Movie on fire! seen it

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2004)

I was able to catch a screening of the film Man on Fire, and I must say I was surprised at how entertaining this film actually was. As one can see there is no shortage of revenge films at the theaters in the last few weeks and this one stands out.
The film deals with a highly troubled ex soldier who reluctantly takes a job as a bodyguard for a young girl in Mexico. The emotionally detached Creasy soon becomes a "father figure" to the young girl as she restores his faith in life and renews his purpose. When she is kidnapped Creasy goes on a revenge spree leaving a trail of bodies up to the culprits who took her.
Man on Fire is brilliantly directed by Tony Scott, who combines strong visuals with a lot of humanity. There is very little action for the first part of the film as it mostly focuses on the relationship between the two principles. However when Creasy begins "his masterpiece" you won't leave un satisfied. The audience cheered when Creasy returns to the life he left and the techniques he despises in order to return the only thing that truly matters to him. What makes this film so entertaining is how straight forward and linear it is told. There is no time wasted on meaningless sub plots and Creasy questioning himself or techniques. It's a revenge film and it delivers on all fronts. Denzel is at the top of his game particularly in a sequence in which his character decides to give life a second chance which serves as the catalyst for the rest of the film.
The violence is quite graphic in a few parts, (the first villain who dies, doesn't get it too easy) although it is only quickly shown or cut away from and is not be labored or done senselessly. Creasy only kills the true dirt and no one else. He is a skilled assassin and does not enjoy killing, therefore the only people who die are the ones who truly have it coming.

All in all if you like action films that try to inject some humanity behind the violence then Man on Fire should deliver. Also kudos to the person who edited this film. It is unique in it's visual style and consistent and original in many ways(ie the subtitles). Think Spy Game visuals. Check it out!