Maximum Conviction (2012)

I would have given this one also a 7 1/2 rating as well. It is good to see Seagal getting back into action in a decent B-action movie. Especially after all the crap he's been making over the last couple of years. But it is hard not to see that the years of good living, eating and drinking have taken their toll on Seagal, he really looks old and out of shape, and no matter what they try to do with long and wide clothes, it is pretty clear the guy is fat. None the less this movie is exactly delivering what you're expecting, action, funny one-liners and huge amount of martial arts scenes, and some decent hand to hand combat scenes from Austin, and even a new upcoming guy is allowed to show off his kicks and punches. Bren Foster actually reminded me of the protégé of Van Damme , named Scott Adkins, and I hope we will get some movies off this guy coming out soon. So if you like this kind of movie, you wanna see some decent action sequences and you don't mind the gaps in the script, then is a must see for you, otherwise, stay away from it.

The plot is simple, 2 black ops must oversee the transfer of 2 female prisoners who have vital top secret information, then terrorists, led by the excellent Michael Pare strike and take the prison over for the info. Unfortunate for them they would have succeeded but the 2 black ops are Stone cold Steve Austin and Steven Seagal. So you know the bad guys don't have a chance. If you had asked me 10 years ago, which 2 WWE wrestlers would make great film stars, it would have to be the Rock and Stone Cold. Good to see them doing well. Austin is his usually bad ass self and adds something to this type of movie. Michael Pare is menacing, no humour or likability to the bad guy, this really works and he is extremely menacing. Makes a change from the usual wise cracking baddie. With Steven Seagal you know what your getting, you know what to expect from him. All the women want him, all the men want to be him, if you (or 10 guys at once) get into a fight with him, you wont even land a punch on Mr Invincible Seagal. If he gives advice, you prick your ears and listen to every word he says, he knows more than you, if he takes a shot with his gun, its going to be on target every time, his bosses envy him, he is top of his trade and the best at what he does, whatever it is. Even his former martial art masters come to him for lessons..Yes Seagal wreaks ego but I just cant get enough of him so please don't ever Change Steven. film is a definite recommendation for some viewing where you don't have to put your brain into gear and enjoy an action/martial arts film the way it should be. Hope there is a sequel made.

Several years ago I essentially stopped watching Steven Seagal's new movies, because they had become unbelievably bad. However, this new film of his intrigued me because he was being paired up with Steve Austin, so I decided to give it a look. After watching it, I swear once again I will not rent any future Steven Seagal movies. Austin is not a great actor, but he does seem to be trying - certainly a lot better than Seagal, who is awful. Seagal has gained so much weight that he waddles instead of walks, and his martial art sequences are so rapidly edited that it's clear he can't pull off multiple moves like he did with his earlier films. Though plenty of blame has to fall on the shoulders of director Keoni Waxman, who films the action sequences (both martial art and gun battles) in the dullest way possible, and lenses everything in unattractive and murky colors. By the way, though the DVD box seems to suggest that Seagal and Austin fight side by side, in actual fact their characters have almost no time together.

Is it the Seagal I grew up with? No....not even close. Is it better than most of the derivative tripe we have come to know as Seagals annual DTV releases....yes. On par with 2004 Into the Sun there is enough here to feel closer to The Glimmer Man we hope to catch a glimpse of with each DTV release. For what it is and what it is trying to be this was the most fun I have had with a Seagal film in 8 years. Not sure what that means but if you have any hope left for Seagal this film will restore a little faith the big man with the fast hands ain't done quite yet. Decent flick. As for Steve Austin, I have never been much of a fan and this movie was not good because of him I can assure you. When Austin makes Seagal look like Kevin Spacey you know there is an issue.