Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2714 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-02-14
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 140 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Style trumps substance in Man on Fire, a slick, brooding reunion of Crimson Tide star Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott. The ominous, crime-ridden setting is Mexico City, where a dour, alcoholic warrior with a mysterious Black Ops past (Washington) seeks redemption as the devoted bodyguard of a lovable 9-year-old girl (the precociously gifted Dakota Fanning), then responds with predictable fury when she is kidnapped and presumably killed. Prolific screenwriter Brian Helgeland (Mystic River, L.A. Confidential) sets a solid emotional foundation for Washington's tormented character, and Scott's stylistic excess compensates for a distended plot that's both repellently violent and viscerally absorbing. Among Scott's more distracting techniques is the use of free-roaming, comic-bookish subtitles... even when they're unnecessary! Adapted from a novel by A.J. Quinnell and previously filmed as a 1987 vehicle for Scott Glenn, Man on Fire is roughly on par with Scott's similar 1990 film Revenge, efficiently satisfying Washington's incendiary bloodlust under a heavy blanket of humid, doom-laden atmosphere. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a lost soul. A former government operative, he has become an alcoholic nomad, searching for inspiration and redemption. An old friend (Christopher Walken) who lives in Mexico gets Creasy a job as a bodyguard for nine-year-old Lupita 'Pita' Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of Mexican Samuel (Marc Anthony) and his American wife Lisa (Radha Mitchell). Creasy's primary job is to protect Pita from the kidnapping attempts that are an increasing menace to the children of Mexico City's wealthy. A man of few words and many secrets, Creasy initially balks at Pita's attempts to befriend him, but soon a bond grows between the precocious child and this lonely man who is tormented by his past. When Pita is kidnapped despite Creasy's valiant attempts to save her, he will do anything to bring all of those involved to justice. His fury unravels a net of almost unimaginable corruption and greed in the process. Director Tony Scott (TOP GUN, CRIMSON TIDE) builds the relationship between Creasy and Pita in the first half of the film in order to justify Creasy's violent actions in the latter half, and in the process he does a fine job of keeping the film's tension consistently high.

Customer Reviews

Unmissable
This is definitely Denzel Washington at his best as an alcoholic ex-'spook' hired on the cheap as a bodyguard, directed by a truly 'on form' Tony Scott. The film takes a while to really get into the action but this is by no means a waste of time as it layers important elements to the story. The photography throughout is simply fantastic as we come to expect from both Tony and his brother Ridley. There are so many stylish features to this film from the depiction of the gritty setting of Mexico City, right down to the quirky, yet enjoyable format of the subtitling!!!
This is a must see film that with not just a superb lead role from Denzel but also great supporting roles from both Christopher Walken and Dakota Fanning. Fantastic soundtrack, very reminiscent of Gladiator(perhaps this was Tony always meant for this to be HIS 'Gladiator').
BUY IT!!!

Born to play Mr. Creasy
Mr. Denzel Washington is truly one of the best African American actors in the universe! he was absoluetly AMAZING in this movie! he was born to play Mr. Creasy!!!! Not to mention.... he would really make a GREAT body-guard in real life! Also, Dakota Fanning, though so young, shows remarkable talent in this movie. she's so cute, and yet, amazing! An Indian version of this film was made with the Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and was a tad inferior to this fim..but still fairly good.

Typical but fantastic
Alright it's got all the typical signs of an American cheese movie, but this one steps aside from those ... and is actually a brilliant film. Wonderful acting from a great cast and a storyline that will grip you.

Has a bit of something for everyone. Bit of heart-wrenching moments and well... scenes where things blow up.