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Download, Watch online Killer Elite (LQ) Movie.
| Genres: | ActionThril |
| Starring: | Ben Mendelsohn, Dominic Purcell, Robert De Niro, Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Aden Young |
| Director(s): | Gary McKendry |
| Country: | USA, Australia |
| Year: | 2011 |
| IMDB Rating: | 6.5 |
When his mentor is taken captive, a retired member of Britains Elite Special Air Service is forced into action. His mission kill three assassins dispatched by their cunning leader.
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Killer Elite (LQ) (iPod) | Resolution: 480x192 px | Total Size: 448 Mb |
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Killer Elite (LQ) (DivX) | Resolution: 704x280 px | Total Size: 1023 Mb |
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Movie Photos: We have taken some photos of "Killer Elite (LQ)". They represent actual movie quality.
Visitor Reviews: (20)
bob the moo 07 May 2012
Too long and the straight/generic telling doesn't really work with the complex motivations and moralities of the characters
Based on a true story, Killer Elite sees a hired assassin called backinto duty when his mentor is held hostage by a powerful sheik who wantsrevenge on the SAS men who killed his sons. Danny takes the job inorder to get Hunter released  a job that involves getting the men toconfess on camera before killing them in such a way that it looks likean accident and cannot be traced back. However the targets are aparanoid bunch and once a few questions are asked and one of the mendies, the secretive group behind the deaths put former soldier Spikeonto the case, pitting the two trained killers against each other.This film feels like a missed opportunity and more must have been hopedfor it  not least by the relatively big name stars that were involved.This is a tale of murky secrets, covert actions overseas, trainedkillers and the influence of money and power  it should be much moreinteresting that it is here, but the decision appears to have beentaken to make it as a straight generic thriller. This isn't really aproblem in terms of some of the action because there are "good bits" inhere, the problem comes from the fact that the material actuallydoesn't lend itself to this approach as much as you would have liked.So, for example, this sort of generic thriller really suits simplecharacters, simple plots and thumping action scenes but instead KillerElite hands us with two groups, neither of whom are particularly"likeable", so the genre approach tells the viewer to root for the goodguy  but the plot gives us no clue as to who this is. I have no issuewith murky and unlikeable characters, the problem is that the deliveryof the film doesn't do anything with it and tries to force it all intoa mould that it doesn't fit.Fortunately the more dramatic sequences are still pretty good (notgreat, but good) and they come up reasonably often to allow the film totemporarily be the film it wants to be. Not often enough though, andall of them are damaged by the fact that the rest of the film aroundthem isn't working as well  and there is a lot of "other film", toomuch in fact and it runs a good twenty minutes longer than it can copewith. Much like with the recent film Blitz, Statham does his thing well whether it suits the film or not. He delivers what you expect him toand again maybe he is part of the reason the film is pushed to besomething it is not. Owen appears to be more in touch with what thematerial should be and also does well with the mano-a-mano stuff thatthe film asks of him, but it is hard to watch him delivering on acomplexity that the finished film had no interest in. De Niro is asolid presence because of who he is, but he is really phoning this in.Akinnuoye-Agbaje only has a small role but, as a fan of Oz who knowshow good he can be, it is always good to see him in things.There is a good story in Killer Elite but unfortunately all but thebullet points is lost in a telling that is trying to make more of astandard thriller and doesn't seem able or willing to do anything withthe murky aspects of plot or characters. The end result is a so-sothriller with a so-so plot and performances that mostly don't reallywork. I wonder at what point in the production they started making itsomething it wasn't, but regardless when it happened, it did seem tohappen and it is a shame because the story deserved to be told betterthan it was here.
