Media: Movie
Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime
Production Year: 1998
Synopsis:
Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg), is a young, talented hitman in Paris' (Avery Brooks) crime organization. Smiley, along with Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips), Crunch (Bokeem Woodbine) and Vince (Antonio Sabato Jr.) team up in this action packed comedy to execute the kidnapping of a rich businessman's daughter. The foursome believes this move will land them a huge payday, but soon find out - they made a BIG mistake.
Overall Average Score: 5.50
This is an action-packed comedy that is more silly than serious. There are some very stylized martial arts sequences that are a staple of John Woo films, executive producer, (also produced by Wesley Snipes). If you are looking for a dark and gritty crime-drama than this isn't the movie for you. Instead you will find a light and humorous, action filled comedy in "The Big Hit".
Writing: 5
Initially, I was disappointed with this script, as I was expecting a story more serious than comedic from first time writer Ben Ramsey. But after taking a step back and rethinking it, I appreciate this films humor and almost spoof like treatment of the martial arts theme a little more than my initial review. If you are willing to take it for what its worth, "The Big Hit" does deliver a fun and somewhat entertaining 91 minutes.
Acting: 6
Though there is a fairly large cast of recognizable names (Wahlberg, Bokeem Woodbine, Antonio Sabato Jr., Christina Applegate, Elliott Gould), there is only one stand out performance in my opinion. Lou Diamond Phillips as Cisco, really steals the show. He is over-the-top funny as Cisco, Melvin's flamboyant best friend and coworker (another hitman) that ends up betraying and setting-up Melvin Smiley.
Directing: 6
Assuming Kirk Wong was attempting to put a film together that was completely void of realism and depth, only trying to capture the comedic essence from his actors...I guess he succeeded. Not what I was expecting and after further review, not what I usually like but better than the first intake.
Photography/Special Effects: 5
Lots of gunfights and explosions...not to say they were good, but there were a lot. The only way to reason with how overdone all of the effects were is to hope that director Kirk Wong was trying to do so.
Soundtrack/Sound Effects: 4
The soundtrack is sort of corny. The sound effects are exaggerated, adding only some comedic value to the film. Gun shots and bullet-ricochets are very overdone. Sometimes all I could do was laugh, but I suppose that was what they were going for.
Choreography (dancing/fighting): 7
Although you will find many entertaining and skillful fight scenes (blatantly inspired by John Woo), my rating is a only a 7, because of the overall weakness of the film. Many great martial arts films or films involving intense martial arts choreography are somewhat unbelievable and bend the reality of physics. With that said, those said films work only because they are entangled in story lines and cinematography that allow them to work.
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Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime
Production Year: 1998
Synopsis:
Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg), is a young, talented hitman in Paris' (Avery Brooks) crime organization. Smiley, along with Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips), Crunch (Bokeem Woodbine) and Vince (Antonio Sabato Jr.) team up in this action packed comedy to execute the kidnapping of a rich businessman's daughter. The foursome believes this move will land them a huge payday, but soon find out - they made a BIG mistake.
Overall Average Score: 5.50
This is an action-packed comedy that is more silly than serious. There are some very stylized martial arts sequences that are a staple of John Woo films, executive producer, (also produced by Wesley Snipes). If you are looking for a dark and gritty crime-drama than this isn't the movie for you. Instead you will find a light and humorous, action filled comedy in "The Big Hit".
Writing: 5
Initially, I was disappointed with this script, as I was expecting a story more serious than comedic from first time writer Ben Ramsey. But after taking a step back and rethinking it, I appreciate this films humor and almost spoof like treatment of the martial arts theme a little more than my initial review. If you are willing to take it for what its worth, "The Big Hit" does deliver a fun and somewhat entertaining 91 minutes.
Acting: 6
Though there is a fairly large cast of recognizable names (Wahlberg, Bokeem Woodbine, Antonio Sabato Jr., Christina Applegate, Elliott Gould), there is only one stand out performance in my opinion. Lou Diamond Phillips as Cisco, really steals the show. He is over-the-top funny as Cisco, Melvin's flamboyant best friend and coworker (another hitman) that ends up betraying and setting-up Melvin Smiley.
Directing: 6
Assuming Kirk Wong was attempting to put a film together that was completely void of realism and depth, only trying to capture the comedic essence from his actors...I guess he succeeded. Not what I was expecting and after further review, not what I usually like but better than the first intake.
Photography/Special Effects: 5
Lots of gunfights and explosions...not to say they were good, but there were a lot. The only way to reason with how overdone all of the effects were is to hope that director Kirk Wong was trying to do so.
Soundtrack/Sound Effects: 4
The soundtrack is sort of corny. The sound effects are exaggerated, adding only some comedic value to the film. Gun shots and bullet-ricochets are very overdone. Sometimes all I could do was laugh, but I suppose that was what they were going for.
Choreography (dancing/fighting): 7
Although you will find many entertaining and skillful fight scenes (blatantly inspired by John Woo), my rating is a only a 7, because of the overall weakness of the film. Many great martial arts films or films involving intense martial arts choreography are somewhat unbelievable and bend the reality of physics. With that said, those said films work only because they are entangled in story lines and cinematography that allow them to work.
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