Today You Die - Reviews
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gunslinger
Member
Today You Die is the cinematic equivalent of being dead on the toilet. There's not one good thing about it!
mikek7316
Engorged Member
Today You Die Review
Steven Seagal brings us another hard-hitting, action-packed DTV blockbuster with Today You Die. This was definitely a high quality movie. Seagal's hardcore fans get what they want in this film- lots of fighting! And Seagal goes back to his roots, using Aikido choreography in his fight scenes, as opposed to the "Crouching Tiger" stylized wire-fighting that we've seen on other Seagal DTV movies, like Out for a Kill. This great fighting, combined with quite a bit of gun violence, makes for a high-action movie.
The plot of the film is that Harlan Banks (Seagal) is set up by the mob in Las Vegas, and after an edge-of-your-seat car chase is sentenced to prison time for murder 1. Perhaps this goes without saying to fans of Half Past Dead, but Steve looks great in a prison jumpsuit. To take his revenge on the mob who set him up, Seagal must break free from his desert prison, with help from rapper Treach. Seagal is soon Out for Justice, proving to the Las Vegas mob that "the fist is mightier than the gun!" Enough said.
I highly recommend this film to everybody. ********** 10 stars!
Steven Seagal brings us another hard-hitting, action-packed DTV blockbuster with Today You Die. This was definitely a high quality movie. Seagal's hardcore fans get what they want in this film- lots of fighting! And Seagal goes back to his roots, using Aikido choreography in his fight scenes, as opposed to the "Crouching Tiger" stylized wire-fighting that we've seen on other Seagal DTV movies, like Out for a Kill. This great fighting, combined with quite a bit of gun violence, makes for a high-action movie.
The plot of the film is that Harlan Banks (Seagal) is set up by the mob in Las Vegas, and after an edge-of-your-seat car chase is sentenced to prison time for murder 1. Perhaps this goes without saying to fans of Half Past Dead, but Steve looks great in a prison jumpsuit. To take his revenge on the mob who set him up, Seagal must break free from his desert prison, with help from rapper Treach. Seagal is soon Out for Justice, proving to the Las Vegas mob that "the fist is mightier than the gun!" Enough said.
I highly recommend this film to everybody. ********** 10 stars!
Kwan
Be your self...
First of all, haven´t been posting here for a while, like 8 months or so....so hey all! 
Just watched Today You Die and I say, Man! Thats Stevens best performance since Exit Wounds, really!
He looks very healthy and acts just perfect, you can see that he put energy into this film. Very smooth lines and perfect conversations, very entertained to listen at. About the previous voice dubbing during his films well, there was this, one and only scene, where Harlan (Steven) and Ice Cool (Anthony Criss) blew up the car at the construction site, just after the explosion when Steven talks, it sounds a little strange, but yet,f or me its hard to tell ifn´t it still was Stevens voice. To hear Stevens real voice throught out the whole film makes it very entertaining, for me it does. I mean, Submerged for example, 50% dubbing of Mr. Seagal voice, what was that?!
Fightscenes, not so many but they were good. Some of them, where there was lots of guys involved, it was a stand-in for Steven. It makes them shoot the scenes far more from below and it can be a little annoying not to get a view of their heads. I guess Steven getting a little old, but I do think he could manage to handle all the fights himself in this movie, no use for doubles.
The story is good, the director did a good job too. Sure, there is a few minor things that they didnt paid attention to at the shootings, things that is just not right. But overall the directing is very good, it surprised me. Co-players did a nice job also. Music is fine and so on.
This film entertained me from the very start to the very end. I was so glad to see Steven in this movie...he really did great job.
Thank you!
Just watched Today You Die and I say, Man! Thats Stevens best performance since Exit Wounds, really!
He looks very healthy and acts just perfect, you can see that he put energy into this film. Very smooth lines and perfect conversations, very entertained to listen at. About the previous voice dubbing during his films well, there was this, one and only scene, where Harlan (Steven) and Ice Cool (Anthony Criss) blew up the car at the construction site, just after the explosion when Steven talks, it sounds a little strange, but yet,f or me its hard to tell ifn´t it still was Stevens voice. To hear Stevens real voice throught out the whole film makes it very entertaining, for me it does. I mean, Submerged for example, 50% dubbing of Mr. Seagal voice, what was that?!
Fightscenes, not so many but they were good. Some of them, where there was lots of guys involved, it was a stand-in for Steven. It makes them shoot the scenes far more from below and it can be a little annoying not to get a view of their heads. I guess Steven getting a little old, but I do think he could manage to handle all the fights himself in this movie, no use for doubles.