3xHCCH 06 May 2012
Everything a Jason Statham Movie is Expected to Be
Now that I have seen more than one Jason Statham movie, I already knowwhat to expect. A Jason Statham action movie is old-fashioned slam-bangaction where Mr. Statham kicks some serious ass in an almost superhumanway, and convinces all of us that he can really do these things."Killer Elite" is no different.In this action flick, the story revolves around Jason being pulled outof secret agent retirement because his mentor Robert de Niro gotkidnapped by a Osama Bin Laden look-alike who wants to avenge themurder of his sons by some British guys. Clive Owen is also an agentfrom another organization who is checking out the actions and dealingsof former agents like Statham was. Of course there would be someconvoluted double-crossing in this battle of wits and brawn betweensecret agents.Of course there is the typical explosive car chases and foot chases.Jason was awesome in that scene where he was tied down to a chair andhe was able to fight his way out as only he can. To neutralize all thetestosterone going on, there was the lovely Yvonne Strahovsky in yetanother typical action flick cliché as the hero's girlfriend in peril.As the senior agent, De Niro's scenes are fewer than those of Stathamor Owens. This is everything you would expect in a Jason Statham action movie,plus the star power of Clive Owen and Robert de Niro in there to boot.Not bad at all for its adrenaline rush.
Projit Mookerjee 01 May 2012
Satisfying entertainer.
This movie is based on the novel "The Feather Men" by Sir RanulphFiennes, which talks about the involvement of British SAS in the Omanwar and the retribution of the disposed Sheikh. The movie moves with abrisk pace and never lets off steam depicting the 1980 as accurately aspossible. If you thought, that this was an out an out Jason Stathammovie, in line with Transporter & Crank, and features high octaneaction, then you would be pleasantly surprised. It actually has a neatlittle story tucked inside the assassination plot line. In addition toStatham, the movie also features Clive Owen, Robert De Niro & DominicPurcell (Prison Break) in interesting leads. If you are looking forsome action on a lazy afternoon, then this would fit the mold of apopcorn entertainer.
Paul Haakonsen 01 May 2012
Fairly standard Statham movie here...
"Killer Elite" was exactly what I had thought it to be, a decent actionmovie without any major surprises or plot twists. It is basicallystraight out of the highway the entire time. Don't get me wrong, itdoesn't mean that "Killer Elite" is a bad movie, it just makes it avery predictable one.For a Jason Statham (playing Danny) movie, it is textbook material. Ilike his movies and that is why I decided to watch this movie as well,even though there is nothing new to be seen here. Action, fighting andtestosterone from start till end.I was somewhat surprised when I found out Robert DeNiro (playingHunter) was in the movie, which only made it all the better, despitehim having a small supporting role. And Clive Owen (playing Spike) wasreally, really great in this movie. He was so well-cast for that role.However, I must say that the one that carried the movie in, my opinion,was Dominic Purcell (playing Davies) - even though I usually don't likehis acting or movies much - he did a really great job in "KillerElite". And truth be told, then I didn't know it was Dominic Purcell inthat role before I checked it on IMDb."Killer Elite" has a lot of action, which is to be expected, as it is aStatham movie after all. I was thoroughly entertained all throughoutthe movie. However, it would have been nice with some big plot twistsalong the way. I haven't read the book on which the movie is based, soI can't say how true it is to the source of whence it came.If you want a decent action movie without too much to challenge yourintellect, then "Killer Elite" is a good choice. Lots of action scenes,lots of macho stuff, lots of good actors, and that is more than enoughfor almost two hours of movie entertainment.
voyager13 01 May 2012
Overrated movie
Once again a Jason Stratham flick with same old boring facialexpressions, with unshaved and Raybanned Stratham face, not-much-of-an-idea-what's-going-on, there-for-the-action, kind of movie. Just bignames roped together doesn't make a big movie. Or perhaps its notintended to be big anyway. If you're a big fan of Stratham and hisI-always-win stunts than you will probably get your money's worth. Forme, I left the movie early. It is Robert de Nero who is anywhere nearworthwhile to stay back for, but he hasn't been given much to show, itsmostly Stratham's show. Clive Owen tries to infuse some freshness intothis stale revenge plot but it doesn't cut it. Disappointing.
LucasNorth 01 May 2012
Steller performances and solid action.
