As I sat in my friends room waiting with anticipation to watch the two-time academy award winning movie Man on Fire I was unsure of what to expect. I had heard a lot about the movie, and I have always been a huge fan of Denzel Washington, who is the main character, but I never expected it to play out the way it did. This film was extremely action packed and kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Although Man on Fire is fictional, the background information about Mexico City in Mexico is somewhat true. The movie is about a guy name John Ceasy (Denzel Washington) who is hired as a personal body guard to protect Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). At first it’s hard to understand the purpose of Denzel’s role, but you begin to realize by the size of her parents house, the type of car they drive, and the many people they have that work for them, that something fishy was going on with their family.
Later in the movie when Dakota and Denzel had developed a strong bond, Dakota is kidnapped, and while Denzel attempted to stop them, he was shot 2 times. As she was caring to Denzel who had been shot, the kidnappers took her. The kidnapping rate in Mexico is unbelievable, and it is truly a problem today. Mexico City is notorious for kidnappings in the world, and most are for huge ransoms, and most of the victims are tortured and killed. This was one of the most important moments and the foundation for the rest of the movie. As a result, Dakota’s family tried to make a deal with whoever had kidnapped her, but the transaction went wrong and everyone thought Dakota Fanning was dead.
Consequently, Denzel took it into his own hands to find whoever kidnapped her, and literally went on a rampage to track down the “murders.” This movie was constructed very well because it makes the viewer think that she is dead, but really, near the end of the movie you find out that she is alive. Dakota’s dad and his lawyer were the reason behind the kidnap in order to make a massive amount of money. Denzel connects all of the “bad guys” together and traces down the “voice of the guardian” and finds out that Dakota is still alive. He makes a deal, that is, “a live for a live” and Denzel accepts.
As I begin to end this refection I just realized I spoiled the ending for any of you all that have not seen this movie. But, this movie was so awesome, and the way it is developed keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I recommend everyone see this movie because the filming is phenomenal.
December 4, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Thanks for spoiling it! haha I’m just kidding. That sounds like a good movie, I may check it out even though i know how it ends. I like how you reflected the movie to the real world we live in, and how we suffer from a myriad of kidnappings ever year in Mexico. Hopefully people are out there like Denzel’s character trying to save people.
December 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I think that you made a good effort to show how the movie starts and ends and how you feel about the movie. when you were desribing how you wanted to see the movie s o much and you had no clue what it was about showed that you really cared about the movie.
December 6, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I have never seen this movie, but it sounds pretty awesome. I should try to check it out because it sounds entertaining and although I did not want to see it, my critical analysis of film class last year watched Deja Vu (sp?), starring Denzel Washington and it was one of the most entertaining movies I have ever seen, but I can’t imagine watching it by myself or even with a few people. It was awesome because whenever somebody would figure out something they would say, “Ohhhh.” It was a very fun film to watch together so this one sounds entertaining as well.
December 8, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Thanks for spoiling it! Gosh! I remember seeing the commerical previews for this movie when it first started to come out and I iwas very interested in going to see but it unfortunately I was never able to.
It is truly sad to hear how how the kidnapping rate is in Mexico and the number of fatalities that result. From personal knowledge and information about the Mexican government via info from the media, books, etc the Mexicans don’t have much order within their country and corruption runs rabid among them. I could see this happening very often because of this.
Its unfortunate that Denzel had to trade his life for the child because I wish he could live too but it sounds like a very good movie and I’d love to see it someday.
December 9, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! One of my favorites. I reallylike how you wrote and incorporated facts about Mexico’s kidnapping rate in with the review on your movie! Great idea, and it really sets the background and makes the movie seem more realistic.
December 9, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I agree with Katie I freakin love this movie it is Amazing. On top of Denzel’s amazing acting and sexiness. This movie is very suspenseful. and exciting
December 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm
i LOVE this movie!! It is probably one of my favorite movies ever!! Dakota and Denzel are such amazing actors. I love how at the beginning of the movie Denzel is not thrilled to be the body guard of Dakota who asks so many questions. But at the end of the movie the bond between them was so great he did whatever it took to save her.
December 11, 2008 at 2:00 pm
This sounds really awesome. I can’t say that ive ever seen it, but after hearing you write about it, its definately on my list of to-do’s now. It sounds like it is about a very interesting story line with all the kidnappings that happen in Mexico. Ill make sure and check it out.
December 12, 2008 at 12:07 am
haven’t seen the movie. sounds cool though. i love movies about mexico. they make mexico seems so seedy and dirty. which it may be i don’t know, but i do know that i am staying away from mexico.
December 12, 2008 at 12:09 am
haven’t seen the movie. sounds cool though. i love movies about mexico. they make mexico seems so seedy and dirty. which it may be i don’t know, but i do know that i am staying away from mexico.
December 12, 2008 at 6:42 am
I’ve never actually seen this movie but judging from your review and the responses of the people above me, I can tell that this is a really good movie. Perhaps I’ll find time to watch it over winter break, even though I already know the ending. But I don’t mind.
December 13, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Personally I think this movie is a little sub-par. It was good to see what people who liked the movie thought of it. Either way you did a nice job of presenting the movie.
December 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I have actually seen this movie so you didn’t spoil it for me lol. But anyways I really liked this movie also and was extremely surprised on the way it turned out. I think you did a really good job describing the movie and also including informational facts in with it. Good Job!
December 15, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I agree with you that Man on Fire is absolutely fabulous movie. Everyone in the movie did a great job putting it together. the storyline is so touching and does a great job making you think about how much corruption goes on in Mexico today. You did a wonderful job explaining the story, and even though you did give away the ending, I still recomend it for everyone because it is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
December 17, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I think i have seen this movie before but dont really remember. But any way if i get the chance i will watch it again for sure. This sounds like a great movie though, I wonder what academy awards it won.
December 17, 2008 at 10:36 pm
This might be one of my all time favorite movies. It felt so real. All of the twists and turns were so unexpected! You are so right when you point out that this movie really has a serious undertone. Kidnapping is a huge issue and this movie really portrays that problem well.
December 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I have actually seen this movie and I loved it. I was just being myself and was merely entertained by the action and the plot of the movie but i never thought about this actually happening to people in real life. I didn’t know that kidnappings were so common in Mexico City. You learn something new eveyday and i will now look at movies a little different now.