Double Force

I really liked this movie the first time I saw it, I found it to be funny, intelligent and highly ironic. However, for some reason I have never really enjoyed it since then and I don't know why.

Charles Martin Smith put together a list of cliches and in-jokes relating to action films and strung them together in a somewhat plausible plot. 50/50 is so subtle that it is often difficult to tell if it is an action/comedy or a parody of an action/comedy... I think that this is one of the movie's primary strengths, but also its weakness.

Again, the first time I watched this I thought it was a brilliant satire, but since then I have become less sure about its satirical side (it is clearly a parody, but I am just not sure if it is as brilliant as I first thought). I have met other people who have had a similar reaction to viewing 50/50, people who really liked it on an initial viewing but were not as impressed the second and third time around. I am really not sure what causes this phenomenon, but I advise anyone familiar with the action films of the 70s and 80s to see 50/50 at least once and enjoy it for the fun that it is.

Also, Peter Weller is fantastic anyway and he and Robert Hayes have surprisingly good chemistry on screen.

This is one of those movies that grows on you. I watched it when it first came to video and thought Ho-Hum. Then a few years later it was not too bad...till now I enjoy renting it about every 6 months just as a beer and pretzels, watch with my buddies kinda movie.

The action is very good. Not a whole lot of the explosions throwing undamaged bodies into 10 ft somersaults. Unlike other action flicks of this time, the heroes were pretty shot up by movies end.

The whole rebellion idea was fairly well planned out, both times. People you expect to make it (the girl) don't. Even the CIA guys is actually pretty cool at the end.

Watch it for entertainment, not for philosophy.

Charles Martin Smith who is not the most critically acclaimed director has made some pretty good movies in his time although not many people seem to know about them. However, this did not stop me from finding the movie Fifty/Fifty. I stumbled onto this little token because I was searching for films Peter Weller had starred in. Boy was I glad this film caught my attention with its excellent trailer. I usually do not laugh during trailers but this one was a rare gem.

Fifty/Fifty was released by Cannon Films who seemed to me like a well- known cinema company; I guess not. This film wasn't even theatrically released. But that makes it all the better. Peter Weller and Robert Hays star as two CIA operatives who are given an assignment to overthrow a ruthless dictator. Although both are from two different genres, both of them work really well together. I say this because their wisecracks seemed so natural like they didn't read the script. I'll admit that I did not have one favorite scene in this movie, because almost every scene was too good to pick a favorite. Even director Charles Martin Smith has a role in this story and he does his part well too.

The action is good in this movie too. There are plenty of shootings, explosions and there is some blood but not a lot of gore. The MPAA rating for this movie is rated R mostly for the language. I enjoyed Smith's direction on how he had Weller and Hays act during trouble. Even near death scenes, they never let go of their wit and funny comments.

Making this movie even more rare of a find is the score composed by Peter Bernstein, son of famous composer Elmer Bernstein. It's a little distressing to me because I enjoy many soundtracks to movies and I love collecting them and Bernstein's score is unobtainable. The score is fun to listen to because of its cheery mood and the way it gets fed into whatever scene is currently happening. I enjoyed this film a lot and wished that it was released theatrically. Director Charles Martin Smith outdid himself with this movie and its unfortunate not many people know of this funny action movie.

For some, it would seem like Robert Hays and Peter Weller are not the best duo in action comedy when in fact they deliver goods extremely well. With funny lines, a good soundtrack, and loud action, Fifty/Fifty will please any hardcore action comedy fan.

So, you are with a group of mates(pals, friends, buddies) and you are renting a video. If your group is mostly men then I recommend fifty/fifty. It has all the elements that you would expect from an action/adventure/ comedy. One liners, 'n' all that. But this film is most definitely unique.

If you know films well and you also know a few flashy words and concepts to go with them then you will recognise it as a film that breaks a few of the genres' conventions. If not, well you can use that as an excuse to your girlfriend who says that you watch films with no taste. A right royal Buddy humour filled picture. In other words you will laugh your lungs dry!

You know what the problem of this movie is? The way people look at it, simply because they measure it by the "big and loud" American action movies of the 1990s, and that's really unfair.

Here, or as you can find in that kind of low budget movies, there is no huge production, top elements, bankable stars, or international wide releases. So they struggle to have the opportunity to make movies, good ones at the least, and to sell them inside USA, or around the world. And as for (Fifty/Fifty), I believe they did it good this time.. so good indeed.

When you have an action movie of that kind, then you'll have stars like (Christopher Lambert), (Brandon Lee), (Dolph Lundgren), (Don the dragon Wilson), (Cynthia Rothrock). And there are others who got more fame and appreciation in the Middle East like (Chuck Norris), (Steven Seagal), (Jean-Claude Van Damme). All of the above, with all due respect for them and for their lovers, had more bad movies than their own good, and they are all whether not good actors, or mostly the worst ever!

Therefore when you watch such a brilliant and entertaining small movie like (Fifty/Fifty), you have to evaluate it firstly as an independent film, and secondly as one with no acting problems.

As for the story, obviously it's an inspiration of the classic Japanese movie (Seven Samurai - 1954), however after updating it for the 1990s, and giving the lead roles of it to 2 merry versions of (Rambo).

By the way, the (Seven Samurai) story was remade, countless times, in countless cinemas, all over the world. For instance, (The Magnificent Seven - 1960) in America, (Shams elzanaty - 1991) in Egypt, or (Sholay - 1975) in India; and that last one looks like the basis for (Fifty/Fifty), regarding too many proofs such as: there are just 2 defenders of the weak village not 7, the love story between one of them and a local girl, and the toss up play by the coin between the 2 leads. Otherwise, they're just strange coincidences!

The most enjoyable thing is that it has wonderful action. Just remember the sequences at the jungle, or the climax which was perfect, knowing that there was no CGI at all. So with excellent thrill, lovely comic moments, and flawless acting, what would an action fan need more?!

It was quite a surprise when I knew that the movie's director was (Charles Martin Smith) the same short actor who played the character of (Martin Sprue) the American intelligence officer. That's a reason for the bright and nice acting I suppose. And as a director, he managed to realize a too dazzling movie despite its budget.

I had an amazing time with it, from start to finish, especially every shot that got (Peter Weller) and (Robert Hays) together. As for (Robert Hays), he is so gifted in comedy and in action as well. He looks like (Jean-Paul Belmondo) American cousin, but with his own distinguished character. It makes you ask eagerly where is such an actor? And why he isn't a star? While OTHERS are.. unfortunately!

I loved all the fun and the fine work of it more than a lot, and I mean a lot, of Hollywood big and loud action movies. In one word, this time independent cinema really wins.