I'm not a fan of Jason Statham's cookie cuter action films by any wayshape or means. Regardless of how good the film is like "Death Race" or"The Expendables", it's always the same character. A badass who knowshow to kill you in every single way, never showing any sort of emotionin a movie with only enough story to get you to the next action scene.And Statham is very, very good at playing these roles. However, anyonethat's scene "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Gun Barrels" and "The ItalianJob" know the guy has a charisma and charm about him.This is what is so different about "Killer Elite". Statham plays aformer SAS officer turned mercenary who's left his past behind.Building a new life with Yvonne Strahovski, who owns the screen withradiance and a presence equal to her alpha male co-stars, who goes backinto that world to rescue his mentor and friend played by De Niro. Theentire run of the film, Statham's character, Danny, clearly doesn'twant to be there. He wants to be back in his home with his girl. Thisis a refreshing take on the action character that Statham playsamazingly well and elevates this film above his normal cookie cutterfilms. His performance is why I rated this movie so high.Clive Owen doesn't give up any bit of screen to either Statham or DeNiro. Like his character, Spike, he's intense and driven. He gives afantastic performance as a man who's only known the life of a soldier.A man who's war is over yet finds a new one in Danny's operation andjumps at the chance to fight. De Niro. What is there to say that heproves that this, the screen, is still his yard. What more can you sayabout Robert De Niro? Killer Elite is a well crafted action film withsome great performances. Made even better by the fact that the eventsin the film may have actually happened.
mistabobdobolina 27 April 2012
An underrated movie that takes some interesting risks
Killer Elite would have been on much safer ground -- and, I'm willingto bet, gotten a far easier ride from the critics -- if it had stuckmore strictly to the plot of the novel (*not* a nonfiction book) itadapted.First of all, the original book pitted the ex-SAS "Feather Men" againsta very safe (read: not white) group of enemies, a cell of militantterrorist Arab commies called "the Clinic." Second, it didn't containmuch in the way of soul-searching about the SAS' role in Oman, nor asubplot with Her Majesty's Government in collusion with the assassinsin order to secure oil contracts. If the filmmakers had left thoseelements unchanged, Killer Elite would indeed have been the routineStatham vehicle that many critics have claimed it to be... and probablya license to print money to boot.Interestingly, the makers of Killer Elite chose to break those rules.It tosses out "the Clinic" in favour of a group of Brit, American andAussie mercs. This has the advantage of making their ability to moveabout largely unseen in 1981 Britain and successfully whack SAS membersmore plausible... but also makes the film far more morally complicated.The protagonists are The Feathermen in the book; here the protagonistsare the assassins -- but apart from their leader, Statham, given thesemi-redeeming motive of trying to rescue his old friend from captivityand get out of the biz, they're genially nihilistic bastards all andcould have been played as disposable bad-guy mooks in a lesser film.Their "Featherman" antagonist, played by Clive Owens, seems on thesurface to have honourable motives but underneath it all is a gung-ho"juice monkey" barely less nihilistic than his targets, who's in itbecause he simply doesn't know how not to be at war.These are mostly believable inhabitants of the amoral world ofmercenaries and spies. They're an infinitely better quality ofcontenders than the more-or-less arbitrary or ethnically-defined "goodguys" and "bad guys" that action movies normally toss out as chum forthe patriotic appetite. But they don't make for easily-digested actionmovie types, and -- crucially I think -- they're not what the movieadverts promise, which seems to have thrown a lot of viewers. It alsodoesn't help that the added subplot with the British government is astretch (no matter how ruthless a government gets, colluding to offmembers of its own special services is an extreme act), but it's not atotal loss, because in another way it adds some plausibility again --it adds to the layers of moral conundrum already going on, and withoutthat subplot, the ultimate "success" of the assassins, even to alimited degree, would be even more improbable.The cat-and-mouse game between the assassins and the Feathermen isripping good action material, made better by being character- andplot-driven. Unfortunately, the critics are right that the moviedoesn't escape action movie clichés; the spies inhabit a world ofethical realism but fantasy physics in which Owens and Statham arestill close to being chop-socky heroes, and there's a lot of hackneyeddialogue, some extraneous shoot-'em-up scenes, a too-cloying buddydynamic between De Niro and Statham and a ridiculous "villainousmonologue" scene by an MI6 agent that seems to intrude from a differentmovie. Despite those flaws, "Killer Elite" took some worthwhile risksand is still above-average as action entertainment.
