Shoot 'Em Up (2007) - Originally Written December 12, 2012

Watching the Movie:

The first time through, it's really easy just to call it a big dumb action movie and call it a day. It does have an incredible body count, some fantastic action scenes, and quite the manly soundtrack. It's a really fun visceral experience; but it does have the roller coaster affect of diminishing returns with repeated viewings.

Screening the film: 

Man vs Man, battle tactics (particularly with focus on the surrounding environment), the family dynamic (particularly with focus on both motherhood and fatherhood), man vs society, political regimes and policy making, and oh yeah; there may be one or two images about artisans and their tools; in this case assassins and GUNS.

Best Quotation/Dialogue: 

"Do you know why Americans love guns, Mr. Hertz? And it's got nothing to do with all that phallic mumbo-jumbo, "cockin' your gun." No, Hertz, people love guns because America is a land of opportunity, where a poor man can become rich, and a pussy can become a tough guy, if he's got a gun in his hand. Now, I'm hopin' you're not just a pussy with a gun in your hand."

The Bottom Line:

2006 and 2007 were GREAT years for big dumb action movies, and SEU was pretty much lost in the shuffle. It was one of the first movies I bought on Blu-Ray after I got my PS3 because I found it essentially in the value bin. However, Given the recent outcry by Bob Costas over the Jovan Belcher situation (and the resulting outcry by everyone NOT named Bob Costas for Bob Costas being pretty much an idiot), this was actually a fairly timely review, and actually does the best job balancing big stupid action and a pretty decent message as a film. It's not a masterpiece, but it does belong on any male movie buff's shelf.

4 out of 5.

 

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