When I heard about this one a few weeks ago, I wondered why I wasn't familiar with it when it came out back in 2008.  After watching and doing a little research, I understand now.

This thing was butchered by FOX adn the theatrical release was nothing like writer/director Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothica) intended.  In fact, he is on record as being violently against the finsihed product, saying FOX didn't allow his to shoot anything the way he wanted, and that FOX came in and tried to turn it into an action flick, which it wasn't.

Well, I watched the extended cut and I still was left feeling like alot had to have bene left on the cutting room floor.  The concept is just too grand to get across in the time necessary and what we're left with is confusing, to say the least.

If you're not familiar, this is a Vin Diesel $70 Million apocolyptic flick that travels from Russia to NYC, via super train, submarine, Hummer, and Ski-Doo. None of it makes much sense, but for some reason, it's still engaging adn the action is done pretty well.

It's told somewhat as a mystery, and that's a big problem, because when the mystery is revealed, late in the final act, it doesn't make much sense, because the premise itself was never clearly defined.  What we're left with in the finale is just downright impossible to follow, becasued we weren't privy to it throughout the flick.

And it's really too bad, because the source material from Maurice Dantec seems pretty cool, but again, is just way too big to condesne into a 100 minute movie starring Vin Diesel...and I mean no offense to Vinny, as I like him and think he did everything he could here with what he had to work with.

IMO, this isn't nearly as bad as reviews made it out to be.  It's severely flawed for sure, but it's not a bad way to spend an hour and 40 minutes if this genre is your thang.

Grade - C+

Just wanted to say well done to my buddy Jeff for reviewing all these movies.

Even though I won't ever be watching any of them, it's still good reading.

Thanks, bro.  I appreciate it.