The story is good, the director did a good job too. Sure, there is a few minor things that they didnt paid attention to at the shootings, things that is just not right. But overall the directing is very good, it surprised me. Co-players did a nice job also. Music is fine and so on.
This film entertained me from the very start to the very end. I was so glad to see Steven in this movie...he really did great job.
Thank you!
KROM
Active Member
This mikek7316 is very sick. Seagal's Today you die is another INSULT to his FANS, but Steven don't have even respect for himself to have a better shape. I'm tired about spening my time whatching his B grade movies. Van Damme and Dolph are so far from Seagal because they are really trying to come back and manage low budget movies.
* * * * Y O U NICO!
* * * * Y O U NICO!
Littledragon
Above The Law
Kwan said:First of all, haven´t been posting here for a while, like 8 months or so....so hey all!
Just watched Today You Die and I say, Man! Thats Stevens best performance since Exit Wounds, really!
He looks very healthy and acts just perfect, you can see that he put energy into this film. Very smooth lines and perfect conversations, very entertained to listen at. About the previous voice dubbing during his films well, there was this, one and only scene, where Harlan (Steven) and Ice Cool (Anthony Criss) blew up the car at the construction site, just after the explosion when Steven talks, it sounds a little strange, but yet,f or me its hard to tell ifn´t it still was Stevens voice. To hear Stevens real voice throught out the whole film makes it very entertaining, for me it does. I mean, Submerged for example, 50% dubbing of Mr. Seagal voice, what was that?!
Fightscenes, not so many but they were good. Some of them, where there was lots of guys involved, it was a stand-in for Steven. It makes them shoot the scenes far more from below and it can be a little annoying not to get a view of their heads. I guess Steven getting a little old, but I do think he could manage to handle all the fights himself in this movie, no use for doubles.
The story is good, the director did a good job too. Sure, there is a few minor things that they didnt paid attention to at the shootings, things that is just not right. But overall the directing is very good, it surprised me. Co-players did a nice job also. Music is fine and so on.
This film entertained me from the very start to the very end. I was so glad to see Steven in this movie...he really did great job.
Thank you!
I agree with you. I gave my rating in this thread after Craig mistakenley deleted the first review thread but looks like some mod for a reason which I don't know deleted my rating??
Anyway I gave this film a low 4/5 stars.
lee nicholson
Well-Known Member
TODAY YOU DIE: Synopsis.
STEVEN SEAGAL plays Harlan banks, a criminal with a kind streak. He (and his mystic wife) wants him go straight. But an honest job, transfering money from a vegas casino, soon turns deadly, as a robbery occurs. After a spectacular chase, Harlan crashes the van (with the $20m contents) and swears blind he cannot remember it's whereabouts. Harlan is caught, but refuses to divulge where he hid the money. He is sent to prison, where he makes friends with Ice Cool (TREACH) and soon the two plan to bust out of prison, collect the loot, and get the bad guys that set Harlan up.
TODAY YOU DIE: Review.
I'll be honest, and say this is a major improvement on SUBMERGED. Despite warnings that SEAGAL was doubled everywhere (i can confirm that he is NOT) i was surprised at the number of fight scenes. The first sort of action, is where SEAGAL dispatches two goons with their own shotgun (that wonderful twisty gun turnaround thing, he's so good at)
The next scene is pretty much NOT SEAGAL at all (apart from a few shots) and it shows. The double is shown from the neck down, and is rather slimmer than SEAGAL (who i will say is looking slimmer, anyhow) this scene involves a few arm twists, and throwing a guy through a table......but as it's not really SEAGAL, i won't dwell on it.
Then the next non-fight action scene, comes in the form of a spectacular truck chase through LAS VEGAS (of course this footage is from TOP OF THE WORLD, the 1998 PETER WELLER action-fest) To the novice viewer, this scene is edited into the surounding material, pretty well. They have carefully chosen the right sequences to fit the story (as i know some of that original footage consisted of PETER WELLER hanging on top of the truck, being chased) SEAGAL finds himself being constantly harrassed by a female DEA agent (and ex SUNSET BEACH actress.......she could take down my particulars, anytime!) but SEAGAL plays dumb, and refuses tyo let on about the whereabouts of the $20m. She and her uptight (slightly sinister boss) appear throughout. As does SEAGAL's mystical wife (neither of them, adding much to the plot?)
The next FIGHT scene happens at the prison, and it's pretty brutal. I've slowed it down, and although quick, it seems like SEAGAL. He fights off two guys in the prison yard who demand money off him. It's a return to form, of the fast, brutal knock em' downs that SEAGAL does so well.
