Submerged

After several absolutely poor films, Steven Seagal comes back in a slightly better light. His latest is at least not so poorly directed, it has a fairly solid sound mix, a few decent action scenes, and dynamic music. The script is traditionally dumb, the editor makes a mess of every other shot, the locations change nonsensically and the yellowish toning and filters are quite annoying. Seagal doesn't show anything new. He kicks a few times, breaks someone's arm here and there, and shoots someone. The stunts are very weak and the destruction of the dam is truly laughable. However, it didn't turn out so bad. A run-of-the-mill B-movie that will be forgotten after an hour. (27.11.2005)

A lesser rating is out of the question if only for the ability of the director, cinematographer, costume designer, and editor to put it all together in a way that doesn't make Steven's navel stand out. Plus, if you remove Seagal from the equation, it's a pretty cool Vinnie Jones action flick that's not too bad to watch, even if it is understandably terrible crap. The whole thing feels like a fine computer game (the introduction of the characters). (13.05.2008)

I'm still wondering whether the choppy sequences were the work of the director or my DVD player was acting up. Seagal is in dire need of a comeback. (16.10.2007)