Mercenary

"Mercenary for Justice" has one heck of an opening. It starts on a war-torn battlefield with Seagal and a group of mercenaries fighting a legion of French soldiers after having kidnapped and killed the French ambassador. Director Don E. FauntLeRoy, who did the so-so "Today You Die" with Seagal, proves his worth with this sequence as the action is fluid and crisp and looks like it cost way more than the reported $15 million it actually did. It's clear with this film's opening: Seagal is hearing the fan's pleas for better films, and he's going to start trying better. Another thankful gesture to his loyal fans in this film is Seagal actually does his own fighting, and while the fight scenes are less impressive, at least it's him doing it. The plot is ridiculous and silly and most of it doesn't make a lick of sense, but since when did it have to in a Seagal movie? What matters is that the film looks good and makes Seagal look good. Having been a Seagal fan for a while, I must say I was pleased by this film.

"Mercenary for Justice" is garbage. Sure, it looks slick, with above-average (by DTV standards) production values, international locations, and some great stunts. But don't let the looks fool you. The story makes no sense whatsoever from beginning to end, and Seagal's ego-feeding is in full-force here (he is introduced as "the most decorated soldier in Gulf War I" - apparently he wouldn't even settle for "second most decorated" - and, of course, nobody can land a single tiny hit on him in a fight, despite the fact that these days he has to send his stunt double to climb over a 10-foot wall). The viewer has no idea what is going on or why, and in a turn of events that shows just how utterly moronic this script is, Seagal and his female partner Jacqueline Lord kill several perfectly innocent Cape Town cops and security people who were just trying to protect the bank that these two were (inexplicably) robbing, yet the film apparently expects us to continue regarding them as the good guys (!!!), because they are trying to save a black kid and his mother. What the hell? Oh, and why does that kick-ass muscular and deadly female mercenary we see in the opening sequence get killed off so quickly? At least SHE could climb over a wall. (*1/2)

This movie isn't bad. Obviously it is not like Nico, above the law or under siege. Not even the glimmer man. But considering the facts is OK.

Again an ex-CIA agent/mercenary blah-blah-blah...

You will see Seagal shooting a few rounds, kicking some butts here and there. An attractive presence (Jacqueline Lord) in his side. There are some smirks (if not laughs) in some points and a semi-satisfying ending.

I don't recommend to watch it with any degree of serious attention, but if you catch it on TV check it out.

Overall: It is what it is!

Quite a sloppy and lethargic straight-to-DVD Steven Seagal action joint. I've been watching a few of these in recent times, hoping I might just come across a diamond in the rough, but it has mainly been depressing. However where else can you see Seagal being at the end of this line "Yeah, that's it for you poophole!". Yes I'm not kidding. That's what some macho said and Seagal made sure it wouldn't happen again. By taking out this guy, plus the bathroom it occurred in too. Surprisingly here Seagal looks like his doing most of his own stunts, but then again the martial art combat is lacking (plenty of slapping and people being thrown about) and more time is taken up with relentless gunfire and explosions. Like its jacked-up opening. While competent in execution, it remains a pedestrian display. The story follows that of a group of mercenaries being betrayed, and than going onto a mission to free an important figure from a highly protected South African prison. After the betrayal John Seeger is threatened into helping out in this new mission, when his late-friend's family is kidnapped and used to make him participate. The plot seems confounded with so many details, involving double crosses and political interest. Then throw in the usual words of wisdom from Seagal, which randomly come from nowhere and he slurps them out making the meaning of them just as hard to understand. Slapdash performances by the rest of the cast.

"The man's a f*cking ghost."

I liked Seagal.... In his prime. A long time ago, (Okay, 1989) Steven Seagal was the master of the martial arts, A man who speaks little, but makes up for it in kicking ass... and he was lean and mean. Nowadays, he's fat, he can barely talk above a whisper, and he just doesn't care. But he keeps churnin' out the junk.

And I keep falling victim to it. For Seagal DTV standards, (does that even make sense?) it isn't as bad as "Submerged" , but it's not as good as "Belly Of The Beast".

The plot: John Seeger (you know who...) is an ex-mercenary, CIA, FBI dude, who has to break into a prison, while orchestrating a bank robbery. Then Seeger shoots lots of people. That's about it.

What's with the three word titles? Enough already. I guess people don't think it's a Seagal flick without a three word title. The title doesn't even make sense. A mercenary works for money and he has no soul, he doesn't do it for justice.

The only actors good in this is Roger Guenveur Smith as the villain Mr. Chapel and Luke Goss as Dresham. But even they were coasting.

If you want a good Seagal flick, go with "Out For Justice" instead.

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