Steven Seagal used to have a great movie career in the US. He seemed to make a comeback with EXIT WOUNDS, but soon he ended
up in the direct to video market. Some of his earlier movies were great (HARD TO KILL, MARKED FOR DEATH, UNDER SEIGE 2), but
his recent efforts like THE FOREIGNER and OUT FOR A KILL had me wondering if I would ever see a Steven Seagal movie that just
wasn't horrible.
OUT FOR A KILL is an improvement over THE FOREIGNER and OUT FOR A KILL (which had crappy camera work too). It displays
some wonderful Polish locations and architecture. There is even a gun fight in a high class brothel. The direction by Po Chih
Leong is smooth. The only thing that makes me wonder is that sometimes Steven Seagal doesn't sound like Steven Seagal like
Steven Seagal wasn't available to redubb lines, something was wrong with his voice, or Steven is trying to speak differently.
The movie does seem a little short as it clocks in at about 86 minutes with a few things left unanswered (resulting in a semi-weak
ending).
Steven Seagal plays William Lansing (aka Billy Ray Lansing) who is a former intelligence operative that goes to Poland
to find out what happened to the Polish teenage girl (at an orphanage) he has been corresponding with. He stumbles upon that
the orphanage is a front for a human trafficking network being run under the cover of the United Allied Nations and various
other foundations. Just sit back and don't dwell too much
VIDEO/AUDIO: The movie is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with English 5.1 Dolby digital. There are no other
language and no subtitle tracks. The picture is clear and all the colors are good except sometimes the blacks look a little
murky.
EXTRAS: There are preview trailers for HALF PAST DEAD, THE FOREIGNER, OUT FOR A KILL, 3 WAY, and BELLY OF THE BEAST.
FINAL ANALYSIS: OUT OF REACH is a better than the average Steven Seagal movie compared to THE FOREIGNER and OUT FOR A KILL.
It is a definite rental for Steven Seagal fans and people who want to see the fantastic Polish locations they used.
I am disappointed there are no subtitle or foreign language tracks. OUT OF REACH is a good way to fill 80 minutes
on a rainy day.
(ENTERLINE 3.49) this review is (c)7-5-2004 David Blackwell and this review can't be reprinted without permission. Send
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