Pistol Whipped - Reviews

lee nicholson

Well-Known Member
After the excellent URBAN JUSTICE, it seemed that Steven Seagal had his
work cut out to keep making good movies. Let me tell you from the
get-go, PISTOL WHIPPED is as equally good, with (despite it's lower
budget) better production values (although i suspect Urban Justice was
given a grittier, raw look on purpose?) Seagal plays Matt, a disgraced
ex cop, who been sliding off the tracks, since his suspension. He's
been gambling and hitting the bottle, and most importantly, ignoring
his estranged wife and daughter. It seems that, despite his
shortcomings, Matt is still a proficient bad-ass, but he's more of a
bad guy, than he'd care to admit. Suddenly his gambling debts have
caught up with him, in the shape of a shady businessman (great cameo by
Lance Henrickson) who offers to clear the debts, if Matt will
'terminate with extreme prejudice' some wiseguy mafioso type. Being of
dubious morals, Matt undertakes this job (fearing for the safety of his
daughter) and in true Seagal-style, opens up the required whup-ass on
said contract. But it doesn't end there......Matt's new mysterious
employer wants more people 'taken care' of....including his ex-wifes
new husband (a fellow cop, and one of Matts friends) But is his friend
everything he seems?

Seagal fans will enjoy this one, as it give the stout sensei a chance
to relax, let it all hang out, and play (as in OUT FOR JUSTICE) a
scummy anti-hero, who's far worse than thebad guys he's taking down.
Yet there's a genuine warmth between Seagal and his on-screen daughter
(proving he can be a good natural actor, when he drops his defences)
Seagal plays the part perfectly (a crying shame he's been making duff
movies in Romania) when PISTOL WHIPPED is one of the lowest budgets
he's worked wth. Director Roel Reine has a good visual eye, and if
anything, it proves that Seagal can work in the confines of a low
budget, provided (as we've always known) he ditches the 'wrong element'
around him (the 'yes' men) These people have gladly cashed cheques as
Seagal has been involved in some truly dire projects of recent. Good to
see you back on track Steven....stick with directors/people that give a
damn.

All in all, PISTOL WHIPPED is a great Seagal (biff-em-up) thriller,
with it's lead showing (as Stallone has done likewise) that age is
nothing but a number (some of the fights here are extremely brutal) and
Seagal has lost none of his trademark speed, or for that matter, wit
(check out some of his dry dialogue....very funny for fans of the
genre) and it's comforting to see Seagal playing a flawed (allbeit,
still untouchable) character, who's not a straight-laced good guy. Once
again, i have a SEAGAL movie, that survives repeated viewing, and one
to show off to my mates. All in all, Big Lee gives this great movie 10
out of 10
 

Martin01

Well-Known Member
Staff member
hofmae;181911 said:
We already saw about 70% of all aciton sequences in the showreel...

No, the showdown and the street gunfight is much longer in the movie, also the carchase.
 

Kotegashi

Master Of Disaster
Staff member
bellyofb;181909 said:
@kotegashi my gfriend, can you make a trailer please :)

I will see what I can do, but at the moment my time is extremely limited due to my day job and my nightly editing on two projects.

If all goes well the two (private) projects will be finished this week and I should be able to have something at the end of the week, but no promisses.

And in answer to Martins concerns, no I will not use all action scenes, there's plenty to work with. I'll try to show more of the badside of Seagal.

Peace
 

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
I watched this today and enjoyed it. Like Urban Justice, this is another winner for Seagal. There's not as much action as that movie but what there is will satisfy Seagal fans. He does a decent job as an actor in this film, playing a washed up dirty cop who loses himself in booze and gambling and finds that as he hits rock bottom he is offered a deal with the Devil (not literally but you get the idea), personified in this movie by Lance Henriksen who plays the mysterious 'Blue'.

It's a novel idea for an action film and Seagal is cast well here. His size, which has often been the butt of jokes in recent years, works for him now. In this film and Urban Justice, he looks like a much more imposing figure...he moves slowly but when he has to, he strikes like a rattlesnake.

This is extremely well directed and it's got a decent storyline. It did get predictable around the middle of the movie but by then I was enjoying the movie so much I didn't care. The music deserves a mention too. Excellent stuff and it serves the movie well. I can't recall the last time I even noticed the music in a Seagal movie but the music in this film is pretty damn good.

I noticed body doubles a few times, most noticeably in long shots. I suspect that Seagal and Henriksen were never in the same shot though. Seagal is either out of shot or using a body double when we see Henricksen and vice versa. I really would have liked to have seen more of Henriksen in this movie as he's a great actor and has a lot of charisma on screen.

