Customer Reviews

Armored

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The classic take on what happens when people get greedy. Yeah, the movie is for the most part predictable and somewhat cliche ridden. Overall, it's not the worst movie I've seen. Good flick on a rainy day or night when nothing else is on. While it may not overwhelm you with it's storyline you at least will be entertained.....and then go on about your business!

Upon viewing the trailers, I waited in anticipation to see this movie. I have just seen it and the first thing I did was google the writer to see if maybe he is a wealthy personality, who once had his money stolen during an armored car transfer and maybe this script was now his closure and revenge? This movie ought to be entitled "How stupid can you be with 42 million dollars"? The subtitle should read "Why didn't you just stay home"? Some of the other reviews here talk of "predictability" in this movie. Are we reviewing the same film (Armored)? To the contrary, this movie is so depressingly unpredictable, that it breaks your heart. Some of the other reviews speak of a "great story line", only if you are some law enforcement officer with an axe to grind, I guess. One review speaks of star power at it's peak and "everyone did a bang-up job". Again, what movie did you see, because this was a complete waist of star power. I don't even know why Lawrence Fishburne accepted a script like this? Jean Reno's character seems almost catatonic. They did the best they could with what they had to work with script wise, but it was so far beneath what could have been. We all know that crime doesn't pay and you will definitely reap what you sow, but a heist movie should be about the heist, a great getaway, the ensuing chase, the investigation and just maybe the icing on the cake of a total eluding of all who chase them! I'm sorry, if it's not broken, don't fix it! Classic subject scenario's require "predictability". If the predictability is anticipated and enjoyable, then it's a bankable asset. In a tangent comparison, people don't seem to care if most popular music sounds the same these days and it does, to it's most boring, mediocre ultimate ever. Society seems to be so tolerant of mediocrity in music, but so intolerant of a little predictability in films; why? It's so backwards. Instead of screwing up the classic ingredient of just enough predictability of a heist movie to keep the enjoyability, it would be nice to bring real music back; music that has interesting progressions, beautiful changes, deep rhythms, bridges and uniqueness (thanks for bearing with my momentary, analytic metaphor). This movie leads you on to think that six blue collar guys, with bills and mortgages, get tired of transporting millions of dollars for their peanut paychecks and decide to cash in for a change, only to get caught up in the most ridiculous, needless, chaotic, foolishness that I have ever seen, in depressing reality. Instead, you end up waiting hopelessly for the scenario to somehow reset from chaos, back to the getaway, but sadly, it never does. The setback becomes the subject matter and spirals relentlessly downward. If you want to see someone (who makes a bad decision to steal) get caught before they even get started, watch "Cops". Why not let them shoplift, or steal some ones wallet, or how about a convenience store holdup? Something menial in comparison. Then let them get caught and do they're time (with plenty of action, drama and intensity therein), but $42,000,000.00?? Come on! It's heart wrenching and depressing to watch. I mean really, who enjoys seeing $42 million get blown up? Where is the slickness, sophistication, smooth execution and intelligence of a well thought out plan, that takes everyone by surprise? The kind that leaves you breathless, wondering "wow, look at the way they pulled that off"! That is where the excitement, intensity and unpredictability is in a heist picture and this never gets old. It's classic and can be enjoyed over and over. So what if it's "predictable" in it's basic story line? SO WHAT?? Some things in life are timeless. At least let them get home with the money James! Spike Lee's "Inside Man" ( in reference ), is ingenious and a more enjoyable formula for me Inside Man (Widescreen Edition). All that said, congratulations are still in order to James V. Simpson for selling "armored", his first script. Just please don't write any more about bank jobs and heists James (cause you don't get it) and if you want to write about a hero, don't make him a rat the next time. Really, if this picture was about true morality, then "Hackett" (Columbus Short) should have been held responsible for ever agreeing to go along with the heist! He still was part of it and would have left with the money as well, if no one got hurt, right? How does he just go home at the end of it, with a totally clear conscious and a possible reward to boot?? He essentially (though inadvertently) caused his partners deaths, by being such a selfish punk. A far cry from the heart, guts and grit of "Little Walter" in Cadillac Records... I am so sorry that I purchased this DVD...

Heist films have been a genre that has yielded some truly amazing movies. The recent THE ITALIAN JOB, RONIN and more, even the Pink Panther series, have given us moments where we root for the bad guy in his attempt to pilfer the goods from an even worse bad guy or banker. And now we have a new entry, ARMORED.

I must admit that when I saw the preview for this film (over and over again it seemed) I had no interest in it. Even as I put it in the DVD player I wasn't expecting much. Perhaps this is why I was so pleasantly surprised.

The film focuses on a group of armored car drivers, friends in the field. New to the group is Ty Hackett (Columbus Short). Ty was a decorated war hero in Iraq who returned to a home where his parents had both died and he was not responsible for his younger brother Jimmy.

