Wow, this doesn't totally suck!

Wow, Steve is finally back with a movie that doesn't totally blow chunks!

Decent story and direction, the cinematography doesn't look like it was done by my 3-year-old nephew, and none of the hallmarks of Seagal's really sucky movies, like the inexplicably dubbed dialog.

Not only is this at least a few cuts above Stevie's steaming pile movies of recent years, but this one actually surpasses many of Stevie's better movies from early on.

First off, he may not exactly be a size 4 these days, but give the guy a medal for deciding not to continue to try and cover it up. He pretty much presents himself as what he is - an over-50 guy who is showing his age, but could probably still kick the crap outta most of us.

Second - and this is the part I really can't believe - Seagal is for the first time in his career actually playing a guy who has character flaws, and who actually has some character development. Every guy he's ever played - even in his good movies - was always 'born perfect'with absolutely no flaws, and was essentially the exact same character from film to film. Seagal's character in this movie actually starts out as a compulsive gambler/alcoholic who's been kicked off the police force, and eventually comes to terms with his demons by confronting them. Makes you actually want to root for him.

I really only have two complaints.

One - how can the guy who is by far the fattest, slowest-moving target be the only one who DOESN'T get shot in the middle of a 100-plus firefight?

Two - he either needs to grow a real pony-tail, or cut off that damn dust bunny growning out the back of his head.