BigGuy 26 April 2012
Surprisingly Flat
I'm not sure what it was about Killer Elite that disappointed me, butit just didn't seem to live up to its potential. It might have beenthat the movie relied on Jason Statham to act, instead of just doaction. He plays a retired hit man who gets pulled out of retirement tosave a friend's life. But it just doesn't work, he's unconvincing. Theretirement isn't convincing and neither is his reluctance to return towork. He was much better in the Mechanic which dealt with similarissues.Overall the movie doesn't hold together very well. There is too muchthat they are trying to accomplish, but not enough gets developed. Forinstance, the romance between Danny (Statham) and Anne (YvonneStrahovski) just seems to be cut in to the movie in a few places. TheFeathermen (the group about whom the book the movie draws from iswritten) appear in a few scenes, yet they're role is barely explored.They are spliced in just enough to give Spike (Clive Owen) a supportsystem.It's not a terrible movie, but it could have been much more. I think itwould make a better mini-series, so that the different parts could beexplored properly. If not, eliminate the things that aren't givenjustice.
Chaz_233 26 April 2012
An extraordinary action movie.
Statham plays Danny, a mercenary who finds himself having to rescue hisfriend Hunter (DeNiro) who is in the captivity of a Sheikh in Oman, whois willing to release Hunter if Danny kills all the British agents whokilled his sons.Danny accepts and with his team manages to track down those men. Butthis gets the attention of a secretive group of former and currentBritish agents. Spike (Owen) is their main operative and he is hot onthe trail of Danny's team. The British government itself though istelling the secret group to stand down and to reign Spike in, thatwon't be easy though.When Danny thinks he's done it turns out there was a mistake in hishitlist and he has one more agent to kill. In the meantime some of histeam members are caught, others don't end up well because of the helpof amateurs. During the final mission both Danny and Spike realize thatthey are just pawns of a much bigger game- Oman has oil.Killer Elite is an exhilarating non-stop action movie, it reminded meof some of those British action series of the 70s/80s, that wereserious and no nonsense. In fact it even looks like these series, basedon the old cars they are driving. Interestingly it's not easy to tellwhen the events transpire. But aside from being an excellent actionmovie, much in vein of the Bourne movies, filled with intrigue, thereis the political and economical story that gives this movie anotherlayer of depth that you don't find in most action movies. Not tomention that it's based on real events. And those events are sointeresting and timely. We find out the sort of things that Britain wasdoing years ago, and which the US seems to be following, unfortunately.The movie could be a bit shorter and some of the characters manage toalways be at the right place at the right time. Nevertheless, KillerElite is one of the best story-based action movies in long time.
The_Panther4180 25 April 2012
Killer Elite - Not getting what it deserves
I just saw this movie last night. From the first trailer i saw in thetheater and on TV, i KNEW that this movie was going to be awesome and iwas not disappointed. First of all the story itself is like somethingfrom '24' or 'Spooks'. And its based on true events. It is very much atime piece, lol God i almost forgot about those shorts lol...anyways,it takes place the year i was born, 1980. Second and no less importantis the cast. What more could one action fan ask for? Jason Statham vsClive Owen. Its a match many wanted and many UFC fans would pay to see,and they do not disappoint. Their scenes together, especially when theyare trying to out do one another are awesome. Their fight scene lookedreally genuine. Knowing Statham does a lot of his own stunts and CliveOwen is no push over either, it was just great! Add more GREAT actorsin none other then the man himself, New Yorker Robert De Niro, whoshines just as bright in what scenes he has, he may not have as muchscreen time as Jason & Clive, but he steals its, and wow :) DominicPurcell (Prison Break, Equilibrium and Blade 3) is a good looking dude,but in this film he looks very much the part of a grungie 80's man lol.Adewale is perfect, the ppl they got to play the supporting cast andthe feather men are great, and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck & Heartland) isa site for sore eyes. Totally worth the money theaters charge. I verymuch recommend this movie and i cant wait till it comes out to DVD, andhopefully ill see it again soon.Killer Elite is not a remake of the James Caan movie. FYI. We areintroduced to Danny (Statham) and Hunter (De Niro) on a assassinationassignment