Reviewed by: Nathan J. Rossin
CONTRIBUTOR
Moral Rating: | Extremely Offensive |
Moviemaking Quality: |
|
Primary Audience: | Adults |
Genre: | Crime Action Comedy |
Length: | 2 hr. 24 min. |
Year of Release: | 2003 |
USA Release: |
Featuring | Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Gabrielle Union, Peter Stormare, Jordi Molla |
Director |
Michael Bay |
Producer | Jerry Bruckheimer |
Distributor |
Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures |
They’re back! When Miami becomes the target of a large ecstasy smuggling ring, narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are assigned to a new department of the Miami Police Department nicknamed TNT (Tactical Narcotics Team). Lowrey and Burnett once again investigate with their trademark “Shoot first, shoot later, and when everybody’s dead try to ask a question or two” flare. This leads to a violence level that far surpasses the original, including extremely graphic death sequences.
The cinematography in this film is absolutely incredible. From the chase scenes to the closed in gun fights, it is quite obvious that much of the photography and effects have never before been attempted; and they’re pulled of flawlessly here. The over-the-top action sequences never quite get tiring, but can become somewhat predictable as the film progresses.
Unfortunately, there is a great deal of objectionable material. Here is an abridged listing (a full list would consume too much space): countless uses of every cuss word imaginable including several counts of blasphemy, over-the-top violence and gore, at least three slow motion gunshots to a bad guy’s head, corpses fall out of a van during a chase scene and are subsequently run over by the pursuers, a female corpse is shown nude from the chest up, a club scene consisting of numerous scantily clad women dancing erotically (the camera moves under a woman wearing a skirt), a woman is showing having sex in a car (no nudity), a man is cut into pieces and stuffed into a box (the actual murder is not shown).
Behind all the special effects and excellent photography, there really is not much substance to the plot. There is really no character development in the sequel, Smith and Lawrence really do have a chemistry on screen that is quite hilarious at times. The comedy, however, does not excuse the fact that the creators have crossed a line of gore and language acceptability.
Violence: Extreme Profanity: Extreme Sex/Nudity: Heavy
It’s one of those action movies that you watch to see guns flaring and car crashes. The main thing is that it’s not very Christian… but you knew that before even watching the movie. If you don’t like that sort of thing… don’t go. Waste of your time. But if you have fun watching those crazy effects and don’t take to heart the offensive stuff, it’s a thriller… you may like it.
My Ratings: [Average / 3]