First off, the "original" other film critics keep referring to is actually a remake, itself. John Carpenter's "Assault on Precinct 13" is really a remake of an older western entitled simply, "Rio Bravo." So while everyone keeps whining about remakes, let it be known that they have always remade older works. Always.
At any rate, as far as remakes go, this one is a tad better than decent. Not surprisingly, it surpasses neither of the originals in atmosphere, content, and execution. However, it is still quite well put together and very enjoyable. Having been built around Carpenter's solid plot, there are some new innovations used as "industrial siding" all around the outer edges. While some elements were shaky, it had the solidity of Carpenter's previous work to stabilize it.
I won't detail the plot as that has been done repeatedly here at IMDb, but suffice it to say that it remains fairly faithful to the source materials, without giving us a blow by blow carbon copy of either previous versions.
Action fans will find this a delight, and those who are fans of police dramas will also find it interestingly entertaining. Those among the audience in my hometown theater were enthralled. We aren't a town of demonstrative people; there aren't many walk outs, and the occasions where there is applause are few and far between. There were instances of neither for this event.
Carpenter fans, however, may be a bit affronted by this work.
All in all, this was a fun cinematic experience with superb direction, amazing vision, and some great execution.
Featured are some surprise "kills," peppered with predictable turns. It was unfortunate, in my opinion, that they chose to make create their "street gang" out of corrupt police officers. It did make me appreciate Carpenter's version all the more. I missed the now infamous "Ice Cream Scene."
But it was still quite enjoyable.
"Without pause, without regard."
It rates a 7/10 from...
the Fiend :.
At any rate, as far as remakes go, this one is a tad better than decent. Not surprisingly, it surpasses neither of the originals in atmosphere, content, and execution. However, it is still quite well put together and very enjoyable. Having been built around Carpenter's solid plot, there are some new innovations used as "industrial siding" all around the outer edges. While some elements were shaky, it had the solidity of Carpenter's previous work to stabilize it.
I won't detail the plot as that has been done repeatedly here at IMDb, but suffice it to say that it remains fairly faithful to the source materials, without giving us a blow by blow carbon copy of either previous versions.
Action fans will find this a delight, and those who are fans of police dramas will also find it interestingly entertaining. Those among the audience in my hometown theater were enthralled. We aren't a town of demonstrative people; there aren't many walk outs, and the occasions where there is applause are few and far between. There were instances of neither for this event.
Carpenter fans, however, may be a bit affronted by this work.
All in all, this was a fun cinematic experience with superb direction, amazing vision, and some great execution.
Featured are some surprise "kills," peppered with predictable turns. It was unfortunate, in my opinion, that they chose to make create their "street gang" out of corrupt police officers. It did make me appreciate Carpenter's version all the more. I missed the now infamous "Ice Cream Scene."
But it was still quite enjoyable.
"Without pause, without regard."
It rates a 7/10 from...
the Fiend :.