Loved and loathed (Exit Wounds (DVD))

Member Name: Welshlad

Product:	Exit Wounds (DVD)
Date:	09/10/01 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good action film

Disadvantages: Has many drawbacks

Exit Wounds
http://www.exitwounds.net


In the latest release from the Warner Brothers studio comes the return to the big time for many peoples most un-favoured action hero wannabee Steven Segal. Largely criticised for his inability to act and the continual adoption of one like role throughout all his films, his critics consistently rip apart any work he does. However, those of us that quite like his films would argue that sticking to what you know best is no bad thing.

When the producer of The Matrix makes an action film, people expect great things and are more than ready to jump on the Anti-Joel Silver bandwagon. This is exactly what many people who disliked this movie did (and there were enough of them), slating it from start to finish for almost every aspect of the movie. While I can respect peoples decisions not to like a film (god knows I have disliked enough so called classics in my time...i.e American Beauty) I have to wonder on the odd occasion if they actually watched the film, what they expected to get from it, and what they thought a film of this genre would deliver. I say this, because if you take Exit Wounds off the rental shelves this weekend, and expect an intelligent, thought-provoking and deeply strung out movie, then you deserver all the disappointment you get, and if you rarely take enjoyment out of 'no-brainer' action flicks (which is exactly what this is by the way) then look away from your screens now, 'cos your about to read a review of one, from one that likes them big style!

Directed by Andrezej Bartkowiak and jointly produced by The Matrix' Joel Silver & Dan Cracchiolo, Exit Wounds pairs returning actor Steven Segal with big name USA Rapper DMX as an unlikely pairing in the fight against crime. Now immediately, this film has a drawback that simply reading the rear of the case, watching the trailer or even reading anything about this film will disclose. I am assuming that the 'unlikely p
airing' of Segal and DMX was meant to be the major element of surprise in the film (although I admit it was wholly predictable and given totally away before the film disclosed it), and while I wont spoil this part the film by telling you who they play, if you know DMX as a rapper, then as son as he hits the screen, the game is given away!

The story behind the film is that fifty kilos of Heroin has been stolen from the vaults at the Detroit police department, supposedly one of the toughest joints to crack, so suspicions are that it is an inside job. With a loot of value nearly $5,000,000 the race is on to find who stole the drugs and bring them to justice.
When mischievous cop Orin Boyd gets sent to Detroit as punishment for saving the presidents life (yeah, figure that one out!!!!) he gets entangled in this mystery, and the mischievous element inside him forces him to get more deeply involved in order to solve the case.

What follows is a joint attempt to uncover the conspiracies, corruption and mystery behind the Detroit PD, expose those who are in on the deal and save face for the whole state. Not knowing who can and cannot be trusted is just one element facing Boyd, who is forced to attend Anger Management classes resulting in a very humorous tangle with some car thieves, a table/chair unit and the realisation that his miserable outlook is indeed 'one happy face'.

Exit Wounds is an action film in every sense of the word. Admittedly is has its odd moments of inspiration where the director and producers tried to lighten the pace for a bit by introducing a touch of comedy, although these are very much in the minority, it has all the big bangs, explosions and fight scenes that will have us action junkies sitting up and taking note.
Having to produce a bit of Wire-Fu (Hong Kong movie fans will know what I am on about here), Kung -Fu and several other martial arts for the first time, Segal defies his seeming overly-large fr
ame to produce a very good performance as Boyd, kicking ass along the way to justice. Working with a very professional cast, all of whom do well (including big screen debutant DMX) the film simply worked for me and gave me a movie I VERY much enjoyed.

OK, so there are a few cracks in the plot, and one or two things that don't add up, but then again, find me a film coming out of Hollywood in the last few years without a shaky plot. What the film does do is deliver another good typical Segal film, and in the extras on the DVD (out now btw) it mentions that this film was well suited to a Segal type main actor - and it shows. If you liked Steven Segal in the likes of Under Siege and the sequel, then you will very much like this. Closely along the same lines, the film was an enjoyable hour and a half, and a film I would recommend.

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