2002 version lacks moral dilemma

Rating: Null/10 (7 June 2002)

I feel that the 2002 version was slightly sugarcoated for Al Pacino to be a character who was basically a good cop - no matter what the backstory was - he was a good cop. What the remake missed even though it borrowed so heavily from the 1997 original, was the moral dilemma. In 1997, Stellan Skarsgaard was a cop - but wasn't a good person - the anger you felt towards him in the original is what gave the movie it's bite. The main character was not someone to root for - it was fascinating to see him cut deals with the enemy to get them both out of trouble. Of course, Hollywood and Warner Bros. had to change this - I feel - a poor choice. The original - minus all the production value of the remake - is still a better, more interesting film. The 2002, is just an OK thriller with a pretty standard ending. Standard Hollywood Operating Procedure at its best.