Better on second viewing

Rating: 7/10 (2 August 2009)

When I first watched this film it left a nasty taste in my mouth however I gave it a second chance and found myself enjoying it far more than the first time. The acting can't really be faulted, especially that of Denzel Washington John Creasy as the alcoholic, suicidal ex-CIA officer and Dakota Fanning as Pita, the young girl he is employed to protect.
Some people might think the opening hour is too slow however I thought it was the strongest part of the film as it shows the burgeoning friendship between Creasy and Pita so by the time she is kidnapped the viewer will care about her character and understand why Creasy is taking it so personally. While the first hour is all about setting up the story and character development the remainder of the film is almost non-stop action as Creasy works his way through everybody involved in Pita's abduction and the corrupt police officers who ambushed the ransom drop.
Some of scenes where Creasy tortures those involved for information about those higher up the organisation are fairly gruelling and I can understand some viewers feeling uncomfortable seeing such methods employed by a character we were supposed to identify with. Unfortunately the film is edited in a fairly jarring way with rather too much frantic camera movements, subtitles to words spoken in English and cuts every second or two in action scenes.