|
Burnt-out
ex-CIA operative John Creasy has lost faith in humanity and
is set on a path of self destruction, until he is hired to
protect the young daughter of a wealthy family in Mexico City.
But, when the little girl is kidnapped, Creasy unleashes a
firestorm of relentless vengeance against those responsible...
The
first hour of Man on Fire sets up the story at a steady
pace. Then, just when you think you've got everything worked
out, director Tony Scott pulls the rug out from under you.
The
movie starts off with with Creasy (Denzel Washington at his
best) being helped back on his feet by an old friend (played
wonderfully by Christopher
Walken). Creasy has a drinking problem but is still hired
as a bodyguard for a wealthy family in Mexico City. The family
has one young girl called Pita (Dakota
Fanning).
Pita
tries to befriend Creasy, but he has no interest in making
friends with a young girl. And it was at this point that I
thought that the movie was going to be all about how Pita
wins Creasy around, and brings him out of his despair. But,
the second half of the movie takes a harder edge as Pita is
kidnapped and the ransom drop is bungled. The kidnappers don't
get all their money and so tell Pita's parents they have no
option but to kill her.
The
rest of the movie sees Creasy tracking the clues back to the
head of the kidnappers in an attempt to avenge Pita's death.
But, as Creasy gets deeper into the organisation he is surprised
buy what he finds.
What's
really different about this movie is that fact that Washington's
character shifts from self-destructive to sorting his life
out thanks to Pita. And then, after Pita's kidnapping, shows
his true colours. Creasy is not someone to be messed with.
He will do anything, and does, to get results. The numerous
ways he dispatches his enemies are brutal yet, in places,
comical (he kills one by inserting an explosive up his anus).
And he fails to show any mercy.
Creasy
is believable because of this. There's no: "Okay. You've
told me what I need to know. Now, off you go and don't go
kidnapping any more kids, now." He's like a surgeon cutting
out society's cancer.
If
there is anything to complain about, it's the fact that it
takes an hour to get the Pita and Creasy bonding across (as
well as other bits of back story) and in truth at least 15
minutes could have been shaved off.
Extras
on the single disc edition include an audio commentary by
the director and over 30 minutes of deleted scenes, with optional
commentary by the director.
On
the two-disc release (we only received the single edition
for review) you get a 72 minute documentary, multi-angle sequence,
TV spots, music video and storyboards. Personally the extra
money hardly seems worth it.
Man
on Fire is a powerful drama which doesn't disappoint.
Nick
Smithson
Buy
this item online
We
compare prices online so you get the cheapest
deal!
Click on the logo of the desired store below
to purchase this item.
|
|
|
£10.99
(Amazon.co.uk)
Single disc edition |
| |
|
|
|
£14.99
(Amazon.co.uk)
Double disc edition |
| |
|
|
|
£13.49
(MVC.co.uk)
Single disc edition |
| |
|
|
|
£19.99
(MVC.co.uk)
Double disc edition |
| |
|
|
|
£11.49
(Powerplaydirect.com)
Single
disc edition |
| |
|
|
|
£15.79
(Powerplaydirect.com)
Double
disc edition |
All prices correct at time of going to press.
|
|
