His bodyguard style is much entertaining. I could watch it all up until certain point. Then it seems Denzels character goes against his usual serious bodyguard style. Only to progress the plot. That is when I turn this movie off
Wuchak
Jul 8, 2021
7/10
The Punisher in Mexico City, albeit black
A disillusioned ex-CIA operative (Denzel Washington) gets a gig in Mexico as the bodyguard of a precocious girl (Dakota Fanning) from a wealthy family. Christopher Walken plays his friend, Radha Mitchell the mother of the girl and Mickey Rourke an attorney of the family.
“Man on Fire” is a crime drama/thriller that debuted five days after Thomas Jane’s “The Punisher” in 2004. While “Man of Fire” was based on a novel by A.J. Quinnell and “The Punisher” was based on the Marvel Comics’ character, they’re both about men who suffer great tragedy and enact merciless strategies to take out the criminals responsible. They’re about on par, but I give this one the edge as it has more dramatic depth and flashier filmmaking by director Tony Scott (which some may find annoying). But neither is as supremely effective as the later “Taken” (2008).
Some complain that the movie’s “schizophrenic” because it’s like two movies stitched together, but don’t all revenge stories have a set-up for the oncoming revenge part? This one just has a longer and more satisfying set-up.
The film runs 2 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot mostly in Mexico City.
GRADE: B
Narate
Jul 8, 2021
9/10
"Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting."
Denzel is always amazing in any movie. Most of this movies are just top tier as is, but this one really sticks out to me now that I am a parent. I would have this kind of fire in me if anything happened to my kid. The colors, editing, acting, even the violence is perfect in this.
