http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx I must admit I am not familiar with aspiring auteur Michael Davis’ work, but I might have to give the guy a chance now.  His latest rages within its titular genre like lightning in a bottle. SHOOT ‘EM UP bristles with adolescent fury and bravado, encouraged by a flasher in the park’s sense of shame.  See, Davis is distractingly unapologetic about the license he takes with plot in his enthusiastic charge towards ramping up the action as much as possible.  Story is generally regarded as something squeezed in as gunmen reload and significant dialogue is often hobbled by corny one-liners a la 007 canon.  But I have to argue that the ends justify the means.  His indulgent script is matched by decadent filmmaking, the product of which is cinematic comfort food for action fans – as any shoot ‘em up should be. The film opens with Clive Owen, known only as Mr. Smith, sitting alone on a bench beneath a streetlight.  A very pregnant woman runs past him, fleeing some armed thugs.  Smith follows her pursuers and delivers the child amid a downpour of bullet casings.  He manages to escape the barrage with the baby boy, but the new mother unfortunately catches one between the eyes.  Paul Giamatti plays Hertz, right-hand man to Hammerson (Steven McHattie) and a man dead-set on killing the child.  Hammerson is the head of a weapons manufacturer and he keeps his army of employees well-equipped.  Smith enlists the help of hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Donna (Monica Bellucci) on his quest to save the newborn and figure out why Hammerson wants Baby Oliver dead.  Sometimes Davis thinks he’s a little cleverer than he actually is, but he does well enough moving things along between the action sequences, which are the rightful centerpieces to the picture. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx 77 60 http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx#1408 THIS IS THE KIND OF MOVIE,I LIKE A LOT OF ACTION AND DRAMA.IT KEEPS YOU FOCUSED,AND THE MOVIE KEEPS YOU WAITING FORMORE SUSPENSE.IT KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT.ITS A POPCORN EATING MOVIE. sharon3377 http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx#1408 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:11:31 GMT http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx#1425 Shoot Em Up chocolateman0101 http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/09/09/SHOOT-EM-UP-Aims-To-Please.aspx#1425 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:28:29 GMT