Black Dawn - Reviews
- Thread starter Administrator
- Start date
Black Dawn is released here in Holland, and I watched it yesterday...
Black Dawn started well with the escape out of the hospital. I also liked the part where Steven is infiltrating the bad guys. But after the truck action-scene (with some bad CGI), there came the bad stunt doubles. Why why why does he have to use a stunt double for just walking?
Seagal looks good in the movie, but it's sad that he doesn't do much of aikido. His stunt double does it for him.
On the other hand, I thought the movie wasn't boring and is sometimes more a thriller then a action movie. I liked the locations also.
This is not Steven's best but also not his worst. It's just a movie that will end up in my collection....But I still love Steven! When he appears on the screen, I'm happy immediately!!
Black Dawn started well with the escape out of the hospital. I also liked the part where Steven is infiltrating the bad guys. But after the truck action-scene (with some bad CGI), there came the bad stunt doubles. Why why why does he have to use a stunt double for just walking?
Seagal looks good in the movie, but it's sad that he doesn't do much of aikido. His stunt double does it for him.
On the other hand, I thought the movie wasn't boring and is sometimes more a thriller then a action movie. I liked the locations also.
This is not Steven's best but also not his worst. It's just a movie that will end up in my collection....But I still love Steven! When he appears on the screen, I'm happy immediately!!
GREAT MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched it a normal speed, crawled up in my easy chair, expecting nothing, but to be entertained for an hour and a half by Steven Seagal and cast.
That is exactly what I got.
The movie has action, drama and thrills, what more could you ask?
No, it doesn't have a lot of fights.
But it has everything else to make a movie good, especially STEVEN.
I watched it a normal speed, crawled up in my easy chair, expecting nothing, but to be entertained for an hour and a half by Steven Seagal and cast.
That is exactly what I got.
The movie has action, drama and thrills, what more could you ask?
No, it doesn't have a lot of fights.
But it has everything else to make a movie good, especially STEVEN.
_Steven Seagal_
New Member
(Unfortunately
) Just watched the movie in german and it was really terrible. After "Into The Sun", Steven topped himself with "Submerged" which I really enjoyed then "Today You Die", I loved the movie, was better the the two - Thank you Mr. FauntLeRoy! But this movie is a really stinker.
Seagal is the whole movie in a bad mood, the action is really bad, there is no story and no acting.. and NO Fights, every fight, which was really bad, was done by a stunt man.
Dear god, Steven, what have you done? Why a sequel to one of your worst movies?
Please Mr. FauntLeRoy save Seagal one more time and deliver us a great movie with "Mercenary for Justice" - It is time to come back again
"Black Dawn" gets
3/10
) Just watched the movie in german and it was really terrible. After "Into The Sun", Steven topped himself with "Submerged" which I really enjoyed then "Today You Die", I loved the movie, was better the the two - Thank you Mr. FauntLeRoy! But this movie is a really stinker.Seagal is the whole movie in a bad mood, the action is really bad, there is no story and no acting.. and NO Fights, every fight, which was really bad, was done by a stunt man.
Dear god, Steven, what have you done? Why a sequel to one of your worst movies?
Please Mr. FauntLeRoy save Seagal one more time and deliver us a great movie with "Mercenary for Justice" - It is time to come back again
"Black Dawn" gets
3/10
Robert P. Olsson
BigBellyFilm
www.discshop.se
I translated as good as I could.
This is a review from the swedish site www.discshop.se.
Robert
Seagal isn’t approving with time, if I may be a bit kind in my statement.
According to almighty IMDB our hero, Steven Seagal is Sweden’s King’s favourite actor. This info brings a cold chill across my spine. It says a whole lot about Rex Carl 16:th Gustaf. Thank God his Majesty hasn’t any power. What if he could rule, as he wanted? Maybe then our Swedish Theatre stage could turn into a dojo and have Seagal as Master Sensei. Hurray! Watch Persbrant (respected Swedish actor) fly through the air and land face down. Jiihaa! And Ingmar Bergman makes a Katadori Yonkyo on Kim Anderzon (Swedish actress). Or NOT!
