Man on Fire

Denzel Washington is acting in this one...
It’s a fantastic film. I even caught the trailer.
An Oscar contender this year—well, technically for next year's ceremony...
Without a doubt...

A must-watch!

I just gave a quick Google search to remind myself of the cast for this one, but yeah, it’s another killer flick starring Denzel Washington, Mickey Rourke, Christopher Walken, and I think there was some other big name in there too, though their face is slipping my mind right now.

The whole plot revolves around some wealthy kids getting snatched up down in Mexico and the messy, violent struggle to get them back from the kidnappers. Honestly, it's a great movie—I won't bore you with the details, but it's definitely worth your time if you're looking for something to watch.

I caught it—it’s solid. It leans a bit too hard on dramatic shots, you know, all that shaky cam and constant zooming, and there were a few plot holes they just didn't bother explaining. They kept lingering on scars in almost every shot, implying they carry weight, but we’re left totally in the dark about what actually happened to cause them. It also could have used a tighter edit; it felt a little long 🙄
.
Still, despite those gripes—it's good. It really sticks with you. 👍

Has anyone else caught this movie yet? I actually sat down to watch it just yesterday 😁 Personally, I thought it was fantastic—truly great filmmaking—but I’ve been scratching my head over one thing: why on earth did Denzel Washington surrender to those idiots at the end? They were the ones who sent the pie over in the first place! Couldn't he have just turned around and walked away with her? 😁

I wanted to start this thread. Honestly, I hated the movie. The plot is halfway decent, but the execution is just gross. It feels like some flashy MTV direction from Tony Scott, packed with pointless scenes that drag the runtime out to two and a half hours... plus there’s no real ending and Marc Anthony is in it. All in all, I almost fell asleep.

Sure, the story holds up—though I have to admit, those frequent flashbacks felt a bit sluggish at times. Still, I walked away satisfied with the experience; honestly, it feels like there hasn't been anything truly worth watching lately. 😁

Michael Jackass said:And Marc Anthony.

That was him! Exactly!

...Ugh, I can't stand him. 😁

...Yeah, the pacing is way too fast...stupid ending...but still a solid movie. A brutal film with a great story.

I don't know how to put this without sounding like I’ve barely ever turned on a TV in my life or that I'm some kind of complete amateur when it comes to cinema... hmm... but honestly—this movie is easily one of my top 5.

I’ve always felt that Tony Scott has a certain style that just hits different for me compared to his more famous brother... it’s purely subjective, of course, but he really nailed the atmosphere here, and if I truly had to pick a favorite film based on pure heart (!), regardless of anything else, it would be this one... I think I won't be revisiting it for maybe another six months or so...

Oh, and by the way... could someone please fix that typo in the thread title?...

9.5/10

The Ramos family home is absolutely stunning 😍
just perfect 😍
I honestly watched the movie tonight just to see that house... I want one exactly like it 🙂

plus, the soundtrack was actually decent 🙂

The kidnapping sequence was solid enough—but after that, the whole thing goes downhill fast. It gets progressively more nonsensical as it drags toward the end.

This movie was absolutely killer... easily one of the best I've ever seen. Honestly, the first time I sat through this, it actually forced me to sit there and contemplate my entire life and all that other bullshit!
I was genuinely floored when that little girl actually made it out alive! That was hands down the best part of the whole thing.

northerncrane4 said:The kidnapping setup is solid, but then it goes downhill fast. Gets stupider by the minute toward the end.

Totally agree. Especially when it pauses to "explain" everything, freezing the frame every second just to slap an English subtitle on screen🤮 what a joke🤷 just let the movie play, stop interrupting every time someone speaks👎

Story’s decent, but they botched it with all that nonsense. 😠

I liked it better the first time around😳 and the original Man on Fire with Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci was way better.☕

Giancarlo Giannini 🙂 🙏🙏🙏

They freeze the frame and slap an English subtitle on it? What kind of crap is that? Just let the damn movie play. Why do you have to interrupt every single time someone speaks?

