Dumb, unbelievable action film, but jeeze, it's Seagal. At least he's lost the ponytail and he's not making the world safe for trees. Not quite as full of himself, in other words, but still pretty full. What made his first few films so terrific was his incorporation of real Aikido; eventually, he started doing something with only minimal relation to that art. Not to mention getting fat and pompous.
I've never been terribly bothered by the fact that the man can't act, because he was fun to watch. For years, though, he hasn't been fun and he still can't act. There's more action here, and less Steven Seagal standing around looking full of himself -- that's a big improvement right there.
I notice a lot of "who needs a plot, it's an action film!" comments on this and other movies. Action is great but a little effort on plot makes for a more interesting movie. Throwing in innumerable scenes set in topless joints (what is *that* all about?) doesn't make up for a storyline.