Just after this, he makes friends with TREACH, and this is where some of the problems start....
You see, for years, i've always thought STEVEN SEAGAL was white.....but not so, as this movie would have you believe. As soon as TREACH comes into proceeedings, SEAGAL acts all 'gangster', his 'southern drawl' becomes more apparent. It wouldn't be so bad if he acted like this from the start, but to switch attitudes at the 30 minute mark, is a quibble (albeit, a minor quibble)
No more than 5 minutes later, we are treated to more (undoubled) SEAGAL brutality, as he corners a inmate, who's connected to the guys who set him up. SEAGAL gets all foul mouthed (and foul minded) as he beats the guy down, then snaps his arm) The guy threatens SEAGAL with "I'm gonna cut your f**king heart out" (shades of HARD TO KILL) SEAGAL replies with "Be my motherf**king guest".....good stuff, indeed!
Nearing the halfway mark, and prior to his and TREACH's escape, SEAGAL beats a guard (in what looks like a killer AIKIDO move, in which he hits a guy from both angles, the neck and the chest.....in what i believe, would break the guys neck, if done for real)
After the two escape (by hellicopter) there's some pretty bad CGI backdrop of the prison (but most other location shots were lifted from UNDISPUTED anyhow!)
About 10 minutes later, SEAGAL punches a guy in the face, and proceeds to question him in a car. When the guy struggles SEAGAL shoots him, then he and TREACH blow the car up. As they walk away (with classic 80's style explosion in the background) SEAGAL's voice is clearly dubbed. This is the only time i noticed any dubbing (if there's any more, they must be few and far between) because on my first viewing, i only spotted this part.
Next up (at the hour mark) SEAGAL beats up the only survivor of a drug war shoot em' up, which has little relevence to the plot. But SEAGAL beats up on him (quite hard and fast kick and punch combo's), then sticks his head in a vice (CASINO, anyone?) gets the relevent (and at this point, highly confusing) information out of him, before TREACH shoots the informer dead dead.
Ten minutes later, SEAGAL kinocks out (real life UFC champ) RANDY COUTURE in a quick display of aikido )this sequence IS SEAGAL...nice and fast)
Upon knocking out COUTURE, SEAGAL is then met with another adversary, but this fight (minus a few shots of SEAGAL) is terribly doubled.
After dealing with the hired help, SEAGAL then turns on their employer, and after a lengthy arm twisting inducement, SEAGAL gets the relevent info, but not before knocking the guy out. He also gives COUTURE a second pasting on his way out, with a knee to the face.
After finally getting the drop on the #1 bad guy who set him up, SEAGAL corners him (and he shows SEAGAL a picture of his young daughter....more about her later), but one of his goons shows up (then shows off) his acrobatic fighting skills, SEAGAL calmly pulls out his gun, and blows him away (quite a funny scene!) The #1 bad guy doesn't get much further as well, as SEAGAL has previously planted a bomb on his getaway hellicopter (explosion footage from UNSTOPPABLE, no less!)
The scene then cuts to a meeting of SEAGAL and the bad guys financial backers, who want the money that SEAGAL knows the whereabouts of. The female DEA agent (who's been stalking SEAGAL throughout the course of the movie) turns up, and things look saved, untill her crooked superior turns up, in cahoots with the villains (shades of EXIT WOUNDS) A blood-splattered shootout occurs, and (a doubled) SEAGAL throws a bad guy around a little, and then out of a high rise window. TREACH gets a bit of gunplay, shoots the bad guy backer. Seagal saves the female DEA agent, by shooting her crooked superior, with a head shot that GEORGE A ROMERO would be proud of. SEAGAL and TREACH (with DEA agent in tow) blow up the scene of the shoot-out (utilizing footage from NO CODE OF CONDUCT) and a rather lame CGI backdrop.
In the epilogue sequence, SEAGAL and TREACH split the money. SEAGAL uses his 'cut' to re-open the closed down childrens home, so at least after all the violence, there's a nice happy ending. Although i did find it weird that the #1 bad guys (now orphaned.....thanks to SEAGAL) young daughter, features at the end, in the childrens home sequence....talk about hypocritical, STEVEN you put HER in there, by killing her father!!!
TODAY YOU DIE: Pro's
This movie, without a doubt, has some brutal stuff. SEAGAL seems angry when cornering his prey, and the action IS quite raw. He certainly seems to be swearing a lot in this one, as does everyone else (the word motherf**ker is said more than once, by nearly EVERY character) and despite the 'rap' wordplay in the jeep with TREACH, SEAGAL shows he's still got the speed, the power and (when required) the energy, to still be doing this stuff (i swear, he hit's just as hard in this movie, than even his ABOVE THE LAW days!) Some of the supporting cast were good, and the editing was good (although i knew scenes from other movies were spliced into proceedings) and despite seeing a few mentions of Bulgaria in the credits, this at least LOOKED like a U.S lensed movie.
