Great blend of old vintage wines in a brand new bottle.

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2007)

I was waiting to see this movie in the theaters but unfortunately I was unable to, thus when I saw the shiny new DVD in the Just Arrived section I new I had to see this movie. The comparisons Tarantino and the like immediately got me thinking though, Im no fan of Tarantino but I've seen enough of his movies to know that even though he trys to do something different every time his movies are actually quite predicable, further comparisons to other great movies had me convinced that this movie is not as brilliant as it seems but is in fact blend of many vintage wines (or malts) and such efforts are usually quite futile, yet I was hooked so I lowered my expectations and rented the movie.
The movie starts of brilliantly but when the first sequence is over you already know that this is a significant part of the movie (as the filmmakers makers want you to know), however even the less die-hard movie goers will easily be able to predict the final outcome of the movie, and have a very good idea about the flow of the movie just based on this sequence, I'm sure the filmmakers didn't take that into account while making the movie.
The movie has Tarantino-ish flow about it, in fact most of the elements are inspired from other brilliant films:-
1)The warring gang bosses are as old as the hills.
2)Playing them against each other is just as old (spagetti westerns).
3)Bruce Willis is a cool assassin (need i say more).
4)A movie that starts with one event and culminates into another.
Sound familiar these concepts are just some of the concepts that have been used in this movie and have been the premise of many super-hit/ cult favourites etc etc of our times.
Like I said such mixing of vintages has generally resulted in disaster (AVP) but in this case surprisingly the end result is actually quite pleasing in fact the movie borders on brilliant for the most part, HOWEVER PREDICTABILITY ENSURES THAT THIS MOVIE EASILY FALLS SHORT OF BRILLIANT, and Hollywood's obsession of love to has a strong part to play in this department.
The acting is brilliant all around, the effort to be cool in every scene which is the greatest acting flaw in many such movies (Samuel L Jackson prime candidate in many of his latest movies) is not noticed here.
It has however become annoying to Bruce Willis in the same cool and silent role, I don't think id want to see him in a similar role again.
The cinematography and editing is again top notch and matches up to many other brilliant works.
The background score is hardly felt and hardly needed.
On all technical aspects this movie is nearly flawless ( initially i wasn't to happy with the casting of Lucy Lu but I've changed my mind since).
There are a couple of minor plot holes but these are insignificant.
There is a constant feeling of humour in this film, much like the Protagonist's are experiencing despite the graveness of the situation (this is something i always identify with and enjoy so i may be biased).
In the end you cant help feeling that even though you enjoyed the blend (movie) there were really nothing new about it, all the flavours were known to you, you knew what to expect, and the after taste (climax) which is what this movie is all about is almost lost because you are so familiar with it.
This is a rare case of a great blend (Black Label?) and for that it will be cherished.
A must watch if you are a fan of Tarantino, Westerns, Crime, Bruce Willis or any other concept or actor involved with this film.
+s a rare great blend, flawless technically, superb acting, good humour.
+/s great blend but blend nevertheless, does the effort show (i don't think so).
-s predictable, never really hits you, why does it always have to involve love.
total 8/10 (in absolute terms its more like a 7/7.5 but really I expected less plus I always enjoy humour in grave situations hence the higher rating)