Barnes & Noble

Denzel Washington is always good, so it’s no surprise to see him effortlessly dominating this taut, violent action film directed with panache by Tony Scott ((Top Gun, Enemy of the State). What is surprising is how skillfully child star Dakota Fanning plays off the veteran actor in their scenes together. Washington is John Creasy, a former Special Forces operative who reluctantly takes a job as bodyguard to Pita Ramos (Fanning), the young daughter of a wealthy Mexican industrialist (Marc Anthony) and his stunningly beautiful Anglo wife (Radha Mitchell). A sullen, morose individual with a drinking problem, Creasy gradually warms to Pita’s sunny disposition -- only to succumb to the dark side of his nature when the girl is kidnapped and presumed murdered. Washington is remarkably convincing as the avenging angel who relentlessly pursues anyone who had a hand in the child’s disappearance. Cold-blooded and ruthless, this character reveals qualities Denzel seldom exhibits on screen; his portrayal of Creasy rivals his Oscar-nominated turn as the crooked cop in Training Day. And Fanning is so adorable -- and so realistic -- that her sudden removal from center stage lends added urgency and apprehension to the story. Scott’s staging is designed to keep viewers on edge throughout; his camera darts every which way and many shots are cut so short that they barely register as flashes on the screen. Action sequences erupt quickly in short, staccato bursts. But the visual pyrotechnics are strictly secondary to the powerful performances of Washington and Fanning, one of the most unlikely -- but most effective -- screen teams in recent memory. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

A man whose ideals have been shattered for the last time is out for violent justice in this thriller. Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a former United State intelligence agent-turned-mercenary who has seen too much of the violence and corruption in the world and has become jaded and withdrawn. Creasy is hired to act as a bodyguard for Lupita (nicknamed "Pita", played by (Dakota Fanning), a ten-year-old girl whose wealthy family (a Mexican father and American mother) currently lives in Mexico City, where kidnapping has become a near epidemic. While watching over Pita, Creasy becomes fond of the girl, and finds himself regaining some of his faith in humanity. But things take an ugly turn when Pita is abducted by gunmen who shoot Creasy and leave him to die in the streets. Enraged beyond reason, Creasy recovers and sets out to find the men responsible for kidnapping Pita, no matter who he has to kill along the way. Man on Fire is based on a novel by A.J. Quinnell, which was previously filmed in 1987 with Scott Glenn as Creasy. Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell, Giancarlo Giannini, and Mickey Rourke highlight the supporting cast for this remake. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 024543172628
• Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound
• Editions: Special Edition, Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 2:26:00
• Sales Rank: 28,050

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Denzel Washington Collection
• Man on Fire / Out of Time
• Lethal 3-Pack
• Hard Action 3 Pack

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