16 BLOCKS

I WENT TO THIS MOVIE WITH THE IDEA THAT I WOULD HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ATTACKING IT WITH THE SAME ABANDON I EMPLOYED IN DETAILING THE FLAWS IN THE LATE AND NOT SO GREAT, FREEDOMLAND.
I SAW THE COMING ATTRACTION TRAILER FOR THIS MOVIE AND FIGURED THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD PULL OFF A FILM THAT HAS COPS SHOOTING AT COPS TO STOP MOS DEF FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE A GRAND JURY.
I WAS READY TO SAY THAT BRUCE WILLIS HAS FALLEN TO THE 'B' LIST OF HOLLYWOOD STARS.
I HAD THE KNIFE OUT TO CARVE UP THE VERY TALENTED MOS DEF, FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS TURKEY.
THIS LOOKED LIKE AN UPDATE OF THE 1977, CLINT EASTWOOD, NOTHING SPECIAL - ACTUALLY, SAD MOVIE, THE GAUNTLET.
THE PLOT IS MUCH THE SAME.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MISTAKEN FOR A BRAIN SURGEON, SO, IT COMES AS NO BIG SURPRISE THAT I WAS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY WRONG IN MY PREDICTION. THIS FILM IS THE REAL DEAL - THE ACTORS, WITH GREAT DIRECTION FROM RICHARD DONNER, HANDLE THE NEW YORK ENVIRONMENT WITH JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH, THE TOUCH THAT SIDNEY LUMET IS FAMOUS FOR -- IF THERE WAS A MISSTEP, I DIDN'T CATCH IT.
A BUS LOAD OF NEW YORKERS ARE TAKEN HOSTAGE AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE PLOT AND MOVING THE STORY, THEY ALL COOPERATE -- BUT THAT REACTION IS UNIQUELY NEW YORK, BEING HELD HOSTAGE IS NO BIG DEAL.
HEY, IF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IS NOT BEING DESTROYED, IT IS JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE BIG TOWN --- HIGH JACKING A BUS IS SMALL POTATOES. NO ONE WILL BE ASKING FOR THEIR MONEY BACK AT THE END OF THIS FILM. AND PLEASE, DON'T HATE MOS DEF FOR THAT ANNOYING VOICE, HE IS SUPPOSE TO BE ANNOYING AND HE CERTAINLY ACHIEVES THAT GOAL.
DAVID MORSE, AS THE INTELLIGENT, BUT HOPELESSLY CORRUPT COP, DOES HIS USUAL GOOD JOB -- AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT A FACE TO THE NAME, HE IS, LIKE PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, ALWAYS "THAT GUY."
I DON'T HAVE MY USUAL ENERGY WRITING THIS REACTION, SINCE THIS REACTION IS UNNECESSARY -- YOU ARE WASTING TIME HERE, WHEN YOU COULD BE HEADING OUT THE DOOR TO SEE 16 BLOCKS.
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ASIDE -- THERE WAS A COMING ATTRACTION TRAILER FOR BASIC INSTINCT 2 -THIS TWO MINUTE FEATURE WAS A NIGHTMARE - SHARON STONE, TRYING TO BE SEDUCTIVE, TWENTY PLUS YEARS DOWN THE ROAD - DOES NOT WORK.
I AM NOT WRONG ABOUT THIS TRAILER - WHEN YOU SEE THIS WOMAN TALKING SEXY AND YOU ARE SITTING THERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW OLD HER GRANDCHILDREN MUST BE - THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.
HOW DESPERATE FOR MONEY IS SHE, TO TAKE ON SUCH A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE ASSIGNMENT.
SHE IS FLASHING BODY PARTS AND YOUR BASIC INSTINCT IS TO LOOK AWAY.