TODAY YOU DIE: Cons
TREACH was very good in LOVE AND A BULLET, but is given little to do, but be a 'gangster-rap-spouting' sidekick, in this movie. SEAGAL's wife (although rather pretty, and not as young as his recent leading ladies) was a pointless character. Her mystical visions and dreams, added up to a whole lot of nothing, come the end of the movie. And as i've previously mentioned, SEAGAL seemed a bit TOO calm, when goofing around with TREACH (and trying to sound all 'black') A few other minor situations, like the drug war shootout (which although violent) served little purpose. s
Some ropey CGI. And oh yeah, ditch that long brown leather coat STEVEN, it does you no favours.
TODAY YOU DIE: Final thoughts
Although there are some cons (no pun intended) they don't outweigh the pro's. SEAGAL is given more to do (there's short glimpses of his old OUT FOR JUSTICE mannerisms and attitude, here and there) and despite the borrowed action sequences, there's enough action to satisfy first-time viewers of SEAGAL (his die hard fans will be in heaven.....just as long as you're not expecting another big budget UNDER SEIGE 2 type blockbuster) What SEAGAL needs to do now, is drop the fight doubles (if they'd have been cut out of this movie, they'd have still been enough action done by SEAGAL) and put the same level of menace and seriousness to his overall performance (and not just the threatening fight scenes) It's clear he was having fun, making this, but it sometimes shows in his acting. And all this smiling, causes serious dents to an otherwise OK revenge plot.
But quite frankly, i'm not complaining. For a low budget movie, TODAY YOU DIE delivers the goods, in a violent and simplistic manner (despite a few complex red herrings here and there)
I'm pleasantly surprised at this movie, and i hope to watch it again soon ( i hope my pleasure does not dilute, over repeated viewings?)
7 and a half, out of 10
STEVEN SEAGAL plays Harlan banks, a criminal with a kind streak. He (and his mystic wife) wants him go straight. But an honest job, transfering money from a vegas casino, soon turns deadly, as a robbery occurs. After a spectacular chase, Harlan crashes the van (with the $20m contents) and swears blind he cannot remember it's whereabouts. Harlan is caught, but refuses to divulge where he hid the money. He is sent to prison, where he makes friends with Ice Cool (TREACH) and soon the two plan to bust out of prison, collect the loot, and get the bad guys that set Harlan up.
TODAY YOU DIE: Review.
I'll be honest, and say this is a major improvement on SUBMERGED. Despite warnings that SEAGAL was doubled everywhere (i can confirm that he is NOT) i was surprised at the number of fight scenes. The first sort of action, is where SEAGAL dispatches two goons with their own shotgun (that wonderful twisty gun turnaround thing, he's so good at)
The next scene is pretty much NOT SEAGAL at all (apart from a few shots) and it shows. The double is shown from the neck down, and is rather slimmer than SEAGAL (who i will say is looking slimmer, anyhow) this scene involves a few arm twists, and throwing a guy through a table......but as it's not really SEAGAL, i won't dwell on it.
Then the next non-fight action scene, comes in the form of a spectacular truck chase through LAS VEGAS (of course this footage is from TOP OF THE WORLD, the 1998 PETER WELLER action-fest) To the novice viewer, this scene is edited into the surounding material, pretty well. They have carefully chosen the right sequences to fit the story (as i know some of that original footage consisted of PETER WELLER hanging on top of the truck, being chased) SEAGAL finds himself being constantly harrassed by a female DEA agent (and ex SUNSET BEACH actress.......she could take down my particulars, anytime!) but SEAGAL plays dumb, and refuses tyo let on about the whereabouts of the $20m. She and her uptight (slightly sinister boss) appear throughout. As does SEAGAL's mystical wife (neither of them, adding much to the plot?)
The next FIGHT scene happens at the prison, and it's pretty brutal. I've slowed it down, and although quick, it seems like SEAGAL. He fights off two guys in the prison yard who demand money off him. It's a return to form, of the fast, brutal knock em' downs that SEAGAL does so well.
Just after this, he makes friends with TREACH, and this is where some of the problems start....
