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Had a choice of several movies. I’m Not There, much looking forward to watching but at nearly 2.5 hours it’s too long to start at just this side of midnight. A few Bond pictures, but only one with Connery. So I continued the hunt. What’s this? Now on Cinemax, “Shoot ’Em Up”. So checked out WikPik on it. Seven reviews totaling 45 Trust Points. The Rub in a long ago review HATED it. Gave it a full gray Awful. More encouragingly and easier to trust was the combination of Modern Marvel and SpaceGhost who gave it Good + and Great + respectively. Geek came in with the Ghost at just this side of a full five.

So I watched it, enjoying it immensely. I’m polishing up my review now, but wanted to highlight some of the fun commentary that led me to watch it:

Visuals – Great 4.5
Visually this movie is breathtaking. This is a crisp joyride of an action movie to watch. As fast as it moves, it never feels like it’s too choppy or blurry. The special effects are not seamless but showcase perfectly what needs to be there. Obviously this movie was made for less money than a lot of movies of this genre, and that shows. But for all its worth, it is still fantastic to view. – Modern Marvel

Reality – Fantasy 4.3

This movie does not base itself in the boundaries of reality, and it never claims to. People in this movie overcome physical obstacles that are impossible, the stated umbilical cord scene is completely crazy, the skydiving scene isn’t based in reality at all, and many more scenes will leave you scratching your head but simply shrugging and saying “oh well, it’s a whole lot of fun”. This is the kind of movie that never wanted to be a realistic, gritty action movie. Instead, it opted for “fantasy over-the-top action movie” and it succeeds. – Modern Marvel

Overall Great 4.5

This movie was freakin great. It was completely over the top in every way. The story, the action, the characters – it was all so much damn fun. Clive Owen is one of my favorites and he absolutely delivers in this one as Mr. Smith. Monica Bellucci can’t help but be gorgeous in everything she does and Paul Giamatti is one of the best character actors out there. From the first scene of the movie (an infant delivery in the middle of a gunfight) you know this movie is gonna be anything but grounded. Its a celebration of every action/tough guy/conspiracy movie ever made and what better way to do it than by making it bigger than life and shoving it in your face? Best way to describe it? The ultimate guy version of an Elmer Fudd/Bugs Bunny Looney Tunes episode. – SpaceGhost

Female Stars Perfect 5.0

Monica Bellucci is always fantastic and this role is perfect for her. She is what every guy wants – a lady in the streets and a freak in the bed. She stands up to Owen and holds her own in every scene offering a great balance to the love interest. – SpaceGhost

Edge – Crude 3.7

Plenty of language and violence. And what guy movie would be complete without a memorable sex scene? Its got it all. Never done just because, though, it all has its place in this heightened guy movie reality. – SpaceGhost