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Assault On Precinct 13
2004
A police captain must rally the cops and prisoners together to protect their precinct on New Year's Eve, just as armed criminals surround the station with the intent of releasing an imprisoned mobster Read more
| Starring | Ethan Hawke, Lawrence Fishburn, Maria Bello, Gabriel Byrne |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Francois Richet |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Thriller |
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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39 out of 51 people found this review helpful
Better than the original 1976 movie and a new believable change of plot.
Better than the original 1976 movie this 2004 remake has a very believable change of plot, which works very well.
Ethan Hawke & Lawrence Fishburn take the starring roles in this drama.
Gabriel Byrne plays the baddy (as usual) but is not really as convincing as he is in other films.
A film, which will pass a few hours while you watch it. -
24 out of 32 people found this review helpful
Not SWAT, but take with a pinch of assault
Hawke stars as burnt-out cop Roenick, still feeling guilty for the murder of his partners. It looks like he’s going to spend life behind a desk at Precinct 13, until the station is scheduled to be closed following the final New Year’s Eve party.
However, when the precinct is forced to play host to a group of prisoners led by gangster Bishop (Fishburne), things get out of hand. Echoing L.A. Confidential, some of Bishop’s associates are Byrne’s corrupt cops who would rather kill than let him testify. So the action kicks off: Roenick and Bishop form an uneasy alliance against the police besieging the station.
Richet chooses to turn the SWAT image upside-down: rather than heroes who rescue hostages and take out terrorists, these invaders are Predator-like killing machines in night vision goggles and Kevlar.
Hawke does a mediocre job, but Fishburne shines as the ruthless Bishop, reminding us exactly why Morpheus was so cool. The dynamic between cons and cops is central to the plot, culminating in various Mexican stand-offs practically dripping with tension.
Despite its formulaic nature, Assault can creep up on you. The people you think are going to die, don’t die. Meanwhile, those who are too important to get killed, get killed. Simply put, it’s a film very aware of its genre. To some, Assault on Precinct 13 represents just another cop film or unnecessary remake, but others might be pleasantly surprised by unexpected changes to a stale, predictable formula. -
15 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Massively disappointing
A great cast and strong basic idea (although diluted from the faceless gang attack of the classic original) are completely wasted in this by the numbers formula cop flick. The suspense and tension of the original are thrown away here, with a bland series of dull, poorly shot shootings that feel like they belong in a TV movie. I was really hoping this was going to be in a similar league to the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake (another re-run of a cult 70's classic that really worked), but it's not anything like that standard, and just feels bland and tacky. A real wasted opportunity instead.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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5 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Poor
This is not how to do a remake of a classic movie.
The originals slow burning tension and simple plot seems to have been ignored and we now have an excuse for lots of loud bangs and extremely poor dialogue. I'm sorry but replacing every other word with F£!$ or variants of it, is an insult to the viewer and shows no thought from the screenwriter.
Basically forget this and rent the original. -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Good, as far as re-makes go!
The first hour or so is pretty much the same as the original, apart from 2 major diffrences. In the new film, it's winter rather than summer, and it's Police against Police, as opposed to rioters against Police!
The last half hour, however, has a unique twist, but I don't want to spoil it!
Worth viewing if you've seen the original, and if you haven't then you may like it even more!
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39 out of 51 people found this review helpful
Better than the original 1976 movie and a new believable change of plot.
Better than the original 1976 movie this 2004 remake has a very believable change of plot, which works very well.
Ethan Hawke & Lawrence Fishburn take the starring roles in this drama.
Gabriel Byrne plays the baddy (as usual) but is not really as convincing as he is in other films.
A film, which will pass a few hours while you watch it. -
24 out of 32 people found this review helpful
Not SWAT, but take with a pinch of assault
Hawke stars as burnt-out cop Roenick, still feeling guilty for the murder of his partners. It looks like he’s going to spend life behind a desk at Precinct 13, until the station is scheduled to be closed following the final New Year’s Eve party.