Working with Ty is Mike Cochrone (Matt Dillon), Ty's godfather and mentor at the company. Through Mike, Ty got the job he now has as well as friends like Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Quinn (Jean Reno), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco) and Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich). This group welcomes Ty with open arms and a sense of brotherhood.

On a regular run, the armored vehicle containing Ty and Mike and driven by Baines shorts out. Mike smells sugar in the gas tank burning and they know it's a set up. A black van pulls up, two men place explosives on the window and as it is about to go off a few firecrackers explode leaving Baines and Mike laughing. It was nothing more than an initiation prank on Ty who has passed his probationary period.

Mike gives Ty rides to and from work and one night not long after the prank, he tells Ty they have a solution to his money problems (he's about to lose his home). They plan to make the robbery real. The men guarding the money plan on a heist that would take in $42 million and expect him to be a part of the operation. Ty at first refuses but after returning home to find a social worker ready to take Jimmy form him, he agrees, as long as no one gets hurt.

The plan moves along like clockwork, the team loading the money and then heading to an abandoned steel factory where they plan on hiding the money and then making it look as if they were hijacked and the money stolen. But as with all good plans, things go wrong when a bum hiding in the plant sees them. As he tries to get away, Baines shoots him in the back.

Ty has had enough. He attempts to help the man but Mike shoots the bum in the back making sure he's dead. Ty no longer recognizes these men as who he thought they were and takes one of the two armored vehicles they came in to get away. He's stopped by Mike in the other but then locks himself in with the load of cash in the vehicle. Now the men change from simple thieves to murderers who want nothing less than to get Ty and the money out.

While they do so, a police car with an officer (Milo Ventimiglia) shows up. When Ty uses a battery to make the siren on his vehicle go off, Baines shoots the policeman as well. Now the group faces not just murder charges but the possible death of a policeman as well. But he's not dead and Ty risks a move to rescue him and get him inside the vehicle with him.

The cat and mouse game of how to get Ty out, how Ty gets help and whether or not these men will get away with murder and the cash makes for a high speed thriller that delivers on all levels. The most amazing thing to me was that as I watched I found myself surprised that it moved along so quickly. I lost track of time and never once felt like the film dragged at any point.

The film is a perfect combination of story, special effects and performances that make you truly believe these men are who they claim to be. Their motivations, their passions and their brutality are demonstrated by each individual as the film draws to its dramatic ending.

Is it predictable? Sure. But it is the rare heist film that isn't. And even those tend to have a last minute twist in common that makes them different. The joy of a heist film is less about its predictablity and more about the ride it offers getting there.

If you're looking for a film that offers adrenaline pushing moments and a hero to boot, then make a point of picking this one up. It's not a rental only film but one that movie fans might want to even add to their collection.

ARMORED is a tight little film about friendship in the workplace, betrayal, and convictions - and oh yes, it is a heist caper story. For openers this viewer was perturbed that the cast listed on the cover of the DVD and certainly in the credits of the film focuses on 'names' of actors we all know, supposedly to anchor an audience. But the main character of this film is played by Columbus Short, and because he is not as famous, his name appears at the end of the list, very much in the shadow of the big guys names who have far less to do with the story. But that is Hollywood marketing issue...

Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) has returned to the US from a heroic tour in Iraq, his parents have been killed in an auto accident leaving Ty in charge if his younger artistic but somewhat schoolphobic brother Jimmy (Andre Kinney): Ty has joined a squad of armored guards who transfer money from banks to banks, and yet is not making enough money to support his home life. He needs a raise or more shifts. He is well-liked and respected by his team of fellow guards - Boss Ashcroft (Fred Ward), head guard Mike Cochrane (Matt Dillon) who is Ty's godfather, Quinn (Jean Reno), Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich), and Palmer (Amaury Nolasco). There is a particularly heavy load of money to pick up and Mike, knowing that Ty needs additional funds, unveils a plan to mimic a well-known but unsolved heist: the plan is to pick up the money ($42 million), hide it, destroy the truck, and keep the money divided among the guards. Ty balks at the plan, but when the Welfare Department threatens to place Jimmy in a foster home, Ty reluctantly aligns with the plan - being promised that no one will get hurt. Mike repeats 'There are no bad guys here' and the heist begins. Needless to say the heist goes wrong - the act in observed by a homeless person and is killed by the Baines. A passing police officer (Milo Ventimiglia) hears the shots and stops to inspect, and is also shot by Baines. Ty freaks and seeing that he knows too much, is locked in his van with the police officer whom he nurses and reassures he will get them both out alive. Jimmy is brought in as a hostage and that is Ty's breaking point. Some twists and turns occur, more of the group die, and the finale leaves Ty in a position better than expected.

