Steineded How sad is this?

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

tbills2 Payback is cool, smart, stylized, and a badass action revenge flick with a terrific cast led by Mel. You know, I was planning here on being all cutesy to just talk about Lucy Liu the whole time but, I'm watching Payback now, and I see Lucy, and I'm watching, waiting for crazy sexy Lucy to take the hotel elevator up to the right room so she can inspire me with her dominatrix sexiness, aaaaand she walks right in and smacks the freaking crap out of that dude, and now, I feel different. She slapped the cute right out of me I think. I felt it. Ouch, uuggghh, my gut. I can't breathe. I never fully realized this about a woman before, but I would totally, totally love Lucy beating me up like that, in a sexual manner. Aahhh, okay, I got my breath back. Oh myyyyy! I love it! Lucy flaunts her butt so nice in Payback, I don't think a lot of people realize how nice it is! I'm a freak for Lucy Alexis Liu. Uugghh. Thank you Lucy, I'll have another please.

wtmerrett I have seen the released version of payback more then a few times and like it quite a bit. I just watched the Directors' Cut and found myself watching a totally different film. The producers must have done a pre- screening and found out that the director/screenwriter is an idiot and does not know how to direct. Brian Helgeland wrote this screenplay as well as the great LA Confidential but should never be allowed to direct as he has not idea how to do that. Payback the Director's Cut tried very hard to be a 40's Sam Spade kind of film noir but quickly became a series of unrelated scenes with throw away one liners. Sally Kellerman's voice over work is as wooden as her acting and for this reason she does not show up in the better version and is replaced by the fine actor Kris Kristofferson. The second half on Payback has been re-shot completely and the story changed. They still gave Helgeland credit for Directing as this was a gift to him as his original stuff is crap. Whomever re-shot the film and directed did a much better job and then the Editor saved the day by fixing a mess.I seriously wondered when Kris Kristofferson was going to show up and the net thing I know the credits are rolling. WTF

KineticSeoul This is basically a run of the mill revenge action movie that worked when it first came out. Even today it's a okay flick to just pop in and sit through, mainly because of Mel Gibson's portrayal of a bad guy going after the mob to get his money back. He seemed like the type of guy that has a set of principles that he stands by but isn't someone you want to stab in the back. He is a very vengeful character and to a certain extent I could understand where he was coming from. He isn't necessarily a character I could root for but he is someone that resonated with me to a certain extent. Yeah, there is some cool bits then and there but overall it's a generic revenge action movie that is actually quite forgettable. It would have been very forgettable if it was for Mel Gibson's performance, but than again the guy is really good at playing anti-heroes or bad guys that doesn't go full evil.6/10

proge-2 Dumb beyond belief. The characters and dialogue are so simple-minded that it's insulting. Add to that a plot that's so unfeasible, action sequences so impossible, and a preening Mel Gibson, and you have.....well, another Mel Gibson movie.I'm obviously not a Gibson fan. I find that his movies (at least since he's become a star and has more choice and control) to be intellectually void, until I'm forced to wonder if the man himself is just not particularly bright, and maybe that's why every movie of his ends up a dull-witted exercise that never exceeds a sixth-grade level of maturity. I understand that he's a Three Stooges fan and that's just about the height of the mental bar in a Gibson film (and, yes, I'm including The Passion of the Christ, which I thought was a joke). Sorry, I just can't stand the man. One positive note, or actually two, are the female leads, the beautiful Deborah Kara Unger and Maria Bello. Not only are they a comfort for the eyes but both give performances that belong in a film more worthy.