in Mexico. They are mercs. Hunter is the voice of experienceand Danny is perhaps the best he has seen. The action is great, theytake out a two car convoy and take out the bodyguards and as Dannyopens the door to take out the main target, which he does, he isshocked to see the targets son, he freezes and gets shot by apoliceman, Hunter gets him out of there and they escape, but Danny sayshe is finished, he's getting out. Two years later he is trying tosettle down with a childhood friend Anne (Strahovski). But it all comesto a halt when he receives a package with Hunters picture in it, he'sbeen captured. His handler, (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays hispart SOOOO well) tells him that Sheikh Amr has him. He want Danny to doa 6 million dollar job. Kill 3 former SAS agents, agents who killed hisfirst 3 sons. But he must get their confessions on tape and make theirdeaths look like an accident, only after that would he get his friendand mentor Hunter back. He enlists the help of Davies (Dominic Purcell)and Meier (Aden Young) who are more then happy to kick some SAS ass. Onthe other end is Spike (Clive Owen), whose name says it all, he is thelead attack dog for the 'Feather men'. A group of old men and formerSAS, who are now businessmen. But they keep an eye on all former SASagents. Spike catches wind of Davies through contacts and puts togetherhis own team to check it out. As the movie progresses its Team Stathamvs Team Owen. And it is one hell of a ride. The fight seen betweenthose too is perhaps the best I've ever seen, even better then MathewMcConaughey vs Christian Bale on Reign of Fire, where McConaughey toldBale it would make the scene better if they REALLY fought...Balethought he was kidding...and Matt knocked him out with a head butt. Thehospital fight scene makes it look like a Sean Connery fight ;) But asDanny and Spike are about to find out as they try to kill each other,nothing is what seams. This is a must see, Gary McKendry does a kickassjob in his directorial debut. I see great movies in this mans future.Matt Sherring also makes his writing debut and does it just as good ifnot better then anyone, he adapted Ranulph Fiennes much controversialbook. Even though Fiennes later denounced his book as anymore thenfiction, the whole cast makes you start to believe that this is nothingbut the truth.
fsart12 21 April 2012
Poorly filmed fight scenes with an average story
The storyline was mildly interesting, about Statham attempting torescue De Niro from the hands of a sheik who wants Statham to seek anddestroy several people that killed the sheik's three sons. The storyfollows their brief investigations along the way. Statham also recruitsDominic Purcell (Blade Trinity) and another. The investigations give ahint of what they're looking for, then they search and almost alwaysfind their target without much trouble. That's the gist of thestoryline throughout. No major spikes in the flat line story till theend. Just an observation.Being a huge action fan, this is what I paid to see after a goodstoryline. The action fight scenes featuring Statham are poor at best,not because of Statham or his enemy, but do to the director ofphotography filming too tight on the action, and the editor cuttingevery split second to another angle, resulting in the infamous "Whatjust happened? Who hit who? What the hell is going on here?" This styleis mostly reserved for low budget TV shows, though I can think of onethat puts this movie's fight scenes to shame. A wasted opportunityprobably in an attempt to rush through the scene. If film makers thinkaction fans don't care, they need to think again and stop giving us ajumbled, incoherent mess of a fight scene.The shoot outs are decent, but De Niro barely has his moments, sincethe story line keeps him as the one needing rescue. (See Ronin for hisbest).Beware to those looking for Jason Statham in a new classic fight scene.It's not found here.
DarkVulcan29 21 April 2012
A conspiracy or action film, this movie can't decide..
Although I found this movie amusing, I had a feeling it just could notdecide on what type of film it wanted to be, a conspiracy or actionfilm. It tried to be both, and came across liked it was trying toohard.The story takes place in the early 80's, where gun for hire Danny(JasonStatham) nearly loses himself on a mission, decides to retire. But ayear later, he gets a letter saying his mentor(Robert De Niro) has beenkidnapped, and his told that he has to commit three kills, or they willkill his mentor. So Danny gets his old teammates together, and goes offon the assignments, But there mission gets complicated, when a SASguy(Clive Owen) stumbles on to them.De Niro, Owen, and Statham really shine in there own way. And someaction scenes do work. Although for some parts it does have a pacingproblem. Not a great film, but a amusing.
