Exciting and moving action film in which Antonio Banderas seeks revenge when his family is attacked by some ruthless people . A cathartic vengeance drama that delivers vicarious thrills for anyone who has ever felt outraged yet helpless about crime and disorder . A reboot from the successful crime thrillers that created the revenge genre to deliver expeditive justice with Antonio Banderas as the main star . Concerning an experienced lawyer Frank Valera : Banderas , a man who has spent his life as a prestigious advocate in law -and who only sees the aftermath of his city's violence at the criminal court -, turns an investigator after an attack on his family and taking the law into his own hands as a judge , jury and executioner . This new vendetta movie with excessive violence concerns a middle-aged and fast-talking lawyer following the classic doctrine from Roman Emperator ¨Marcus Aurelius¨ and his ¨Meditations¨ writings , as he transforms his body and takes a vow of silence, not to be broken until he finds out who killed his spouse and daughter and has his vengeance . As he turns the one-man vigilante rushed in extreme violence when his family is assaulted by furious people , as his wife is attacked and elementary school-age daughter are murdered . Then he embarks on his own mission for justice , stalking the slums of overloaded crimes , and taking the law into his own hands , searching vendetta on vicious crooks , making the neighborhood safer and along the way bumping off some criminals , assailants and other street scum as the panderers who exploit a teen to prostitute herself . Meanwhile , a police chief : Johnathon Schaech is investigating the grisly killings but it goes wrong . Along the way , Varela is supported and helped by a good wowan : Paz Vega . At the end , fury , retribution and fate collide between Varela and a cruel enemy . They came for his family. Now he's coming for them. How Far Would You Go To Protect Your Family?. Payback Speaks Louder Than Words .
This acceptable film made in ¨Death wish¨style contains suspense , noisy action-packed , intrigue , thrills , shootouts , twists , turns and loads of violence . Dealing with an avenger , burning for revenge , hunts for his family's murderers , as he decides to fight back against the rising tide of crime , one can't help but feel a sense of empowerment, making the film a whole lot of fun for armchair revengers , though , at times , it looks increasingly passsionless and mechanical . Outside of the moral questions that this picture throws up, resulting to be an account of a society that can't protect the honest , as the film packs a searingly brilliant turn from Antonio Banderas , he is an important solicitor become involved in a dangerous investigation and a merciless retribution . Antonio Banderas in his usual acting style , displays efficiently his skills in ¨Charles Bronson's Death wish¨ and ¨Clint Eastwood's Harry the Dirty¨ wake and killing mercilessly nasties . It's certainly thrilling , though the morality may be questionable , even in this time, as the spectators were clearly on the Varela/Banderas' side . It is strangely compelling and taps into some
sensitive souls . Furthermore , here appears a nice secondary cast , such as : Karl Urban , Paz Vega , Robert Forster , Cristina Serafini , Johnathon Schaech and a brief cameo by Isaac Floreentine himself as a Karate Sensei .
It packs a stirring and thrilling musical score composed, orchestrated and performed by Frederik Wiedmann. As well as atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Yaron Scharf. The motion picture was professionally directed by Isaac Florentine , though with no originality . Valentine is a notorious actor/producer/writer/filmmaker , an expert on action and violent movies . Isaac cut his teeth in the American film industry working as a fight choreographer and a second unit director. Two-and-a-half years later, he directed his first feature, Desert Kickboxer. Despite its hectic sixteen-day schedule and ultra-low budget, Isaac's inspired direction was so impressive that HBO bought the film. Issac has directed the following ones : Indisputed II , Indisputed III , Ninja , Ninja II , Sofia , U.S. Seals II , Cold Harvest , Haigh voltage , Bridge of Dragons ,The Shepherd , Special Forces , Acts of vengeance and his last one : Seized. Since then, he has worked steadily as a director in film and television, and he continues to impress people with his creative visual style. Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent and acceptable action movie.
