Mean Guns

Last night, I had just finished watching some BAD horror movie, and turned on the television afterward. This was on, and it looked really twisted. It was already into the first fifteen minutes, so I missed that, but then I decided to check the guide to see what it was, and the plot seemed pretty cool. So, what the heck, I'd waste two hours and watch it.

All I can say is--those two hours were no waste! This movie was so good! I don't really like action movies, and I never really got into shoot-em-ups, but I loved this. The plot, as I figured out, was that all these people were locked in an old prison, given weapons and tons of ammo, and left to kill each other off until, supposedly, the last three were left, who would then get the prize of ten million dollars.

Thus begins the nonstop action, as the various characters split up, form groups, and kill each other. The main characters really were Christopher Lambert's character (forgot his name), Marcus, D, and Con (though, I think her name was Cam, but IMDb said it was Con). Anyhoo, there's also Hoss and Crow, who eventually team up with Barby, and there are various other people who just get killed. I didn't understand why some of the people were there, but that's what I get for missing the first fifteen minutes.

In any event, the movie became severely tense, and no one's safe from anyone...not even someone in their own group. And as the many characters dwindle down, you start to wonder: who will survive?

The suspense in this movie is amazing, and you never know what will happen next. At first, the story seemed a little thin to carry itself along throughout the whole film, but it did, perfectly, all the way up to the quite twisted ending, which just keeps surprising you. I, personally, was quite thrilled with how the movie ended, but you'll never suspect how it does end. My favorite character: Con. She was easy to relate to (yes, I know, I'm delving too much into this B-rated action flic, but oh well) and you could feel bad for her. She truly didn't belong there, as she said many times. And then, in the four-sided face-off in the end between the three left and Ice-T's character, who held this event, you will feel so bad when she tells the others how they won, and they shouldn't have to go through with this next step.

All in all, an action movie that's fun, intense, creepy at times, and with a few morals. Recommended.

Everything about this movie screams B-grade. From the dodgy name to the questionable cast to the dubious premise. The only thing that stops this from being a B-movie, is that it's actually really, really good.

When "The Syndicate", represented by Ice-T, gathers together it's less reliable members in an empty prison for a little game, the probability of violence was always going to be a definite.

What makes this movie different is in large part due to the choice of music. The utterly inappropriate Mambo soundtrack clashes with the violence, giving the movie a sort of trite, macabre humour. This humour gives a consistent feel throughout the movie, backed up by violence that while brutal is strangely un-graphic.

Mean Guns is an action movie with a quirky sense of humour and a brain. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it's an entertaining trip.

It's not really a good movie, let's make that clear. The chaotic shootouts are not skillfully constructed, the story is both implausible and confusing (especially at the end, when it keeps trying to top itself with one stupid "twist" after another; it should have stuck to the rules it established in the beginning), and Lambert and Ice-T both give performances too awful for words. What makes the picture fun is its premise, and some of the supporting members of the cast, particularly Michael Halsey (who really shines with a strong presence deserving of a far better movie), Okumoto and Matthews (whose duo is quite amusing to watch) and Tina Cote (who's pretty hot). Overall, it's worth a couple of viewings if you're an action fan. (**1/2)

Albert Pyun is back with his unique directing talents in this one. Why does he always introduce weird strobe lighting in his films? Is it to cover up the shallowness of the story lines? Well it certainly seems that way to me. The welcome appearance of former rap king Ice T helps improves this film slightly. Pretty bad although its an improvement on Pyun's other disaster 'Crazy Six'.

Albert Pyun has his own way of making films. He is responsible for "Omega Doom" and "Crazy Six", two movies that in spite of having quite different plots, possess in common the peculiar and curious way with which the director accomplishes his works. "Mean Guns" follows the Pyun's formula: many shootings and closes in slow motion,different and weird camera movements, strange characters and a poor script. In this film, Lambert is a murderer who,along with other criminals, is trapped inside a prison and he needs to survive before his chances drain. Pyun substitutes idea and good-sense for excellent action scenes, that remind plenty of John Woo and Sam Peckinpah's best efforts. Unhappily, that is not enough to maintain the interest for this bad film.