ZigZagHelios Simple plot and writing but pretty well done. Found it to be a little slow in some parts but overall worth the watch. Saw some say the fight scenes were bad but i think they're just used to over the top marvel CGI sequences, while its not perfectly choreographed its not terrible imo and is more 'real' compared to what you see in most modern movies.

marleyman95 Anyone who rates this movie higher than one star is not a true cinephile and is unable to accurately judge the quality of a film. I wish I knew where to start. Perhaps the most glaring issue was the slow, monotonous pacing. I kept waiting for something to happen. The movie drags. The acting is unbearable. Children could choreograph better fights scenes. Lacks plot. Lacks depth. The dialogue is nauseating. The writing is atrocious. How in the world could anyone think the dialogue was ok? The dialogue is clunkier than the pace and darker than the piss poor lighting. I understand what the director was going for. I understand the tones he was trying to set. Unfortunately, he is a terrible director and a worse writer. Characterization is cliche, dull, and flat. The big, bad warden? Forgettable. The protagonist, with his skewed moral compass, tragic, alcoholic past, and humble Southern upbringing? Trite. Mexican drug lords torturing women? Seen it. The only character who seemed original was the over eager Korean abortionist. That's wrong on so many levels. The writer doesn't understand basic concepts like science, anatomy, light, or prison structure and regulations. Femurs don't snap like that. Heads don't crack like eggshells. You can't hug someone and snap their spine twice. Faces don't slip off when rubbed on concrete. Maybe look up how bullets actually affect someone. I thought it was a superhero movie at first because the protagonist punches through glass and rips a car apart with his bare hands with little more than scratches. Punching through glass causes deep arterial cuts on your arms. People bleed out from punching through glass. Also, car glass is tempered and doesn't shatter quite like actual glass. Guards don't carry guns in prisons. Prisons are well lit and bright. Prisoners aren't tortured. I could go in for days about all the blatant inaccuracies. The evil warden, dimly lit, flithy prison, wrongfully accused hero, wife in trouble, lurking homosexual inmates, and sadistic guards is over done. I've seen it before. A thousand times. Shawshank. Lock Up with Stalone. It's not original. It's not good. And the effects are tragically awful. It's like they didn't even try to make a decent, watchable film. Good job Zahler. You suck, dude.

luvukbball I kind of liked Vaughn as a tough guy but this has to be the most overrated movie ever!

leecbuckingham Have I just watched a completely different film from the one that was rated as 7star !High ratings surely from cast, crew, friends and family only. Wooden acting Fight scenes from a school stage school Story line from a middle school am-dram Closing scene comical Terrible camera work & production Seriously, this is a complete sack of doo doo. Do not waste 2 hours of your life on this.