Product Details

• Actors: Steven Seagal, Dmx, Isaiah Washington, Anthony Anderson, Michael Jai White
• Directors: Andrzej Bartkowiak
• Writers: Ed Horowitz, Richard D'Ovidio
• Producers: Bruce Berman, Joel Silver, Dan Cracchiolo
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: Unknown
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: August 31, 2001
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (120 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003CXW4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,880 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Exit Wounds" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One can always count on Steven Seagal to act as the repository of yesterday's action-film clichés, and Exit Wounds is yet another case in point. Seagal plays Detroit cop Orin Boyd, a lone wolf lawman who gets in the middle of his precinct's losing battle against police corruption. Taking on a powerful but crooked cop named Montini (David Vadim)--who is busy making deals with a rich gangster (DMX)--Boyd soon sends fists and feet flying while Tom Arnold provides the comic relief. Director Andrzej Bartkowiak surely had less fun guiding Seagal through slow-motion fight sequences than he did Jet Li in Romeo Must Die, but as compensation he gets to work with the mesmerizing DMX, who looks as though he has leading-man possibilities. Plenty of gratuitous gore, awful cop banter, and miles of cleavage courtesy of Jill Hennessy, who plays Boyd's tough-as-nails boss. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

A tough but burned-out New York City policeman assigned to a remote Long Island precinct uncovers corruption among his fellow officers there.

DVD Features:
Documentary
Featurette
Filmographies
Music Video:by DMX
Theatrical Trailer

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, I loved it anyway! May 29, 2002

By Victoria Tarrani

Format:DVD

Even predictable action flicks provide good escapism. Some of the predictability does not happen because the script needed another rewrite.

I am a Steven Segal fan. My first choice in films is action. "Exit Wounds" did not disappoint me on either count. However, several undeveloped script elements are just ploys to introduce characters or transition locations. Many of the problems with the movie belong to the screenwriter or film editor. I would have liked to see deleted scenes, which were not included in the DVD special features.

Segal's fight scenes are not overdone: he goes in, gets the job done without excess violence, and walks away calmly. He could be considered a knight of the round table, a Jedi master, a starship captain, or your average guy with extraordinary qualities.

This movie is action driven, but the intelligence that Segal brings to all of his characters shows through. Detroit cop Orin Boyd is a maverick officer, and his one-man shows frequently get him into trouble. The opening scene depicts him using his gut instinct, which is based in deductive reasoning and observation skills. He sees a cop, with a scraped ear, wearing an earring; the patrolman is one of the entourage who is escorting the Vice President from the podium, where he spoke about gun control, back to his hotel. Boyd rescues the VP from an assassination attempt, but instead of gratitude, he is sent from one precinct to another.

Who are these assassins? That inherent question is never answered, though I thought it would be before the movie ended. I see this as an opening gambit to create the plausible impression that "bad cops" were involved. However, even scene setting should have a reasonable answer....

Jill Hennesy is the captain of the new precinct and requires that Boyd attend a "rage class." In the class, he meets Tom Arnold, who is the comic relief, and never fails to do his job right. The classroom and meeting were also just a tool to provide a trusted resource when the investigation of a drug ring left no one to trust. Completely undeveloped is the romance between Hennesy and Segal, though innuendoes and quips pass between the two. A beautiful woman and a virile man, obviously attracted to one another, may have added the sparkle that is missing from most action films; it would have been so natural here, and not taken the focus away from the plot.

DMX, like Segal, carries an aura of calm assurance. He is dynamic and sexy, and could well be another superstar and box office draw. His character is quiet, and his reasons for the involvement in the drug investigation are excellent.

Even with the problems, I know I will watch this movie many more times. Therefore, I give it four stars. If you do not like violent, action packed movies with undeveloped script elements, then you might not like this one.

Victoria Tarrani Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Senseless title for a senseless movie May 18, 2005

By Inspector Gadget

Format:DVD

Despite Fire Down Below being a No. 1 hit in America, it went straight to video here in the UK and killed Seagal's career for four years. But then veteran action producer Joel Silver thrust Steve back in the limelight, put him on the Slimfast diet gave him slightly better material to work with. After all, an actor can only do as good as the script.

From a novel of the same name by John Westerman (but bearing minimal resemblance to it) the plot centers on Orin Boyd, a cop busted down to patrolman after a rough encounter with the Vice-President. Once on the streets Boyd's suspicious nose can't keep him out of trouble with undercover cops who are trying to bust local Drug Boss Latrell Walker...or so it seems.