Director Nimród Antal ('Control', 'Vacancy', 'Predator', etc) understands the importance of pacing a film and the story moves like a rapid transit train out of control, heightening the drama. The finest work in the film is by star Columbus Short, but all of the costars turn in credible roles. It is not a great movie by any means, but it is worth watching as an action drama of friendships betrayed. Grady Harp, September 10

"Armored" is the latest film to arrive on Blu-ray and DVD from director Nimrod Antal's ("Vacancy") and would feature a screenplay by James V. Simpson, cinematography by Andrzej Sekula ("Vacancy", "American Psycho", "Hackers") and music composed by John Murphy ("Miami Vice", "Sunshine", "28 Weeks Later").

The film which came out in theaters in Dec. 2009 had a little controversy as the film was accidentally released by Sony on the Playstation Network for free while the film was in theaters and was estimated to have had thousands of downloads.

But this is one of those heist films that benefits from Blu-ray. Plenty of action, chase scene, explosions and more!

"Armored" is about a man named Ty Hackett (played by Columbus Short, "Quarantine", "Whiteout", "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"). A former marine who is working at an armored truck company but trying to raise his younger brother Jimmy while trying to pay the bills at the house of his deceased parents.

It's been tough since his parents took a double mortgage and the bills are high. And his co-worker, Mike Cochrone (played by Matt Dillon, "Crash", "Wild things", "Deuces Wild") knows how bad things are for him and knew how bad things were for his father when he worked for the company.

But Mike offers him the way out of debt, by joining him and a few other veteran co-workers which includes Mike's brother-in-law Baines (played by Laurence Fishburne, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "21', "The Matrix" films), Quinn (played by Jean Reno, "Leon", "Ronin", "The Pink Panther" films), Palmer (played by Amaury Nolasco, "Prison Break", "Max Payne", "Transformers") and Dobbs (played by Skeet Ulrich, "Jericho", "Miracles", "Scream") by stealing the money that they are to deliver to a bank. A total of $42 million.

Ty doesn't want to be part of the heist but with bills mounting and the county wanting to see improvement with his troubled young brother, he needs money and thus decides to join the group as long as no one gets hurt.

All things looks like they are going great for the group as they managed to steal the money but as they try to bury it inside a tunnel in a broken down warehouse. What they don't know is that a homeless man is watching them. Immediately, the group catches the homeless man but because he saw their identities, Baines and Mike shoots him down. Violating their agreement, Ty tries to escape but Mike manages to chase him down and pin him inside one of the armored cars. Ty manages to sound off the siren form the armored car before his co-workers disable it.

Ty uses the security locks to lock himself with the money and hope help comes but his co-workers who fear that the may be caught due to their plan being ruined are now in desperation mode and Mike comes up with an idea, to kill Ty and steal the money but in order to do that, they must get the armored car open. So, the crew works to remove the hinges from the vehicle in order to get the back door open.

Meanwhile, unknown to the group, an officer named Eckehart (played by Milo Ventimiglia, "Heroes", "Rocky Balboa") heard the earlier siren and is now heading to the warehouse area to check out the disturbance.

Will Ty be rescued or will be become a victim?

VIDEO:

"Armored" is featured in 1080p High Definition (2:35:1). Day scenes feature a good number of colors but its the closeups that show up quite well on Blu-ray. The detail of the skin pores and the sweat and grime on some of the armored security is captured well on Blu-ray but as most of the earlier scenes are outdoors and are colorful, the bulk of the film takes place in a run down warehouse. You can see the detail of the dilapidated warehouse with minimal lining. Blacks are nice and deep and I don't recall seeing any artifacts or any sign of DNR (digital noise reduction) while watching this film.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

"Armored" is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD MA and French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Although the film is dialogue driven via the center channel, there is a good amount of front and surround and rear surround channel usage of the special effects.

From the sounds of the shoes of the security, crunching steel during the armored car chase, the sound of the clanging as the men try to open the doors on the vehicle, the sound of the gun/rifle shots. A lot of the action sequences can be heard all around you and for the most part, lossless audio is very good with this film. Although not a 100% immersive action-based film, "Armored" sports a pretty solid lossless soundtrack.

Subtitles are in English, English SDH and French.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"Armored" comes with the following special features in High Definition with English Stereo and optional English subtitles:

* Audio Commentary by Producer Dan Farah, Skeet Ulrich and Milo Ventimiglia - Usually, you would hear from the director and the producer and talents. But this time you get a producer comment and commentary from Skeet Ulrich and Milo Ventimiglia who weren't the main characters. But Farah talks about scenes that were cut and the guys talk about certain parts of the film and their characters and situations dealing with their characters and a lot of personal conversations.
* Crash Course: Stunts - (11:30) Lance Gilbert (Stunt coordinator) talks about the stunts in the film especially the car chase.
* Planning the Heist: Making Of - (15:19) Director Nimrod Antal and the cast talk about working with each other and working on "Armored".
* Armed and Underground: Production Design - (6:47) Jon Gary Steel (Production Designer) talks about the creation of the warehouse and having to build the set and preparing it for major action scenes.
* movieIQ - With BD-Live, viewers can access the latest information on the cast, crew, music and more via real-time while watching the film.