With or without our king’s approval, Seagal keeps getting bigger and making movies like there where no tomorrow. Today I will write about “Black Dawn” and this isn’t Seagal’s worst effort. “Belly of the Beast” was worse, a little bit worse. When I commented on “Belly of the Beast” I had already lost hope that Seagal could ever surprise me with a decent action flick again. From “BOTB” he has continued to make crappy movies and I promised myself to never ever comment on his new movies again. But in this case I have to make an exception. Our movie guide has a purpose and that is to inform our readers about good movies. “Black Dawn” isn’t a good movie, therefore I hope after you have read this; you will buy/rent some other movie.
Steven Seagal is now 55 years old. He’s a vegetarian they say (?) and have 7th degree black belt in Aikido. I also practise Aikido, so do my son and I have for years also practised Jujitsu. Therefore I know that with regular training and healthy food you don’t ad 120 extra pounds on your waistline. Steven seems to have done this anyway??? He tries to hide it away with tailored suits, close footage and stunt doubles that has no resemblance to him what so ever. I suspect Steven found salad to be boring and made his way to Los Angeles finest Taco Bell and Al’s International Beer House.
The budget was about 15 million American dollars. I believe Seagal took half and the rest was spent on used cars, catering, an editor from Xerox-Hell and a big conference table for all 9 producers to sit by and discuss if John Candy is a good body-double for Seagal, even if he died years ago. Some money went in Alexander Gruszynski pocket, a polish gentleman who probably got 13 $ and a bag of peanuts for this directing job.
As the movie started the director mixed an aggressive pace of text and music and a murder. Then he lost interest and like Seagal, he left his job to another guy, probably the light assistant. This can explain the lack of direction and the dullness of the picture. What did this light assistant do then? Following crappy things.
1. When villain #1 fires her gun, she hits anything, but when guard #1 fire his automatic gun he misses everything within the range of 10 metres, not even the cars or trees. In the background, people walks by like noting happens. Funny stuff!
2. It’s good to have computers. There’s a mouse on the desk, but no one uses it. DOS still rules. Even if someone uses Photoshop or "Picture Manipulation Program", no one uses the mouse. This totally cracked me up.
3. The Tjetjenic terrorist talks bad American among each other. Why? Jesus!
4. For this to be a real Seagal-movie, his voice hizz out every word. It’s like Donald Duck on helium. ‘That's what I'm talking about’ is funny if Bernie Mac says it, not when Steven say it in his low-tone between a big Mac and a carrot soup.
5. Green/blue screen is the new thing, (?) let’s use it and they do in the middle and towards the end. Let me put it like this: If a Teletubbie walks nude in to a sauna at a day-care centre and sings the text from some old commercial over and over again in a high pitch voice. I rather listen to this fantasy character then hearing Steven talk. It’s so bad your stomach turns.
6. The edit-job is also under all critics. Without even looking I found 5 bad cuts in one scene. It’s hilarious when Tamara walks into a room where a couple copulates. In the next cut the copulating woman has underwear, she fights a bit and then run naked out of the room. The script supervisor was also at lunch.
Seriously, Steven should retire. He must have all the squirrelskin he needs and he only makes a fool of himself, playing super hero. The alternative is for him to do parody of himself, then maybe I’ll can forgive him for his latest bad movies. Nothing, I repeat, nothing good can be said about “Black Dawn”. The only thing that could make people watch this movie is if they’re a hard-core Seagal fan or if one likes to watch badly made movies for some bizarre sexual reason, like some sort of punishment.
Average picture and sound. The extras on the disc, is nothing special and the music is way off. Maybe if someone fried the composers in peanut butter and gave them a tambourine for Christmas, then maybe…
I will never recommend Black Dawn, ever.
Janne Ahlgren, www.dischop.se
I translated as good as I could.
This is a review from the swedish site www.discshop.se.Robert
Seagal isn’t approving with time, if I may be a bit kind in my statement.