You see, for years, i've always thought STEVEN SEAGAL was white.....but not so, as this movie would have you believe. As soon as TREACH comes into proceeedings, SEAGAL acts all 'gangster', his 'southern drawl' becomes more apparent. It wouldn't be so bad if he acted like this from the start, but to switch attitudes at the 30 minute mark, is a quibble (albeit, a minor quibble)
No more than 5 minutes later, we are treated to more (undoubled) SEAGAL brutality, as he corners a inmate, who's connected to the guys who set him up. SEAGAL gets all foul mouthed (and foul minded) as he beats the guy down, then snaps his arm) The guy threatens SEAGAL with "I'm gonna cut your f**king heart out" (shades of HARD TO KILL) SEAGAL replies with "Be my motherf**king guest".....good stuff, indeed!
Nearing the halfway mark, and prior to his and TREACH's escape, SEAGAL beats a guard (in what looks like a killer AIKIDO move, in which he hits a guy from both angles, the neck and the chest.....in what i believe, would break the guys neck, if done for real)
After the two escape (by hellicopter) there's some pretty bad CGI backdrop of the prison (but most other location shots were lifted from UNDISPUTED anyhow!)
About 10 minutes later, SEAGAL punches a guy in the face, and proceeds to question him in a car. When the guy struggles SEAGAL shoots him, then he and TREACH blow the car up. As they walk away (with classic 80's style explosion in the background) SEAGAL's voice is clearly dubbed. This is the only time i noticed any dubbing (if there's any more, they must be few and far between) because on my first viewing, i only spotted this part.
Next up (at the hour mark) SEAGAL beats up the only survivor of a drug war shoot em' up, which has little relevence to the plot. But SEAGAL beats up on him (quite hard and fast kick and punch combo's), then sticks his head in a vice (CASINO, anyone?) gets the relevent (and at this point, highly confusing) information out of him, before TREACH shoots the informer dead dead.
Ten minutes later, SEAGAL kinocks out (real life UFC champ) RANDY COUTURE in a quick display of aikido )this sequence IS SEAGAL...nice and fast)
Upon knocking out COUTURE, SEAGAL is then met with another adversary, but this fight (minus a few shots of SEAGAL) is terribly doubled.
After dealing with the hired help, SEAGAL then turns on their employer, and after a lengthy arm twisting inducement, SEAGAL gets the relevent info, but not before knocking the guy out. He also gives COUTURE a second pasting on his way out, with a knee to the face.
After finally getting the drop on the #1 bad guy who set him up, SEAGAL corners him (and he shows SEAGAL a picture of his young daughter....more about her later), but one of his goons shows up (then shows off) his acrobatic fighting skills, SEAGAL calmly pulls out his gun, and blows him away (quite a funny scene!) The #1 bad guy doesn't get much further as well, as SEAGAL has previously planted a bomb on his getaway hellicopter (explosion footage from UNSTOPPABLE, no less!)
The scene then cuts to a meeting of SEAGAL and the bad guys financial backers, who want the money that SEAGAL knows the whereabouts of. The female DEA agent (who's been stalking SEAGAL throughout the course of the movie) turns up, and things look saved, untill her crooked superior turns up, in cahoots with the villains (shades of EXIT WOUNDS) A blood-splattered shootout occurs, and (a doubled) SEAGAL throws a bad guy around a little, and then out of a high rise window. TREACH gets a bit of gunplay, shoots the bad guy backer. Seagal saves the female DEA agent, by shooting her crooked superior, with a head shot that GEORGE A ROMERO would be proud of. SEAGAL and TREACH (with DEA agent in tow) blow up the scene of the shoot-out (utilizing footage from NO CODE OF CONDUCT) and a rather lame CGI backdrop.
In the epilogue sequence, SEAGAL and TREACH split the money. SEAGAL uses his 'cut' to re-open the closed down childrens home, so at least after all the violence, there's a nice happy ending. Although i did find it weird that the #1 bad guys (now orphaned.....thanks to SEAGAL) young daughter, features at the end, in the childrens home sequence....talk about hypocritical, STEVEN you put HER in there, by killing her father!!!
TODAY YOU DIE: Pro's
This movie, without a doubt, has some brutal stuff. SEAGAL seems angry when cornering his prey, and the action IS quite raw. He certainly seems to be swearing a lot in this one, as does everyone else (the word motherf**ker is said more than once, by nearly EVERY character) and despite the 'rap' wordplay in the jeep with TREACH, SEAGAL shows he's still got the speed, the power and (when required) the energy, to still be doing this stuff (i swear, he hit's just as hard in this movie, than even his ABOVE THE LAW days!) Some of the supporting cast were good, and the editing was good (although i knew scenes from other movies were spliced into proceedings) and despite seeing a few mentions of Bulgaria in the credits, this at least LOOKED like a U.S lensed movie.
