Hard but excellent

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2009)

This is a startlingly good revenge movie.
Washington's burnt-out bodyguard is given plenty of time to establish where he is starting from as Dakota Fanning's Pita, his young charge, begins to work some healing magic on him. The fact that this relationship takes nearly the first half of the film to build, and doesn't simply happen, makes it the more realistic. Therefore, when the inevitable kidnapping takes place and the ransom delivery is bungled with horrible consequences, Washington's icy and implacable (and almost stately) march of revenge is completely understandable - this is personal.
All the cast are quite excellent, but it's good to see a streak of mercilessness cutting through Washington's normal civilised facade.
I had it in mind that a particular individual was involved from fairly early on, and wasn't too surprised when it came out. And I had a horrible feeling that Hollywood was going to do its usual copping out towards the end which, sure as shooting, it did. The ending was good, but the alternate on the DVD was better.
Highly recommended although beware the violence factor.