Leofwine_draca A latter-day beat-em-up starring action man Steven Seagal in the midst of his environmentally friendly persona, this is actually better than one might expect and it turns out to be one of Seagal's best movies. Certainly, the direction, supporting cast, action, and script are a lot better than one would expect from the straight-to-video genre and Seagal puts in one of his most commanding performances in recent years, even if he does insist on wearing silly looking clothes. Fine photography of the setting and a foot-tapping bottleneck score add to the experience and I can safely say that I enjoyed every minute of this yarn.If you remove all of the romance, incestuous brother/sister relationships, corrupt businessmen, and porch-building interludes which pad out the story what you're left with is a basic tale of Seagal vs. a large number of bad guys. There's nothing wrong with this in my mind and the action, when it comes, is authentic if a little tricksy with the camera at times. Watching Seagal take out a gang of weapon-wielding thugs within a matter of seconds is always great fun and the violence comes hard and fast, just like Seagal's punches - it's nice to see it hasn't been toned down in what is otherwise almost a family tale, or perhaps western-based fable. Although a shoot-out in a toxic mine is mishandled, each and every other moment of action in the film is cool and worth waiting for.Aside from Seagal, delivering once again a quietly-spoken, impassive, and eco-friendly hardman like in all of his other movies, we have some good actors turning up in the supporting cast. First up is Marg Helgenberger as the fragile love interest who (as always) puts in a decent and commendable performance. New faces like Stephen Lang (AVATAR) and Brad Hunt (a wimpy kid) give interesting turns whilst the heavy stuff is left to Kris Kristofferson. Then there's old-timer Harry Dean Stanton (who sings!) putting in a sympathetic role as, well, an old-timer, and some decent heavies for Seagal to go up again.The action-focused plot moves along quickly and offers up plenty of incident in its running time. There are car chases, an amazing stunt of a tanker crashing over a cliff, shoot-outs, bar-room brawls, and plenty of other cool bits for genre fans to enjoy, all performed stylishly and exciting. Yet, crucially, the story itself would work well without these so they can be enjoyed as added bonuses rather than carrying the film along as in so many of Seagal's lower-budgeted productions. A crime that decent action fare like this is relegated to the straight-to-video market when the bigger-bucks brainlessness of UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: THE RETURN still makes it into the cinemas.

vleonica-44-795280 The only other films he's made that I like are Executive Decision & On Deadly Ground. I think that the majority of his films are not making good use of Mr Seagal's unique talents. His quite demeanor, fighting skills & good looks. He should be doing films more on the line of what David Carradine excelled in, which was his TV Series Kung Fu & Kung Fu the Legend Continues. Betwixt the two, the only obvious differences in Kwai Chang Caine & Mr. Seagal that I can discern is that Mr. Seagal does display a breaking point in regards to his temper & he likes girls. I saw him in concert in Laughlin. NV back in the 90's, my only comment was his soft speaking manner, even at the concert, I was in the front row, I did ask him to speak up. His expression was one of questionable politeness, and to mine and everyone present, he did speak a mite louder. This film displays that man, meaning the man who was giving the concert. BTW... IMDb states his role in Executive Decision to be a cameo, how can anyone refer to a part lasting nigh on 45 minutes, a cameo. In regards to the statement: "Seagal considers him to have been the most important martial arts teacher in his life." I find it hard to believe that anyone would have trouble understanding this... It should go without saying that each man/woman, for good or ill, is their own best teacher, only they themselves can make use of what another teaches them & until the individual understands this, their knowledge & skill can not be put to it's best use. Unfortunately most never do. Yes, this film is his sure-fire best. If you haven't sen it then put it on your To Do list, if you have, then see it again, it's an hour & 45 minutes well spent.

alfiemoviegoer This is a marvelous film. The juxtaposition of a petite beekeeping blonde with a large muscular dark haired Federal good all round chap has not often been done better. Nuclear cyanide, a wimpy son and heir to a poisoning conglomerate added to the eclectic mix.Fast staging of semi-martial arts fights with quick quips about damaged wood sticks just about sealed it for me.Sadly I watched this film for the first time on the day that Levon Helm died. He died in the film, as the preacher. I could write some great stuff about Seven Seagulls as an actor and mock the film, but won't, out of respect for Mr. Helm.

Rodrigo Amaro The usual in Steven Seagal's movies take place in "Fire Down Below" too. He's the good guy again; the hero again; he's never got punched but he kicks and punches lots of guys with the little help of the editor who makes his moves even faster. This movie resembles "On Deadly Ground", so here we have Seagal saving the Earth of the bloody hands of powerful and corrupt business man who are destroying rivers, oceans and trees and all. The major difference between "Fire Down Below" and "On Deadly Ground" is the quality of the movie (for some reason I like "On Deadly...") and the violence/action. While action is dumb and so non breathtaking here, on the previous film was something great, although at times badly used or excessive, especially towards older people, it was literally no country for old men (e.g. the old friend of Seagal tortured and killed in 1994 film). In "Fire Down Below" the same thing happens but it is only implied, nothing is shown on screen and other times it's only a threat.In the story Seagal is a Environmental agent who goes to a little town in Kentucky investigate the murder of his friend who discovered that a powerful company, owned by Orin Hanner Sr. (Kris Kristofferson), is being paid to dump toxic waste into an abandoned coal mine shaft. With the assistance of a Reverend (Levon Helm) and a woman (Marg Helgenberger) and some other residents Segal is gonna find the truth and kicks some villains.The lack of action ruined this movie. The lack of violence ruined this movie. The lack of someone able to kick Seagal on the face ruined this and almost all Seagal's movies. The great vantage of this against "On Deadly Ground" is the quotes delivered by Seagal, funny things and for incredible as it might sound these quotes are not unintentionally laughable, they're there for the purpose of being funny. The scene in the casino when Seagal takes down 4 security guys trying to arrest Kristofferson is amazingly funny. I'll not say this was Seagal's worst film, but perhaps his performance was not good enough and the whole supporting cast was very effective and good compared to him. Marg Helgenberger was great, her part was very interesting as the forsaken woman of the town; Stephen Lang plays his usual sinister figure in a twisted character; Kristofferson was quite good and funny; and Levon Helm was the best on scene. The movie includes some bad acting from Brad Hunt (he plays the son of Kristofferson) whose presence is annoying, and some wasted acting by Harry Dean Stanton and Richard Masur (who appears in the beginning in some flashbacks), seriously they deserved a better flick to appear. Again, it is a movie to wait and wait again for action and it will be a few good things in it. Director Felix Enriquez Alcalá made better with the TV film remake of "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three". 4/10