Reviews

There's no question about it, at least not from my point of view, Hard Target is the best over the top, mad plot action hero flick ever. A close second I would place Die Hard 1 or 2 ( either one ) and Steven Segal's Under Siege would take the bronze in my book. Anyhow, going back to John Woo's masterpiece, I know that from a critic's perspective Hard Target falls short in most of the categories by which a cinematic masterpiece is analysed: the plot has as many holes as the lunar surface, the characters are weak to say the least and there's no real conclusion to this hole gun duel festival. That being said, I cannot give enough praise to a masterpiece that's rather shaded today. John Woo is a genius, and you can see it here also, it's not just the Matrix style bullet dodging, he knew how to use all the potential in the background story: hobos, broken-down veterans, pimps, gangsters, cemeteries and other southern influences which give that romantic feeling and set a perfect world where the hero can steal the show. It's pure edge-of-your seat blockbuster movie. By the way, I'm not as big a Van Damme fan as I used to be when I was a kid, I can see his limitations as an actor almost in his every film, but here, as a french speaker ( his belgian heritage was perfect ) with curls and a rather artistic wardrobe he was awesome (you kinda' get tired of watching his muscles work every second on screen). The villains were also epic in their perticular performances, I have always liked Lance Henriksen. In conclusion, with great sorrow, I'd like to say that they don't make them like they used to, you woun't see this kind of cinema work in our days very often.

Like many of you, I sometimes grow tired of the same type of jokes found in Hollywood comedies that rely mostly on pop culture references or force-inducted "awkward type" situations. Sure it's funny, but after two decades or so of the same comedic styles I should want something more for the wits. And then the French come to the rescue: I shall not ruin your surprise, but if you are a fan of comedies or at least a film buff that appreciates quality in directing and acting, you will absolutely adore The Closed. The biggest feat accomplished here is taking a subject trivial to some and almost perverse to others ( depending on the degree of one's "social stiffness" ) as the story of a condom factory employee, and making it extremely funny without resorting to low brow sexual or toilet humor. Upon watching this you will immediately remember of such classics as Louis de Funès's masterpieces or the 7eme Companie series. A straight-from-the-heart 9 from me, excellent! Also, give Tais Toi a try, it's a production in the same manner, with a great cast and also very original, it will not disappoint.

When I first read the synopsis to this film I thought I'd get to see an older, more experienced Vigellante type of character that old Charlie has used his audience with.

Actually this film is not even close to the Death Wish series, not even with the last two, which were quite mediocre, if not bad. In some ways Murphy's Law reminds me of Stallone's Cobra: over the top attitude, cheesy dialogs and colorful language, the whole B+ action film recipe.

Don't be discouraged though, give Murphy a chance and watch the film, it can be fun. I did just that, at least for Bronson's sake, if not for the production it's self, we all know that Le Monstre Sacre's filmography is actually cinema history. I give it a 5/10, it is a watchable action flick, especially on those nights when you just have nothing else better to do.

I couldn't call it the best of the best, probably because I'm such a big movie buff that I don't dare name a best film 'till I've seen them all. Now, to answer a qouestion I know many of you are asking in your own thoughts without daring to pronounce the actual words: Is this piece of cinematic art better than The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly? I personally think it's pretty darned close if they're not actually equal. Everything is here, the tension, the soundtrack, the epic story and the contrasting characters, and what separates this brilliant western from good and average ones, as Sergio Leone knows, is the mystical element that tends to make its self known quite often. In my personal opinion, a great western ( and I am a huge fan of the perticular jenre ) is not just about robbing trains, or cowboys versus indians, you have to feel a world is about to die, and watching this movie I have felt just that. Of course, much of the credit must also go to the cast, and I think everyone was at their best in the roles they were given. I will just mention Charles Bronson because he is in fact the main character and also because I began collecting and enjoying his whole work on the silver screen. Overall a 9 out of 10 in my book.