PWNYCNY 20 April 2012
It's more than just about good versus bad.
This movie is first-rate entertainment. It is one of the better actionmovies. Jason Statham and Clive Owen are great as operatives who try toout-fox each other, taking them all over the world. As for RobertDeNiro, he is, as usual, great. Although he's in a supporting role, hispresence definitely adds to the movie's entertainment value. Yet thebest feature of the movie is the story, which is clever,straightforward, and engages the audience. This movie has an unusualplot in that one is never certain who are the good guys and the badguys. In fact, by the end of the movie, that question is stillunanswered but by then it really doesn't matter because the story ismore than just about good versus bad.
grizelda-3 19 April 2012
Fun, but what's with Clive?
So, I would typically never go and see this move EXCEPT that itpromised some eye candy IE: CLIVE OWEN. The boys (my hubby and 2 grownsons) loved the movie, but they love any Jason Stathom movie. And I washappy to sit through the movie-it was decent although the plot was thinand it was really just an excuse to run around blasting things. BUTWHAT WAS WITH THE WEIRD MAKE UP ON CLIVE???!!! That yellow eye. UGH!Still love him though. I give this review a 6 mainly because DeNiro(usually a no brainer) completely phoned it in. Dude, you're one ofthe most famous actors EVER. Retire in glory. I would have loved to seesomeone that took the role seriously there. I don't understand theseolder actors that we love taking roles long after they are into it.Maybe the director was too intimidated to direct him, I don't know. Itjust doesn't work. There are a lot of older actors who could have donehis part without seeming like they were being fed their lines insteadof embracing the role.
aadc1 16 April 2012
Annoying secret agents movie where the trailer shows you the best 20 minutes of it.
Annoying secret agents movie where the trailer shows you the best 20minutes of it. Rating 4, Spoilers Jason Statham (Best movies: Crank,Transporter 3) was not able to save this movie. Also not Clive Owen(Best movie: Inside man). And surely not the one that should beenjoying his pension time, Mr. Robert De Niro (best movies: 15 minutes,Cape Fear, Midnight Run), which I personally never really liked, as Isuspect him to have actually in a way in real life a lot of thenegative character traits that he plays in movies.The story is about a Sheik which seeks revenge for his killed sons bysecret agents. He forces Jason to act out this revenge by taking hisbest friend Robert as hostage. A good basis for a story you wouldthink, but it isn't. Most of the time you spend listening to boringdialogues and seeing boring scenes from the daily life of a secretagent.The movie is also very political and historical. Terrible. And when itcomes to the action, this happens the last 20 minutes; you notice thatthe Trailer consists practically entirely of scenes from these last 20minutes.
valleyjohn 16 April 2012
Great 70's look and good action.
I good Robert De Niro film is a rare thing over the last 15 years and iwas beginning to give up hope of him ever putting in a descent displaybut thankfully he seems to have found his feet again in his role inKiller Elite.This is the story of a group of mercenary's who get embroiled in a jobthat crosses paths with a bunch of ex SAS soldiers who are all out toprevent them succeeding. Despite finding the plot of Killer Elite a little confusing i foundthis film to be an enjoyable action flick. Jason Statham plays the rolehe usually does ( and is best at) and De Niro seems relaxed at last inhis role . The action is exciting and the 70's look is done very well ,especially the chases with the old Cortinas and Escorts. DominicPurcell is completely miscast as the Welshman . He looked the part ,but had no idea how to do the accent.Killer Elite is a fun ride that suffers a little from a convoluted andconfusing plot but it's not bad at all.
Hellmant 16 April 2012
Killer cast but only so so directing.
'KILLER ELITE': Three Stars (Out of Five)Jason Statham action vehicle featuring Robert De Niro and Clive Owen insupporting turns! The cast is exceptional for a B action film likethis; it also features Dominic Purcell, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje andYvonne Strahovski (from TV's 'PRISON BREAK', 'LOST' and 'CHUCK') butit's the only thing exceptional about the film. It's a pretty routineshoot 'em up storyline that's based on a book by Sir Ranulph Fiennes,titled 'The Feather Men', which is supposedly based on true events. Themovie doesn't seem very close to reality obviously. It was written byfirst time script writer Matt Sherring and directed by first timefeature film director Gary McKendry. I think the lack of experiencefrom the filmmakers plaid a large part in the rather mediocre feel ofthe film despite best efforts from the A list cast. It is a pretty funmovie by the film's conclusion but it's also a somewhat painfulexperience (at times) getting there.The film takes place in the early 80's after British Special AirService (SAS) agents have brutally assassinated three of the four sonsof a powerful sheik in Oman. The sheik is dying and wants his sons'deaths avenged before he dies. Hunter (De Niro), an American hit-man,originally takes on the assignment but runs into trouble. He's thenheld hostage by the sheik and his buddy Danny (Statham) is forced intotaking over the hits with a threat that Hunter will be killed if hefails. Danny assembles a team and takes on the task of killing thethree assassins, which he must make look like accidents and capturetheir confessions of guilt on camera before doing so. Owen plays a SASagent who begins investigating the deaths of his team members andbecomes obsessed with stopping Danny and his crew.The film is surprisingly slow paced for the first two thirds of thefilm or so. It's heavy on plot development dialogue but there isn'treally any character growth and it isn't really interesting or thatinvolving in any way. There are a few good action scenes here and therebut they could have been shot and edited with a little more excitementand flare in my opinion. A more experienced director could have atleast presented the material with more enthusiasm and style. The thirdact does kick into high gear and everything does get turned up a notch.The pacing, style and editing all improve and it almost seems like theyswitched out directors. Statham delivers his usual 'cool' action toughguy performance, Owen is perfectly adequate and it is kind of fun tosee De Niro in a movie like this. I wish the beginning of the moviewould have just been executed better. In my opinion the first twothirds of the movie deserves 2.5 stars (out of 5) and the last third 4.So I'll balance it out to 3.Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFgJwfpDzmc
tabuno 15 April 2012
A Compelling and Nicely Balanced Action Thriller
This movie has almost all of it, the action, the plot, the emotionaland intellectual heft. The plot and its various twists are among themost lavish and continuous of recent movies. The action and martial artscenes are solid, though somewhat derivative from other action movies,including those Daniel Craig (James Bond), Matt Damon (Jason Bourne).The improvement of this genre by this movie involves the less dramatic,hysterics of the romantic interests, allowing the focus to be on therelationship, yet not distractedly so. There is also a more authenticfeel, where the edges of not quite as sharply defined in terms ofscript, plot points, by the numbers formula and instead there seems tobe some rough edges, gritty - suggestive of the earlier classics of the60s, Ipcress File (1965) , The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965) butnot quite as cerebral and psychological.Unfortunately, this movie has a few small weaknesses and prevent itfrom becoming a major breakthrough movie, including the perhapsdebatable omission of the Bourne Identity cerebral, mental espionagementality that has for example a scene where Jason Bourne incapacitateshis pursuers in the first movie (2002) and manages through hismindfulness to be able to track what they are doing which isn't used inthis movie. Additionally, there are the same flaws as last year's WildTarget (2010) in which the best of the best don't seem to act orbehavior as the best of the best and in which in this movie reallydiminished this movie with the possibility of being a great movie.Without the intellectual interplay between antagonists (whichunfortunately may have been more of the realistic problem of keepingwith the true story), the movie was able to display the more intriguingspy elements intertwining with move, counter-move, and counter-countermove.Nevertheless, this movie is among the best in its genre in severalyears for its action, thrills, character development, and more reservedrelational elements, and the movie plot's ability to incorporate somegreat twists and maintain its intensity level consistently to the end.
george.schmidt 12 April 2012
Statham & Owen make the most of this middling actioner.
KILLER ELITE (2011) ** ½ Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro,Yvonne Strahovski, Dominic Purcell, Aden Young, Ben Mendelsohn, AdewaleAkinnuoye-Agbaje. While the film suggest a 'loose remake' of the '70sera James Caan/Robert Duvall thriller, in name only is this a kissingcousin with military trained assassins Statham and Owen at odds onopposite sides-of-the-tracks machinations involving a global conspiracyinvolving the kidnapping of DeNiro, Statham's mentor, with plenty ofinternational intrigue and double crosses. While it is impressive tosee Britain's finest men of action/suspense Statham and Owen in an"ALIEN VS. PREDATOR" smack-down for the most part the sporadicallylaced actioner relies way too heavily on murky expositionary dialoguethat goes around-and-around in circles making the viewer PRAY forSOMETHING to BLOW UP and/or fisticuffs ensue! And would it have killedthem to use the lovely Strahovski more to her strengths (outside ofbeing smokin' hot!) ala her "Chuck" TV series persona? While thedynamic duo's pas-de-deux's echo John Woo and the BOURNE films theystill entertain far more than the leaden direction by Gary McKendry andMatt Sherring's convoluted screenplay adaptation of Ranulph Fiennes''based-on-a-true-story' book is yawn worthy indeed. Still it is kindacool to say to yourself "How the HELL does Statham simply walk awayfrom a spectacular escape through a window while strapped to achair?!?!" :D
chaz-28 11 April 2012
Killer Elite is average in most respects but contains an intriguing plot
The Killer Elite is saddled with a vague and forgettable title but atleast it sounds more lethal than the book it is based on by Sir RanulphFiennes, "The Feather Men". An evil cabal known as the Feather Men doesnot inspire too much fear. These ex-SAS (Special Air Service) members,and now business leaders, chose the name themselves to signify theirlight touch on situations which concern them. Shady characters arestarting to ask around about an old mission in Oman involving SAS menand this falls right in the wheelhouse of issues the Feather Men arewatching out for.The Feather Men novel is allegedly based on a true story but none ofthe facts have ever been verified. Sir Fiennes described the book as'factional' which does not bode well for the story's authenticity.However, the plot is intriguing, especially for a shoot 'em up first,ask questions later action fest. The background and set up arecomplicated enough which makes you want to follow it closely. I do notwant to provide an exact plot synopsis but essentially Danny Bryce(Jason Statham) must kill some ex-SAS men to save his assassin mentor(Robert De Niro) from some Omani oil sheiks. Spike Logan (Clive Owen),also an ex-SAS man but not one of the marked men, has his sixth sensekick into overdrive and tries to save his mates from Danny's bullets asa good Feather Man would. Sir Fiennes actually claims to be one ofthose marked SAS men. The script portrays Danny as an assassin who has lost his taste forkilling and vows after every trigger pull that "this is my last job".He is supposedly from Australia but oddly maintains a thick and nativeBritish accent. Since every assassin must have someone to come home to,his girlfriend Anne (Yvonne Strahovski) waits impatiently for him as hedisappears on his missions. Strahovski is a real life Australian andhas a matching accent to prove it. She has been outstanding in theChuck series so it is enjoyable to see her finally cross over intomainstream film. Even though the plot is deeper than your average thriller, the dialoguedoes not rise above mediocrity and has the exact same platitudes asmost other actions films. The worst example is:"He knew what he was getting into when he joined the club." "Whatclub?" "The killer's club." There is also the obligatory conversation about the woe is me assassinwhich includes the gem, "The killing is easy, living with it is hard."First time feature film director Gary McKendry is very good at filmingone on one hand fighting scenes. Statham and Owen impressively use theentire room and every prop in it to beat each other senseless. For theladies, they still keep their film star looks even after they are donetaking turns butchering each other. What McKendry has yet to master arecar chases. The edits are too fast which turns each of them into amessy muddle. Opening one weekend after Drive which containsoutstanding car sequences makes these awkward scenes in the KillerElite look even worse by comparison. The overall look to the Killer Elite is good however. Even though itwas mainly shot in Melbourne, the skies are usually England gray andthe Brecon Beacons mountain range sequence is shot well. This film isright in that middle range where I am unsure still at this point ratherto recommend it or not. It is much better than the garbage in its genresuch as The Expendables but fails to reach up to the higher level ofCrank or The Bank Job. I suppose I marginally recommend the KillerElite for its absorbing plot and intricate assassination sequences, butbe warned, this film is not anything more than average.