Firy Revenge Thriller

Rating: Null/10 (16 January 2009)

'Man On Fire' starts off as a bodyguard-protecting-a-girl thriller and then in the second hour it switches to a revenge thriller. What really stands out is the technical advancement with which Scott directs his film. Though the plot is by no means perfect (due to derailing, plot holes and far-fetched twists) Scott gets the viewer to just roll along mostly because of the hi-tech camera-work and editing. Also the viewer gets to care for the main character Creasy. Even though his fate and actions are predictable, the viewer is interested in how he goes about it. The flashback scenes within the scenes are well crafted. Visually it is impressive as it reflects the unsympathetic Mexican city and the coldness of the heat. Also Scott uses washed out colours and gives it a yellowy tint to give the violence and tense scenes a stronger effect. Denzel Washington pulls off action brilliantly. At first I was a bit skeptical about watching a movie where he plays a bodyguard but he surprised me. Dakota Fanning is good when she acts like a child but irritating when acting like an adult. Marc Anthony and Mickey Rourke are adequate. Christopher Walken is wasted. Sensual Radha Mitchell definitely looks the part of a hot siren mom. The film is more than two hours long but in the DVD there are a few deleted scenes that give extra insight and more depth to the story. There is an alternative ending but I preferred the one Scott retained in the original movie, which wasn't loud or overdone (as would be expected in Hollywood blockbusters).