not as good as best of original episodes
Written: Jul 31 '06 (Updated Aug 01 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Bang For The Buck |
 |
|
|
Pros: Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell and supporting cast. Music. Scenery.
Cons: gratuitous sex scenes, dialogue
The Bottom Line: Entertaining, realistic action movie. Not as good as the handful of great Miami Vice episodes however still would recommend.
|
|
|
| sunbuckles's Full Review: Miami Vice |
When I first heard that Miami Vice was being made into a movie I was ecstatic. After viewing the movie this weekend I could not help comparing the current movie to the TV series. I am a huge fan of the original Miami Vice. Although the show became somewhat hokey near the end of it's run there were some phenomenal episodes. Like many other 14-24 year old males I was starstruck by the supernatural cool of Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas when the show first aired. Who was better at fighting villains and wooing women than these two? Retrospectively it may be difficult for some to see just how revolutionary this show was. What made the series so great? A few of the elements were:
1)two cool non superheros fighting a losing battle against evil.
2) excellent dialogue in some episodes
3) irony and plot twists and turns in some episodes 4) camaraderie between Crockett and Tubbs
5)the good guys do not win every battle 6) excellent villains (two of the best were Ted Nugent and G. Gordon Liddy)
7) beautiful women, beautiful scenery and great atmosphere 8) excellent music-U2, Billy Idol, Phil Collins....the list goes on and on.
How is the current movie as a stand alone product? I would rate it a B. If the movie were an episode I would compare it by saying although the movie is not as original or classic as the top 5-10 Miami Vice episodes I would say it would make it into the top 20. When compared to Michael Mann's recent movies I would agree with most reviewers that it is not as good as Heat or Collateral.
Most Miami Vice fans consider 'Definitely Miami' to be the greatest Miami Vice episode and the remainder would rank it in the top 10. The movie is not nearly as good as the 'Definitely Miami' episode and several other episodes.
This episode combines all of the aforementioned elements in a tour de force of classicism. It begins with a heavy metal music and black Porsche flying down a dirt causeway to rendezvous with Ted Nugent. Ted plays a women beating, serial killer in this episode. Don Johnson falls for Ted's accomplice in crime, French beauty Arielle Dombasle, and the episode ends with a classic mirage scene with the beautiful Godley & Creme song 'Cry' playing. At one point Crockett (or Tubbs) says to the other, 'When is this heat going to end?'.....the other responds 'Don't worry, one thing you know for sure is, sooner or later a cool breeze is going to come blowing on in.' This was one of many very dark episodes and was even more gritty, dark, depressing than the movie. G. Gordon Liddy had a recurring role as an untouchable, priest killing agent provocateur who they were never able to catch.
Quite simply, the current movie is not as classic as the great Miami Vice episodes. However it is good and I would recommend it. I thought that Jamie Foxx was excellent and Colin Farrell was decent. I would give Jamie Foxx an A- and Colin Farrell a B-. I noticed that Colin Farrell has a disturbing repertoire of tics, twitches, and winces that he should consider eradicating from his act. Also, I envision the character of Sonny Crockett to be super cool. Farrell's portrayal is way too much forte agitato and not nearly enough cool. Foxx is smooth and matches up favorably in comparison to Phillip Michael Thomas. Colin Farrell can not compare with Don Johnson as Don Johnson had superior charisma, star power, was even more tough and at the same time....way more cool. I think Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise would have been a better choice. Nonetheless, even though I am not a Colin fan his portrayal of Sonny was better than I expected and acceptable
The storyline is your standard police vs. drug dealers with Gong Li tossed in for romance. I am convinced that this type of movie needs compelling villains
and though the evildoers in this movie can not compare to the ultimate evil drug lord, Alejandro Sosa (played by Paul Shenar in Scarface)they are done well.
My favorite scene in the movie, and worth the 10 bucks for admission was a beautiful sweeping shot of the ocean while Crockett and Gong Li are heading towards Cuba in a Scarab type speedboat while Patti LaBelle is singing 'One of These Mornings'. Hopefully the theater that you visit has the volume cranked so you can get the full effect
My least favorite scene is the final scene where Crockett and Gong Li are looking at each other like sad dogs while she leaves him in a barge for Cuba. After all the seriousness this was a bit much.
Overall I would recommend the movie and am pleased with the outcome and would give the movie a B. I hope there is a Miami Vice II.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: A few glitches, but mostly complete.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sunbuckles
|
|
Location: drtekno
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
drtekno
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.