Shoot 'Em Up

This film is a brilliant showcase of the current state of the middle-of-the-road commercial mainstream of Hollywood's wannabe cool modern production, and I wouldn't hesitate to say that it's pretty shitty. The film is full of cool quotes, the action is even more action-packed, the biggest tough guy is even tougher, and the sex bombs are even sexier (which is actually the only thing that didn’t bother me). If this mess was supposed to directly parody or imitate some famous films of the past, it failed. You won't see anything more stupid in the cinema this year. I don't understand those star names, I don't understand the incredibly confusing and bad action scenes, I don't understand this whole garbage wannabe stylish action flick. It might make you laugh at times, but certainly not in the right sense. A giant piece of crap. (11/26/2007)

I really enjoyed this. Stylish, but above all a parody, very much a parody. Awash with testosterone to the point that it can't be taken seriously for even a split second. It flies in all directions, sometimes toward Bond, other times toward Tarantino. I had fun, and except for a few cardboard scenes, the film is energetic and has a contagious appeal. Owen with carrots = love it. This film was made so you could turn off your brain and enjoy yourself. As stupid as MOTORHEAD hits and just as catchy. Fuck off fucking fuckers! (11/11/2009)

The biggest plus of this film lies in promoting carrots as a vegetable with beneficial effects on human health. It was saved from being rubbish by this enlightenment, the fact that I really like Clive Owen, and the fact that Paul Giamatti is a very good actor. Otherwise, I cannot find even a hint of quality. The script looks like it was written by a twelve-year-old teenager with a slight mental retardation, the dialogues are absolutely terrible, all the lines incredibly awkward, the action scenes kitschy, and the contribution to world cinematography, let alone to action films, equals zero. I'm sorry that Clive Owen appeared in something like this at all, if he continues like this, his best performance will be a twenty-second commercial for Lancome-Hypnose. And why did the exaggeration bother me so much here unlike say with the Courier? Because for Jason Statham, this is probably the maximum, but from Clive Owen, I would expect much more. (01/12/2010)

"A bulletproof vest is a better investment than a cradle." It’s quite action-packed with an interesting villain, but not interestingly written or played. Paul Giamatti is just great. Clive Owen fits into his role well, a good tough guy. There are interesting moments, yet sometimes it’s also quite sterile. It's not as entertaining as it appears, but it occasionally grabs the viewer with its action sequences. I'm giving out some very high ratings today. Actually, no. For those poor special effects, I can only give it an average rating. (03/19/2014)

Fortunately, this movie is as much fun as it is stupid. Inspired by Woo’s Hard Boiled, this film presents non-stop action entertainment for uncritical fans of 1980s action movies and classic rock hits. As for me, I preferred Paul Oakenfold in the scene with cars and a toddler on the road. It’s interesting to watch Clive Owen repeat his role from Children of Men in such a different film, and it suits him just as well. (11/05/2007)