Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Seagal Is Good, Selection Not So, May 18, 2008
Being a fan of Steven Seagal, it's not in my nature to disregard something as impassive as a collection of his films, but as for this 4-movie, 2-disc compilation, I'm a bit disappointed.
"Under Siege" and "Above the Law" are necessities of any Seagal assortment: "Under Siege" is both his highest-earning film and the feature he's best-known for, and "Above the Law" is his first movie ever made. In addition, they are both among his most acclaimed pictures (as a matter of fact, they're practically the only ones that weren't trashed by critics).
"The Glimmer Man" and "Fire Down Below", however, are a completely different matter: they're the last films that Seagal starred in before his contract with Warner Bros. ended, and are among the most critically-maligned features of his pre-DTV career.
Since this is a representative package, I wonder what the latter two films are doing in this collection; seeing as the discs were compiled by Warner Bros., I can't understand why "Hard To Kill", "On Deadly Ground", or "Under Siege 2" weren't chosen from the WB library to complete the set, since those films are generally recognized as better Seagal-starring pictures.
In addition, the special features of all of the films are limited: theatrical trailers and production notes are included, but no interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, or commentaries are afforded to this album.
What we have here are the barest of essentials: two great Seagal films, two so-so ones, and that's it. While any Seagal is better than none, an alternative box-set also released by WB featuring "Under Siege", Under Siege 2", "Above The Law", and "Hard To Kill" beats this collection out on anything except price.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
love steven seagal, March 25, 2008
I have loved Steven Seagal since seeing Above the Law many years ago. I had never heard of him until I watched Siskel and Ebert and they gave that film "two thumbs up." I have been a fan ever since. So when I saw this film combo I had to get it. I was not disappointed. These are some of my favorites. Thanks!
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
4 films for a decent price, July 27, 2008
This DVD bundle includes 4 of Segal's best movies. They are the same transfers from the crappy early Warner DVD's. Though, at least here you get them cheaper. It brings Under Siege on one side, you flip the DVD and you have Glimmer Man on the other side of the disc. On the second disc you have Above The Law, you flip that disc and you have Fire Down Below. They all come in 1:85,16X9 widescreen anamorphic. The picture quality is average on most of them. They are all in 5.1 surround except Above The Law which is in Mono.
{Above The Law} (1988)- R- Disc 1 Side 1
The Story of the movie is a bit confusing for an action movie. As a matter of fact a review said " it contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers"(Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times=1988) and its true the movie is in a way unoriginal but it manages to be fresh by keeping the audience thinking and observing who is working for whom. The movie commences in Vietnam with the character of Nico Toscanni, he is recruited by the C.I.A to assist as an observant. Then we see the character as a cop investigating a drug ring. And it seems that everyone Nico busts comes out of jail quickly. Instead of being defended he is asked to back off. So it is obvious something is up...but what? The rest I leave to you to find out. Its a clever story that even though it's been used in various action movies of the 80's and 90's it still brings in a an extra punch. A must own by any Seagal enthusiastic
MY PERSONAL RATING: 3 ½ OUT OF 5
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{Fire Down Below} (1997)-R- Disc 1 Side 2
Segal plays Jack Taggart, an agent of the Environmental Protection Agency; and like "On Deadly Ground" Segal has a thing for protecting people from rich industrialist, that only have one thing in mind...to make more money. Taggart arrives in a small town in Kentucky, he posses as a carpenter, interested only in fixing peoples porches and houses. But as we all know Segal is undercover and is ready for some action. In this small town in eastern Kentucky, Someone is dumping toxic waste down the mountains...now that's a big no-no. Taggart begins to question people of the town, if they know of anyone that is involved with the dumping; no one of course can help because they are being watched, and even if they could they're too chicken....So you know what that means..That's right, Seagal is goanna have to save the day from cowards that cant stand up for themselves.
MY PERSONAL RATING: 3 ½ OUT OF 5
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Under Siege-(1992)-R- Disc 2, Side 1
Seagal plays Casey Rayback...he is a cook for battleship USS Missouri. Rayback has to prepare a meal for a special surprise party for The Captain (Patrick O'Neal) but the surprise is the new arrivals, which seem like musicians and caterers but in fact are invaders that are planning to overtake the ship to steal its arsenal of nuclear Tomahawk cruise missiles. The overtaking went as planned, the people on board are taken as hostage.But...they didn't plan on the cook. Aside from being a cook he is an Ex petty officer/Navy seal who has been given medals many times and is an expert in martial arts and his specialty is counter-terrorism...oh boy..The bad guys chose the wrong ship to overtake. The movie is filled with great lines, and some quirky humor. This is Seagal while he still was the champ. Worth owning, for sure.
MY PERSONAL RATING: 4 OUT OF 5
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The Glimmer Man-(1996)-R- Disc 2, Side 2
In Glimmer Man Seagal plays Jack Cole, an Ex government intelligence operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly that his victims would only see a glimmer before they died. in fact that is so BS, Segal moves slower than his previous movies here, his gut is beginning to grow and his acting is stale and wooden. anyhow back to the movie, Cole is assigned to work with An L.A. police detective named Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans) they are both on the look for a serial killer known as the "Family Man" he is given that name because...well he kills families; and aside from killing them he tortures and crucifies them after their deaths. After a string of murders the killer gets personal, he kills Coles wife..and you know what that means...that's right...its payback time, but it seems that this killings are beginning to get weird, there is a copycat making the murders look like "the Family Man"....now the question is Who is the killer, the "family man or the copycat?
Along with these psychos we have a local crime boss doing dealings with the Russians, somehow it's all connected and don't expect a clever twist because there really isn't. I give them credit for adding some suspense here and there, but Segal doesn't belong in this movie, he feels out of place. The only good actors in this movie are Keenen Ivory Wayans and Brian Cox.
MY PERSONAL RATING: 2 ½ OUT OF 5
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EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE MOVIES LIKE GLIMMER MAN AND FIRE DOWN BELOW ARENT THAT GREAT, ITS STILL A SWEET DEAL FROM WARNER BROS. 4 FILMS ON ONE DVD SET, COME'ON WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR.
OVERALL SET RATING: 5 OUT OF 5
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