self_bias2006 Lucy Liu was so f****n sexy in this movie with all that BDSM stuff...all the comic stuff its cool..Mel Gibson was not so unbeatable in this movie as it looked..like Bruce Willis for example..or Steven Seagal, Gregg Henry its a mean bad-ass , bottom line ..a good action flick , you must see. not away from the action pattern movie, some brutal stuff and a evil image of the police, corruption ...seen in all the American movies, really the mob control a city in the us? is that so bad? or its just a movie..but i am sure its inspired from the reality..its not a fiction..or a sci-fi. Finally, a good revenge movie starring Mel Gibson.

Screen_Blitz For most of his career, Melt Gibson has taken flight with mainly dramatic roles and has gone on to stir up a few Oscar nominated roles but at the same time made a name for himself as an action hero beginning in the late 70s starring in the titular role in 'Mad Max'. Following the sequels, Gibson made a highly praised debut in 'Lethal Weapon' franchise starring opposite Danny Glover. Fresh out of his wonder years as the gun-totting L.A police detective, Gibson makes once again another appearance as a trigger happy protagonist in this revenge thriller directed by Brian Helgeland. Gibson plays Porter, a merciless, bad-to- the-bone thief who makes no way to make a living than to rob and pick-pocket innocent neighbors of their money and worse of all, the criminals in his neighborhood that surround are certainly no better. After a half-successful robbery from an Asian street gang known as "The Outfit", Porter is betrayed by his partner Val Resnick (played by Gregg Henry) and wife Lynn Porter (played by Deborah Kara Unger) who shoot in cold blood and leave him for dead. However, when Porter miraculously survives he seeks assistance from his ex- lover and former partner Rosie (played by Maria Bello) to deliver vengeance and claim back his money while making his way through a world of vicious drug dealers, prostitutes, and corrupt law officials. Mel Gibson has sported many clever and memorable during his year, arguably his most memorable in 'Lethal Weapon' series or as the British warrior in war epic 'Braveheart'. His role as the protagonist in this film is certainly not as memorable and definitely not as appealing as many of the heroic characters he's known for. While he gives a performance that allows him to suit well in this role, he doesn't quite bring the same sort of charisma he had in his role in Lethal Weapon. Fortunately, he still manages to entertain during gunfight sequences. Watching Gibson mow down the bad guys in a bloody, bullet-blazing frenzy is fun to watch, at least for a little while. But the rest of the time, the film is a bit tedious. From the opening scene, the plot starts off with a promise and progresses into something bigger, and it works at least the first hour. But towards the final stretch, the story falls a bit clumsy and becomes less engaging. On the bright side, the supporting cast does manage to spit out some entertaining performances along the way packing in some dark humor that works at least part of the time, particularly Gregg Henry as Mel Gibson's partner with a hidden agenda on his hands. His performance isn't quite strong, but it holds up. One of the biggest surprises comes Lucy Liu who plays a prostitute of the Asian street gang, quite a questionable role for her.Payback is not your average Mel Gibson actioner and probably sits the lower ladder of Gibson's filmopgraphy. Nonetheless, it is still entertaining on some level and has its moments of spectacle in the midst of its subpar script and plot. This revenge flick is one that will please some but definitely not all, particularly those who go in expecting something on the level of Lethal Weapon.

Python Hyena Payback (1999): Dir: Brian Helgeland / Cast: Mel Gibson, Greg Henry, Maria Bello, Deborah Kara Unger, Lucy Liu: Revenge action thriller regarding a $70, 000 payoff. Unfortunately the film chooses to shock viewers with brutality as oppose to suspense. Mel Gibson plays Porter, a successful street hustler who is double-crossed and shot repeatedly by his wife and partner. Once out of jail he searches for the cash his partner stole from him. His wife overdoses on drugs so he seeks out a past girlfriend. Many violent encounters follow, which deflate any message intended. Directed by Brian Helgeland who tries to make the film clever but unfortunately the screenplay goes for the expected violent solution. Gibson holds strong as someone wronged and intends to even the odds. Unfortunately he does so through applauded revenge. Greg Henry as his former partner never rises above conventions and basically becomes a target. Maria Bello as a past girlfriend serves only as a love interest. Deborah Kara Unger is the only supporting role of any interest. She is very good as his wife who betrayed him and has reduced herself to drug addiction before it catches up to her. Lucy Liu does her best to appeal a comic appearance as a dominatrix beating up Henry but the role is a distraction. The film is a failure that surrenders to violence that seems to be the only way it can payoff. Score: 5 / 10

Johan Dondokambey The story premise is another common found robbers, betrayal and revenge. The development also doesn't introduce something new or unique. It's quite boring to see that it's Mel Gibson's way to get back into the action scene, back still bringing the old stuff and offering nothing to looks for. The coloration of the movie is dubiously dark. It emphasizes the movie's whole story of the violent world of crime. The acting is just a so-so performance. Mel Gibson's effort to portray a much more calmer action character than the ones he did in Lethal Weapon movies is not very successful. Having Lucy Liu's start up role here is a good step for her to land better roles later on.