Message Man

I get it when people compare this to John Wick ... remember though this has not nearly that budget Wick had. So this is low budget action and it shows at certain points (or even throughout). One of the main things is the CGI blood. I don't mind it, but it is quite obvious and some may take offense to it.

So a nice action movie with some interesting stunts. Some feel a bit cheated (when there is many cuts, but that is someting that bigger budget movies do too, so don't be offended by it), but there are also some elaborate longer shots that have been choreographed quite well. Story wise there is not a lot ... and the message man is not quite alone (which would be another major difference between him and Wick - or how Wick began at least) ... Watch it if you like B-Action movies

Can't believe it's got a 6 stars rating. It starts off predictably and carries on being so. We've all seen the film's like that. Bourne too. Predictable but I enjoy them. Only this one doesn't have Damon in it so it's better. Hats off to the whole production team. Even better than the Bond franchise. And by that I mean the good ones. Daniel Craig. I do hope there's a follow up.

I'll make this short and sweet, with no spoilers.

First, it should be noted that the basic storyline & plot is nothing prophetic. Heck...nearly every Clint Eastwood western has a similar plot, so...yeh...it's been done. It's been done A LOT! But it's never been done in beautiful Indonesia, and aside from Paul O'brien, it's an almost completely local (ie Indonesian) cast.

Second, by filming in such an amazingly picturesque locale - even in the slums of one- the cinematography really shines. The first 30 minutes or so emphasizes the location as the backstories are provided. Interestingly, even though it's the "same old story," by having no-name actors in an unfamiliar place, it doesn't feel like the same old thing.

With respect to its specific characteristics, the film is fairly well done. The directing is very good. There was obviously a clear vision for this film and the director captured the story well. The acting is also good. The script, at times, tries "making" the characters more descript, which was unnecessary, as the actors did not need this treatment. Beyond this minimal positing the script was adequate. The editing was a little shaky at times, but more related to the action sequences. When not working with seasoned martial artists it can be tricky to film major action sequences, so there are some scenes that aren't as fluid as could be. This is not problematic, however, but a personal note. My biggest gripe, which is small, was the use of CGI blood and stylized violence. Personally, I prefer practical fx but for indie movies (ie low budget) it's often cheaper and easier to add blood in post. It's not a big deal and didn't ruin the movie, but a personal preference.

Overall, it was a fun watch. The 90 minutes went by in the blink of an eye, which is often the mark of a good movie. This film would appeal to any action movie fan.

Re: parental content:

• there are a couple of instances of profanity, but they are few and far between.
• there is no nudity of any kind, other than some scantily clad dancers
• no drug use, but a couple scenes with alcohol. It is not gratuitous in any way.
• loads of violence and killing. While there is NO gore content the body count on kills is high. Lots of stabbing, gun shots, severed limbs, and blood, but none of these are lingered on it shown in graphic detail. If blood is not your thing then this is probably not a movie you would enjoy.

I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it others. It is NOT a $100M Hollywood production so don't expect $100M worth of fx and extras. This in no way hampers the overall experience. At least not for me.

An entertaining action film, starting after the first 30 min. Before that there's not much going on, just some nice island shots and rather uninteresting scenes that are supposed to serve as some sort of introduction for the "heros" later motives, I suppose.

But then the real "story" (very basic) kicks in and along with it the action. Quite a couple of brutal knife killings and shootouts from there.

Some compare it to brilliant The Raid films as I read, but that's nonsense. While the knife action might be similar in brutality, the fight scenes are not not as many and they surely are not as well choreographed, definitely no Iko Uwais skills here. The takeouts are executed quickly and with lots of blood, tho.

Pretty entertaining, if you like a high bodycount.

John Wick, Indonesian style without the budget but same body count. However, this is and will never be as good as The Raid (1 & 2), but it helps passing the time. It's just "clean" fun.