According to almighty IMDB our hero, Steven Seagal is Sweden’s King’s favourite actor. This info brings a cold chill across my spine. It says a whole lot about Rex Carl 16:th Gustaf. Thank God his Majesty hasn’t any power. What if he could rule, as he wanted? Maybe then our Swedish Theatre stage could turn into a dojo and have Seagal as Master Sensei. Hurray! Watch Persbrant (respected Swedish actor) fly through the air and land face down. Jiihaa! And Ingmar Bergman makes a Katadori Yonkyo on Kim Anderzon (Swedish actress). Or NOT!
With or without our king’s approval, Seagal keeps getting bigger and making movies like there where no tomorrow. Today I will write about “Black Dawn” and this isn’t Seagal’s worst effort. “Belly of the Beast” was worse, a little bit worse. When I commented on “Belly of the Beast” I had already lost hope that Seagal could ever surprise me with a decent action flick again. From “BOTB” he has continued to make crappy movies and I promised myself to never ever comment on his new movies again. But in this case I have to make an exception. Our movie guide has a purpose and that is to inform our readers about good movies. “Black Dawn” isn’t a good movie, therefore I hope after you have read this; you will buy/rent some other movie.
Steven Seagal is now 55 years old. He’s a vegetarian they say (?) and have 7th degree black belt in Aikido. I also practise Aikido, so do my son and I have for years also practised Jujitsu. Therefore I know that with regular training and healthy food you don’t ad 120 extra pounds on your waistline. Steven seems to have done this anyway??? He tries to hide it away with tailored suits, close footage and stunt doubles that has no resemblance to him what so ever. I suspect Steven found salad to be boring and made his way to Los Angeles finest Taco Bell and Al’s International Beer House.
The budget was about 15 million American dollars. I believe Seagal took half and the rest was spent on used cars, catering, an editor from Xerox-Hell and a big conference table for all 9 producers to sit by and discuss if John Candy is a good body-double for Seagal, even if he died years ago. Some money went in Alexander Gruszynski pocket, a polish gentleman who probably got 13 $ and a bag of peanuts for this directing job.
As the movie started the director mixed an aggressive pace of text and music and a murder. Then he lost interest and like Seagal, he left his job to another guy, probably the light assistant. This can explain the lack of direction and the dullness of the picture. What did this light assistant do then? Following crappy things.
1. When villain #1 fires her gun, she hits anything, but when guard #1 fire his automatic gun he misses everything within the range of 10 metres, not even the cars or trees. In the background, people walks by like noting happens. Funny stuff!
2. It’s good to have computers. There’s a mouse on the desk, but no one uses it. DOS still rules. Even if someone uses Photoshop or "Picture Manipulation Program", no one uses the mouse. This totally cracked me up.
3. The Tjetjenic terrorist talks bad American among each other. Why? Jesus!
4. For this to be a real Seagal-movie, his voice hizz out every word. It’s like Donald Duck on helium. ‘That's what I'm talking about’ is funny if Bernie Mac says it, not when Steven say it in his low-tone between a big Mac and a carrot soup.
5. Green/blue screen is the new thing, (?) let’s use it and they do in the middle and towards the end. Let me put it like this: If a Teletubbie walks nude in to a sauna at a day-care centre and sings the text from some old commercial over and over again in a high pitch voice. I rather listen to this fantasy character then hearing Steven talk. It’s so bad your stomach turns.
6. The edit-job is also under all critics. Without even looking I found 5 bad cuts in one scene. It’s hilarious when Tamara walks into a room where a couple copulates. In the next cut the copulating woman has underwear, she fights a bit and then run naked out of the room. The script supervisor was also at lunch.
Seriously, Steven should retire. He must have all the squirrelskin he needs and he only makes a fool of himself, playing super hero. The alternative is for him to do parody of himself, then maybe I’ll can forgive him for his latest bad movies. Nothing, I repeat, nothing good can be said about “Black Dawn”. The only thing that could make people watch this movie is if they’re a hard-core Seagal fan or if one likes to watch badly made movies for some bizarre sexual reason, like some sort of punishment.
Average picture and sound. The extras on the disc, is nothing special and the music is way off. Maybe if someone fried the composers in peanut butter and gave them a tambourine for Christmas, then maybe…
I will never recommend Black Dawn, ever.
Janne Ahlgren, www.dischop.se
Oldsexyblackman
New Member
yes
This might sound weird to most people but this movie is better than MFJ and Into the Sun.
