Eraser: Reborn

I enjoyed to original and wanted to enjoy this but at no point during the film did I feel engaged in it.

The film has a TV show vibe about it, they've transformed the hero into a ninja for some reason and the film overall lacks the jokey charm of Schwarzenegger.

Watch the original again, you'll have more fun.

I just rewatched the first Eraser movie to get in the mood for this. And as I imagined, this actually is not a sequel but rather a remake. Or a reboot ... or a well "reborn" as they call the movie. Now if you have seen the original you may ask: do I need to watch this? It depends - if you have the other one fresh in memory and you remember it fondly, it is better to avoid this.

For some reason the german distribution thought this would make a good theatrical release movie. And I guess it is nice to see any movie on the big screen. The main actor is not worse compared to Arnold when it comes to acting - which is not me being mean to any or both of them. He actually has some charisma too - not as much as Arnold has though. The main point is that the bad guy is way better in the original. If you know who I am talking about, you can figure out who it'll be here.

All that aside: there is some good decent action in the movie and I've seen worse movies. The CGI is not good though and it almost completely destroys the enviromental message it is trying to deliver. Especially the last bit (he went for a ride is replacing the caught a train one liner - which you may find funny or not).

Overall there are some tweaks to certain plot points but you will see the changes and can guess them or where the movie is going. The new Vanessa Williams is also really good looking ... and she knows what she wants too ... I also saw that she and the main actor did a tv show together. At least a few episodes I reckon. But they know each other, which I think is something that helped their on screen energy and chemistry. This is a direct to dvd/streaming title - expect to get that.

The new take on the Eraser is not in the same league as the original film.

This knock off has a made for streaming platform feel. Everything is "alright', its competently done but hardly an immersive experience, either.

One perhaps for a slow day or evening, just don't expect anything close to the Arnie original.

5/10.

Yikes. Everything here is TERRIBLE. Badly written story, badly acted, full of uninspired identical fist fights and some shooting that looks like all other low-budget fares ... perhaps except for even more CGI bullethits. It was SO hard to get through and the two stars are for the DOP who somehow managed to film some scenes that looked better planned than what the rest of the movie delivered. After 100 minutes of this I hoped someone would erase all of me, and not just my brain, which the movie managed just fine.

Just stick with the Arnold-movie. You'll be better off.

Someone, somewhere read this script and decided to put up the cash to make it. Imagine that?!

The threadbare plot involving a crypto wallet isn't even revealed until halfway through the film. The stakes couldn't be any lower and by then, no one cares. There's no character development. We're not even sure of the relationship between Pollard and Whitlock.

The original is so underrated. Great acting (even from the bit players), high stakes, James Caan as the double crossing mentor, some fantastic stunts and set pieces.

Eraser: Reborn doesn't even come close. The substitute for the crocodile scene is embarrassing. Pollard is revealed to be some sort of Dr. Dolittle who can talk to the animals.

As the film approaches its climax, it becomes even more boring. How did they let that happen?

I've given it 2/10 for the cinematography which is mostly pretty good.