I only have one criticism of the movie and that's the ending. I won't reveal it, but I will say that Seagal's character must have one hell of a lawyer!;)

That's two very good films in a row now for Steven which hasn't been the case for many years. Let's hope he continues to seek out creative people who genuinely want to make films that show him at his best. I would hate to see him squander the goodwill he's accumulating with these new movies by going back to films he clearly doesn't have his heart in like Submerged and Attack Force.
 

Dmoj

Member
Just curious why some think he looks bigger in this movie than in his last 5. The only difference I see here is that he ditched the trench coat. To me he doen't look any different than Urban Justice(actually thought he looks better). Anyway, still lookin forward to seein him kick some a$$.
 

fakeshemp

Hard To Kill
You're right, I think it's because he's dressed like an everyday guy in this film. I think he looks better because he's not trying to hide his weight now. No more lighting tricks, no hiding behind large coats. He's bulky in the same way that John Wayne was in his later films...heavy but still looks like he'd kick the crap out of someone who looked at him the wrong way.
 

Administrator

Administrator
Staff member
Dmoj;181960 said:
Just curious why some think he looks bigger in this movie than in his last 5. The only difference I see here is that he ditched the trench coat. To me he doen't look any different than Urban Justice(actually thought he looks better). Anyway, still lookin forward to seein him kick some a$$.
Thought the same myself. In my opinion he looks in much better shape compared with Out Of Reach, Black Dawn, etc..
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
Well just watched the movie, liked it alot. In short I thought it was a better film overall then Urban Justice, without a doubt one of his best DTV releases, but I wasn't impressed with the hand to hand fight scenes. But overall loved the film, and am pleased.

Will have my full review later tonight.
 
The plot: I like it, this time no one was killed from his familly. Great thing about his alcohol problems and cards playing stuff. Finally good simple plot.

The music: Fantastic soundtrack, after great music in Urban justice there is a professional and nice music. Just like it shoud be.

The action: No doubles, no doubles and once again no doubles. He finally makes all his fights by him self. After this there should be only better next time. Fast, brutal and cold stuff, just like we all love from Seagal. (don't know why some people complain about loss of fights. The same people I think that was complaining about everything else in Belly of the Beast where Steven was fighting like hell.)

The Bad things: There is only one thing. The beginning titles and those rewiding back retrospections. What for ???

The Finale: If our Hero will be going this way there will be only better movies. Just can't wait for the next productions. Fantastic movie

9/10
 

Martin01

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Littledragon;181978 said:
but I wasn't impressed with the hand to hand fight scenes

Aren't you the one you liked the laughable and boring "Bud Spencer -Style (mostly punchs)" Fights in Mercenary? Sorry for the comment but I thought that first when I have seen your comment.
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
Yea I was the one who liked the Mercenary Justice fights, because it reminded me of the fights in Under Seige 2 and Glimmer Man.

The aikido, and choke holds, and neck cranks, and gun disarments, when I view Seagal's fights I view them from a martial artists perspective, and in my opinion the MFJ were the kind of short sweet QUALITY fights that reminded me of US2 and Glimmer Man.

In MFJ he displayed reverse guillotine chokes, a rear naked choke into a neck crank to snap the neck, aikido kotegaeshi wrist throws, fast gun retention and weapon disarment. In my opinion I think MFJ displayed the best QUALITY fight scenes out of all his DTV releases. Judging them from a martial artist and professionals point of view.

Martin01;181984 said:
Aren't you the one you liked the laughable and boring "Bud Spencer -Style (mostly punchs)" Fights in Mercenary? Sorry for the comment but I thought that first when I have seen your comment.
 

ShotoScorpion

Child of the Night
Ive always agreed with you about the quality of the fights in MFJ.....theyre short, yes...but they are done well. Looking back, there have been other short fights of lesser quality in films as early as Above the Law (when he just punches that random guy in the stomach and he falls down). I do think the placement of the brawl in the bathroom strangely clashes with the other shorter scenes, but it goes to show that not everyone can be eliminated immediately....fights can go in any direction at any time. But anyway, LD I look forward to hearing what you have to say about the fighting in Pistol Whipped, because I havent seen it yet.
 

rastafari

Well-Known Member
ShotoScorpion;181998 said:
Ive always agreed with you about the quality of the fights in MFJ.....theyre short, yes...but they are done well. Looking back, there have been other short fights of lesser quality in films as early as Above the Law (when he just punches that random guy in the stomach and he falls down). I do think the placement of the brawl in the bathroom strangely clashes with the other shorter scenes, but it goes to show that not everyone can be eliminated immediately....fights can go in any direction at any time. But anyway, LD I look forward to hearing what you have to say about the fighting in Pistol Whipped, because I havent seen it yet.

the fights in PW are alot better than the fights of MFJ
 
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