Opening Day: 27 September 2007

Synopsis:

A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a mysterious loner who teams up with an unlikely ally (Monica Belluci) to protect a newborn baby from a determined criminal (Paul Giamatti) who hunts them throughout the bowels of the city. Shoot ‘Em Up is written and directed by Michael Davis (Monster Man).

Movie Review:

With a title like Shoot 'Em Up, one can hardly expect this movie to have a decent plot and in-depth character developments. Instead the movie set out to live up to its billing by having the lead character blasting off the baddies akin to a first person shooting game right from the very start. Blood spills, over-the-top gun sequences and testosterone driven dialogues and actions are the true essence of this movie. Add to that, the ever voluptuous Monica Bellucci to steam up the screen, what we get is a "popcorn" movie that will surely appeal to the most nihilistic beast in all of us.

While the main cast hardly flex their acting chomps due obviously to the script and limited plot, we still get a somewhat entertaining performances from them. Both Owen and Giamatii when they are not trying to outsmart and outshoot each other, manage to squeeze in some considerable time partaking and exchanging some really cheesy dialogues with each other.

"You know what I really hate most?" muttered Owen with a deadpan expression over the bullet riddens body of Giamatti. "Pussy with guns." before pulling the trigger that blows the bugger's head off.

On the other hand, Monica Bellucci being Monica Bellucci, was obviously cast in the movie to up the sexual quotient and provide some eye candy relief to the general audience who has to sit through all the slaughtering and splattering of body parts on the big screen one scene after another.

The main attraction of the movie however is without a doubt the numerous gunfight scenes. While not as slick and balletic as those depicted in John Woo's movie, kudos must still be given to writer-director Michael Davis for devising and coming up with non-stop unique and innovative action pieces over the span of 86 minutes. He seems to relish upping the ante as the movie progresses along, from the bizarre to the simply outlandish. In one scene, we see Owen mows down Giamatti's henchmen with nonchalant ease while engaging in some hot steamy love-making with Belluci and in the other, we have Smith and the baddies, shooting at each other as they free fall through mid-air and finally culminating in the closing scene with Owen having the time of his life as he plays around with a bunch of dim-witted robbers using just his what else, gun and eh a stick of carrot.

Although not exactly smokin' hot, Shoot 'Em Up, with all its non-stop pulsating actions, corny quips and luscious sex scene, manage to provide the audience with just enough chessy B-movie entertainment on a lazy Saturday afternoon. And if you do intend to catch the movie, make a note to remind yourself to bring along a pair of earplugs for good measure.

Movie Rating:



(A good clean senseless fun of a movie that won't let you view a carrot the same way again)

Review by Chee Kong