TODAY YOU DIE: Cons
TREACH was very good in LOVE AND A BULLET, but is given little to do, but be a 'gangster-rap-spouting' sidekick, in this movie. SEAGAL's wife (although rather pretty, and not as young as his recent leading ladies) was a pointless character. Her mystical visions and dreams, added up to a whole lot of nothing, come the end of the movie. And as i've previously mentioned, SEAGAL seemed a bit TOO calm, when goofing around with TREACH (and trying to sound all 'black') A few other minor situations, like the drug war shootout (which although violent) served little purpose. s
Some ropey CGI. And oh yeah, ditch that long brown leather coat STEVEN, it does you no favours.
TODAY YOU DIE: Final thoughts
Although there are some cons (no pun intended) they don't outweigh the pro's. SEAGAL is given more to do (there's short glimpses of his old OUT FOR JUSTICE mannerisms and attitude, here and there) and despite the borrowed action sequences, there's enough action to satisfy first-time viewers of SEAGAL (his die hard fans will be in heaven.....just as long as you're not expecting another big budget UNDER SEIGE 2 type blockbuster) What SEAGAL needs to do now, is drop the fight doubles (if they'd have been cut out of this movie, they'd have still been enough action done by SEAGAL) and put the same level of menace and seriousness to his overall performance (and not just the threatening fight scenes) It's clear he was having fun, making this, but it sometimes shows in his acting. And all this smiling, causes serious dents to an otherwise OK revenge plot.
But quite frankly, i'm not complaining. For a low budget movie, TODAY YOU DIE delivers the goods, in a violent and simplistic manner (despite a few complex red herrings here and there)
I'm pleasantly surprised at this movie, and i hope to watch it again soon ( i hope my pleasure does not dilute, over repeated viewings?)
7 and a half, out of 10
ExitWounds
I don't have rage.
TODAY YOU DIE
How to begin?
The fight scenes were ok. Some were done in a dark room and with our view of Harlan being mostly from behind. I'm wondering if they don't have the budget to insure Seagal for his own fight scenes. Still, they get the job done, even if less spectacular than those in Into the Sun.
Audio. Ah, the infamous Seagal voiceovers. I find this to be one issue that has bugged me greatly in some of his recent films. I think it was Belly of the Beast that was one of the worst examples. Thankfully they were kept to a minimum here and had people who sounded somewhat like him.
Chemistry/Flow. The vibes between 'Harlan' and 'Ice' were good. The two had some understandin' rolling there and you could see it. The relationship didn't seem forced. Some of the villains seemed to be incomplete with a lot of fractured scenes confusing me as to how they fit in. The biggest confusion was that at the end with the little girl. Yeah, we saw her earlier, but how did we wind up having her connected with Knowles? Maybe I missed some dialogue? Dunno.
Overall.
Well this one had, for me anyway, better flow and more action than Submerged, but a little less than Into the Sun. I can't really compare it to Exit Wounds or Above the Law, but this was a decent action film and a good entry into my library.
How to begin?
The fight scenes were ok. Some were done in a dark room and with our view of Harlan being mostly from behind. I'm wondering if they don't have the budget to insure Seagal for his own fight scenes. Still, they get the job done, even if less spectacular than those in Into the Sun.
Audio. Ah, the infamous Seagal voiceovers. I find this to be one issue that has bugged me greatly in some of his recent films. I think it was Belly of the Beast that was one of the worst examples. Thankfully they were kept to a minimum here and had people who sounded somewhat like him.
Chemistry/Flow. The vibes between 'Harlan' and 'Ice' were good. The two had some understandin' rolling there and you could see it. The relationship didn't seem forced. Some of the villains seemed to be incomplete with a lot of fractured scenes confusing me as to how they fit in. The biggest confusion was that at the end with the little girl. Yeah, we saw her earlier, but how did we wind up having her connected with Knowles? Maybe I missed some dialogue? Dunno.
Overall.
Well this one had, for me anyway, better flow and more action than Submerged, but a little less than Into the Sun. I can't really compare it to Exit Wounds or Above the Law, but this was a decent action film and a good entry into my library.
Nick
The Writer
I don't know about mikek7316 being sick. I just found that Review if you can call it that to be hilarious. He is obviously a Fan with 65 posts but that Review just sounded awkward. I usually read such Reviews from Studio Plants. Planted to promote a Film.
