SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Moustroll Good movie but grossly overrated

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Christian Sloan When viewed in the correct context this low budget (est. $1.6mn) action film achieves it's objective in providing the audience with mindless entertainment whilst showcasing great martial arts sequences. Yes more of the budget could have been allocated towards enhancing the production value but ultimately this hits all the key notes of an 80's formula martial arts film......a simple story that creates the backdrop from which to thread together the escalating fight sequences which attract viewers to this genre. If you're looking for a serious action film in the frame of "Bourne Identity" or even "The Expendables" then this isn't for you........if however you're in the mood for cheap thrills and casual amusement then this could be a ride worth taking.Vinnie Jones continues to deliver his trademark edgy persona as Tony Schiena uses the platform to showcase his potential to grow into a genuine Action Star in the guise of Viggo Mortensen.

p-stepien As if stolen from the garbage can of an "Undisputed" scriptwriter, the movie tells a story of an undercover cop Danny (Tony Schiena) framed for drug smuggling, money laundering and murder. Put into prison with criminals he helped place in the slammer he is destined to confront dog-haters. In order to save himself from being back-stabbed under the shower Danny agrees to join up for underground prison cage fights organised by Anton Vargas (Vinnie Jones). The decision keeps him safe from harm. That it until the night of the fights to the death...Given how tragically unoriginal script all that the movie could offer was a good execution of the beat down script. However in order to pull this off you would need to arrange a cast and crew, which isn't borderline dull. Tony Schiena, even though he can pull off a tough-as-nails face, is absolutely appalling with his line delivery and lacks any acting range whatsoever apart from punching peoples guts out. Most of the supporting cast is equally dreadful with only Dave Fennoy, who very amiably plays Danny Irving's mentor, and Vinnie Jones (being his normal rat-faced self) pulling off a decent showing.The unoriginal script also does itself no favours with some absolutely gut-wrenching logic epitomised by a dreadful end-scene, where Gwen, an uncorrupted Internal Affairs officer, gleefully watches Danny give a stash of stolen cash to the family of a convict. Given the absolutely basic nature of the story the amount of plot holes galore is absolutely astounding.In a sheer attempt to overawe sensory receptors of the male audience in order to hide all the above deficiencies, the director overloads the movie with loud music (mostly in-your-face nu-metal or hip-hop), gratuitous sex scenes and some brutal fights. The fights themselves, which actually are key given the nature of the film, are decent enough, although they lack proper build-up and necessary drama to really involve. On top of that these sequences are woefully painful to watch from a cinematographic point of view due to the sheer amount of slow-motion shots.All in all: Not a good movie. Not even in its testosterone driven B-movie action category.

KJ Moodie At the start of the movie I wasn't expecting a top-notch film, but I hadn't been watching more than 6 minutes and got my first taste of stiff acting, which continues throughout the film. Some other reviewers wrote that the fight scenes weren't very good, but I found them generally entertaining, although they could have learned a thing or two from the film Never Back Down.Besides the acting and sheer predictability of the film, what really disappointed me was the prison-break attempt. It seemed like something added onto the script at the last minute.A large portion of the film was unpolished and haphazard, the acting of the lead was extremely poor, and was the biggest let down of the whole film. If there had been a believable lead character, I may have overlooked the other ridiculous characters, such as the Cage fighter, the female prison guard, and just about the entire rest of the cast.The concept of a police officer being framed by a mob boss that he locked up to be put into the same prison had some potential, but it was all wasted on horrible direction and a terrible cast.

Boloxxxi After a drug sting operation goes bad with the death of 2 cops and the accidental death of the dealer, the cop who pretended to be a buyer in the sting is arrested some time later at his home where a search turns up money and drugs in the mattress of his bed. It is insinuated that he deliberately killed the dealer and his ass is sent to a prison where a criminal he sent away years before is running a "cage fighting" operation in the basement (Well, where else they gonna hold it?). At some point in the course of his stay, it is impressed on him by said criminal that he has to participate in the fights and "no" was not an option.While this movie is a cliché of the genre (guy in prison fights to survive in illegal prison matches), it isn't unoriginality that necessarily spoils it because even original ideas can be executed badly. By the same token, old ideas can be done well. If you like clear, methodical, workman-like exchanges in your fight scenes you might not be happy with the "music video-editing-and-effects-type" of fighting employed here. Mind you, I think the music in this movie is good, and I like music videos --BUT-- this was a bit much. The whole film in retrospect seemed to me like one very long music video even though there were actually scenes without music. I wonder why?Further, because of the way certain things were thoughtlessly thrown into this movie it seems to me that the people who made it were being exploitive and were probably using a formula directed at the younger crowd: hard rock and rap, visual effects (lots of slow mo & fast mo), and a little T&A thrown into the mix for good measure. So. Music, ass-whippings, and ass. A formula for success, no? "Not necessarily" is what this movie proves.Instead of loud music, video editing and effects, the fight scenes should have been bare and workman-like; just 2 guys in a cage, mano a mano, showing their technique and the size of their balls with the only sound coming from their contacts and the crowd watching. This, by itself, with the same tired story-line would have been a great improvement. That said, the movie is not "worthless". It can provide "light entertainment" for the individual who just wants to kickback and not think too much. As well, if you can't get enough of music videos and don't mind your movie essentially turning into one, you could get something from this.The guy wrongly convicted The sadistic guard The clueless or corrupt warden The prison bully The helpful cell-mate The mess hall encounterThe threats The showdown at the endCan anyone put the list above to music? It should be a song by now. Love, Boloxxxi.