Oh yes, of course this movie is ridicules and in a way also a bad one. But it's simply true that movies such like this one are simply fun to watch.

The movie simply serves its purpose, you could say. It's just being a dumb action flick, in the vein of the '80's genre movies, that uses a simple and straightforward concept and features plenty of action in it.

The fact that this movie so often picks a simple and straightforward approach also ensures that it's being filled with some incredibly dumb moments. But it really is not annoyingly dumb but more dumb and simplistic in a fun and innocent kind of way. This is certainly a movie you could sit down for and simply have a good time with, without having to worry too much about the story or all of the different character's motivations.

It's a revenge flick. as plain and simple as that. Not a spectacular and original one in any way but then again, it also most certainly is not as bad as some other generic and predictable genre movies out there. At least this movie still has plenty to offer, entertainment-wise.

It has some pretty hard action in at times, which is always neat to see for an action genre lover. It's not like there's an awful lot of blood in this but a lot of gruesome stuff gets implied, which does work out effective for this particular movie. It's not something I normally like in an action movie. I mean, don't just imply! You should either show and do stuff or you shouldn't do it at all. But yes, it still does work out well for this movie, since it all got done in a convincing way, with the occasional gruesome sound-effect of a limb that gets broken. All of course done by non other than Steven Seagal himself!

Luckily this is not really a movie or type of role that requires Steven Seagal to do an awful lot of acting in it. He mostly relies on just his natural charisma and fighting skills for this movie and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as the movie benefits from all of this, as it does in this case. I'm most definitely not a Seagal fan but I really did like him in this particular movie and it's definitely true that without him this probably would had been one awful genre flick!

Of course there is nothing too brilliant or original about this movie but it most certainly is a decent watch!

6/10

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(Review originally written at 16 July 2006)

The movie starts well and promising. Initionally the movie seems like a cool, simple, typical '80's action flick, with some well known actors in it. However as the movie progresses the pace is gone and the movie gets filled with underdeveloped plot lines and characters. Luckily the movie re-finds its pace toward the ending, which helps to make this movie still a watchable and good one, for the genre-fans.

I think that the main problem with this movie is that its too short. Because of this nothing in the movie really fully gets developed, such as Sylvester Stallone's character's relationship with his ex-wife or who exactly was Peter Hartman, who seemed like a good and interesting enough character but unfortunately was highly underused and developed in the movie. He walked around without a real purpose despite the fact that he could had been a so much more relevant and interesting character for the movie and its story. Also they could had made the whole hunt of DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) on Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer) so much more exciting, tense and spectacular. An hunter who hunts a hunter. Instead now their hate toward each other feels unfounded and perhaps even silly and unlikely at certain moments.

Yet the tree main characters of the movie are still quite good. The two cops played by Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams form a nice and credible duo and Rutger Hauer perfectly plays a villainous cold-hearted terrorist. Hollywood needs more villain actors like him, it would make so many movies so much better. Its definitely true that the presence of this tree fine actors uplift the movie and help to make this a still slightly above average one.

The whole plot line of a ruthless, professional terrorist causing mayhem in New York is quite original (at least for its period) and works refreshing and help to make this movie quite an original action-flick, although his motivations still remain a bit in the dark and shaky to find it all credible enough.

But of course the movie works well enough as mindless entertainment, though it perhaps could had used some more and bigger action sequences.

The movie has '80's written all over it. Movies from the '80's don't have the greatest visual style and also mostly always have some horrible '80's music. This movie is unfortunately no exception on this all.

All in all its not a bad action flick and it will most likely please the genre-fans, also thanks to the presence of '80's action icon Sylverst Stallone and villain expert actor Rutger Hauer.

6/10

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