(I don't know whether this Post was Deleted or not. If it was Serena who I am sure is under the anonymous status would you mind sending me a quick PM just to say it was in fact Deleted? It's just common courtesy TD does it after all and so do most moderators)
Nick your post wasn't removed. In the articles section all new posts are moderated before they appear. - Thanks, Craig
Thanks Craig
My Mistake
(I don't know whether this Post was Deleted or not. If it was Serena who I am sure is under the anonymous status would you mind sending me a quick PM just to say it was in fact Deleted? It's just common courtesy TD does it after all and so do most moderators)
Nick your post wasn't removed. In the articles section all new posts are moderated before they appear. - Thanks, Craig
Thanks Craig
My Mistake
Littledragon
Above The Law
My rating yet again, I gave this film a low 4/5 stars, because I loved the action, the action was very pleasing, little or no dubbing at all, and very few scenes where you could catch Seagal's double in for him.
mikek7316
Engorged Member
I'm glad Nick liked my review and found the humour in it. Sometimes its hard to say something good about a Seagal film without sounding like the back of the DVD case. If you think that review was good, you should check out my Into the Sun review- it's hilarious. Read it by clicking here: http://www.steven-seagal.net/forum/showpost.php?p=112635&postcount=133
mikek7316
Engorged Member
Review from Amazon
This is a fan review I found on Amazon, not as flattering to Mr. Seagal as my review was:
Today You Crap, September 25, 2005
Reviewer: SOIA1979 "Totally Sweet" (MD United States) - See all my reviews
September 13th 2005 heralded the release of 'Today You Die', Lord Steven Seagal's latest offering to his mass of devout followers. The movie, before its release, got a bit of a reputation due to the fact that the Lord was consistently late to set, usually left early, constantly changed the script, actors, etc. I also believe that Seagal is actually getting sued for his Lordly antics.
'Today You Die' has an inconceivable plot, but I will do my best: The Lordage is an ex-thief trying to go straight so he picks up a job as an armored car driver, only he's setup by some criminal mastermind named Max to take the fall for the robbery of the armored car. But somehow or other(its never really explained), the Lord does what the Lord does and ends up with the $20 million that Max was supposed to have stolen. The Lord is captured by the police and sent to prison(with no trial mind you). There he meets his apparently new best friend Ice(former Naughty By Nature rapper Treach in a truly Oscar-caliber performance). Well, the Lord and his new bosom buddy break out of prison. Of course the evil gangsters want the money that the Lord stole from them back. But Seagal can't let that happen. Its not really about the money, but more of a moral principle-type issue for him.
Now that is a much more coherent outline of what actually happens in 'Today You Die'. There's actually a whole lot more that I left out: Seagal's girlfriend's psychic visions which mean absolutely nothing to the film, the PMSing female cop who puts him in prison and then becomes his best buddy for no apparent reason once he breaks out, the second bad guy in the film that has nothing to do with the evil Max, and the little girl at the end of the movie who nevers appears or is even mentioned in the entire film but to Seagal apparently has some important connection . This movie makes no sense at all. None.
Now, onto the Lordage: he actually looks as if he's slimmed down a bit(maybe dropping from 350 pounds to around 320). His hair is disguistingly nappy and he doesn't even bother ponytailing it; it just hangs limply over his collar in total mullet fashion. There are a couple bright spots here though: #1) there's minimal dubbing of the Lord's voice by someone else(see 'Out Of Reach' or 'Submerged' for some examples of how not to dub someone's voice)and #2) Seagal rocks a totally sweet brown pleather coat for about half the film.
With the film's excessive use of stock footage from other direct-to-DVD films, overly obvious use of a stunt double for Seagal(even in situations where no stunts are involved), horrible editing, and a completely nonsensical and confusing plot 'Today You Die' is easily Seagal's laziest film to date.
I'd tell you to save your time and skip it, but every other Seagal fan out there like me will go buy 'Today You Die' and watch it anyway. So if you must watch it, there are only three amusing things to look for: Seagal's sweet pleather jacket, the Lord talking Jive to his new black buddy, and Seagal swinging on a chandolier. Hilarious.
I love the Lord and would give him my first born, but why does he torture me with filth like this so often?
This is a fan review I found on Amazon, not as flattering to Mr. Seagal as my review was:
Today You Crap, September 25, 2005
Reviewer: SOIA1979 "Totally Sweet" (MD United States) - See all my reviews
September 13th 2005 heralded the release of 'Today You Die', Lord Steven Seagal's latest offering to his mass of devout followers. The movie, before its release, got a bit of a reputation due to the fact that the Lord was consistently late to set, usually left early, constantly changed the script, actors, etc. I also believe that Seagal is actually getting sued for his Lordly antics.