Omg, it’s all about emphasizing the rage and the chaos. Pretty original stuff, honestly—instead of just mindless destruction, loud music, and typical action tropes.

In my humble opinion, this flick is absolutely beautiful. I don't usually dig thrillers. I hate shaky cams, constant zooming, and those over-the-top portrayals of insanity. Honestly, I'm not even big on simple plots like this, and there are scenes that actually reminded me of Terminator or a million other movies where people are just gearing up with weapons,

but man, this movie is just fantastic. I caught it this summer and I was blown away, especially since I watched it at home—usually, movies I watch at home don't really stick with me. As far as the cast goes, Denzel Washington is pure charisma. He’s got everything an action hero needs, the face of a thriller lead, and that adventure movie charm. And little Dakota Fanning? I love watching her work. Those shots are surrealistically good, playing with symbols and vibes. This whole idea of the "lost man" is presented so powerfully, sprinkled with religious motifs set right in the middle of hell. The music is weird and inconsistent, and the camera work is too, but it works. All that visual disturbance and saturation is the best use of visuals I've seen in films in years because this specific movie—with its bloodily true themes, raw but emotional characters, and people whose minds are naturally fractured in some American abyssal void—demands exactly that kind of presentation. Nothing else would work. The savagery and madness are brilliantly woven together, pushing every human aspect to the absolute edge. And the ending? Obviously blew me away and left a massive impression. It’s easily in my top 3 favorite movies ever. Hats off.

Walter Fowler53 said:plus—the original Man on Fire starring Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci is just better ☕

🙂

Great movie. After seeing the trailer on ABC, I started digging through my old DVDs to track it down. Tight editing, killer soundtrack—all in all, a fantastic film.

"Forgiveness is between them and God. It is my job to arrange the meeting..."

northerncrane4 said:Because according to the internal logic established up to that point in the film, it simply doesn't make any sense.

Hmm... I watched that movie about two years ago, and if I recall correctly, that wasn't how it played out. Personally, I tend to lose my patience when a plot feels completely detached from reality.🤷

So, in your estimation, the kidnappers would just kill the girl and call it a day?

goldenhound32 said:Hmm... I watched that movie—it’s about two years old now—and I don't recall it playing out that way. Honestly, I lose my patience whenever a plot feels totally unrealistic.🤷

So, according to you, the kidnappers just kill the girl and call it a day?

If memory serves me right—and I'm fairly sure it does—the film mentions several times that these guys are professionals. If their terms aren't met, they just carry out an execution without any unnecessary drama and move straight on to the next job.

...maybe they wouldn't have even killed the kid...

...I just finished watching it. It’s a decent flick, definitely worth a watch if you have the time, but let's be real—it's not winning any Oscars this year...

...Supposedly it's based on a true story, which gives it a bit of an edge, but I highly doubt things actually went down exactly like they did on screen...which kind of takes away from the impact...

...The cast is top-notch, but the director made a few choices that were just plain ridiculous...for instance,
that scene where Denzel Washington pulls out a rocket launcher from his apartment to blast a car...I mean, only a complete idiot would do that, and the character he’s playing is supposed to be a pro...it's laughable...😛

northerncrane4 said:If my memory serves me—and I suspect it does—the film mentions several times that they are professionals.

That’s actually quite simple to verify; just grab some subtitles. 🙂
I did exactly that, yet I couldn't find a single shred of evidence to back up your recollection.
Then again, perhaps I simply wasn't looking for the right phrasing.

who, should their terms go unmet, resort to immediate execution without any unnecessary questions before moving straight to the next contract.

If I recall correctly, it was far more profitable for them to let the girl live, rather than kill her and face the consequences from her protectors.

Anonymous said:that scene where Denzel Washington fires a rocket launcher from his apartment at a car... honestly, only a complete moron would attempt something like that.

So, you're saying it's impossible?

Could someone please walk me through the reasoning here? I don't know the first thing about that kind of weaponry.