Fifty/Fifty (1993)

You know what the problem of this movie is ?.. The way people look at it, simply because they measure it by the "big and loud" American action movies of the 1990s.. and really that's unfair.Here, or as you can find in that kind of low budget films, there is no bankable stars, huge production, nor strong capacity to export their work to the global cinemas. So they struggle to have the opportunity to make movies (good ones at least) and to buy them inside USA or around the world. And as for (Fifty /Fifty) I think they did it good this time.. so good indeed. When you have a low budget action flick then you would have heroes like (Christopher Lambert), (Brandon Lee), (Dolph Lundgren), (Don the dragon Wilson), (Cynthia Rothrock). And there are some others who got more fame and appreciation in the middle east like (Chuck Norris), (Steven Seagal), (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and all of the above, with all due respect for them and for their lovers, had more bad movies than their own good, and they are all whether not good actors or mostly the very bad ones ever!. Therefore when you watch such a brilliant, pleasant and entertaining small movie as (Fifty/Fifty) you must evaluate it first as an independent film and second as one with no acting problems in it.For the story obviously it's an inspiration of the (The Seven Samurai) of Japan (I suppose it's coming from an old legend) which you can find it as (The Magnificent Seven) in America, (Shams elzanaty) in Egypt or as (Sholay - 1975) in India and that very last one looks like the original one for (Fifty/Fifty) regarding too many proofs such as : there are just 2 defenders of the weak village (not 7), the love story between one of them and a local girl, and the tossing up play by the coin.. (or maybe it's just a strange coincidences !).The most enjoyable thing here is that it has so good action (remember there is no C.G.I at all), excellent thrill, and flawless acting. Actually it's real fun to watch more than once.Just remember the action sequences at the jungle, or the finale scene that was perfect. I've got quite a surprise when I knew that the movie's director is (Charles Martin Smith) the same short actor who played the character of (Martin Sprue) the American intelligence's officer ! For that I think the acting was that nice and good. I'm now searching for his other movies as a director to enjoy their fine quality if they're all like this one which was too dazzling for a mediocre movie.I had an amazing time with it from the beginning to the last especially every shot got (Peter Weller) and (Robert Hays) together. As for (Robert Hays) he is so gifted in comedy and in action as well. He looks like Jean-Paul Belmondo but with his OWN mark of being distinguished. It makes you ask eagerly where is such an actor ? and why he isn't a star ? (while OTHERS are.. unfortunately !!).I loved all the fun and the fine work of it more than a lot, and I mean a lot, of Hollywood big and loud action movies. In one word : this time independent cinema really rocks.

I agree that this movie IS a some kind of parody on action flicks. The heroes gunned down numerous troops without any difficulties, yet they always throw out jokes, as if they were not serious doing that. Unfortetunately, IF this was meant to be a parody, it's not funny enough. In the end, it has become a usual heroic-flick where you can blast a whole army, common in the 80s and early 90s.I've never seen Robert Hays in any real 'tough-guys' movie. From the first I saw his name on credit, I was practically sure...that this is not "Commando" or somethin' like that.By the way, I have to straighten some things up here. The movie takes place in a fictional SOUTH EAST ASIAN country, not South America or else. In fact, "Tenggara" (or Tengara, as the movie put it) means "South East" in Malay and Indonesian. The soldiers and the natives spoke Malay all through the movie, and the movie was shot in Malaysia. Yeah, I knew it's a relatively forgotten part in the (Hollywood) world (except now there's a movie called "Entrapment"). In real life, there are only three countries using Malay (and its variation, Indonesian) as official language: Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalaam.Anyway, worth watching though...if you like some mild jokes. For the rest, don't think.Or as a viewer put it: leave your brain.

So, you are with a group of mates(pals, friends, buddies) and you are renting a video. If your group is mostly men then I recommend fifty/fifty. It has all the elements that you would expect from an action/adventure/ comedy. One liners, 'n' all that. But this film is most definitely unique.If you know films well and you also know a few flashy words and concepts to go with them then you will recognise it as a film that breaks a few of the genres' conventions. If not, well you can use that as an excuse to your girlfriend who says that you watch films with no taste. A right royal Buddy humour filled picture. In other words you will laugh your lungs dry!

I really liked this movie the first time I saw it, I found it to be funny, intelligent and highly ironic. However, for some reason I have never really enjoyed it since then and I don't know why.Charles Martin Smith put together a list of cliches and in-jokes relating to action films and strung them together in a somewhat plausible plot. 50/50 is so subtle that it is often difficult to tell if it is an action/comedy or a parody of an action/comedy... I think that this is one of the movie's primary strengths, but also its weakness.Again, the first time I watched this I thought it was a brilliant satire, but since then I have become less sure about its satirical side (it is clearly a parody, but I am just not sure if it is as brilliant as I first thought). I have met other people who have had a similar reaction to viewing 50/50, people who really liked it on an initial viewing but were not as impressed the second and third time around. I am really not sure what causes this phenomenon, but I advise anyone familiar with the action films of the 70s and 80s to see 50/50 at least once and enjoy it for the fun that it is.Also, Peter Weller is fantastic anyway and he and Robert Hayes have surprisingly good chemistry on screen.