'Today You Die' has an inconceivable plot, but I will do my best: The Lordage is an ex-thief trying to go straight so he picks up a job as an armored car driver, only he's setup by some criminal mastermind named Max to take the fall for the robbery of the armored car. But somehow or other(its never really explained), the Lord does what the Lord does and ends up with the $20 million that Max was supposed to have stolen. The Lord is captured by the police and sent to prison(with no trial mind you). There he meets his apparently new best friend Ice(former Naughty By Nature rapper Treach in a truly Oscar-caliber performance). Well, the Lord and his new bosom buddy break out of prison. Of course the evil gangsters want the money that the Lord stole from them back. But Seagal can't let that happen. Its not really about the money, but more of a moral principle-type issue for him.
Now that is a much more coherent outline of what actually happens in 'Today You Die'. There's actually a whole lot more that I left out: Seagal's girlfriend's psychic visions which mean absolutely nothing to the film, the PMSing female cop who puts him in prison and then becomes his best buddy for no apparent reason once he breaks out, the second bad guy in the film that has nothing to do with the evil Max, and the little girl at the end of the movie who nevers appears or is even mentioned in the entire film but to Seagal apparently has some important connection . This movie makes no sense at all. None.
Now, onto the Lordage: he actually looks as if he's slimmed down a bit(maybe dropping from 350 pounds to around 320). His hair is disguistingly nappy and he doesn't even bother ponytailing it; it just hangs limply over his collar in total mullet fashion. There are a couple bright spots here though: #1) there's minimal dubbing of the Lord's voice by someone else(see 'Out Of Reach' or 'Submerged' for some examples of how not to dub someone's voice)and #2) Seagal rocks a totally sweet brown pleather coat for about half the film.
With the film's excessive use of stock footage from other direct-to-DVD films, overly obvious use of a stunt double for Seagal(even in situations where no stunts are involved), horrible editing, and a completely nonsensical and confusing plot 'Today You Die' is easily Seagal's laziest film to date.
I'd tell you to save your time and skip it, but every other Seagal fan out there like me will go buy 'Today You Die' and watch it anyway. So if you must watch it, there are only three amusing things to look for: Seagal's sweet pleather jacket, the Lord talking Jive to his new black buddy, and Seagal swinging on a chandolier. Hilarious.
I love the Lord and would give him my first born, but why does he torture me with filth like this so often?
Littledragon
Above The Law
I Liked Today You Die Alot As Well!!
Yes!! Me too Serena, way better than Out Of Reach, way way better than Submerged, more enjoying then Into The Sun, more watchable then Belly Of The Beast, but I did like Out For A Kill better than Today You Die
, but I think Today You Die is his best recent release so far!!
Serena said:Finally saw it. I liked it a lot.
Yes!! Me too Serena, way better than Out Of Reach, way way better than Submerged, more enjoying then Into The Sun, more watchable then Belly Of The Beast, but I did like Out For A Kill better than Today You Die
, but I think Today You Die is his best recent release so far!!
_Steven Seagal_
New Member
I also watched the movie and it was his best DVD-Movie, really! The Fights were spectacular and Steven much better than in other dtv-movies. I think it is impossible that Black Dawn can top this movie. Steven ist back!
8,5/10
8,5/10
Littledragon
Above The Law
_Steven Seagal_ said:
I totally agree with you! I am glad you liked the film as much as I did. Also I am glad you are giving it the credit that it deserves.
ShotoScorpion
Child of the Night
I think that it doesnt quite have Into the Sun topped, but it destroys Submerged and Out of Reach......close to Belly of the Beast in my opinion. Overall it was enjoyable....it was good to see Seagal with a little old attitude back "I dont think f**k you was there!!!". Hahaha. The fights were good when he was in them...and the amount of action was definitely satisfactory....it was also refreshing to see him in a more unconventional role (as opposed to an Ex CIA agent) and it seemed like he enjoyed himself. The chemistry between him and Treach was sub par and I dont understand why he spoke differently when around him, but what the hell....he was probably just trying to appeal to his urban fanbase. Overall, a good effort......rating on my Seagal-O-Meter - 7.5/10
Today, Today You Die was released here in Holland. I just finished watchting the movie. I think this is his best DTV so far. It made me think of Seagal's old school action movies. Seagal is tougher and rougher in Today You Die. I like that. His latest DTV movies were a little boring sometimes, because they didn't have a lot action (Out of Reach, Into The Sun), but Today You Die is pure entertainment from start to finish! And very important to me also: there was no voicedubbing (maybe 2 sentences). The only thing bad about the movie is the storyline. It's not very clear. But it never minds if you have Seagal kicking, screaming, shouting and shooting for almost the whole movie. Just entertainment guys!!! I really liked this one!