There are many attempts at irony throughout the movie and surprisingly enough most of them work. Boyd is forced to attend rage control classes in which he meets eccentric TV host Henry Wayne (Tom Arnold) who becomes his wannabe partner. But sadly enough the classes don't work as Boyd continues to uses violence first, ask questions later. And there is a public service announcement too; Seagal survives a car wreck by airbag. A later car crash victim doesn't have one and dies.

Dozens of cop movie cliches staple the flimsy script together. And the bad guys are obvious from the moment they appear on screen. Bartkowiak's direction is better than in his debut Romeo Must Die, and adds a heavy dose of frenetic rush to such a fast-paced film. However the set-up and execution of the story is so dull you'll forget about it half an hour after the credits roll.

Seagal has learned a little, just a little, more in the acting area but still doesn't know how to express himself much. There's too much frowning and not enough other emotions from Boyd.... We do want to feel more from him but he won't allow us. I guess this is just how Seagal is. He just can't get away from himself no matter what role he plays. I wish Seagal would try harder, but he just never bothers with making an effort.

Warner...release a Blu Ray, the DVD looks good, but it can look a lot better! Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than average by the numbers Action Flick May 29, 2006

By Christopher J. Jarmick

Format:DVD

This is one of the better Seagal Action movies and features a convincing DMX who shows he has some movie star charisma and acting chops. It's not UNDER SEIGE but it's far better than GLIMMER MAN, ON DEADLY GROUND and FIRE DOWN BELOW. It's also better than all of Seagal's direct to video fare. You also don't have to worry about him singing any Country-Western or blues songs in this one.

Seagal does not really act, but he does have an interesting charisma. At his best he's a poor-man's Clint Eastwood, who's spare Akido influenced martial arts moves are bone break-ingly no nonsense, macho stuff. He frowns a lot, he grimaces once in a while, he's sometimes photographed at unflattering angles, has vampire like teeth, runs like a girl and he almost never raises his voice and stays very very-- sometimes zombie-like, calm.

At times, Seagal's acting is so minimal you want to laugh at the irony that you actually wanted to spend your money to watch this guy. I mean I still can't decide if I think Seagal is a first class jerk with little talent (rumors of his big ego persist) or if he's kind of cool. It's remarkable he's gotten away with what he does in more than a dozen big screen movies and at least that many direct to video mistakes.

Seagal you'll notice almost right away in this movie still has that walk of his. Movie stars like John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Robert Mitcum, Humphrey Bogart, and James Cagney, to name just a few used to have interesting walks. Walks which were full of attitude and set them apart from regular people. Seagal has a special way of walking... strutting actually. It's a modified Pimp's walk. Oh not the herky jerky kind of Huggy Bear (of Starsky and Hutch fame) walk, but more the Fred Williamson or Ron -Superfly- O'neal type of strut.... When you add Seagal's greased back hair (he got rid of his pony-tail a few years ago) perpetual frown, wrinkled forehead and slanted eyebrows, with the strut, he drips with the I'm a pis-ssed-off-bad-a-s-s-vibe that action movie hero's since Eastwood and Bronson are supposed to exude. Seagal's got the attitude, and he's shed most of that beer belly gut he had during the last few films he walked through (on video about three years ago, on screen it's been four years). He may be 50 years old but he's quite willing and able to do some impressive looking martial arts moves and play cops and robbers quite well.

The film also stars Issiah Washington-- a real actor. Why he isn't working in better movies I have no idea. Issiah isn't actually asked to do much acting, but you can tell if the script asked him to do any, he would have been able to pull it off.

DMX (aka Earl Simmons) is another reason people were initially curious about this film. Perhaps the biggest reason. And he has some presence in the film. I'm not sure how good of an actor he actually is since he's playing a pretty cliché'd kind of character through most of the film. He acts tough, does some physical stunts (or seems to be doing them) very well and when he's supposed to have some warmth and the audience is supposed to like him--we do. He doesn't embarrass himself and has some on-screen charisma that's not the same as other rap stars turned movie stars. He contributes a few songs to the soundtrack as well--including an interesting version of the Bill Wither's hit Ain't No Sunshine.

Maybe the worst news about this movie is that we have not one... but two characters who are in the movie mostly to provide comic relief. They are written into the movie in a very forced manner and the actors that have been cast don't do themselves any favor by trying much too hard to be funny with the material they are given. Anthony Edwards and Tom Arnold try way to hard to be funny. They usually annoy. You might enjoy their end credit comic riffing however.

So what's THE STORY? The story updates ,merges and dumbs down Dirty Harry and Serpico.

During the first sequence some bad guys impersonate cops to try and kidnap a politican. Seagal as Orin Boyd, a decorated but Lone Wolf kind of hero-cop, is the only officer who notices that the impersonating cops are breaking regulation by wearing earrings. Hundreds of cops around and only our hero sees the irregularity and suspects something funny might be going. Some sort of gadget passes hands and Orin is the only guy who pays this any attention.

