Hey folks, Harry here. I saw GET CARTER today, but frankly, why would I write a review when AB KING the greatest and most rabid of Stallone fans has done so already? I saw the film... kinda dug it. It is by no means a great film.... I thought the car chases and fights were too choppy in the editing and lost meaning and excitement. But the character work... well it was fun. Whoever decided to out and out HIDE the film... well, they're insane. It's ok. Here's AB.....
ABking here,
Just saw GET CARTER and all I have to say is the movie was GREAT. It really KICKED ASS and delivered what Sly fans and moviegoers should love. For starters...
The opening scene is amazing. The way Stephen Kay shot the pre-opening with Stallone in Vegas and then the actual starting out with the credits was a...WOW. The score is PERFECT. It is the same score from the original (which I finally saw by the way) but with a more up-dated tune. It really sounds like an original score. I sure plan on buying the music CD just for the score.
The cinematography and camera tricks that Stephen Kay used are one of the things that make this movie a MUST SEE. I love the way he does the jump cuts and flashbacks...but what is really COOL is when Sly punches somebody, the camera is sped up and it really makes the punch all the more exciting. I was glad GET CARTER wasn't one of the movies that took THE MATRIX route and just did all wire work fighting techniques. The two car chases were shot in a way that made them seem fresh and cool.
The performances were all top notch. I think all the characters got to shine in this movie and none needed any more screen time for character development (I thought the way they didn't show Tom Seizmore, who is in the movie by the way, was done with class). For those that say Stallone can't act, get over it because Sly shows real depth here and turns in one of his best performances. He does some of his best acting with rising actress (and hottie) Rachel Leigh Cook. While I'm glad Sly showed real emotions in this stylish noir, it was the BAD ASS Sly I wanted to see...and boy, did I get that in spades. Stallone was one cool character I sure wouldn't want to mess with. You never got the feeling once that anyone could touch Carter (well, except Mickey Rourke). At one point in the movie, Jack Carter teaches a muscle bound thug not to mess with him.
Speaking of Rourke, he was AWESOME as Cyrus Paice. The first scene he and Sly have together is classic. The dialogue between the two is first rate. You believe there is a bad history between the two. Cyrus's shades are cool as hell as are Carter's.
All the other characters from the film shine. I caught the original GET CARTER last night and it was great to see which characters returned in the remake. Like most opinions, the original is a great classic and that's why I feel most critics are attacking Stallone's remake. Having said that, let me say this, alot of moviegoers who have seen Sly's GET CARTER are loving what they see. This is a film for fans, not critics. Various sites have posted many positive reviews and it is good to see that those people aren't judging the film based on the fact that the original was well made. The Carter for the 70's was great for it's time and the new Carter is great for today. This is the year 2000 and the film needed a make over that would play with todays audience. Overall, Sly delivers, the action delivers and GET CARTER delivers for fans of the original.
ABking
