Lighten Up

Rating: 7/10 (3 January 2006)

Great movie. I have never seen the previous movie, or read the book, but as a stand alone work, I enjoyed this movie. I don't question why Denzel died in the end. It only makes sense for his character (wearing the patron saint of lost causes says it all). This man sought forgiveness for what he did, he can't find it in a bottle, he can't find it in a bible, but he finds it in the innocence of a little girl. When that is taken from him, it's the final straw. The only thing he saw as good was destroyed, and he sought revenge, and cared little if he lived or died. Once he found out the girl was alive it was too late for him, he did what he was supposed to do, save the girl and in doing so, found his own redemption. This movie would have been horrible if he lived. Just had to be.