Why is better?
Because its never boring.
I know that Seagal never has a fight scene. His stunt double does but Seagal was nowhere near a fight scene in this movie, but the car chase alone is better that anything in MFJ.
This movie delivered in the people getting shot and things getting blown up department.
This might sound weird to most people but this movie is better than MFJ and Into the Sun.
Why is better?
Because its never boring.
I know that Seagal never has a fight scene. His stunt double does but Seagal was nowhere near a fight scene in this movie, but the car chase alone is better that anything in MFJ.
This movie delivered in the people getting shot and things getting blown up department.
ORANGATUANG
Wildfire
I will give it 8/10...it was an little bit slow starting but once it did well what can i say steven at his best ..I did nearly have "kittens" though when he got in that bloody helicopter with that bomb i though sh.it no not another E.D...He is sooooo lucky that this girl doesnt have to be on his back..again..keep up the good work steven..nearly forgot i love the interview he gave as well he mentioned his fans an couple of times and now i know why he loves Asia so much...particularly Japan...
ORANGATUANG
Wildfire
Yes that was fun to watch too..even an couple of bloopers ..
I have to say that I really did not like this movie and would class it as one of his worst. Basically its a sequel to a film (The Foreigner) that did'nt need a sequel in the first place! The action was poor, hardly any fights and Seagal seemed to be bored stupid judging by his performance. I don't mind some of his straight to video films (Belly Of The Beast I thought was quite good) but he needs to make films that are entertaining and that he cares about rather than drivel that he or us his fans could'nt give a crap about.
Wrist-Snapper
Seagalatron
Routine to the point of irrelevance actioner from Seagal. There's little or nothing to get enthusiastic about with BLACK DAWN, the plot is straightforward enough, but is delivered in a dull, straightforward manner. The performances are all one-note and boring and leading lady Tamara Davies performs more action than our favourite action man -- what's that about?
Yes, Seagal uses his own voice throughout, but what is with the obvious stunt doubles and the poorly-matched close-ups of Seagal during the fight scenes?! Not one bit of hand-to-hand combat from the big man. Seagal still handles a gun better than most, as seen in the shoot-out involving the one-note British actor and his brother -- who doesn't sound like he's been anywhere NEAR Britain in his life -- but it's an oasis in a desert.
Than set-piece involving the truck is poorly designed and executed and the explosive finale is about as cheap looking as it gets. Producer and one time prominent actor Andrew Stevens makes a cameo as a security guard -- and still registers better than some of the other cast members!!!
All rather forgettable. Next up: SHADOW MAN
Yes, Seagal uses his own voice throughout, but what is with the obvious stunt doubles and the poorly-matched close-ups of Seagal during the fight scenes?! Not one bit of hand-to-hand combat from the big man. Seagal still handles a gun better than most, as seen in the shoot-out involving the one-note British actor and his brother -- who doesn't sound like he's been anywhere NEAR Britain in his life -- but it's an oasis in a desert.
Than set-piece involving the truck is poorly designed and executed and the explosive finale is about as cheap looking as it gets. Producer and one time prominent actor Andrew Stevens makes a cameo as a security guard -- and still registers better than some of the other cast members!!!
All rather forgettable. Next up: SHADOW MAN
ORANGATUANG
Wildfire
I thought i had this one in my collection but i havent i best find out how to get an copy
real quick..before iam bomb barted with others i havent even seen yet..
real quick..before iam bomb barted with others i havent even seen yet..
As you guys maybe noticed, I am re-watching some old Seagal movies.
It must have been 10 years since I have seen Black Dawn and at that time I didn't like it. I thought I'll give it a try.
Strange how opinions can change over a couple of years, because now I must say that I liked Black Dawn. Maybe I knew that there wasn't going to be any martial arts and that is was more of an action-thriller then just action. What I noticed is that it was refreshing to just have a straight forward story! No complicated plotlines that lead to nowhere. That was a relieve. Also I liked the soundtrack and the supporting cast was good. Actually Tamara Davies steals the show and I think she is one of Seagal's best co-stars. Also the bad guys were very decent.
