A Conflagration of Ideas

Rating: Null/10 (21 November 2004)

First, you have to be ready to experience the revenge theme genre. I would not have watched the film cast with Bruce Willis (oh, maybe) or Stallone or Van Deisel or Van Damme or the California Governor. Denzel Washington can carry the hopelessness and despair of Creasy much better than those others. Also, the absence of a back story did not plague me. It seemed enough to know something of his history to understand the depths of his suicidal despair. Was it trite?...I suppose..the down and out pure professional...."First Blood" carries this idea of the authorities taking on much more than they are prepared for.....and Denzel would have done better in that film, too...Plot techniques (the unexpended cartridge; the patron of lost souls medal; Creasy bear, the firing of the starter pistol, etc.) all worked well. These did not feel too contrived. And when the revenge came it was swift...much of the investigative detritus was swept away.....yes, it was violent....revenge films often are I think...yes it was extreme...and the story demanded it....OK, would the father have calmly taken the bullet and put it through his temple...possibly...but most important...just what the professional critics deplored, the jump cuts, the transition from slow motion to regular speed, the carousel with the camera during the kidnapping...this all made me feel (even on a small screen) as though I were being twirled around by events and I liked that...the sound score was great as well....good revenge flick. After all we all get some juice from them, do we not...