Cue the action complete with some bloodshed and a climax involving the fiery explosion of a helicopter.

In the process of saving the politician's life Orin has embarrassed the politician and caused lots of damage, endangered lots of lives and broke lots of rules. He's a decorated hero cop so he's transferred to the worst ghetto precinct you could imagine where a lot of misfit neanderthal cops work.

Oh that old chestnut huh? Yep.

What you couldn't imagine is that this precinct is run by a woman whom everyone pretends doesn't look like a cover-girl model. She's tough though and sends Orin to anger management classes and eventually demotes him to traffic cop. It's at the anger management school that Orin meets up with the t.v. talk show host played by Tom Arnold.

However Orin has quickly had a run-in with the local drug king pin, Latrell Walker (played by DMX), and his over-weight comical assistant and combo dance/strip club owner, T.K. (played by Anthony Anderson). When he tries to be the lone -wolf hero and take Latrell down he winds up screwing up another cops undercover operation. This is what gets him demoted temporarily to a traffic cop.

Oh but something isn't quite right with the picture and Orin discovers that dirty cops are involved and not all the players are who, they at first, seemed to be. I know this will come as a huge shock to action movie fans (NOT).

This leads to Orin getting involved in several scrapes that lead to a fairly big shoot-out/ action scene to wrap things up.

All of this takes supposedly takes place in Detroit. If you haven't been to Detroit you probably won't notice that Toronto is where the movie has been shot.

There's no romance in the film and outside of some naked club dancers and the brief hint of a flirtation, none of the stars have any on-screen relationships with women. In fact we have no idea about Seagal's private life in the film at all. You want depth? Go swim in the deep end of the pool. This is a Joel Silver action movie darn it.

Exit Wounds, is just one more time-wasting action movie that too many people weren't able to resist, so it became successful at the box-office. It's slightly better than you probably think it is, but you would still be better off satisfying your macho movie 'jones' by watching some action movies from Hong Kong (directed by Johnny To, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark or John Woo to start with), but hey, this one is in English.

IMAGE AND SOUND

Overal the 2.35:1 anamorphic wide screen transfer looks very good. The film has lots of nigh scenes and the black levels are strong and shadow details pretty good. There's some pixalation in a few scenes and if you want to be really picky you'll notice several white spot drop outs that are the result of some wear and tear on the original print used for the transfer. That's a bit disappointing that they didn't find a print in better condition or combine a couple of prints to Create one pristine one to transfer, but it's a pretty minor distraction. There doesn't seems to be too many problems with edge enhancements or bouncing video levels either.

There's only one soundtrack on the DVD and it's in 5.1 dolby. If you don't have the 5 channel system you'll be hearing a squeezed version of it which others call a down-mix. That means some of the squeezed together separation will create some muddier sound effects but usually it is not problematic and it won't affect your ability to hear dialogue.

The 5.1 track is utilized quite well. There's lots of big bangs and sound is bounced around from the various channels so there are plenty of left to right, back and forth, and right to left sound effects. When a noisy Humvee drives across the screen the sound moves through the room as well. This however isn't always the case... which is a bit puzzling. Why in the opening action sequence is the bun battle now nearly as lively as the one later in the film? The music score , occasional DMX songs and several sound effects are base heavy, so the LFE is being used throughout the film.

Extra Features:

The longest extra is the obligatory behind the scenes puff piece. There's the expected discussion about Seagal's come-back (of sorts) the casting of DMX and pre-planning for the film. Everyone is upbeat and positive and congratulating and praising everyone else of course. You do hear from Seagal, who sounds a bit tired and bored as well as producer Joel Silver who sounds enthusiastic. We get to see how a few stunts were done and see how the wire work played a big part in making Seagal look pretty good in the action scenes. Seagal as we see is a very agile athletic guy and he doesn't look 50 years old.

There is also the 9 plus minute feature called A Day on the Set with Anthony Anderson. Anderson plays T.K. in the film and he's often called upon to be the comic relief. We follow him from his hotel room, to his trailer, to the set for a scene he is shooting, and then, at the end of the day, he does a bit of a comic rant about what a long hard day it has been and how he has sacrificed so much to give those of us in the audience some entertainment value. Anderson's running commentary is only occasionally amusing and we don't see enough on the set type action for the piece to have much value.

The music video is presented in wide screen (but it is not anamorphic). Mysteriously the audio for the video is in Dolby 2.0. It should certainly have been in 5.1. The re-make, hip-hop version of the Ain't No Sunshine sounds okay in 2.0. Read more ›