Ablaze with action

Rating: 9/10 (29 September 2005)

Denzel Washington as Creasy is a hard-drinking world weary ex-CIA operative who takes the job of being the bodyguard of the nine year old daughter of a wealthy industrialist in Mexico, at the behest of friend and former college Rayburn (Christopher Walkin). Bit by bit, the daughter, Pita (Dakota Fanning) chips away at Creasy's hard exterior, which makes him take her eventual abduction all the more harder. And Creasy, now horribly wounded from the scenario, pledges to take down anyone even remotely involved in the kidnapping with methodical brutality that would make the recent "Punisher" movie wince. (the sequel to that should take lessons from this) All around, a tightly plotted, exciting, edge of your seat revenge film. I loved it, after the initial 59 minute set up, it's a glorious trip back to '80's style pulp cinema.
My Grade: A
2-disc All Acess Collecter's Edition Extras: Disc 1) Commentary by Tony Scott; Second Commentary with Producer Lucas Foster, Screenwriter Brian Helgeland, & Actress Dakota Fanning; and a Fox Compilation trailer that can't be skipped (GRRR)
Disc 2) Vengeance is Mine: Reinventing Man on Fire 72 & a half minute documentary; Script excerpts, Storyboards, and multi-angle breakdown with optional commentary centered on Pita's Abduction; 15 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary (including an alternate ending); Photo Gallery; Kinky "Oye Como Va" Music Video; 4 TV Spots; 3 theatrical trailers; and trailers for "Antwone Fisher", "Entrapment", "Men of Honor", & "The Transporter"