward, Joe Reegan, Glenn Morshower, Larry Cedar, Gregory Sporleder, Mike Hickman, Lisa K. Wyatt, Justin Welborn

Description: About the inhabitants of a small Iowa town suddenly plagued by insanity and then death after a mysterious toxin contaminates their water supply.

Review: “The Crazies” is a remake of the 1973 movie directed by George A. Romero. Breck Eisner directs this remake about a little town in the American Midwest. We follow sheriff Dutton, his wife Judy and deputy Russell. From the start of the movie we learn something is wrong in the town, where a seemingly drunk citizen walks on to a baseball field with a loaded gun. Sheriff Dutton feels obligated to shoot the man. After autopsy it appears the man didn’t drink any alcohol at all. Next, more people start acting strange and violent.

The movie is free from any social commentary or any intelligent message. It does have many horror clichés and total chaos. people can't be trusted, deadly ‘zombies’ walking around everywhere were we can see them but the protagonists can’t, dark rooms and jump scares where you actually expect them. It’s something we have seen one too many times and you stop caring for the characters. The movie doesn’t have a solid base.

“The Crazies” is easily forgettable, fun for one time.

Rating: 2/ 5