Miami Vice was an ongoing 80s series about the over the top lives and adventures of two Miami vice cops - Crockett and Tubbs. Fast cars, beautiful woman and plenty of gun fights was the order of the day, against the enticing neon backdrop of Miami Beach. Classic 80s fare, with a techno-disco sound track from Jan Hammer.

Fast forward to 2006, and we have action director Michael Mann's re-imagining to enjoy. The same high living lifestyles are there, but there's a much harder edge. The gun fights are more brutal and realistically bloody, if still over the top. A-list actors Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx play Crockett and Tubbs respectively, keeping the number of double letter names at an appropriate llevvell - sorry, 'level', and there's a great supporting cast. Farrell is excellent as the high rolling Crockett, flashing moody glances everywhere as he goes about his business, and Foxx is also wonderful as the more taciturn Tubbs - split between his police partner and his love for his girlfriend and fellow vice squad officer.

Life Charlie's Angels, Miami Vice focuses on a single story line rather than anything more complex. There are drug runners, white supremacists for a change, informants, murders, hostages, boat chases, hard talking cops and plenty of blood splatter. Expect no brain straining twists here, it's pure cop action in the manner of most buddy cop movies. Also don't expect much humor, this movie is dark and un-relenting in a move that Mann used to take the original pastel series into our darker present.

Miami Vice is a great action movie that doesn't expect much from us as viewers. You get the explosions and chases you want, wrapped around a simple plot that drives us all forward to the obvious ending. A fun watch, but not a classic unfortunately.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age