TRASH IN MY EYE No. 26 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux
Game of Death (2010)
Running time: 86 minutes (1 hour, 26 minutes)
MPAA – R for violence and language
DIRECTOR: Giorgio Serafini
WRITERS: Jim Agnew and Megan Brown
PRODUCERS: Philippe Martinez, Rafael Primorac, Billy Dietrich
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Erik Curtis
EDITORS: Kevin Budzynski and Todd C. Ramsay
ACTION/THRILLER
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Gary Daniels, Zoe Bell, Robert Davi, Aunjanue Ellis, Quinn Duffy, Michael Maurice, and Ernie Hudson
Wesley Snipes’ latest straight-to-DVD thriller, Game of Death, only received a theatrical release in Japan. Game of Death is such a low budget action flick that it barely looks better than such high-end, television crime dramas as “NCIS: Los Angeles” and the 2010 “Hawaii Five-O.”
Game of Death centers on CIA Agent Marcus Jones (Wesley Snipes). Marcus has been assigned by his company mentor, Dietrich (Michael Maurice), to act as a bodyguard for an arms dealer, Frank Smith (Robert Davi). Smith has ties to the Detroit-based Redvale Corporation and its owner, John Redvale (Quinn Duffy). Marcus’ assignment is to gather intelligence on Smith and Redvale Corp. before taking them down.
The mission is complicated when Smith falls ill shortly after he and Marcus arrive in Detroit. The mission is compromised when a rogue CIA agent, Zander (Gary Daniels), and his team make a move to kidnap Smith at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Now, Marcus fights his way through a wave of assassins and killers, while Rachel (Aunjanue Ellis), a courageous doctor, tries to save Smith’s life.
Although it shares a title with the movie Bruce Lee was filming when he died in 1973, Snipes’ Game of Death is unlikely to become a legend among film fans. It isn’t bad. It’s just a mediocre movie all around, and what isn’t mediocre is amateurish or substandard – the directing and the writing. I watched this because I am a big fan of Wesley Snipes, but even I have to admit that it was not often I found something entertaining, interesting, or engaging about this movie. I forced myself to find something in this movie to like. If you like Wesley Snipes, rent Game of Death. Why? Just because…?
4 of 10
C
Friday, March 25, 2011
Game of Death (2010)
Running time: 86 minutes (1 hour, 26 minutes)
MPAA – R for violence and language
DIRECTOR: Giorgio Serafini
WRITERS: Jim Agnew and Megan Brown
PRODUCERS: Philippe Martinez, Rafael Primorac, Billy Dietrich
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Erik Curtis
EDITORS: Kevin Budzynski and Todd C. Ramsay
ACTION/THRILLER
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Gary Daniels, Zoe Bell, Robert Davi, Aunjanue Ellis, Quinn Duffy, Michael Maurice, and Ernie Hudson
Wesley Snipes’ latest straight-to-DVD thriller, Game of Death, only received a theatrical release in Japan. Game of Death is such a low budget action flick that it barely looks better than such high-end, television crime dramas as “NCIS: Los Angeles” and the 2010 “Hawaii Five-O.”
Game of Death centers on CIA Agent Marcus Jones (Wesley Snipes). Marcus has been assigned by his company mentor, Dietrich (Michael Maurice), to act as a bodyguard for an arms dealer, Frank Smith (Robert Davi). Smith has ties to the Detroit-based Redvale Corporation and its owner, John Redvale (Quinn Duffy). Marcus’ assignment is to gather intelligence on Smith and Redvale Corp. before taking them down.
The mission is complicated when Smith falls ill shortly after he and Marcus arrive in Detroit. The mission is compromised when a rogue CIA agent, Zander (Gary Daniels), and his team make a move to kidnap Smith at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Now, Marcus fights his way through a wave of assassins and killers, while Rachel (Aunjanue Ellis), a courageous doctor, tries to save Smith’s life.
Although it shares a title with the movie Bruce Lee was filming when he died in 1973, Snipes’ Game of Death is unlikely to become a legend among film fans. It isn’t bad. It’s just a mediocre movie all around, and what isn’t mediocre is amateurish or substandard – the directing and the writing. I watched this because I am a big fan of Wesley Snipes, but even I have to admit that it was not often I found something entertaining, interesting, or engaging about this movie. I forced myself to find something in this movie to like. If you like Wesley Snipes, rent Game of Death. Why? Just because…?
4 of 10
C
Friday, March 25, 2011
-----------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment