Marked for Death (1990)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

An Exercise In Nonsense

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

I'm not the biggest fan of Steven Seagal. His trying to acting, makes JCVD's acting resemble that of John Gielgud. My biggest criticism though, is that Seagal's fight sequences have never been particularly exciting or dynamic. All that wrist locking and tripping can only entertain for so long - which isn't very! What doesn't help his reputation, is that Seagal has been branded something of a fraud in martial arts circles. Now why does that not surprise me? This film only highlights what I have already stated. The fight scenes could have been much better but all that comic strip gunfire should compensate and Seagal never tries to project any emotion of any kind. Merely an exercise in sleepwalking, for which he takes gold medal. Danielle Harris has absolutely nothing to do in this film. After her success in the "Halloween" movies, surely the screenplay in "Marked for Death" could have allowed her more screen time. Keith David is a pretty good actor and helps this one along. Physically speaking, Seagal looks in reasonable shape but he hasn't been one for having a muscle bound look. The story is the same old thing, a highly trained secret agent goes after drug dealers! Zzzzzzzzz!

Steven Seagal in his prime took Hollywood by storm. This was his 3rd hit movie and some consider it one of his best ever.While many action movies tend to recycle the same basic premise, Marked for Death actually has a creative story. Accompanied by some very good actors this movie stands out as one of the best all time martial arts action movies and one of the best action movies in general.Seagal plays a special operative who quits because he's just had enough of the life. He's tired of seeing people he cares about die...and for what? He comes to the conclusion that all the work he has done in the end amounts to nothing....that it didn't make a difference.Upon returning home to spend time with his family he learns that things have changed and the element he has retreated from is now prevalent in his hometown and he cannot escape it. Reluctantly he returns to the fight and begins a personal campaign against the local threat consisting of drug-dealing Jamaican posse members with ties to the mafia.Seagal appears to do all of his own stunts. His style and on-screen charisma really stand out in this film. If you like Seagal this is a must watch film.

Hot on the heels of Hard To Kill, with again, a less than impressive performance, one could say undemanding now, as we don't go to see Seagal films for acting talent. One in a long line of films before Seagal did straight to video dreck, this third Seagal instalment sees him back on a personal trail of revenge, after earlier retiring. His captain making a potent statement "What are you gonna retire too?", this same actor playing the bartender in that redneck bar in 48 Hours, sardonically suggesting Murphy's choice of drink. When Seagal's undercover mate is blown away in a drug deal gone wrong (a great start of location) and blowing away a woman shooter in return, he decides if by some sort of redemption or salvation to pack it in. When returning to his old neighbourhood to get some peace and tranquillity, he inadvertently stumbles into another drug war, when him and old buddy (Keith David) are witness to an open shootout involving Jamaican drug lords, better known as possies. A nice little educational note there. When his niece takes a bullet, he's forced back into action as we love to see him, him and David walking out of the hospital room, both intent and fierce again has as asking, what's a great actor like David, working with Seagal. Their objective is Screwface, the great Basil Wallace, the standout performer in this who provides a twist too. There are some humorous scenes in Marked for Death, 1) The confession scene. 2) a slightly amusing scene with Seagal, tinkering with some old gun parts or ornaments of some kind at his Sister's place, but 3) Seagal's dialogue to Davi,. concerning two bad arses, one of who'm he just shot, while the other, a Jamaican who made his choice. The family/homely scenes worked well for what isn't a bad actioner, or badly made film, which way you want to term it. It's a solid piece of action making, some potent and memorable dialogue too, as in Seagal's following hit, Out For Justice. This one just doesn't rise to the quality of Seagal's prior flicks. Pacula too as a reporter, provided another homely scene, when Seagal recounts olden days of soup kitchens. Another amusing scene, just before I sign off has Screwface's girl dancing for Seagal, who lets him in on a little wise information, in order to catch her ex. End Song by Jimmy Cliff and the band, is no better way of song to finish this heavy action vehicle, with some occasional but heavy gore.

When DEA agent John Hatcher's partner is killed he decides it is time to retire as no matter how much they do and how many villains they arrest there is always somebody else waiting to take there place. When he returns to his home in Chicago he finds the Jamaican Posses are selling drugs. At first he doesn't want to get involved but eventually he has no choice and deals with one of the gang. This puts both him and his family firmly in the sights of Screwface, the gang's leader. After an attack on his home leaves his niece critically injured he sets about hunting Screwface down; a mission that will take him from Chicago to Jamaica and back again and everywhere he goes he fill have to take on Screwface's many men and the black magic they claim to wield.If you enjoyed other early Seagal films you are sure to like this as it is packed with bone crunching action; he frequently has to fight several thugs at once. As well as the expected martial arts action there is plenty of gunplay, a car chase and even a sword fight! The story isn't too deep but there is an unforgettable twist that first time viewers are sure to enjoy. Seagal isn't the best actor in the world but he knows how to do action so if that is what you want you won't be disappointed. Some of the Jamaican patois is a little hard to understand but that doesn't spoil anything as most of what they say can be guessed anyway… it is nearly always a threat of some sort!