KILLER ELITE

While the actions of the characters are easy enough to keep up with, it’s the big picture tying them all together that gets a bit muddled and leaves you asking “Who cares?”. The third act of the film changes direction and speeds with multiple time jumps, proving too much time was spent on the first two thirds of the film, which by that stage are irrelevant and only add to an overly-long film.

Jason Statham is Jason Statham; effortlessly kicking arse and taking names in some beautifully choreographed action sequences. De Niro's appearances are few and far between, making you question why he’s even in this film. Dominic Purcell provides the film's only light moments and is almost unrecognisable, donning sunglasses everywhere he goes and sporting a Merv Hughes mo with supreme confidence. Yvonne Strahovski is the only female in the cast as Statham’s love interest. She spends the first half of the film appearing in flashbacks, only to suddenly become a member in the present, making her character all the more out of place and superfluous. Her character Anne, an attempt to make Danny more human, grounded and sympathetic only adds to the the film's clunkiness. Given the great cast, this movie deserved better attention, direction and substance.

While the film plays a little weak, it certainly contains an intriguing story. I suggest buying Ranulph Fiennes’ book on which it’s based first to determine whether or not the film is worth a look. Personally, I’d stick with the ‘Bourne’ series.