However, when the precinct is forced to play host to a group of prisoners led by gangster Bishop (Fishburne), things get out of hand. Echoing L.A. Confidential, some of Bishop’s associates are Byrne’s corrupt cops who would rather kill than let him testify. So the action kicks off: Roenick and Bishop form an uneasy alliance against the police besieging the station.
Richet chooses to turn the SWAT image upside-down: rather than heroes who rescue hostages and take out terrorists, these invaders are Predator-like killing machines in night vision goggles and Kevlar.
Hawke does a mediocre job, but Fishburne shines as the ruthless Bishop, reminding us exactly why Morpheus was so cool. The dynamic between cons and cops is central to the plot, culminating in various Mexican stand-offs practically dripping with tension.
Despite its formulaic nature, Assault can creep up on you. The people you think are going to die, don’t die. Meanwhile, those who are too important to get killed, get killed. Simply put, it’s a film very aware of its genre. To some, Assault on Precinct 13 represents just another cop film or unnecessary remake, but others might be pleasantly surprised by unexpected changes to a stale, predictable formula. -
15 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Massively disappointing
A great cast and strong basic idea (although diluted from the faceless gang attack of the classic original) are completely wasted in this by the numbers formula cop flick. The suspense and tension of the original are thrown away here, with a bland series of dull, poorly shot shootings that feel like they belong in a TV movie. I was really hoping this was going to be in a similar league to the 'Dawn of the Dead' remake (another re-run of a cult 70's classic that really worked), but it's not anything like that standard, and just feels bland and tacky. A real wasted opportunity instead.
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11 out of 12 people found this review helpful
A good watch
I actually quite liked this film, but I’m not 100% sure why. Simple plot, not a fantastic cast and cheaply made however definitely one to watch if you love your action films.
I didn’t really expect too much from this film but I found myself on the edge of seat waiting for the next gun fight or explosion to happen.
Good guys and prisoners fighting on the same for survival in 'Precinct 13'. They are out numbered and fighting against the elements but with bad boy Bishop and good cop Jake working together there is hope they’ll survive till sunrise.
Definitely worth watching. -
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Great film, escpecially for blokes
I aint seen the original but was very impressed with this. Excellent film for all fans of reality shooting computer games like counter-strike, joint ops etc. Plot is decent, acting is pretty good for an action flick and the atmospere is engrossing and feels like an old horror movie. all in all pretty good movie well worth the rent.
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6 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Another average remake......
It's getting so tiresome; I wonder why I bother watching remakes at all. Although this new effort is worth a view, it doesn't compare to the high suspense and grittiness of it's original. Does Hollywood have a remake by numbers formula? Use every clique every thought of; cast a semi successful actor, a forgotten heartthrob and Brian Dennehy. If it has, then this film follows that perfectly.
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5 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Entertaining but not a mark on the original
This film should definitely be treated as its own original rather than a remake for full enjoyment. The weight of the cult and classic status of John Carpenter's original cannot be matched and fails to be reworked in this 2005 update. The film on its own merit is reasonably good, but at times the twists are all too predictable and is certainly more of a popcorn movie than movie award contender.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Action packed.
A little slow to start off with but once it got going it was good to watch, kept you guessing about who the mole was and must admit it turned out to be who I had not suspected. Will go out and buy as its very watchable.
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Better Than You would think
This film is not on the same level as the excellent original, which in turn was a remake of High Noon.
However it is not your standard Hollywood Fare and if you ignore the unbelievable plot, this is a well made well acted Thriller. Shot almost entirely at night it adequately manages to convey paranoia, fear and anxiety. In places this film is also quite dark and some of the shootings are very graphic. It is also interesting that the normal rules are not adhered to, in relation to character development.
Recommended -
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful
A poor remake
I liked the original, which actually made you think about the events that took place, the original also shocked, however this is more mondless violence shoot them up rubbish, worse, much worse then the original, if you havent seen the original try it, if you have dont watch this it will spoil your memory of a once good film
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
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- Assault On Precinct 13
- DVD: £2.93
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A police captain must rally the cops and prisoners together to protect their precinct on New Year's Eve, just as armed criminals surround the station with the intent of releasing an imprisoned ... -
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