On H List of Movie Reviews
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Hard to Kill (1990)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/05, 5/08, 1/20
5/08:
Hard to Kill is a top three film of Steven Seagal's career.
He was one of the most exciting actor to come out of the early 90's, and the first four films comprise the core of his
filmography. They, save for Marked for Death of which I don't like, are addicting to watch, especially when Aikido
is involved.
Hard to Kill has a gripping story that works in Seagal's favor. When the attention is on him,
he's exciting, fascinating, and arresting at once. It's unbelievable how Steven Seagal can make time go fast.
All in all, Hard to Kill is a kick-ass Steven Seagal classic.
1/20:
"The most unstoppable son of a bitch I ever knew."
That's the best quote of Hard to Kill to describe Steven Seagal's character, Mason Storm, for the follow-up to
the box-office smash Above the Law. It's certainly an exciting movie with a gripping story that unfortunately
mythologizes too much about what happens to coma patients.
It's very rare a coma will last more than a few weeks. If it does, the reclassification will be "persistent vegetative state,"
which is often attributed to brain injury. Once this happens, it's unlikely the patient ever wakes up. Most don't
recover fully or have a meaningful interaction with the environment. In fact, they'll be severely disabled.
So, what Mason Storm did after being in a persistent vegetative state for seven years and then recovering so quickly afterwards
is damn impossible. Then again, you have to remember what O'Malley said: "The most unstoppable son of a bitch," hence
the title Hard to Kill. At any rate, who cares as long as Steven Seagal is kicking ass?
Despite their marriage at the time, Steven Seagal and Kelly LeBrock have no chemistry. She isn't a good actress and
just stands there. Unsurprisingly, they divorced six years after the film's release. In retrospect, Kelly LeBrock calls
the movie either Hard to Watch or Hard to Believe.
All in all, Hard to Kill is one of the best Steven Seagal movies.