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Mario Bautista, has been with the entertainment industry for more than 4 decades. He writes regular columns for People's Journal and Malaya.

Feb 25, 2011

Drive Angry Movie Review

THOSE WHO love old cars should be in pure popcorn nirvana while watching “Drive Angry”, Nicolas Cage’s latest action extravaganza about cars after “Gone in 60 Seconds”. Cage plays Milton, a man driven by revenge to punish those who killed his daughter and whose mission is to save his baby granddaughter from devil worshipping cult leader Jonah King (Billy Burke). Someone called the Accountant (William Fichtner) is pursuing him and Milton turns out to be an escapee from hell. The Accountant is tasked to bring him back to satan’s lair. Milton teams up with Piper (Amber Heard), a sexy but feisty waitress driving a hot car, and they leave a trail destruction as one car after another explodes into a huge ball of hellfire each time they bump into something, all presented in eye-popping 3-D.

It’s to the credit of Director Patrick Lussier that he doesn’t take the material seriously, which echoes elements from other films like “Terminator”, “Constantine”, plus Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez flicks. He knows viewers who’ll watch this are just out to have some mindless fun so he crams the movie with high speed action sequences punctuated by violence, sex (also spiced up with violence ala-“Desperado”), smoking and boozing, with beer being drunk straight from a skull. The CGI fantasy elements are awesome, particularly the opening and closing scene showing how Cage escapes and returns to and from the depths of Hades.

As a guilty pleasure, there’s no doubt it delivers. And this is one 3D film you should really see on 3D as Director Lussier (who also did “My Bloody Valentine 3D”) has taken three-dimensional technique to greater heights, with some stunts using 3D tricks thrown straight on the viewer’s face. The flashback sequence is particularly mind-boggling as a sleek visual treat.

Cage goes through his role like he’s been through it before, so William Fichtner easily steals the film from him. As the Accountant who can annihilate anybody who gets on his way, Fichtner brings distinct character to his role and gives a brilliantly wacko portrayal that is already worth the price of admission.

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