EXTRAS:

"Armored" comes with a digital copy of the film.

JUDGMENT CALL:

Right off the bat, you can tell that "Armored" is a heist film but where a heist-that-goes-bad.The good news is that the film is quite riveting in terms of a group turning on their co-worker and just watching how things started to snowball.

"Armored" features quite a good number of talents but if there is one problem with the film, we don't know why they are even involved with the heist. Obviously, Ty has a reason to be part of it. The others, we don't know why they want to do it and during the commentary, producer Dan Farah talks about scenes that were cut from the film film. Personally, it would have been good to know of each character's situation.

So, character execution of the co-workers and their development took a backseat and it surprises me since this film has pretty major talent such as Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburn and several others. There were some plot issues and questionable dialogue but if anything, I just wished the talent were used much better than they were and at least get to know their motive of wanting to do something this risky, especially if they are married or have a family.

As for the Blu-ray release, you do get a digital copy of the film and the PQ and AQ are pretty good. It's just that I wish there were more special features or outtakes. I was surprised to find out that the commentary featured the producer and Skeet Ulrich with Milo Ventimiglia but I suppose the director and the main talent were unavailable for the audio commentary.

Overall, I did enjoy the film for its action sequences and wondering how the character of Ty is going to survive the entire ordeal. A riveting, action-packed, pulse-pounding heist film! But for the most part, it's more of a B-level action film that has some plot problems, lack of character development (aside from the main character Ty) but in the end, "Armored" was a film that I enjoyed more than I was expecting it to be.

Looking for a good popcorn, action flick, definitely give "Armored" a try!

A crew of officers who worked at an armored transport security firm risk their lives when they embark on the ultimate heist against the company they work for. Armed with a seemingly fool-proof plan, the men plan on making off with $42 million from a bank. But when an unexpected witness interferes, the plan quickly unravels and all bets are off. Good, boring or bad? It's good. Better than the trailer makes it seem. There isn't much to the script. The skill of the cast and the director's ability makes it onto a solid footing. Good movie, surprisingly tense.

"Armored" is another film in the heist thriller genre. Here, we find a group of men working for an armored truck company that decide to stash $42 Million worth of money they picked up during a routine job, with the plan of making it look like they were robbed, then run with the money. But as things go with plans like this, they usually go awry. While the plot is predictable, there is no denying that it's a fun, if conventional, addition to the genre. The cast and crew make up for a lot with some terrific performances, along with some great tension-filled moments and exciting chase sequences. Fans of the genre will find little to disappoint with "Armored."
Grade: B

Hmm, I'm not sure my review title is correct as I do remember the film, having just watched it last night, but at the same time it really seems that there's nothing all that memorable about Armored that sets it apart as a film. It could be an interesting look at the morality of a bank heist, but that ground has been well covered in the past. It could be a look at how society has let down our service people, but that too has been covered by other films in the past. A look at employees that are working too hard while not getting paid enough, hasn't that been covered many times as well?

There's nothing really wrong with Armored, but at the same time, the story just doesn't seem all that moving. The acting is fine though not terribly spectacular. The script is very predictable, made even more so if you have any memory of the trailers that had run back when the film made it's brief appearance in theatres (it seems the marketing department for the studio behind this film was determined to give away many of the plot points of the film in their trailer). The suspense level is ok but not not much more than that, and the action level is ok at best with much of the film apparently trying to be more cerebral (trying, but not necessarily doing a great job at it).

Armored makes for an ok rental, but for most viewers one viewing is likely going to be enough. Tread carefully unless you are a big fan of the stars here.

A tale of a heist gone wrong with themes that if you want too much money in your life, well, you get the idea. It's a basic tale with few surprises even if the cast is more than I thought it would be. The biggest problem with this film is that if you've seen one or two of these types of films you won't be in for anything new. The characters are done better than the tale. This film cost about $20M to make and yielded a similar amount at the Box Office. STORY/PLOTTING: C to C plus; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B minus; THEMES OF GREED: C to C plus; OVERALL GRADE: C plus;
WHEN WATCHED: end of December 2011.

I read the customer reviews on this before I purchased so I had a good idea of what the storyline was going to be -- but seeing is believing. It was just one mishap after another-- I was like "OMG, what next?. . " very good movie.