"Man on Fire" is long but exciting.

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2004)

"Man of Fire" is a long film, yet it maintains the the audience in suspense till the end. Creasy (Denzel Washington) is an international assassin who is hired by a Mexican CEO to protect the daughter, Pita (Dakota Fanning) from the Mexican kidnappers who are rampant in that country. Dakota is a naive young girl who trusts everyone. She plays well and endears the audience for more. Denzel is his usual intense self with another outstanding performance in a difficult role. Pita's mother, (Rafha Mitchell) is also well played and her emotions are worn on her sleeve throughout the film. Christopher Walken plays Creasy's old friend who attracts him to Mexico to obtain employment from Pita's father. There is intrigue, and violence. The cinematography is at times television in quality, but this technique is useful during some of the more hectic scenes.
"Man on Fire" is worth an afternoon at the movies.