There were a lot of problems on set between Seagal and the director so I expected the worst. But I was suprised what they made of it eventually.
A couple of things that were bad are the blue screen effects and sometimes Seagal's stunt double. Especially at the staircase fightscene where everyone can see that it is not Seagal. The suit the stunt double is wearing even has a different color. But you can also ask yourself: why do they put in this scene? Because it wasn't necessary. They could easily have cut that scene out and it wouldn't have made impact on the story. Now it makes the movie worse.
But yes, this time I liked it more, because of the straight forward story, the soundtrack and the good supporting cast (especially Tamara Davies).
Also funny to see a known bad guy (from Beverly Hills Cop 3)
It must have been 10 years since I have seen Black Dawn and at that time I didn't like it. I thought I'll give it a try.
Strange how opinions can change over a couple of years, because now I must say that I liked Black Dawn. Maybe I knew that there wasn't going to be any martial arts and that is was more of an action-thriller then just action. What I noticed is that it was refreshing to just have a straight forward story! No complicated plotlines that lead to nowhere. That was a relieve. Also I liked the soundtrack and the supporting cast was good. Actually Tamara Davies steals the show and I think she is one of Seagal's best co-stars. Also the bad guys were very decent.
There were a lot of problems on set between Seagal and the director so I expected the worst. But I was suprised what they made of it eventually.
A couple of things that were bad are the blue screen effects and sometimes Seagal's stunt double. Especially at the staircase fightscene where everyone can see that it is not Seagal. The suit the stunt double is wearing even has a different color. But you can also ask yourself: why do they put in this scene? Because it wasn't necessary. They could easily have cut that scene out and it wouldn't have made impact on the story. Now it makes the movie worse.
But yes, this time I liked it more, because of the straight forward story, the soundtrack and the good supporting cast (especially Tamara Davies).
Also funny to see a known bad guy (from Beverly Hills Cop 3)
bwana-beast
Active Member
I have also found that, given some time and space from viewing upon initial release, I enjoy a film more. Perhaps without the burden of expectations coloring a first viewing, one can simply relax and take the film for what it is. For the record, I enjoyed Black Dawn when I first saw it; and, as you point out, it was helped by having a plot that I could understand and follow.As you guys maybe noticed, I am re-watching some old Seagal movies.
It must have been 10 years since I have seen Black Dawn and at that time I didn't like it. I thought I'll give it a try.
Strange how opinions can change over a couple of years, because now I must say that I liked Black Dawn. Maybe I knew that there wasn't going to be any martial arts and that is was more of an action-thriller then just action. What I noticed is that it was refreshing to just have a straight forward story! No complicated plotlines that lead to nowhere. That was a relieve. Also I liked the soundtrack and the supporting cast was good. Actually Tamara Davies steals the show and I think she is one of Seagal's best co-stars. Also the bad guys were very decent.
There were a lot of problems on set between Seagal and the director so I expected the worst. But I was suprised what they made of it eventually.
A couple of things that were bad are the blue screen effects and sometimes Seagal's stunt double. Especially at the staircase fightscene where everyone can see that it is not Seagal. The suit the stunt double is wearing even has a different color. But you can also ask yourself: why do they put in this scene? Because it wasn't necessary. They could easily have cut that scene out and it wouldn't have made impact on the story. Now it makes the movie worse.
But yes, this time I liked it more, because of the straight forward story, the soundtrack and the good supporting cast (especially Tamara Davies).
Also funny to see a known bad guy (from Beverly Hills Cop 3)
Exactly what I mean.
Forrest Taft
Active Member
Apparently the interview was done before Black Dawn even shot.
One weird moment in the behind-the-scenes, when Seagal reveals his true identity and a gunfight erupts we can clear see his gun firing.
In the finished movie, they chose shots of him just holding his gun (not even firing it) but gunfire being looped over it! If you watch it, you'll know what I mean. It looks awful.
One weird moment in the behind-the-scenes, when Seagal reveals his true identity and a gunfight erupts we can clear see his gun firing.
In the finished movie, they chose shots of him just holding his gun (not even firing it) but gunfire being looped over it! If you watch it, you'll know what I mean. It looks awful.