Dirty cops. Russians moving illegal cars. Chinese gangsters. A kidnapped girl and drug money now in his possession after interfering with Chinese thugs who kill a policeman and Russian car thief, ex-Special forces soldier Shane Daniels(Steven Seagal), just released from prison after 6 years for a murder he didn't commit(DNA evidence proving his innocence, but the time costing him his marriage), is right in the middle of quite a mess.
It's good that he has the fighting skills and capabilities to deal with constant threats while looking to help a girl, Tia(Marlaina Mah) free her uncle used as bait to trade drug money between Chinese. Sergey(Jesse Hutch)is the son of a powerful Russian, Vlad(Vitaly Kravchenko)and was stopping off while moving an SUV(his friend had to urinate) when they come across the police officer pulling over two Chinese gangsters with Tia hostage. Mao(Byron Lawson)is the Chinese gangster(working for drug lord Chen(Terry Chen)who expects to use Tia's uncle as a trading device for drug money)who witnessed Daniels' handiwork and couldn't stop Sergey(and a drugged Tia)from fleeing. Sgt Ritchie(Jerry Wasserman)is the leader of his county's crooked cops, under the 'advisement' of Chen(in other words, Ritchie and his men are in Chen's hip pocket). Vlad doesn't like Ritchie or any other cops on his turf and soon has a war on his hands..Sergey, whose life was saved thanks to Daniels(Daniels happened to be in the vicinity where Mao and another goon were killing the cop), will hold his savior in his debt. Because Sergey's life was saved, Vlad offers Daniels a hand of friendship and protection. Even more threatening than Chen is The Colonel(Byron Mann), a "Danu" warrior who has special plans to take Tia's Uncle himself. So Daniels has much to contend with, joining forces with Vlad, they will attempt to get Tia's Uncle away from The Colonel by any means possible.
Two major action sequences include the shootouts at Vlad's mansion and Chen's lumber mill, with Seagal looking superhuman thanks to camera speed and editing. Daniels' kicks send opponents hurling in the air and through windows, shelves, and other furniture. Daniels' arms move impressively quick, about as fast as a hummingbird's wings. Mao and The Colonel, neither one, are able to withstand or combat Daniels' staggeringly swift hands and stunning power. Director/writer Keoni Waxman makes Seagal look really good, though, and I think it's all too clear that cinematic techniques contribute mightily to this effect. Notice how camera speed, for instance, adds impact to Daniels' blows and movements. While an aging Seagal is no longer in his ABOVE THE LAW/HARD TO KILL prime, thanks to proper editing, it looks like his Daniels is a dangerous killing machine without an equal, even though we can figure that his stand-in stuntman carries a lot of the load with less appreciation. Still, there are moments where we see Seagal's hands engage with the enemy, and that does add value to the fight sequences.
It's good that he has the fighting skills and capabilities to deal with constant threats while looking to help a girl, Tia(Marlaina Mah) free her uncle used as bait to trade drug money between Chinese. Sergey(Jesse Hutch)is the son of a powerful Russian, Vlad(Vitaly Kravchenko)and was stopping off while moving an SUV(his friend had to urinate) when they come across the police officer pulling over two Chinese gangsters with Tia hostage. Mao(Byron Lawson)is the Chinese gangster(working for drug lord Chen(Terry Chen)who expects to use Tia's uncle as a trading device for drug money)who witnessed Daniels' handiwork and couldn't stop Sergey(and a drugged Tia)from fleeing. Sgt Ritchie(Jerry Wasserman)is the leader of his county's crooked cops, under the 'advisement' of Chen(in other words, Ritchie and his men are in Chen's hip pocket). Vlad doesn't like Ritchie or any other cops on his turf and soon has a war on his hands..Sergey, whose life was saved thanks to Daniels(Daniels happened to be in the vicinity where Mao and another goon were killing the cop), will hold his savior in his debt. Because Sergey's life was saved, Vlad offers Daniels a hand of friendship and protection. Even more threatening than Chen is The Colonel(Byron Mann), a "Danu" warrior who has special plans to take Tia's Uncle himself. So Daniels has much to contend with, joining forces with Vlad, they will attempt to get Tia's Uncle away from The Colonel by any means possible.
Two major action sequences include the shootouts at Vlad's mansion and Chen's lumber mill, with Seagal looking superhuman thanks to camera speed and editing. Daniels' kicks send opponents hurling in the air and through windows, shelves, and other furniture. Daniels' arms move impressively quick, about as fast as a hummingbird's wings. Mao and The Colonel, neither one, are able to withstand or combat Daniels' staggeringly swift hands and stunning power. Director/writer Keoni Waxman makes Seagal look really good, though, and I think it's all too clear that cinematic techniques contribute mightily to this effect. Notice how camera speed, for instance, adds impact to Daniels' blows and movements. While an aging Seagal is no longer in his ABOVE THE LAW/HARD TO KILL prime, thanks to proper editing, it looks like his Daniels is a dangerous killing machine without an equal, even though we can figure that his stand-in stuntman carries a lot of the load with less appreciation. Still, there are moments where we see Seagal's hands engage with the enemy, and that does add value to the fight sequences.