Denzel/Dakota are standouts

Rating: 9/10 (18 August 2005)

'Man on Fire' is a wonderfully crafted movie, with brilliant performances, exciting set pieces, crowd-pleasing scenes, and even some Christian symbolism. Denzel plays a close-to-washed-up 'agent' of some sort who is hired as a bodyguard to Dakota Fanning (in yet another brilliant performance in her short career). Once acquainted with her, they form a bond that is quite affecting.
The movie deals with the kidnapping prevalent in Mexico in recent days, and the actions that well-to-do families must take to ensure the safety of their children. Denzel forms a relationship with Dakota, and when the dreaded occurrence happens (as anyone who's seen the ads knows), he goes on a rampage, oblivious to any consequences.
The acting by the two is flawless. Although I'm not Spanish speaking, I'm told by those who are that Dakota sounded exactly like one who had been raised there, and that Denzel spoke just like a gringo who just might make a mistake or two as he spoke it; regardless, to me they both seemed authentic speaking the language. And they both turned out excellent and believable performances in either language.
I thought the movie was one of the best I had seen that year, and rated it an 'A' initially (in my own little rating system). On reflection, there were however some incongruities. For one, Denzel's wardrobe supply was baffling  for a small suitcase, he seemed to have a lot of changes; the violence Denzel engages in is over the top  killing one person even after he has gotten the information he needs, and of course the explosive he plants in another; the ease in which he goes from place to place in Mexico City; and of course the somewhat puzzling subtitles of a word here and there. It's also almost amusing to see how this washed up former agent returns to being a 'super soldier' when forced to hunt down these criminals. But overall, the movie was very entertaining if you can get past some of the graphic violence. For all that, I would still rate it a 9 here simply for entertainment value and for the way in which Tony Scott directed.